Page 31 of Love Set Apart
“You must come to visit us.” The invitation was cordial and seemed sincere. “Once we are married we will leave right away. I have business to attend to and I’ve been away too long.”
“When is the wedding?” Edna hadn’t been too worried about that, but it seemed Matteo was already making plans to head home.
“In one week’s time,” he replied.
“So soon,” Edna said. It was a lot sooner than she’d originally thought.
“Not so soon. As I’ve said I have business to attend to. If I stay here much longer it will be a disaster.”
Edna snuck a peek at Angus, who raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“If you’ll excuse me. I must speak with Her Highness,” Matteo said.
“Of course.” Edna watched him walk away and once he was out of earshot, grabbed Angus by the arm and steered him towards the doors to the garden. “Angus, we doona have as much time as I thought. We’ve got to get Emilie to visit her father. Perhaps I can talk some sense into him.”
“Agreed. She’s no’ here tonight. Ye’ll have to speak with her in the morning.”
“We’ll need to make arrangements right away.”
“I’m always at the ready,” Angus said with a wink.
Edna couldn’t help but laugh. “Stop being such a tease.”
“I wish we knew how to do these fancy dances. I’d love to take ye for a whirl around the dance floor.”
Angus looked at Edna with such a sweet look of disappointment that she almost wanted to give the dances a try, but then thought better of it. “We doona want to embarrass ourselves now, do we?”
Angus snorted out a laugh.
Edna giggled on hearing it. “We can embarrass ourselves in our room at the inn with our own music and our own dance.”
“How much longer do we have to stay?” Angus asked sounding eager to be on their way.
“We can go any time ye like.”
He held his arm out for Edna. “Now would be good.”
“And we’ll dance when we get there?” Edna teased.
Angus pulled her close. “Do ye even need to ask?”
8
“Ye dinna tell me the wedding was to be in a week,” Edna said to Emilie. They stood in the courtyard outside of the palace doors.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know the date had changed. Marie told me last night before the reception.”
“Is that why ye dinna attend?” Edna was concerned for Emilie’s health. She was looking quite pale this morning.
“Yes. Matteo wants to get back home and he doesn’t want to wait for my father to be able to attend the wedding.”
Edna knew it was time to take action. She’d thought there would be more time, but things had changed and now they had a deadline that was swiftly approaching. “Me dear, we must visit yer father right away.”
“I know.” Emilie twisted the edges of her cloak between her fingers. Her anxiety was apparent to anyone who took the time to notice. “I was so angry when I last saw him. I must apologize for my behavior. I hope he will forgive me.” Sadness and devastation flowed from her words and through her appearance.
Edna took her hand, patting it gently as she spoke. “He loves ye, Emilie. I’m sure he’ll forgive ye. Angus and I will escort ye today. It is important that we see him right away. We’ll arrange for a carriage. If we’re lucky it will be here shortly.”
“I must tell Marie and pack a few things. It will only take a moment.” She hurried back inside while Edna waited and Angus went in search of a carriage.
