Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
“I didn’t get much chocolate in America. My family is large and very close, but we aren’t wealthy people. My father is a hard worker and always made sure we never went without, but I had never seen the side of life Alfred has shown to me. It is a miracle he still wanted to marry me after giving me my first chocolate on but our second outing. I must have looked like a wild animal given a fresh piece of meat. It had been the most wonderful thing I’d ever tasted. I knew I loved him then.”
Whitney was hanging on every word of Aunt Harriet’s story. I smiled as we climbed the stairs, wondering how long it was going to take for her to realize Aunt Harriet wasn’t wearing slippers or stockings. I had mentioned that habit to her in my letters, but she was so overwhelmed with everything on her arrival, I doubted very much she was thinking about our Aunt’s feet at the moment.
“That’s a lovely story,” Whitney said. “You married for love then? It wasn’t a match made by your father?”
Aunt Harriet laughed loudly. “My daddy knew better than to marry me off to a man of his choosing. He had raised his daughters to be strong and independent. When I met your uncle, he never said one word against him. He simply told me he wanted me to be happy. When your uncle asked him for my hand in marriage, he replied, ‘If she wants to marry you then yes. But I’ll be givin’ her to you to protect and provide for. The day you decide you don’t wanna do that no more or the day that mouth of sass makes you so angry you want to slap it, you just bring her on back to me. Don’t ever hurt my girl or that day will be your last. Make no mistake ‘bout that.’”
I had never heard this story, and like Whitney, I was paused at the top of the stairs, listening to Aunt Harriet talk with a strange accent as she repeated her father’s words.
“Your father said that?” Whitney asked, sounding as amazed as I was.
Aunt Harriet nodded. “Of course he did. He told the same thing to my five sisters’ husbands as well.” Then she began walking down the long hallway toward the door that would be Whitney’s.
Whitney looked over at me with wide eyes full of wonder. She had never been around anyone as colorful as Aunt Harriet. If that story entertained her, there were more where it came from. I was so happy to have her close to me again. Thinking of all I had to show her and all I wanted her to experience in London made my heart feel lighter than it had in years.
She was going to love it here.
Chapter Twenty-One
Earl of Ashington
Laughter rang down the staircase followed by Alice’s voice of correction. They were leaving two days early to go to the country and get settled in. I had struggled with this decision for several days, not sure if it was best for Emma to remain here or accompany me to Chatwick Hall. Leaving her here meant that anyone could stop by and there was that small chance she could be visible, even if the visitor never made it past the door. Nicholas being my primary concern.
Taking her with me could mean that she would need to be explained to the Wellingtons and to Miriam. In truth, I would need to test the ground with Miriam and Emma soon enough. See how Miriam responds to the idea that I have a ward and I would expect my future wife to aid me in proper rearing of Emma. However, I did feel it could be much too soon for that introduction just yet. I was still getting to know Miriam and now this was a chance to spend time with not only her but her sister, aunt and uncle. I knew little of them and they would be a part of her life. For Emma’s sake, I must measure all their worth. Relying on an attraction to a beautiful woman was not enough.
In the end, I had decided taking Emma to the country, but not keeping her inside Chatwick Hall, would be my best way to protect her. There was a former Dowager house on the grounds that hadn’t been occupied since my grandmother resided there. I had sent to have it spruced up and staffed for Alice and Emma. It sat far enough back on the land that the small light it would give off at night would seem as if it were a neighboring home.
There were, of course, holes in my plan, but of all my options, this was the one I was most comfortable with and having Emma close was important. I could protect her if she were there, while if she were here, I was too far away if someone were to see her, meaning I wouldn’t be able to do so. I hated having to keep her in this small bubble, but until I was married and the story was set into motion, she must live this way if I was to hope for her to have a future she deserved as a Compton.