Page 47 of A Foolish Flirtation

“You were right,” Jeremy admitted. “The viscountess’s suite at Vance is in dire need of redecoration. I can’t think why it never occurred to me before.”

When Colfax appeared, he gave him brief instructions to have letters written to several prominent designers and decorators in London. “Have it stressed it is a matter of urgency and that they must come to Cornwall immediately if they accept the commission.”

Colfax accepted the task without complaint, despite having several more pressing matters in hand at present, including their imminent vacating of the premises. “Very well, milord,” he said, and disappeared again, intent on his task.

Jeremy turned back to Atherton, who was watching him with an amused look on his face. “What?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Oh nothing,” his friend assured him. “I was just wondering where your viscountess is going to camp out while you have her rooms made ready for her.”

“I would have thought that was obvious,” Jeremy responded with a raised brow.

“However shall you bear the inconvenience?” Atherton drawled.

Jeremy could not quite hide his answering smile, however hard he tried.

10

It was past lunchtime by the time Jeremy’s carriage pulled into Winkworth Street. The ladies were ready for departure, and when he entered the hall, they were at the top of the stairs dressed in their hats and cloaks and laden down with overnight bags.

“Good morning,” Emmeline called down to him, shifting her bulky dressing case into her left arm and almost dropping her reticule.

By this point, Colfax had bounded up the stairs, and with a swift “I’ll take that, Lady Faris,” divested her of her dressing case, tucking it under his left arm, while simultaneously scooping Pinky’s walnut writing box out of her friend’s arms and tucking it under his right.

“So kind,” twittered Miss Pinson, turning on the step. “I’ll just go back up and fetch down my—”

“No need, Miss Pinson,” Jeremy called up from the foot of the stairs. “I have two burly fellows here employed to carry down your things. Please come down and join me.” He smiled up at Emmeline, who looked shy and flustered this morning, though she was trying to hide the fact.

The maid, Florrie, and even the landlady, an officious woman, seemed determined to get in the way this morning and by the time he had disentangled his bride, and managed to bundle her and her friend into the carriage, Emmeline looked both harried and apologetic.

“Will your men really be able to oversee the last of the packing?” she asked anxiously, peering out of the carriage window to where a wagon stood waiting for the last few bits of furniture.

“Undoubtedly. Do not give it another thought.”

She heaved a great sigh of relief and settled back into her seat. “Well,” she said brightly, “we have never made a move with so little fuss and botheration, have we, Hannah?”

Her friend agreed. “It was so easy that I feel almost uneasy, if that makes sense,” Miss Pinson admitted, glancing over her shoulder at the disappearing view of Winkworth Street.

“Have you moved lots of times?” Teddy asked, stirring with interest from where he sat on the seat beside his father. He had not ventured into number six, and he looked pale and wan, as though yesterday’s excitement might have taken a toll on his recovering health.

“Oh yes, we’re quite old hands by this point,” Emmeline answered lightly. “Last time we had to push a handcart through the streets of Bath with our cases and trunks. Do you remember, Hannah? It was difficult to steer but fortunately we had only moved ten minutes away.”

Miss Pinson shuddered at the memory, but Teddy looked intrigued. “I bet I could have steered it,” he put in with confidence. “Have you still got it?”

Emmeline shook her head and smiled. “We only hired it for that morning’s work.”

“I have a pony and a gig of my own at Vance Park,” Teddy boasted. “I drive it all around the estate, but Papa says I cannot go down to Penarth unaccompanied, so I have to take a groom.”

“What a very lucky boy you are,” she responded. “I should have loved such a thing at your age.”

“I could take both of you for a ride, if you like,” Teddy offered generously. “It would have to be one at a time though, as the gig only fits two people.” Emmeline thanked him but Miss Pinson looked hesitant, so Jeremy assured them his son was quite proficient and could be trusted in the driver’s seat.

The next few hours passed amicably enough. Teddy was an enthusiastic conversationalist and displayed his tendency to monopolize any subject, however obscure. When he finally grew quiet, Jeremy suggested he put his feet up on the seat and a cushion behind his head, but he spiritedly refused this and grew quite fractious, insisting he was not an infant in need of such things.

Jeremy accepted this without argument, but when his son’s eyelids began to droop, he was quick to maneuver him into a prone position, unlace his boots, and drape a blanket over him. “Fast asleep,” he murmured. “I knew he would succumb before long.” Emmeline returned his smile, her eyes soft as she looked at the sleeping boy.

“His illness must have been hard on you both,” she commented.

“Yes, but he is generally moody and difficult when he is tired,” he admitted. Seeing Miss Pinson gulp, he was quick to draw her attention to Teddy’s angelic appearance in sleep.