Page 25 of Tempting the Earl
“Good morning, Emily. You’re up and about early and looking radiant in your lovely yellow gown. How are you this morning?”
Emily was a firm believer that if you told yourself you were fine, you would have to believe it, so she put on a bravely cheerful face, and said, “I’m fine, thank you, Lady Clara, how did you sleep? Will you be going to break your fast downstairs this morning?”
“Oh, Emily, I don’t know if I can bear it, I think I will send Smitty down to the kitchen for a tray for me. Would you mind checking on things there for me?”
“It would be my pleasure, milady,” Emily lied graciously. “Do you have a preference as to what activities we should do today?”
“I have asked Cook to pack a picnic lunch for everyone. We could go to the old Abbey ruins and see the sights. We older ones can drive over in the buggy with the baskets and footmen, while the younger set can ride. Everyone will be happy to get out of the house, and I know you are anxious to get out on that horse again.”
“Oh, milady, that sounds like a wonderful scenario. Have you discussed it with everyone already? I didn’t notice.”
“Nearly everyone. I used it as a convenient topic of conversation throughout the day yesterday. Those I did speak with agreed that it sounds like a good time. Run along and check on the breakfast room. All the gentlemen were in agreement. The only ones I did not ask yet are the Eastwicks. If you see them, please pass the message that we will be leaving around the noon hour.”
“Yes milady, I shall see you then.”
By quarter to twelve o’clock all who would be joining in the fun that day had assembled in the front hall. The young ladies were all in becoming riding habits with jaunty hats set at dashing angles upon their brows, all the better to hide their gazes as they admired the gentlemen mingling about. The older set had caught the excitement as well and all were prepared to enjoy themselves as they set out to take the long way around in the buggies. Emily could barely contain her glee at the thought of riding again. It was one of the biggest joys in life in her opinion, and she could hardly wait to get started. In her excitement her eyes were twinkling and her cheeks rosy. Again Lady Eastwick’s sharp eye was upon her, but Emily just smiled at her before turning her back in busying herself with various preparations.
Everyone went out front to wait for the mounts the grooms were leading forward. Emily was already in love with the gentle horse provided for her by Lady Clara. Emily had not been riding much of late and was happy for the horse’s calm nature.
Lady Maude caught Lord Philip’s appreciative eye taking in the spectacle of a happy Emily in her element. Maude felt a green haze float before her eyes.How dare that simpleton of an earl pay more attention to the hired help than to me?she thought contemptuously.I’ll show them both,she continued viciously as she came up with a plan she thought would be effective.
The entire group on horseback set out closely clumped at first. They had begun to spread out when Emily found herself unexpectedly at the front of the pack. She had just turned in the saddle to make sure the younger girls were keeping up when Lady Maude brought her crop down on the rump of Emily’s mount. The surprised animal took off like a shot, almost unseating Emily in its fright. Her grip on the reins had been very loose and they were pulled from her hands as the horse stretched out into a gallop. Emily grabbed the mane and regained her balance.
Philip saw the entire by-play and felt his heart lodge in his throat at the danger Emily was in. His anger towards Lady Maude knew no bounds, and he felt an urge to take his crop to her in turn but caught himself just in time. The others were crying out in dismay as he urged his high-spirited horse into a gallop to chase after Emily.
By the time he caught up with her, Emily had lost her hat and most of her pins, and her glorious blonde curls were streaming out behind her. She had regained the reins by the time he pulled up beside her. He was amazed to hear her gleeful laughter ring out as she bent over her horse's neck and urged it to an even faster pace as tears streamed down her cheeks from the wind whipping across her face. They raced neck and neck across the open field revelling in the joy of being alive. Emily could feel her poor horse tiring as it was unfamiliar with such treatment, so she pulled back on the reins slightly as they neared the edge of the field. They slowed down to a canter and Emily’s laughter rang out again.
“That was the most exhilarating ride I have enjoyed in years!” she declared triumphantly.
“Have you gone mad?” demanded the outraged Philip, now that he realized she was safe and his fear could change to fury. “I was terrified you were going to be injured! Where did you learn to ride like that? If you weren’t such an excellent horsewoman, you could have been seriously hurt or even killed. I could ring that woman’s neck!” he concluded angrily as he realized who should be the true target of his ire. It crystallized in his heated mind that he would never be able to make Maude his countess, and he was at a loss as to what to do about his tumultuous feelings.
