Emily appeared taken aback by his words and was momentarily silent as she stared at him.
Slowly, she shook her head and murmured, “I do not know what is going on with you, Edward, but I do not like it. You were never this cold before.”
Edward did not respond. He simply gazed up at her and watched as she turned on her heel and marched out of the study, letting the door slam shut behind her.
Chapter 27
She was going to make one last effort to speak with him. Why Lord Harford had been working so hard to avoid her, she could not say, but Victoria was determined to apologize to him and put her previous animosity completely to rest.
Knowing he would be in his study at that point in the afternoon, she finished putting Lily down for her nap before making her way to find him. She would not let him slip away from her this time.
When she reached the door, she did not hesitate and knocked briskly.
“Come in,” she heard him call.
Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and opened the door. Lord Harford was sitting at the desk, and when he saw her enter the room, he jumped to his feet.
“Miss Clifford!” he exclaimed. “I did not know it was you. I am sorry, I forgot that I have something I need to do….”
“Lord Harford, please do not run away from me again,” she said in a clear, firm voice. She knew it was rather improper for her to be speaking to him in such a way, given the difference in their stations, but he was leaving her with few options.
He froze and gazed at her with wide eyes.
“Run away?” He shook his head. “That…that is not at all what I am doing. I just really have somewhere I should be….”
“Please, my lord, there is something I wish to talk to you about.”
It was clear he was going to try and escape her again, and Victoria was determined not to let that happen, though she admittedly did not know how she would force him to stay if he truly did not want to. Her mind raced as she tried to come up with some idea as he moved toward her to slip out the door.
Suddenly, Victoria heard footsteps hurrying down the hallway toward them. She peeked her head out the open door and was surprised to find Emily rushing toward her.
“Oh, good!” Emily declared as she barreled into the room, dragging Victoria further inside with her. “I wanted to tell you as well, Tory!”
“Tell me what?” Victoria asked, baffled.
“What is going on, Emily?” Edward asked at nearly the same time.
Emily held a paper in her hand and waved it in the air.
“I have received news from James!” she declared. “He is returning to London in a few weeks!”
Victoria let out a gasp of delight. “Oh! That is most excellent news! I am so happy for you, Emily.”
“As am I,” Lord Harford agreed with a wide grin. “I am glad my brother-in-law has finally found his senses and has decided to come back to you.”
Emily giggled, clutching the letter to her chest. “You tease me, Edward, but you cannot dim my enthusiasm.”
“I would not dare,” he chuckled. “So I assume you will be wanting to return to London?”
Emily nodded. “Yes, as soon as possible.”
Victoria felt her stomach sink. She found she did not want to leave the country so soon. She liked being on the estate, where there was room to roam, and she did not have to so strictly play the part of the subservient nanny. Once they returned to London, they would not be able to act so familiarly with each other. She would have to remember her true place within the family.
However, Victoria could not deny Emily’s desire to return in order to see her husband. Of course, she would want to rush back to the city in time to meet him.
“Well, it just so happens that I need to go back to London as well,” Lord Harford said. “We can all return together. The Season is beginning soon as well, so it is as good of a time as any for us to go back.”
Emily smiled and asked, “When can we leave? I want to make sure everything is prepared for James by the time he returns."
