Page 94 of To Know Miss May

A moment passed by, a warmth settling around her shoulders like a blanket, then they pulled apart. Livvy was once again surprised as she noted tears in Emma’s eyes.

“Are ye well?” she asked.

Emma nodded, swiftly wiping the tears away. “Yes, me apologies. I just…” She shook her head, looking away.

The last thing Livvy wished to do was impose. And yet, surely she could let her know she would listen to anything Emma had to say.

“Ye can tell me, if ye wish to,” Livvy encouraged.

Emma turned back to her with a soft smile. “I know. It be just…Matters in me life ’ave been so difficult lately, and I’ve lost a great deal o’ hope o’er so many things.”

Livvy’s heart twisted. How she wished she could help ease her new friend’s pain.

Her new friend. It was still strange thinking such words, let alone hearing them spoken aloud, but the comfort she was brought with her knowing that she did have another friend expanded throughout her heart, increasing her desire to help.

“Be ye losin’ hope with Nicholas?” she whispered carefully.

Father was downstairs in the sitting room, no doubt with his pipe full as he stared into the fire, but Livvy would hate to have him overhear Emma’s secret.

Emma nodded. “In part. We love each other a great deal and want to be together. But we’ve both spoken to our parents, hintin’ at matters, but…” She broke off, shaking her head. “There ain’t much hope for us. Me parents will surely send me away if I tell ’em I be in love with a Cuff. So that leaves me only one choice…”

Livvy’s brow rose. “Ye plan to run away with ’im?”

Emma glanced at the door, then nodded in silence.

Livvy released a breath. To be required to run away from one’s parents simply to marry the person she loved. What a tragedy that would be.

“I be so sorry, Emma. Would I could ’elp ye.”

Emma smiled. “Ye’ve ’elped more than ye know. I’ve been lonely for so long, not bein’ able to be with Nicholas, all me other friends leavin’ the Mount or marryin’…I be grateful we be friends now.”

Livvy blinked. Emma was lonely? Livvy had never considered such a notion. Emma always appeared happy and friendly with everyone, the exact opposite of Livvy.

And yet even Emma was lonely.

Peering over at her new friend, Livvy saw her in another new light—a light that revealed their shared insecurities and sorrows. A light that revealed to Livvy that she and the woman had even more in common than she thought.

“We be friends, be we not?” Emma asked, her eyes wide and hesitant.

Livvy swiftly nodded her head. “’Course we be.”

Relief flooded Emma’s features. “I be that glad. I’ve wanted to be for so long. I just…” She paused with a sheepish expression. “I’ll be honest, I always assumed ye didn’t like me. Whether ’cause o’ me age or me personality.”

Livvy’s heart hurt. So many wrong assumptions were made about her, so many misconceptions about who she was inside. People needed to judge her less.

And yet, they were not the only ones at fault. Now she had found her confidence—now August had boosted her courage—Livvy had to do her part in ensuring the truth was made known.

Shaking her head, she faced Emma directly, drawing a deep breath and praying for even more courage as she spoke the truth. “I couldn’t care a lick about your age, Emma. Truth be told, I always wanted to be your friend, too, but I was so anxious around ye ’cause…” She looked away, finding the words difficult to say. “Ye be so perfect, and ye be friends with August when I wanted to be…” She shook her head, ending the words she wasn’t sure she wished to say.

Emma placed a comforting hand on her wrist. “I understand. There was a time when I’d seethe at the mere mention of another woman speakin’ with Nicholas.”

They shared a smile, and an understanding passed between them. Livvy typically would have felt a great deal of embarrassment for having her attachment to August be known, but then, Emma didn’t seem to think anything of it. Did that mean August had told Emma that he’d had an attachment to Livvy, as well?

Her heart flipped at the thought.

Voices sounded from beneath Livvy’s open window, a soft murmuring above the sea’s waves.

“That must be the others,” Emma said, glancing toward the window before looking back to Livvy with an excited glint in her eye. “Be ye ready?”