‘Ah, but didn’t you say she has this one?’ Her aunt raised a finely plucked eyebrow as she stared at her over the mountain of ruffles of heavy lace that fell from her throat to her waist on the elaborate gown she was wearing. ‘So that means that should she run into difficulties she can always contact you. I’ve no doubt she probably will anyway, so long as you promise not to pass on where she’s living to her mother.’
Emmy looked doubtful. ‘Do you really think she might?’
Imogen nodded. ‘I’ll guarantee it, so stop worrying.’
That proved to be a lot easier said than done and by the time Jake arrived on Sunday to take her for a boat trip along the River Thames, Emmy was a bundle of nerves. He had ordered a cab to pick her up and drive them through London and the second she climbed into it he saw that something was troubling her.
When she quickly told him what it was he stared at her with concern. ‘I just wonder if Jasper hasn’t had something to do with this,’ he said with a frown. ‘He was spending a lot of time with Abi before she left and he also spends a lot of time in London. It would be just like him to encourage her to come here if there was something in it for him.’
‘But what could it be?’ Emmy questioned.
Jake shrugged. ‘I have no idea but I doubt he would do anything out of the goodness of his heart. Leave it with me. I know he’s in London at the moment and I’ll be seeing him for lunch one day in the week. I’ll have a word with him and see if he can cast any light on the situation.’ And with that, for now at least, Emmy had to be content and she tried to put it from her mind.
Despite her concerns the rest of the afternoon proved to be a resounding success and she found herself relaxing and enjoying herself. Today she was wearing a cream shantung silk day dress and a pretty matching bonnet trimmed with pale-pink silk roses that showed off her glorious brown hair to perfection. She was also carrying a small silk parasol heavily trimmed with matching lace, and as they sailed down the river he thought he had never seen her look so pretty. It was a beautiful day with a clear blue sky with just the occasional powder-puff cloud gently floating across it. The River Thames was as calm as a mill pond, although the smell that drifted up from the water made them wrinkle their noses. Along the river banks they saw tiny homes, little more than hovels, surrounded by reeds and mud, and Emmy wondered how anyone could survive in them.
They passed several places of interest: the Tower of London, where in days gone by unfortunate queens had been incarcerated before being led to chopping blocks where they were parted from their heads; St Paul’s Cathedral in all its splendour; and the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. For a time Emmy managed to forget about Abi as she gave herself up to the pleasure of Jake’s company. She had seen all the sights before but everything seemed so much more enjoyable when she was with him.
When they climbed out of the boat Jake bought her a tiny posy of violets from an old flower lady and took her to a pretty little café where they had hot chocolate and delicate pastries. Later they made their way to Westminster Cathedral where they bought small bags of seed from an old lady to feed the hundreds of pigeons that were busily pecking the ground outside.
Emmy was enjoying herself so much that the time seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. Finally, though, she told him, ‘I really ought to be getting back now. My aunt will worry if I’m out for too long. It’s only because we are cousins that she allowed me to come out with you at all.’ She grinned. ‘For someone who says she’s so forward-thinking, she’s very old-fashioned when it comes to allowing me out without a chaperone.’
‘Well, you can rest assured you’re safe with me,’ he told her as he stepped to the edge of the pavement and raised his hand to summon a cab.
‘I can’t thank you enough for such a lovely afternoon,’ she told him as they headed back to her aunt’s house.
‘It was my pleasure entirely.’ Suddenly he was wishing wholeheartedly that they weren’t related. He had always had a soft spot for Emmy but over the last few weeks as he had grown to know her better, his feelings had developed. He had no doubt whatsoever that had things been different he would have been asking her if she might walk out with him, but because of their blood ties that could never be and he wondered if he was being wise in continuing to see her. But then, he told himself, what harm were they doing by enjoying each other’s company? They were merely friends.
When they arrived back at her aunt’s house, Emmy invited him in for tea but he declined the offer politely, explaining that he must get back to his studying.
They parted after agreeing to meet the following Sunday, and as the cab rattled away across the cobblestones, Emmy let herself into the hall with the key her aunt had given her. Immediately she heard voices coming from the drawing room, and she wondered who it might be. As far as she was aware her aunt wasn’t expecting her spiritual friends until later that evening.
Aggie came bustling towards her then with a cheeky smile on her face. ‘You’ve yet anuvver young man called to see yer, miss. He’s in there wiv the missus an’ he’severso ’andsome!’ she whispered.
‘Really?’ Emmy approached the drawing room door and was shocked to see Jasper sitting opposite her aunt. She’d had no idea that he would be calling, even though Jake had informed her that he was in London.
‘Jasper, what a surprise. I had no idea you knew where I was living,’ she said, walking towards him with her hands outstretched.
‘I didn’t,’ he confessed with a wide smile. ‘But Abi passed your address on.’
‘Abi .?.?. you’ve seen Abi?’ She had gone quite pale and rising swiftly Jasper took her elbow and led her to the nearest chair.
‘I had a letter from my mother in the week informing me that Abi had run away. She’s most concerned and has no idea of her whereabouts.’
‘Hm .?.?.’ Jasper grinned. ‘Abi didn’tquiterun away. She found a post in London but she didn’t think her mother would approve of it so she decided not to tell her where she was going. But I assure you she is quite well and very safe. I saw her myself only last night as it happens.’
‘Oh, that’s wonderful.’ Emmy felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. ‘Will I be able to see her? And where exactly is she working? Has she got the post of a nanny or perhaps a governess?’
‘Whoa! One question at a time.’ Jasper chuckled. ‘All I can tell you is that she is working as a hostess in a club and from what I saw of her last night she’s loving it. But I’m afraid I can’t tell you any more without her permission.’
‘Ahostess!’ Emmy looked shocked.
‘Sounds like this little sister of yours is a girl after my own heart,’ Imogen, who had been listening to the cousins’ exchange with interest, said wryly. ‘And why look so horrified? There’s nothing wrong with being a hostess.’
‘I quite agree,’ Jasper butted in, directing a smile that would have charmed the birds off the trees at her aunt. ‘All she has to do is entertain the gentlemen that frequent the club and get them to spend their money.’
‘I see.’ Emmy still wasn’t that enamoured with the idea, and she grew even more concerned at Jasper’s next words.
‘Between you and me I think she’s smitten with a certain young man that visits the club. She only met him a few evenings ago but they’ve been almost inseparable ever since.’