“Lord Philip, I’m all right. No harm done, see? Yes, it was a ridiculously stupid thing to do but no harm was done. As it turns out, I am an excellent rider,” she concluded laughingly. “So she was foiled. Now let’s go back and show the others I am fine. Poor Miss Ann is probably in hysterics by now,” Emily surmised accurately.
When she and Philip found the others it was a scene of chaos as Lord Marsden and Jane were trying with little success to comfort Ann, and Garfield was chastising Lady Maude. The Thorpe family and the rest of the group on horseback had turned their backs on Maude, visibly shunning her for the dangerous thing she had done.
Emily immediately dismounted and took Ann in her arms to comfort her. Lord Garfield met Lord Philip’s eyes valiantly and took responsibility for his sister’s vicious actions.
“I sincerely apologize for Maude’s stupidity. If you would like, I can escort her back to the house and we can pack up and be gone from your premises once our parents return.”
Maude made a sound of distress but did not contradict her brother. She seemed to realize that this time she had most definitely gone too far. Lord Philip could see that even she was shocked by what she had done.
“That will not be necessary, but please keep an eye on her. And keep her away from the other young ladies,” was Philip’s verdict, despite the disgust he now felt towards the woman.
He turned to see Emily comforting the younger ladies and wiping Ann’s cheeks with her own handkerchief.What an amazing woman,he thought to himself. He heard her gathering the young women to continue their day as she twisted her hair back into place and returned her hat to its previously jaunty state.
“Come along, ladies, I am perfectly fine. Not to worry. This little incident shall certainly not ruin our day. Lady Clara’s feelings shall be deeply hurt if she finds out we aren’t enjoying ourselves. My lords, please assist the ladies to mount back up. Let’s not waste any more of our precious time on such a beautiful day. If we do not hurry, your parents shall eat the entire picnic on us.” With that droll comment Jane, Ann, and Julia finally broke into laughter and the crisis passed.
Emily was uncomfortable by everyone’s attention. It would seem everyone wanted to marvel and admire her for her lack of anger or hysterics, but what she couldn’t help wondering why they had expected her to react badly. It would seem even Lady Maude was almost approving of the once disdained companion. Maude’s brother, Lord Garfield, gazed at Emily as though he had handed her his heart. Emily wondered how to depress such reactions on everyone’s part. She did not welcome the attentions in the least. She was nearly overcome with relief when Lord Marsden told a witty joke and the camaraderie returned to most of the little group. Most studiously ignored Lady Maude and she held herself icily apart from everyone, not even deigning to speak to her brother. Lord Fitzgerald extended himself to be an entertaining distraction for the girls who still seemed subdued by the thought of the danger Emily had been in. They were all determined to enjoy the day.
There were moments when one of the other girls seemed giddy from their fright, giggling more than was necessary, but it seemed to keep the mood lighter for everyone.
“How did you manage to keep your seat so admirably?” Lord Marsden asked Emily with a broad smile that she was impelled to return.
“It was most fortunate for me that my horse didn’t buck, for one thing,” Emily said with a chuckle that she hoped would lighten the mood. She had thought she had put the incident behind them all. It had been a dangerous thing Maude did and it could have resulted in serious injury for both Emily and her horse. “I also held on as though I had been glued,” she added with another light laugh and a shake of her head. “Have you had a chance to see that particular arch over there, my lord?” Emily asked, pointing to a spot several yards away. It wasn’t the most subtle way to turn the topic but it did the trick as the gentleman looked where she pointed and followed her urging.
After those few difficult moments, the day concluded successfully. The picnic was a delight and everyone enjoyed exploring the old ruins. After the picnic, the older ones and Lady Maude returned to the manor to rest up before dinner and the rest of the younger crowd continued to ride down to the village. After they were refreshed with a cool drink at the inn, they all rode back to Rosemount in high spirits.
Over dinner Emily was only slightly discomfited by the scrutiny she was again subjected to by some of the guests. Everyone was still highly curious about who she was and how she came to be the countess’ companion, and most had heard of the near miss she had endured that afternoon and were admiring her attitude. There was also a constant buzz about the ongoing gossip surrounding the missing peeress and the king’s search for her.
