Page 82 of A Foolish Flirtation

“Yes, I think I would like that too,” she responded solemnly, surprising him. Jeremy blinked. Who was it who said she was a conventional creature? He could not recall at this precise moment.

Impulsively, he walked back out into the corridor and looked left then right for a passing maid. Bridget was just disappearing around a corner, so he called to her. “Hie Bridget! Send Higgins up here, will you, there’s a good girl. I need some furniture moved about. Oh, and have Smith and Iverson sent in from the gardens. I want some items fetched down from the attic.”

Emmeline looked torn between excitement and guilt when he reentered the room. She bit her lip and eyed the table and chairs. “Will it fit in the attic?” she asked.

He shrugged, then heard approaching voices. It was Miss Pinson, Teddy, and Colfax. “Maybe Miss Pinson could take it,” he suggested. “Was there a dining set among the Winkworth furniture?”

“No, well, there was a small table and chairs for two, though they did not match—”

“Perfect, she can take this one.” He exited the room again, catching the attention of the newcomers. “We’re in here!” he hailed them. “Come and join us.”

Teddy was on him in an instant. “Plumtree Cottage has three bedrooms, Papa, but the third is very small and a full-size bed will not fit in there, only a trundle or a bunk.”

“Is that so? Miss Pinson,” he said, turning to her. “What do you think of this dining set?” She hurried over to join him, looking very pink and breathless.

“Oh, it’s vastly handsome, my lord. It looks to be Sheraton, if I am not mistaken. My dear papa always thought that Sheraton made such a refined style of furniture.”

“Would it fit in Plumtree Cottage?” His words instantly threw her into confusion.

“Oh dear, I did not mean—I could not possibly—”

“It would fit, milord, just about,” Colfax said with quiet authority. “Though she might have to line the chairs against the wall when they’re not in use.”

“Excellent.” He turned back to the protesting lady. “I assure you, Miss Pinson, it is not in the least an imposition, on the contrary, you are doing us a favor. Now, tell me, are there any other items you need? We’re about to brave the attics. Perhaps we should make a list.”

Teddy whooped with excitement. “Pinky needs a piano, Papa, for her parlor. She has not had one since their London days.”

Miss Pinson gave a faint squawk. “Dear child!” She faltered. “You must not—!”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Emmeline cross the room to take her friend’s hand and give it a reassuring pat.

“You keep an eye out for a piano,” Jeremy instructed Teddy. He cast a quick glance around the room. “Now, what else do we need in here? Low couches you said, Emmeline—”

“You said low couches!” she responded but he was not attending, as he noticed his second footman had sidled into the room. “Ah Higgins, there you are. You and Colfax need to load this furniture onto the wagon that has just returned and send it straight to Plumtree Cottage.”

“Very good, milord.”

“And when Smith and Iversen appear, have them sent straight up to join us in the attics.”

“Yes, milord.”

“To the attics!” yelled Teddy, leading the charge. Emmeline and Miss Pinson took after him, leaving Jeremy to bring up the rear.

19

The accounts she had heard of the attics had not been exaggerated. They were indeed stuffed to the gills with past treasures. Tables and chairs and goodness only knew what were stacked and piled on top of each other. Emmie spotted a green malachite table almost at once that caught her eye. “I expect this is terribly heavy,” she murmured, even as she crouched down to inspect the clawed pedestal it stood upon.

“Well, some poor devil must have dragged it up here,” Jeremy observed. “If it takes your fancy then someone else can drag it back down again.”

“What about these, Papa?” Teddy panted, his head popping up from behind a rococo-style settee.

“No, really, Teddy, that is hideous,” Jeremy pronounced with disgust. “In any case, it looks as though all the stuffing is leaking out of the side.”

“Not the sofa, Papa. These!” Teddy stressed, pointing excitedly to a pair of tall standing world globes.

“I believe those are Georgian,” Jeremy observed. “Your grandpapa used to have them in the library. By all means, we will take them if you think them suitable for our family dining room…” he said in somewhat doubtful tones.

“Mama?” Teddy deferred judgment.