Page 61 of A Winter By the Sea
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Emily told herself not to wait in the hall for Charles. Not to appear so eager, so desperate. She forced herself to go into the library-office instead, even as her ears remained alert for sounds of him exiting Mamma’s room. She guessed what they were talking about and groaned. Why did it have to happen? If it had not, she might be engaged to Charles even now.Perhaps already married! Emily wished yet again that Lord Bertram had never come to May Hill. Never set eyes on her sister Claire.
She heard footsteps on the hall’s marble floor, and her pulse jumped. She hurried to the door, then slowed, trying to look casual.
But it was not Charles in the hall. It was James Thomson, freshly dressed in frock coat, waistcoat, and trousers.
He smiled softly when he saw her. “We meet again.”
“Mr. Thomson, are you ... going out?” Emily was torn between politeness and wanting to hurry him away so she might speak to Charles alone.
He walked closer, his smile fading into concern. “Are you all right? You look upset.”
“Do I? That is not the look I was hoping for.”
“Has something happened?”
“It’s ... well ... I have just had a surprise, that’s all. An unexpected visitor from home—our former home.”
His eyes narrowed as he studied her face. “A welcome visitor?”
Her reply came out in a breathy whisper. “I hope so.”
A door opened and another set of male footsteps sounded.
They turned in unison and watched Charles cross the hall. If anything, Mr. Thomson looked more surprised to see him than Emily had been.
“Parker,” he muttered.
Charles’s eyes widened. “Thomson. What the devil are you doing here?”
“I live here.”
“Live here? You must be joking.” Charles glanced at her, then at Thomson standing close to her, and his brow furrowed.
“Temporarily at any rate,” Mr. Thomson amended. “I am a guest, along with a few other members of the Duke of Kent’s staff.”
“Ah. Miss Georgiana said some of his staff were lodging here. And what is your position with him?”
“Private secretary with oversight of charities.”
“Secretary, hm? Thought you intended to take up the law.”
Emily stood there, witnessing this unexpected reunion with astonishment. The men’s stiff postures, measuring looks, and stilted tones told Emily theirs had not been a particularly warm friendship.
“And you, Parker. What is your profession? A man of leisure, I expect, as eldest son?”
“Not at all. I have been busy learning all I can about estate matters and endeavoring to improve our properties and farm methods. My father’s health is not all it once was, so I have already taken over much of the day-to-day management.”
“Yet here you are.”
“We spent Christmas with my sister, then came to the coast hoping for a reprieve from winter. My father’s physician thought the sea air might do him good.”
“I hope it does. Have you taken rooms here at Sea View?”
“No. We are at one of the hotels. But we are old friends of the Summerses, so I called to pay my respects.”
“That is quite a coincidence.”
