Page 45 of Choosing Her Earl at Last
Michael and Colin stood, inclining their heads in respect to both ladies. “We shall send word if we find anything at the Green Dragon Tavern.”
“Please, go with care,” Emmeline urged them both.
“We will,” Michael promised, then turned and left the room.
Louisa turned to Emmeline, a spark of excitement in her eyes. “Perhaps your father’s treasure map and Rebecca’s disappearance are tied together after all.”
“Perhaps,” Emmeline mused, but she was not certain. Somewhere deep inside of her, she wondered if this was her father’s way of bringing her and Michael back together. “Perhaps it is his apology from beyond the grave.”
Chapter 20
“That was unsuccessful,” Colin grumbled as he and Michael exited the Green Dragon Tavern. The elusive Mr. G was out of town at the moment, according to the tavern keeper’s wife, and would not be returning for several days. Michael had bribed the woman to say nothing of their visit to Mr. G or his associates. “Do you think that she will keep to her word about not telling anyone?”
Michael shook his head. “Probably not, but it was the only option available to us. We do not wish for Mr. G to flee the country without giving us the information that we need first. Our only recourse now is to see what we can discover about the art theft at Ravenshollow.”
“Perhaps said art thefts are the reason for Mr. G’s absence,” Colin offered, as they walked back toward Michael’s London townhouse.
They were both being careful to make certain that they were not followed, taking illogical circuitous routes. They had even dressed in disguise as per Mr. Hardy’s instructions. Mr. Hardy had remained behind in the tavern to see if the tavern keeper’s wife had been telling the truth. He had entered separately from Michael and Colin, blending into the tavern’s regular clientele. He did not ask any questions, simply observed from a distance so as not to be identified with Michael’s inquiries.
“Perhaps.” Michael nodded in agreement. “Either way, Mr. Hardy will send word the moment that he has any new information.”
“A good man to have around, that Mr. Hardy,” Colin mused. “Mr. Frampton was fortunate to have hired him.”
Michael nodded in agreement. “If it were anyone else besides the Frampton ladies, I would steal him away.”
Colin laughed. “I had the same thought, but for Rebecca and me when we are wed.”
“Confident that she will say yes, are you?” Michael asked, amused.
“I am.” Colin nodded. His face grew sorrowful. “The thought of our happily wedded life together is the only thing that is helping me to get through this situation.”
“I understand,” Michael reassured him, laying a loving hand on his cousin’s shoulder. “We will find her, Colin. Do not lose hope. We are closer now than we were before.”
Colin nodded. “I could almost feel her when we were in the tavern as if she were about to walk through the door at any moment.”
Michael sighed. “I remember feeling that way after Emmeline left. I would walk the grounds of Ravenshollow and expect her to appear around a tree at any moment, her whisky amber eyes smiling up at me.”
Colin gave his cousin a surprised look. “That is quite poetic of you, cousin. I did not know that you had such a romantic soul.”
Michael laughed. “Have you seen my paintings?”
Colin laughed in return. “Touche!” He gave a mock fencing bow.
Michael shook his head in amusement. “I was not always the serious man that you see before you today.”
“I remember.” Colin gave him a sympathetic look. “I miss the old you.”
“As do I, my dear cousin. As do I.”
“How do you think that your parents will respond to having Emmeline under their roof once more?”
Michael frowned in thought for a moment. “I do not know. I assume that they will treat her as they would any guest with kindness and hospitality.”
“How do you feel about it?” Colin watched Michael from the corner of his eye.
Michael sighed. “I do not know. I thought that I had buried my feelings for Emmeline and my heart with it, but recent events have shown me a different side of the story that has left me feeling confused and uncertain.”
“A state that you are not at all comfortable with,” Colin noted.
