Page 25 of A Winter By the Sea
The boy seemed to sway on his feet, and Emily feared he might faint.
“Conroy? What the deuce is going on?”
The stout duke appeared in the doorway wearing a long banyan over shirt and trousers and a matching cap, dark eyebrows drawn low.
Emily’s mouth went dry. The duke clearly prized his only daughter, the possible future Queen of England. He would be furious.
She recalled again what she had read. As a military leader, Prince Edward had been vilified as a severe disciplinarian. Ruthless in doling out cruel punishment for the most minor offenses. What would he do to someone who endangered his daughter’s life?
Yet in his weary eyes and anxious expression, Emily saw not a tyrant but a mild, middle-aged father. “Nurse Brock says someone fired through a nursery window, narrowly missing the princess in her arms.”
Would he exact revenge? Panic tore through Emily’s breast.Please,God, have mercy.
Georgiana spoke up, her expression humbly contrite. “We are terribly sorry, Your Grace.”
“Your Royal Highness,” Mr. Thomson quietly corrected.
“Your Royal Highness,” she dutifully repeated. “It was an accident. Billy here meant to shoot a sparrow and I tried to stop him, which upset his aim. I beg your pardon and am so glad no one was hurt.”
“As am I. Extremely glad.” The duke exhaled in obvious relief. He looked from Georgiana to the trembling lad to Emily. He gave her a small nod of recognition, then said, “This seems an unlikely group of assassins, ey, Conroy?”
“Just shooting birds, sir. I swear,” Billy said desperately. “Never meant to hit yer house.”
“But you did,” the captain said between clenched teeth.
“Thank God no real harm was done,” the duke said, hischest puffing out. “My little girl stood fire as befits a soldier’s daughter.”
“Yes, sir,” Conroy said, “but it could have gone very differently.”
“True. It is dangerous for inexperienced youngsters to be trusted with guns.” The duke took a deep breath and decisively squared his shoulders. “So this is what I want. Write to the local magistrate, George Cornish. Request him to adopt some measures to prevent such an occurrence from happening again. But add that ‘Their Royal Highnesses desire most particularly that the boy may not be punished.’”
“Not punished?” Conroy’s lip curled. “Are you certain?”
“I am.” The duke turned back to the lad. “You won’t shoot around here again, I trust?”
“No, sir.”
“Good.” The big man nodded and retreated into the vestibule.
“Thank you,” Emily called after him.
He turned back, and Emily managed a wavering smile and a wobbly curtsy.
The duke nodded at her once more, then disappeared down the corridor.
As soon as he had gone, Emily turned back to the other men. “Now, if you will excuse us.” She backed away from the captain, tugging her sister’s hand. Georgiana tripped on her hem, but Emily steadied her and all but dragged her out of the house, eager to depart before Captain Conroy could think of some other retribution. Billy followed behind, as eager to leave Woolbrook as she was.
“Thank you, Lord,” Emily whispered as they walked away down Glen Lane, relieved they had narrowly missed what might have been a disaster not only for Billy and Georgiana, but also for Sea View’s reputation.
———
While Billy made his way back to the eastern town, Emily and Georgie returned home. There, they summoned Sarah into Mamma’s room and explained what had happened.
Sarah’s mouth fell ajar. “Good heavens!”
“What if they had blamed Georgie?” Mamma said, expression alarmed. “What if you were both called before the magistrate? Arrested?”
“We were not, Mamma,” Emily soothed. “I think the only one of us in serious danger of that was Billy Hook.”
