Excerpt
“So James has promised to get Rose a puppy,” Emmie said, as Will chose a pair of fishing poles.
“He’s trying to make amends, I imagine, since George said they didn’t expect to see him again.”
“Even so. What if he decides he’s seen enough, and he bundles them off to God knows where?”
Will handed the poles to Edward. “I’m not certain he actually has a right to take them. I’ll send a few letters to solicitor friends, asking their opinions. Discreetly, of course.”
If Will was one thing, it was discreet. “Good. Until you hear from them, I intend to proceed as if nothing has changed except for the addition of one extremely inconvenient house guest.”
“I’d like to say it would be good for them all to be a family together, but I’m not so certain. And I hope my . . . distaste isn’t simply because we need George and Rose here. But yes, we need to continue seeking a family for them, until they tell us otherwise.” Hefting a bucket, Will took back the poles and headed for the kitchen door. “And now I’m off to talk about fish and gentlemanly behavior.”
Yes, that was good, proceeding as if nothing had altered. It hadn’t, yet, more or less. But promising a puppy to Rose—that was just underhanded. Emmie found Rose and Hannah in the morning room, and she leaned in. “Rose, I think you should begin with embroidering a rose. Hannah, will you help her choose thread colors? I’ll be back in just a moment.”
“Of course, ma’am.”
Emmie hurried outside and around the side of the house to the stable. A puppy. That was unfair. “Billet?” she called as she stepped inside the large building.
“Mrs. Pershing.” The head groom popped up from beside Willow in the mare’s stall.
“Billet, we are in need of two ponies,” she said, putting on her most confident smile. “Calm, suitable for George and Rose, and good-tempered. And we’ll need them today.”
“Today?” The groom squinted one blue eye. “That’s . . . Hmm. I’ve a prospect or two, I suppose. The beasties won’t come cheap if you want them now and already trained for children, though. The Hendersens’ve been looking to sell off their ponies and purchase some full-sized animals for their young ones.”
“Now is what matters. They’ve never ridden before, and I don’t want them terrified.” Or dreaming about a cottage full of puppies and eager to leave Winnover the moment their brother snapped his fingers. “If you purchase the animals from anyone we know, please make it clear the horses are for my visiting niece and nephew.”
With a nod he glanced past her toward the house. “Niece and nephew. As you say, ma’am.”
Yes, every additional lie made everything more complicated. But the children needed to be explained in a way that would not cause any gossip back in London. She’d managed it on paper for seven years, but actual children made the task trickier. And with the addition of James, it became nearly impossible. But these were the youngsters they’d chosen. And aside from keeping Winnover and Will’s employment intact, if ever any children deserved a chance at a better life, if was Rose and George Fletcher.
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