‘Quite,’ he lied, looking her straight in the eye.
‘Then I’m sorry but tomorrow I shall make enquiries about returning home. Aunt Imogen was very ill when I left and I can’t leave my mother to cope with her alone any longer.’
Seeing that she meant what she said, Jasper’s shoulders sagged. He had hoped that having her to himself after Jake’s departure would draw them closer together but although Emmy had been polite and civil to him, she’d made it more than clear by her actions that she still only looked on him as her cousin.
‘In that case I shall come with you,’ he stated. ‘I suppose I’ve got to go back and face the music sometime. The money my mother sent me is running out anyway so leave it with me and I’ll book us a passage out of here on the next available ship.’
Emmy nodded, stifling a yawn. ‘Thank you. Goodnight, Jasper.’ And with that she rose and went to her room without another word, leaving him to stare after her with a frown on his face.
As he made the long walk back to Hugo’s grandparents’ house, up to his ankles in snow, an idea occurred to him.
He knew all too well that at the moment Emmy regarded him as a young waster but if anything were to happen to his father – an accident, for example – that made him unable to manage the farm any more, then his father would have no choice but to let him have free rein with how the farm was run, and as there was a perfectly reliable manager, Jasper could leave the main running of it in his hands and do as he pleased while still having access to his father’s wealth. Admittedly, as the oldest son, Jake would probably inherit the farm when his father passed away, but he wouldn’t want to live back there. He was too wrapped up in his work in London, which would leave him in charge and he could wrap his mother around his little finger. Surely Emmy would look on him more favourably if he was a man of means? What woman didn’t like having money spent on her and being showered with extravagant gifts?
A smile hovered about his lips and he was so taken with planning how his father might meet with his ‘little accident’ that he didn’t even notice the cold.
Chapter Thirty-Six
The next morning, Emmy came down to breakfast to find Jasper already waiting for her.
‘You’re an early bird,’ she remarked.
‘Oh, I’ve been up for hours. I’ve already been down to the docks and managed to get us a passage home tomorrow.’
‘Well done.’ Part of her was thankful to be going home but the other part was devastated that the trip had been in vain. ‘In that case perhaps you’d care to join me for breakfast and after that we can spend this last day having a final look around?’
He nodded obligingly as he followed her into the hotel dining room and an hour later, they set off through the snowy streets to continue their search.
Once again, their efforts came to nothing and when it was dark Jasper escorted her back to the hotel. ‘I thought perhaps we might have a meal together seeing as it’s our last night here?’ he suggested.
Emmy shook her head as the snow from her boots melted into pools on the floor of the foyer. ‘Thank you for the offer but I’ve my packing to do if we have an early start tomorrow.’
Swallowing his disappointment, he nodded and they parted until the next day when he returned to escort her to the boat.
The return crossing was nowhere near as calm as the outward journey and at times Emmy clutched her seat in fear of her life as the boat pitched in the stormy seas. But at last, late that evening, they sailed into the docks in London and after disembarking Jasper hailed them a cab to take them back to Imogen’s.
‘I thought Aunt Imogen might let me stay the night,’ he said on the journey through the quiet streets. ‘I doubt I’d get a train home this late.’
‘I’m quite sure she wouldn’t mind,’ Emmy assured him and they went the rest of the way in silence.
‘Oh, Miss Emerald, I’m so glad to see yer back,’ Aggie told her when she opened the door to them shortly after. ‘Yer ma an’ yer aunt ’ave been worried sick about yer. Did yer ’ave a good journey back?’
‘No, I’m afraid we didn’t, Aggie,’ Emmy answered wearily as Aggie helped her out of her cloak. ‘But how is my aunt?’ Her legs felt as if they were made of rubber and she was longing for a cup of tea.
‘Well, she’s certainly got ’er voice back, albeit slurred,’ Aggie answered with a wry grin. ‘An’ she’s certainly no worse, which is sumfin’ I suppose. Now go an’ sit by the fire while I get yer both a hot drink.’
Emmy gave her a grateful smile. ‘Thank you, and do you think you could prepare the spare bedroom for my cousin? It’s too late for him to get a train home this evening.’
‘O’ course I can,’ Aggie answered obligingly. ‘But first I’ll get yer both a drink an’ tell yer ma yer back.’
Aggie disappeared up the stairs while Emmy led Jasper into the drawing room where a low fire was still burning.
Minutes later Dorcas burst into the room. ‘Oh, thank goodness you’re safe,’ she said. ‘Is there any news?’
‘I’m afraid not.’ Emmy shook her head and seeing that she didn’t look at all well her mother didn’t press the point.
‘Try not to worry,’ her mother soothed. ‘I’m sure you did your best. We’ll talk tomorrow when you’ve had a rest; you look all in.’
‘I am, and I imagine Jasper is too,’ Emmy answered. ‘He’s going home tomorrow.’
