Lady Emma's Campaign Read Online Free Page A
Author: Jennifer Moore
brother’s family, but the longing for a family of her own, for someone to love her, for Sidney was nearly unbearable. She still did not know how she would answer Lord Dewhurst. The letter she’d sent him a week ago simply told him that the family was adjusting to the loss of a close friend and that she would not be able to see him for a few days. It was unfair to expect him to wait indefinitely for her answer. She sighed as she walked down the stairs, still unsure of what to do.
She was surprised that William and Amelia were not waiting for her in the entry hall. Perhaps they were having a difficult time feeling ready to venture back into society as well.
Just as Emma had made up her mind to walk back up the stairs to retrieve them, the door knocker banged—rather loudly.
Emma stepped out of sight into the Morning Room off the entry hall. Who would call at such an hour?
Dawson, the butler hurried past, unaware of her presence, and opened the front door.
Hearing the sound of voices and activity, she peeked through the opening and was taken aback when she saw a group of sailors on the doorstep. A man who was apparently the leader asked to speak to “Captain Drake.”
“His lordship is preparing to leave for the evening,” Dawson said, “But if you would call back tomorrow—”
“It is extremely important, sir. If you would please tell him that Lieutenant Wellard of the HMS Venture is—”
“Mr. Wellard.” Emma jumped as William’s voice echoed through the entry hall. She turned to see him striding down the stairs.
Dawson stepped aside, opening the door wide for the men to enter. The sailors crowded into the hall. Two of the officers were dressed in navy blue uniforms, and the other two soldiers wore the red jackets of marines. They were accompanied by a young boy, who could not be older than thirteen.
Emma stepped back into the shadows where she wouldn’t be seen but had a clear view.
William greeted each man by name. “Lieutenant Wellard, Corporal Ashworth, Corporal Thorne, and I see that you’ve received your white lapels, Mr. Fairchild. Congratulations, Lieutenant.” He shook their hands before turning to the boy and clapping him on the shoulder. “And Master Riley. Welcome.” William’s tone was subdued.
Emma imagined it was difficult for him to see his old shipmates, who were also mourning for their captain.
Lieutenant Wellard spoke. “Sir, I apologize for the lateness of the visit. But we felt that it could not wait. We have come about Captain Fletcher.”
Hearing Sidney’s name, Emma felt a fresh wave of tears rush to prickle behind her eyes.
William’s face fell. When he spoke, his voice had taken on a monotone sound. “Yes, I read of it in the Times . Thank you for coming yourselves to inform me of his passing.”
“No, sir. It is a mistake.” Riley said. “We need—”
The boy was interrupted by a cry from the top of the stairs. Amelia rushed down into the entry hall. “Corporal Ashworth! Riley!” She embraced each of the men in turn. “What a wonderful surprise. Please, come up to the drawing room. Dawson, have Mrs. Hatfield send tea and cakes for our guests.”
The lieutenant looked to William, who nodded, and the group made their way up the stairs.
Emma followed, curious about the visitors, and even more curious about their news. What had the boy, Riley, meant when he said it was a mistake? Was he referring to Sidney? Was there more information concerning his death? When she stepped into the drawing room, the men stood, and Amelia motioned for her to join them.
“Please, may I introduce my sister, Lady Emma Drake,” William said.
Emma nodded to the men and then quickly took a seat near Amelia.
Mrs. Hatfield delivered tea, and Emma and Amelia set about pouring and distributing cups and plates.
William did not wait for the guests to be served their refreshment. “Let us dispense with the formalities. What news do you bring?”
Lieutenant Wellard began to speak
She was surprised that William and Amelia were not waiting for her in the entry hall. Perhaps they were having a difficult time feeling ready to venture back into society as well.
Just as Emma had made up her mind to walk back up the stairs to retrieve them, the door knocker banged—rather loudly.
Emma stepped out of sight into the Morning Room off the entry hall. Who would call at such an hour?
Dawson, the butler hurried past, unaware of her presence, and opened the front door.
Hearing the sound of voices and activity, she peeked through the opening and was taken aback when she saw a group of sailors on the doorstep. A man who was apparently the leader asked to speak to “Captain Drake.”
“His lordship is preparing to leave for the evening,” Dawson said, “But if you would call back tomorrow—”
“It is extremely important, sir. If you would please tell him that Lieutenant Wellard of the HMS Venture is—”
“Mr. Wellard.” Emma jumped as William’s voice echoed through the entry hall. She turned to see him striding down the stairs.
Dawson stepped aside, opening the door wide for the men to enter. The sailors crowded into the hall. Two of the officers were dressed in navy blue uniforms, and the other two soldiers wore the red jackets of marines. They were accompanied by a young boy, who could not be older than thirteen.
Emma stepped back into the shadows where she wouldn’t be seen but had a clear view.
William greeted each man by name. “Lieutenant Wellard, Corporal Ashworth, Corporal Thorne, and I see that you’ve received your white lapels, Mr. Fairchild. Congratulations, Lieutenant.” He shook their hands before turning to the boy and clapping him on the shoulder. “And Master Riley. Welcome.” William’s tone was subdued.
Emma imagined it was difficult for him to see his old shipmates, who were also mourning for their captain.
Lieutenant Wellard spoke. “Sir, I apologize for the lateness of the visit. But we felt that it could not wait. We have come about Captain Fletcher.”
Hearing Sidney’s name, Emma felt a fresh wave of tears rush to prickle behind her eyes.
William’s face fell. When he spoke, his voice had taken on a monotone sound. “Yes, I read of it in the Times . Thank you for coming yourselves to inform me of his passing.”
“No, sir. It is a mistake.” Riley said. “We need—”
The boy was interrupted by a cry from the top of the stairs. Amelia rushed down into the entry hall. “Corporal Ashworth! Riley!” She embraced each of the men in turn. “What a wonderful surprise. Please, come up to the drawing room. Dawson, have Mrs. Hatfield send tea and cakes for our guests.”
The lieutenant looked to William, who nodded, and the group made their way up the stairs.
Emma followed, curious about the visitors, and even more curious about their news. What had the boy, Riley, meant when he said it was a mistake? Was he referring to Sidney? Was there more information concerning his death? When she stepped into the drawing room, the men stood, and Amelia motioned for her to join them.
“Please, may I introduce my sister, Lady Emma Drake,” William said.
Emma nodded to the men and then quickly took a seat near Amelia.
Mrs. Hatfield delivered tea, and Emma and Amelia set about pouring and distributing cups and plates.
William did not wait for the guests to be served their refreshment. “Let us dispense with the formalities. What news do you bring?”
Lieutenant Wellard began to speak