Page 47 of To Heal a Broken Earl
Realizing his mouth hung open and he was staring, Michael closed it and looked to his two friends who had entered the room with him. “Wright, Armstrong… Are either ofyoucelebrating a birthday today?” he quipped, his brow arched even as he felt his face flush at all the attention.
“No, not me. Are you, Wright?” Armstrong said, his expression neutral.
“Um. I suppose, looking at the spread of treats and food on the table, I should claim it, but my birthday’s still several months off. Could it beyours, Michael?” Wright asked innocently.
“It’s your birthday, Lord Michael!” Katie shouted with a happy squeal of delight, clapping her hands. “We fooled him, Auntie!”
“Woof! Woof!” Finn barked.
Michael looked at Emma. Her glowing smile nearly took his breath away. She was wearing a blue muslin gown that made her violet eyes shimmer, and her lush hair was up in a simple style that only enhanced her beauty. “You did all of this for me?” He took in everyone, realizing Emma couldn’t have done this without help. “All of you? You did this?”
Cheers and well-wishes echoed from the group.
“I don’t know what to say,” he said.
“Say thank you and let’s get on with it,” Wright said. “Just looking at all this food has my mouth watering—oh, are those deviled eggs, Mrs. Pepper?”
The short, rotund woman smiled, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she nodded knowingly. “Ah, your favorite, I see. But patience is a virtue, dear Lord Wright; you’ll have to wait a little longer before indulging.”
Michael laughed at the cook’s deft handling of his best friend. Wright was known for indulging in a few favorite foods when he visited, and Michael suspected he’d had a hand in getting his cook to make deviled eggs—admittedly, a tasty treat. “Thank you…all of you. This is a surprise…a wonderful surprise,” he said, his voice husky with emotion. He was moved by the efforts they had gone to in planning this surprise. Hell, he’d even forgotten itwashis birthday.
“Can we cut the cake?” Katie asked. “Oops, I forgot.” She looked up at her aunt, who looked at Wright.
Wright smiled and plucked glasses of champagne from a footman’s tray for Michael, Armstrong, and himself. Other footmen had circulated champagne among the rest of the guests gathered in the room, while Katie was given a glass of lemonade.
Lifting his glass high, Wright launched into a toast:
“Happy birthday, my dear friend.
May good health and everyday cheer,
Be with you every day and every year.
May fortune smile upon you with every new day.
And blessings surround you, whether you’re blond or gray!”
“Where did that blessing come from?” Armstrong teased. “Especially the last line.”
“Just another one of my many talents,” Wright said, flashing a sly smile. “I’ve been known to craft a poetic line or two. I’m not just a pretty face, you know.”
“Do you like your surprise, Lord Michael?” Katie said, hopping up and down with excitement.
Michael crouched down, barely wincing, thanks to the salve that Hastings had been massaging into his leg over the past few days. “I loved it,” Michael said, kissing the top of Katie’s head and scratching Finn behind the ears.
“Finn was really good at keeping the secret, weren’t you, Finn?” Katie said, patting the dog’s head.
Finn gave a woof of agreement.
“Indeed,” Michael said as he picked up the little girl. “You were all very good at keeping the secret.” His eyes met Emma’s, and he winked at her, enjoying the pretty blush that tinted her cheeks.
“Did you see my sign?” Katie asked, pointing up.
“I did, Katie,” he said, chuckling. The sign was so big it would be visible from the other side of the estate. “It’s truly a masterpiece. I’d love to leave it hanging here for a while, if that’s all right with you.”
She hugged him. “It’s a present for you. Well, one of the presents.”
Michael hugged the little girl back. “Thank you, Katie. I will cherish it.”
