“Yes,” Emma lied. “Thank you so much for inviting us.”
Meg slid an arm through hers and guided her away from the crowd. Once they were out of earshot of the few left, she said, “I wondered if you might like to stay a little longer once the others go.”
Emma blinked. “Stay here?”
Meg nodded. “Yes. I wanted so much to talk to you more and with everyone here and my hostess duties, it was nearly impossible.”
Emma opened her mouth, but didn’t get a chance to respond as her mother approached the two. “What are you ladies chatting about so conspiratorially?”
“I am trying to convince your daughter to stay a bit longer, once the others go,” Meg said. “I want to take a long turn in the garden and I’d love her company.”
Emma saw Mrs. Liston’s eyes light up at the idea of getting to stay in the Abernathe home a bit longer. “A fine idea,” she said, nudging Emma none too gently.
“I would, of course, ensure she got home safely,” Meg added.
Mrs. Liston hesitated a moment as she realized Meg’s invitation didn’t actually extend to her. But then she recovered and nodded. “Well, of course Emma will stay.”
She shot Emma a pointed look, one filled with years of spoken and unspoken haranguing, and Emma held back a sigh. “Of course I will stay, my lady. Thank you.”
Meg clapped her hands. “Excellent. Let me see the last of the others out and I’ll return shortly.”
Emma nodded and her mother leaned forward to buss her cheek. “Take advantage,” she whispered sharply in Emma’s ear.
“Goodbye, Mama,” Emma returned through clenched teeth.
Meg took Mrs. Liston and the others out, and Emma walked to the stone wall of the veranda, resting her hands on the edge to look out over the garden once more. She lost herself for a moment in the cool greenness of the flowers, but reality returned soon enough.
What could Meg wish to speak to her about? Something to do with Lady Abernathe’s untoward behavior two nights before? Or was she going to warn Emma off the duke, himself? Had her dance with him been marked by his sister?
“Isn’t it lovely?” Meg called as she returned to the veranda. “I cannot wait for you to see it more closely.”
Emma turned and stared at the other woman as she approached. She’d spent a lifetime observing those of Meg’s stature and popularity. A lifetime trying to avoid their attention because it was rarely positive. Diamonds and wallflowers were simply not friends, not in her experience.
“May I ask you something?” Emma asked, finding her courage.
Meg nodded. “Of course.”
Emma cleared her throat. Normally she wasn’t bold, but in this case she found a strong desire to be. To simply lay the cards on the table and see what Meg’s real motives were.
“I’m a wallflower. And a bluestocking,” she said. “And you’renot. Wh-why would you want to spent time with me?”
Meg drew back. “Well, because I like you, silly. I think despite those labels we might actually have a great deal in common.”
“Like what?” Emma asked blankly, not seeing Meg’s reference at all. “I’m sorry to sound rude, I don’t mean to be. It’s just that I’m confused.”
Meg’s smile fell a fraction. “Do you not think my intellect is equal to yours?”
Emma shook her head, for it was perfectly clear from some of their conversations today that Meg was anything but an empty-headed ninny. “No. No, of course not.”
Meg stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Emma’s shoulder. The half-embrace was warm and Meg’s smile was sincere as she said, “Emma Liston, you were kind to me in a dark moment. You could have used that moment against me and it doesn’t seem that you will. I appreciate that. And Iwantto be friends, for there are few enough of those in this world. Is that enough of a reason for me to ask you to stay?”
Emma pondered for a moment. It seemed Meg was in no way mocking her. And she did like the pretty, bright woman. “Yes,” she said softly.
“Excellent,” Meg said as she released her. “Now, I’m going to run and fetch a shawl, then we can take a turn in the garden together. Will you stay here?”
Emma nodded. “Yes. I’m enjoying the view a great deal.”
“Just wait, it gets even better,” Meg said with a laugh as she raced back toward the house.
