Page 99 of A Foolish Flirtation

“Pinky, you must never come in here alone,” Emmie advised her friend. “If you wish to sketch the fountain you must have a footman accompany you.” For some reason Pinky turned rather red at this suggestion.

“Higgins won’t mind,” Teddy said, dusting himself off. “But Colfax is sometimes rather grumpy.”

“You simply mean he won’t dance to your tune, Teddy,” Emmie replied firmly. “I have always found him most obliging.” The last thing she wanted was for Pinky to turn tongue-tied and nervous around Colfax, who had been so helpful with all the arrangements for Plumtree Cottage.

Luckily, her friend did not seem to be listening, for she was bent over the ball of wool, trying to dislodge it from a tree root. “Oh dear,” she mumbled. “I hope Mrs. Cheviot will not mind her wool being covered in leaves and bits of twig.”

They were in high spirits when they returned to wash and brush up before lunch, which was perhaps just as well, for Mr. Wimble was as quiet as ever and Mr. Penrose somewhat withdrawn. Jeremy was a little late and Emmie breathed a sigh of relief when he came through the door with a warm smile for her and a cheerful greeting for everyone else.

As soon as the food was served—cold chicken and ham, curried eggs, salad potatoes, bread and butter and cutlets—he turned to Pinky and asked to join them in the library after luncheon, explaining about the unboxing of the new novels.

“What a treat!” she said, eyes shining. “I will own, I am very excited to see what books you have purchased for dear Emmie.”

“Not just for me,” Emmie replied. “For Jeremy has purchased three of every one, so that we three may read them together and gather together to discuss them once you have moved out.”

Pinky leaned forward. “Three copies of every novel?” she queried.

“I know,” Emmie said, “the extravagance! But you see, he was entirely in earnest about us starting a book club.”

“Of course I was in earnest,” Jeremy broke in as Pinky started to blink back sudden tears. “I found our conversation around Love’s Innocence Fled most illuminating. I look forward to many more such discussions.”

“That is so kind,” Pinky sniffed. “And almost like having our very own lending library here in Vance Park.”

“Why, so it is!” Emmie said, lowering her fork. “What a lovely way to think of it. I don’t suppose,” she said, turning to Jeremy, “that there are any committees formed hereabouts to start one?”

“A lending library?” he said slowly. “I have no idea. I rather doubt it in such a small place as Penarth. Perhaps you could start one?”

“A committee?” she responded, quite startled.

“Why not?” he asked coolly.

“Well, it might be a little ambitious to leap right into starting one as chair, when I have never actually sat on one as a rank and file member,” she pointed out.

“Well, you could join the one to repair the church roof first and use that for practice.”

As they had attended Penarth’s local church, St. Werburgh’s, the previous Sunday and sat in the family pew, Emmie knew for a fact its roof was intact. “I shall wait for Reverend Ryland’s wife to visit and tell me all about the local worthy causes,” she decided.

“Very sensible,” Jeremy agreed. “Has Teddy offended Penrose?” he asked in undertones as lemon pudding and a large jam tart were deposited on the table.

“No,” Emmie answered in a bold-faced lie. She could not bring herself to allow her stepson to be punished for his part in defeating the designer. He was her staunch ally after all.

“The man seems unaccustomedly subdued,” Jeremy murmured.

“I can’t think why. We have agreed very nicely on how to furnish my rooms.”

“Excellent. I want to speak to him next about painting a mural in the folly.”

“A mural?”

“I was thinking the judgment of Paris.”

Emmie’s face fell. She glanced quickly at Teddy, but he was currently badgering Mr. Wimble with questions. “You are not dedicating the folly to Venus, are you?” she asked with a sudden misgiving.

Jeremy lifted his eyebrows. “Why not?”

“It is possible to have too much of a good thing, my lord!” she reminded him. “I believe Aesop said as much.”

“Nonsense!”