“I spoke to your uncle inside, and he hinted at your whereabouts.”
Broderick’s jaw tightened and he lost his smile. “Did anyone else hear him?”
“No, just me.”
Broderick nodded and then looked down at Emmie. “I need to speak to Phillip for a few minutes in private. Will you be all right while I’m gone?”
She hiccupped a laugh. “Of course. I plan to continue watching the party through the hedges.”
“Splendid. I shall return momentarily.”
And I shall count the moments until your return so I can be back in your arms.She sighed. “All right.”
Once Broderick and Phillip walked out of her sight, she turned back to the hedges. Making a space between the small branches, she peeked through. People still clustered together inside one of the rooms sipping their drinks. Apparently, dinner hadn’t started yet. A few new people had joined the group, but the women had their backs to Emmie, and she couldn’t tell if any were her mother or not.
Softly, she growled. If only she was closer, then maybe she could see more clearly.
Hastily, she surveyed the yard and spotted a large tree near the window. Her heart lifted. If she could climb the tree, she would be able to get a better look at the guests inside.
Without another thought, she sprinted across the yard, ducking behind bushes and keeping within the shadows for fear someone would see her. Within minutes, she scaled the tree as fast as her legs would push her. Although she hadn’t done this for a few years, she had climbed so many trees in her life that this one was easy. She tried not to rustle any leaves or break any branches, but unfortunately, that was impossible. Soon she found a branch that could hold her weight and perched herself on it. Just as she’d expected, looking inside the window was now much easier.
Right away she noticed Mr. and Mrs. Crampton visiting with a couple of ladies, but the women had their back toward Emmie, so she couldn’t see their faces. She studied each one, but none resembled the memories she had of her mother, or even the miniature Georgia had shown her.
From below came the thudding of footsteps mere seconds before someone called out, “Pardon me—you, up in the tree.”
Fear sliced through her, and she froze. Closing her eyes, she wished the man would go away.
“I know you are up there, so you might as well answer me.”
She sighed heavily in defeat. “I can hear you.”
“Splendid. Now, will you come down and talk to me like a civilized person instead of thinking you are a monkey?”
She would have cried if she wasn’t so upset. How dare this person refer to her as a monkey? And why had she been discovered so early in the evening before she could see her mother?
Slowly, she made her way down the tree until she could jump to the ground, landing right in front of the young man.
He was probably a few years younger than herself and swept his gaze over her length as his top lip curled in disdain. He rubbed his chin, which held a small patch of facial hair. Although she suspected he was slightly younger, he was a couple of inches taller and had wide shoulders. His hair was as brown as hers, and she couldn’t tell his eye color because he was standing in the shadows.
“Who are you and why are you spying on this party?” he inquired. “You obviously don’t belong here.”
“I’m actually the footman for somebody who is attending this function,” she answered softly.
His eyes widened. “Oh, the Peeping Tom is actually a PeepingMissinstead.”
“Yes, I’m a woman.” She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin in defiance.
“Pray tell, why would anyone want their footman to be a girl?”
“If you must know, I’m actually in disguise. I’m here looking for the mother I thought died fifteen years ago. Just recently I discovered she is still alive. I also think she might be at this party.”
He rolled his eyes. “That story is utterly ridiculous. Can you not come up with something better? Tell me, what is your name so that I can report you to Mr. Goodfellow?”
“Sir, my name is none of your business,” she snapped, having had quite enough of his rudeness.
“If you will not give me your name, then give me the name of the person you are here with.”
She couldn’t possibly tell him. Mr. Crampton didn’t need to know what she was doing, especially since he knew her mother. “Once again, that information is none of your business.”
