Page 63 of A Foolish Flirtation

Luncheon was duly taken in the blue salon. The blue silk wall panels were admired, as was the portrait of Jeremy’s mother in her frothy pink ballgown and pearls.

“Now I see just where you inherited your looks,” Emmeline commented.

“Except for his nose,” Teddy reminded her.

Mrs. Cheviot herself appeared accompanied by two of the housemaids to lay out an impressive spread of finger sandwiches and a variety of little iced cakes. Emmeline asked after her friend and the housekeeper responded that she and Miss Pinson had enjoyed a nice cozy chat over breakfast. “I was sorry to see her go, milady,” she said with a smile. “She was such good company.”

“Go?” Emmeline asked, sounding alarmed. She shot an interrogatory glance at Jeremy.

He set down his coffee cup. “I had Colfax escort Miss Pinson over to Somerton’s old cottage this morning to take a look at it. She will need to decide what needs to be done with the place to make it habitable. I felt sure she would want to see it as soon as possible.”

A thousand questions seemed to tremble on Emmeline’s lips. Finally, she settled for, “I would have liked to accompany her there. She may feel quite overwhelmed and need my support.”

“I think you underestimate her,” Jeremy responded coolly. “Don’t you think she would rather show you around her new home once she feels mistress of it?” She opened her mouth to deny this, then seemed to reconsider, shutting it again. “Just as you can show her around this place now you have the lay of it,” he added with satisfaction.

“Where is Somerton Cottage?” Teddy asked with a frown. “I don’t know that one.”

“Somerton was the gamekeeper who last resided there. I forget its actual name.” He turned to Mrs. Cheviot, who turned to one of the maids.

“Gladys, your uncle lives in one of those gamekeeper’s cottages, doesn’t he?”

Jeremy helped himself to another sandwich, ignoring the suspicious glint in Emmeline’s eye on hearing they were considered cottages for gamekeepers not governesses.

“Oh yes, Mrs. Cheviot,” Gladys replied, “in the little house at the end. Oak Tree Cottage, uncle’s is called, they’re all named after trees in that lane. Now let me see, was it Elm Tree Cottage? Or Fir Tree?” She shook her head. “I couldn’t rightly say. Beg pardon, milord.” She bobbed an apologetic curtsey.

“It’s of no matter, Gladys,” he said. “I’m sure Miss Pinson will give us all the details on her return. She can fill us in over dinner.” He turned to Mrs. Cheviot. “We will dine formally this evening, Mrs. Cheviot.”

“Oh yes, milord, of course,” she said, having clearly anticipated as much. “Will her ladyship wish to look over the menu with me this afternoon?” she asked hopefully.

Jeremy hesitated. He had intended to show Emmeline the rest of the rooms on the second floor but clearly the housekeeper was bursting to show her new mistress the more practical side of the house. Perhaps that would be better, he reflected, before deciding just to ask.

“Emmeline, now that you have seen all the reception rooms here at Vance, how would you like Mrs. Cheviot to give you an overview of the kitchens and servants’ quarters this afternoon?”

She smiled at Mrs. Cheviot. “That would be most agreeable,” she acquiesced, and Jeremy fancied the servants would have a much easier time of it with his second wife than they had with his first.

“Excellent.”

“But Papa, I wished to show Mama my nursery!” Teddy objected.

“There may still be time for that after, my son.”

“If there is, then I shall certainly ask Mrs. Cheviot to bring me to the nursery as soon as we are done,” Emmeline promised.

Seemingly satisfied with this, Teddy returned to his jam tart.

Jeremy spent the afternoon writing notes to various people he needed to see after his Bath sojourn, primarily his estate manager and his man of business. Then there was his sister, Mina, of course, he thought, hesitating, pen in hand.

He would need to break the news of his marriage to her and Nye before much longer. It would not do for them to learn he was married from anyone else. He should really tell them in person. Could he invite them to dine with him tonight?

Though Mina had now visited him at Vance a few dozen times, he had never succeeded in getting Nye to set foot in the place. Despite the unlikelihood of their accepting, he ended up dashing off an invitation anyway.

Dearest Mina and Nye,

Teddy and I have returned to Vance. Momentous news to impart. Come to dinner tonight at seven if you can. Family only. Feel free to bring my nephew with you. I can send a carriage if required. Let Colfax have your response.

Your affectionate brother,

J.V.