Page 69 of Sense and Suitability
Charlotte didn’t respond immediately, but Emme could feel the girl’s focus shift toward her, even as she continued gathering fruit. The silence felt familiar—Emme had a younger sister, after all—and she braced herself for the inevitable question.
“Why are you helping us?”
“Why am I helping you?” Emme returned her attention to the fruit she plucked from the current bush, sifting through a suitable answer in her mind. “I should hope I would offer Christian charity to any of my acquaintances who found themselves in need.”
“But I don’t know of anyone who has gone to such lengths for us. Not even Aunt Aggie would offer to find us a governess, and you not only provided one but brought us on this outing with you today.”
The little girl was too astute for her own good, which also led Emme to truly examine her own motives. Was it solely Christian charity? There was, of course, her lingering affection for Simon, butthere was more to it. The shared ache of knowing what it was to lose a mother at an impressionable age, perhaps? “Must there be any reason beyond kindness?”
Emme should have known better than to further this subject of conversation, because Charlotte, after only a moment’s hesitation, asked, “Because you’re in love with my brother?”
The question landed with all the bluntness of youth, and Emme’s breath caught. Denying the truth outright would feel dishonest, but admitting too much was unthinkable. She drew a steadying breath and met Charlotte’s gaze with equal frankness. “I do admire your brother greatly—for his resilience, for all he has done to see your family through difficult times. Perhaps that admiration inspires my efforts to help.” She hesitated, then added, “But I also understand the ache of losing one’s mother, and at a similar age to yours.”
Charlotte blinked, and Emme returned her attention to the berries, fearing her confidence might waver. “Every girl benefits from the kindness of someone who understands—someone to, well, commiserate with at times.” She threw the girl a smile.
“Is that why you didn’t tell Aunt Aggie I’d stolen those chickens?”
Emme’s body relaxed at the humor lighting the girl’s eyes. “Having been a young girl who had her fair share of mischief, I felt it better to encourage a camaraderie than a rivalry.”
Charlotte’s own smile flared, a mischievous twinkle in those eyes. “It was very good of you.” Then she turned back to her strawberry bush, adding in almost a whisper. “But Aunt Aggie already knew about the chickens.”
Emme’s laughter bubbled up, and with it, her resolve to continue helping the Reeves children. Simon, as a romantic prospect, was lost to her. But doing a good turn for a man she so highly regarded and his siblings she was beginning to care for? That, at least, remained within her power.
“I should like very much for you to teach me how to plant strawberries,” Charlotte announced, a little challenge in her look.
Ah, she didn’t believe Emme’s request was in earnest? Well, Emme saw the request for what it was. More than just mere curiosity—it was an olive branch. Perhaps even a plea for the companionship and guidance of an elder sister.
“I have some seeds at the ready.” Emme covered Charlotte’s hand with a gentle squeeze. The girl’s smile flared, bright and unguarded. “Speak to your brother and see if he might spare you on Saturday afternoon.”
Charlotte’s expression shifted—wide-eyed surprise, as though the touch had been both unexpected and welcome—and then, a look of... longing?
Oh, dear child.
How long had it been since the girl felt such affection? Such care?
Emme turned back to her work just to compose herself.
The afternoon sped forward with continued conversations of lighter topics. Alfie and Fia gathered enough insects to colonize the back garden, and Aster’s guileless interest even encouraged Mrs. Thornbury to laugh on two occasions.
Overall, Emme would call the outing a complete success.
When the time came to leave, Emme was surprised to find Simon himself, along with his driver, at the helm of the carriage.
For a journey requiring six passengers, the arrangement should have been tedious at best. But with three of the travelers being children, they all fit snugly yet comfortably, and the short drive to Thistlecroft passed in pleasant company. Fia praised Alfie and his knowledge of insects, while Aster launched into an impressively thorough explanation of Egyptian pyramids. Mrs. Thornbury added her own sly remark about visiting Egypt before Napoleon’s campaign, promptingan avalanche of questions and admiration that carried them all the way to Thistlecroft.
It truly had been a good afternoon, on all accounts.
Simon helped Aster from the carriage and then offered his hand to Emme. She shouldn’t have hesitated to take it, but he caught her faltering and raised his gaze to search her face. The last time he’d touched her hand to assist her from a carriage, she’d felt the connection from their fingers to her toes, and the reminder of not having him for her own only made such touches more difficult.
Ridiculously difficult, in fact.
Summoning a smile, she placed her gloved hand in his, acutely aware of the warmth of his fingers as they closed around hers. When her feet touched the ground, she managed a steady breath and a polite nod of thanks, quite proud of herself for such masterful composure.
“I trust Will enjoyed his time with you while we were away?” Emme asked, slipping her hand from his and strolling toward the house.
“He did, though I’ve promised him his share of strawberries once the baskets arrive at Ravenscross,” Simon replied, falling into step beside her.
“He should be quite satisfied then, as we picked three baskets.” Emme grinned up at him, only to falter as she caught the tender expression in his eyes.
