“That’s wonderful. Thank you, Richmond.” She turned to Emma. “Do you have a preference for what to see first?”
“Not at all. Shall we wander and see where it leads us?”
“Excellent choice,” Charlotte said, linking her arm with her friend’s as they walked up the stairs with Ava a step behind them.
As Richmond followed them into the museum, he thought Charlotte could benefit from exposure to Emma's maturity. Without their mother to guide her, she didn’t have a strong female role model to instill in her the confidence to survive the marriage mart. He planned to write to his Aunt Agnes and ask her to be Charlotte’s sponsor next spring. There was no way hecould shepherd his sister to all the activities she would want to attend; plus, Charlotte would benefit from having a female relative to answer any questions she might have. Agnes had successfully chaperoned her daughter, Abigail, through the Season. Abigail and the Earl of Somerset had fallen madly in love and still seemed to be very much in love five years later. That boded well for Charlotte’s chances for a successful Season with Agnes at her side to guide her and offer sage advice.
They wandered the museum for more than an hour until they came upon the Elgin Marbles.
“I’ve always wanted to see these,” Emma said.
Richmond wasn’t so sure this exhibit was a good idea. “Of course, but I must usher you past some of them that are not appropriate for viewing by innocent young women. Are you both agreeable to that?”
Both women and the maid nodded. Richmond led the way, standing in front of the nude male figures. There was no way he'd be responsible for exposing either Charlotte, Emma, or the maid to the male body. That was the duty of their husbands.
“Wasn’t there an investigation into the legality of acquiring these marbles?" Emma asked as they toured the exhibit.
Richmond nodded. “Yes. There was an investigation by the Parliamentary Selection Committee in 1816.It was determined that Lord Elgin had indeed received permission to remove the sculptures from the Parthenon and relocate them here.”
“I remember reading about it, and the uproar moving the marbles caused,” Emma said as they walked through the exhibit.
“I’m surprised you know about that, Miss Bainbridge.”
Emma chuckled. “My father used to save the paper for me to read as long as I didn’t get caught with it. He said there would be no peace in the house if my mother found out I was reading all manner of articles.”
It was Richmond’s turn to chuckle. He was glad that Emma had had an ally in her father when she was younger. He wondered if Edgerton held the same liberal views. He had a feeling that he did, especially since Emma seemed aware of more recent news.
After they’d toured the museum for close to two hours, he suggested a trip to Gunter’s for ices.
“I love Gunter’s,” Charlotte said.
“Miss Bainbridge, does that suit you as well?” Richmond asked.
"Yes, absolutely. My brother’s taken us there a few times, and it was most refreshing."
They headed back to the carriage and, after a short ride, were soon enjoying ices at Gunter’s. Richmond thought it an excellent way to end the visit. He couldn’thave asked for a more pleasant afternoon. Though Emma had been quiet when they first entered the museum, her natural enthusiasm for the exhibits soon had her talking easily in his company. At some point, he'd have to speak with Edgerton about his interest in Emma, but not yet. There was plenty of time for that conversation.
For now, what mattered was that today had been an excellent start in his covert courtship of Miss Bainbridge.
Chapter 3
“Thank you for escorting us to the museum, Your Grace,” Emma said as Richmond handed her down from the carriage.
“It was my pleasure. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I know my sister did,” he said, holding her hand a moment longer than necessary before handing Ava down.
Just then, Akers opened the door to the townhouse, and Emma was grateful for the butler’s promptness.
“Good day, Your Grace,” Emma said with a quick curtsey, then ran up the stairs and into the foyer without a backward glance. Tea was over, but her mother would still be in the parlor, and Emma hoped to slip past without being noticed and grilled on the outing. She’d started up the stairs when she heard her mother call to her from the parlor.
“Emma, is that you?”
“I’ll see you later, miss,” Ava said as she continued up the stairs.
Emma rolled her eyes but knew she had no choice but to answer her mother, so she handed her bonnet and gloves off to Akers before walking into the parlor. “Mama, do you wish for something?”
“Not at all. I merely wanted to hear about your outing with the duke.”
“It wasn’t an outing with the duke. He merely escorted Lady Charlotte and me," Emma said.
