Page 38 of A Foolish Flirtation

“This veil is just as voluminous as a cloak,” Emmie responded. “Don’t worry.” Still, there was a decided nip in the air when they emerged into the street outside.

They soon spotted the carriage, and made for it, Colfax climbing down from beside the driver to open the door for them.

“Get a rug from under the seat for Lady Faris,” Jeremy instructed. Teddy was now fast asleep in his arms. Colfax retrieved a blanket and set it on the seat before handing first Emmie and then Pinky into the carriage. “Wrap it around your shoulders,” Jeremy advised, looking in. He watched Pinky help swath her in the blanket before turning back to Colfax. “Make sure you see them both inside,” he said and then stepped back.

The carriage pulled away and Emmie turned her head to watch her new husband walk toward a second carriage with Lord Atherton. “He said he will join me later,” Emmie said into the darkness of the carriage.

“Oh! At Winkworth Street?” Pinky sounded a little startled but then, quickly added, “After all, well, it is your wedding night, dear.”

“Yes,” Emmie agreed.

“And am I right in thinking we embark on the journey to Cornwall tomorrow?”

“Yes, tomorrow?” Emmie agreed hollowly. “Everything is moving so fast. I hope we have not overlooked anything too important.”

“I said the same to Lord Atherton,” Pinky admitted. “But he said we must not worry for—”

“He is not coming with us, is he?” Emmie asked in dismay, interrupting her.

Pinky blinked. “I do not think so,” she said. “At least, I did not form that impression. Is everything alright, dear?”

“Oh yes, of course,” Emmie hastened to assure her. “It’s just been such a busy day. I daresay I did not take everything in.”

“That is perfectly understandable, under the circumstances,” Pinky replied. “I am sure my head is all of a whirl, so I cannot even begin to imagine how yours must spin! But it was such a lovely reception,” she carried on wistfully. “So elegant and refined, and his lordship really thought of everything, did he not?”

“He did,” Emmie agreed weakly.

Pinky gazed down at her new umbrella and gloves. “And he seems a very conscientious parent,” she continued thoughtfully.

“Oh yes.” Emmie was more confident in that reply.

“It is very touching to see such a bond exist between father and son.”

Emmie agreed and before long they were pulling up at Winkworth Street. It was a little after nine, so they had to use Pinky’s latch key to open the door. “Oh,” she said, turning to Colfax. “I had better give you this for his lordship, as Florrie will have retired for the night.”

Pinky turned rather red as she said this, but Colfax took the key from her wordlessly standing to one side as they entered the building. “Good night,” Pinky called after him as the door closed. She still looked rather flustered. “Oh dear, I hope I did not make him feel awkward.”

Emmie did not reply, for as they were climbing the stairs, she was starting to wonder if she had misheard her new husband’s intention. Perhaps he had not said he would come tonight? After all, he had not repeated any such intention as the carriage had pulled away.

If they were leaving for Cornwall tomorrow, would it not make more sense for them all to have an early night? And why on earth would he want to spend a night at her lodgings, which were now barer and less welcoming than ever. Most of the furniture had been shipped and a good deal of her possessions were packed away into trunks and cases.

“Will you help me out of this gown?” she asked her friend once they were inside their rooms.

Pinky hesitated. “Will you not keep it on for your groom?”

Emmie blinked. The thought had not even occurred to her. “Do you think I should? I must own I would much rather get comfortable.”

“I’m sure you know best, dear,” Pinky said brightly. “I just thought, as he had so clear a vision of the dress that he might, well…” Her words trailed off.

“Want to remove it himself?” Emmie asked, realizing her friend’s meaning.

Pinky coughed. “Well, I don’t know that I would put it quite that way, dear,” she said delicately.

Emmie pulled a face. “This is not his first wedding,” she reminded Pinky. “He has done all this before, so I do not think he will be too disappointed. Who knows, once he reaches his lodgings, he may find himself too tired to drag himself back across town.”

Pinky looked doubtful but held her tongue, and together they managed to unfasten and remove Emmie’s layers of finery until she stood, freshly scrubbed and barefoot in her worn cotton nightdress, her fancy hair arrangement undone and any vestiges of glamor long gone.

“Go and ready yourself for bed now, Pinky dear. We have so much to do tomorrow and I can see you are trying not to yawn.”