Page 23 of To Heal a Broken Earl
“No. Your money is no good here, and truly, we aren’t talking about a large expense. You are doing me a big favor overseeing the refurbishment of the rooms, and you will also need suitable clothing,” he said, running his hand through his hair. “I’m afraid I must insist on the wardrobe, Emma. You need clothes befitting your station.”
“I understand and agree to your requests. But may I make one of my own?” she asked.
“Certainly.” He wanted to make sure there would be no more discussions over what her role was in this house and was secretly thrilled she had agreed so easily to his requests.
“Stanhope pointed out the door to the attic, and I was hoping I could find time, later today, perhaps, to explore it. I would be interested in finding some of the original fabrics used in the house, and perhaps even original drawings of the house. Some of those fabrics, I think, are still hanging on windows, and I like them. I thought it might be useful, and you might favor the colors and fabrics. It would save on expenses—even though you’ve indicated there is plenty of money to work with, I like to economize where I can.”
Michael smiled, feeling a real sense of relief. “That’s a fine idea, and I agree to your request. For now, I’d like to finish walking through some of the rooms that need attention, so you can think of the order of their transition.” He glanced at theclock on the mantel. “I am expecting a messenger, but should have time later today to take a look in the attic.”
~*~
Chapter Nine
Later that afternoon
“Auntie, can Finn and me play with that stack of hats in the corner?” Katie asked, with the dog thumping his tail next to her in the attic.
“Finn andI,” Emma said. She didn’t correct her niece’s grammar too often—Katie was a bright child, but sometimes in her excitement, she forgot. Emma looked at Michael, who nodded in agreement. “I think it should be fine, sweetie. Just remember to shake the dust off the hat before putting it on your head or Finn’s. Dust can make you sneeze, and then you’d need another bath.” She winked at her niece.
“Oh, not another bath. I’mclean!” Katie said.
“Well, be just as careful with Finn, or we’ll have to bathe him again, too.”
Finn seemed to make his objection known by getting down on his back legs and covering his eyes with his front paws, making them laugh.
“We’ll be careful, won’t we, Finn?” Katie looked at the dog, who gave a soft woof. “See, Auntie? He will be careful, too. I’ll be extra careful to shake the hats. I’ll even shake my hair after, and Finn will do the same. Right, Finn?”
Finn gave another woof.
“Well then, that should be fine,” Emma said. “We’ll be just over there, by the window, sorting through the trunks and the furniture.”
As she and Michael made their way to the other side of the large attic, Emma looked over her shoulder and noticed thatKatie was, indeed, shaking the hats. She bit her lip to keep from chuckling out loud. She didn’t want to wash Katie’s hair again today. Yesterday, Katie and Finn had been playing in the garden while Doris watched over them. Katie came back into the house with a head full of yellow pollen from whatever flowers she had been playing in, which required a head-to-toe bath. Even Finn required an additional cleaning.
“Why don’t we start with this?” Michael suggested, opening the lid of a large, domed trunk.
“Oh my, what a treasure trove,” Emma said, eyeing the many items wrapped carefully inside in thin muslin and tied with silk ribbon that had faded over time.
“I can ask one of the maids to do it for you if it’s too much,” Michael said.
“Don’t you dare,” Emma said in a mock-angry tone. “And take away my fun?” She gave him a cheeky smile.
Michael chuckled. “Well then, let’s go through some of this. If we find more than a few things we can use, I’ll ask several of the lads to carry everything outside so it can be properly cleaned and washed.”
“Good idea. Oh my! Look at this lovely gilt-bronze mantel clock,” Emma said, pulling back some tissue paper covering the clock.
“I could be mistaken, but I think that’s an Ormolu clock. I recall seeing one at my grandfather’s home when I was younger,” Michael said.
Emma turned to him. “Do you think this could be the same clock? It was packed with special care. Do you think it could have a special meaning, perhaps a wedding present?”
“I don’t know. They might have had several throughout their estates. But that’s an interesting idea,” Michael said as he unwrapped some matching candlesticks. “These must havebeen gifts—perhaps a birthday or another special occasion—to be packed so carefully.”
“Those would look lovely over the mantel in the parlor,” Emma said, fingering the finish on the clock. “What an amazing find.” She couldn’t wait to see what else the trunk held and carefully moved the clock aside before picking up another package.
This one felt light and delicate. When she finally removed the first layer of paper, she realized it was two glasses. “These could be from a very special occasion—maybe a wedding!” exclaimed Emma, delicately unwrapping the tissue from two fluted champagne glasses, engraved with Michael’s family crest. “And they’re signed by Baccarat.”
“I’m familiar with Baccarat from my time in France. They do beautiful work, although I had no reason to purchase any,” Michael said. “These probably belonged to my grandfather and grandmother. He never remarried after she died. Uncle Robert told my sister it was a love match—something rather unusual intonmarriages. I never gave it much thought, but perhaps this is the evidence of their love union.”
Emma gazed up at him and smiled. “We may have found their silverware,” she said, holding up a spoon, also with the family crest on it. “One day, I’d like to travel to France,” she said longingly, re-placing the fluted glasses in the corner of the trunk. “Look. There’s more.” She picked up a wooden box and opened it. “This contains cutlery and silverware. I believe your grandmother may have packed this trunk. Several things in here are the types of things a mother would pass down to her daughter.”
