She smiled. “How nice, Mr. Worthington.” She scrunched her forehead. “By chance, do I need to address you differently? Are you a lord?”
Not unless his noble relatives had all died… Broderick laughed. “Miss Emmie, you can call me Broderick or Mr. Worthington, either one.”
She smiled. “It is very nice to see you again, Mr. Worthington.”
He grinned at her stubbornness, and a thought struck him. “Pray, what is a lady’s companion doing traipsing throughout the countryside dressed like a man, and by herself, instead of tending to the earl’s daughter?”
Smugly, she arched an eyebrow again. “As I mentioned previously, Lady Sarah understands me and treats me differently than most servants. When I’m not tending to Lady Sarah’s needs, I am free to dress this way and ride my horse or walk around the grounds. Besides that, a lady’s companion doesn’t need a chaperone constantly, especially when she is with your aunt and uncle right now.”
“You are correct, of course.”
An uncomfortable silence hung between them, and she shifted her feet as her gaze moved around the secluded area. He found it strange that he didn’t want to talk. Looking at her was fulfilling enough. He enjoyed the way the men’s clothes nearly clung to her woman’s curves. She was anything but plain. She was quite lovely, in fact.
“Oh, Mr. Worthington, I must ask… Did you discover what happened to my—er, Lady Sarah’s driver?”
He shook his head. “Unfortunately, I haven’t heard. I summoned the authorities, as promised, but I haven’t heard what happened. I told them Lady Sarah was staying with my aunt and uncle, so I suspect if the authorities find anything out about your driver, they will let Lady Sarah know.”
“Well, I thank you again for your help in the matter.” She offered a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “As much as I would like to stay and chat, my time is about up. I should return to the house. Lady Sarah might need me soon.”
“As you wish. I trust we shall see each other later.”
She nodded. “I’m certain you will.”
“Good day, Miss Emmie.”
“And good day to you, Mr. Worthington.”
As she walked away, he grinned. Although he hated to admit it, he quite enjoyed their little interlude, even if he was half-naked. Now he wondered if she’d even realized it at all. Yet her blush from time to time proved that she did indeed know but had tried to be proper about it.
Broderick retrieved his clothes and chuckled. Miss Emmie was certainly different, and he looked forward to visiting with her again.
What was he thinking? It should be Lady Sarah he needed to get to know—not her companion. Then again,thisparticular lady’s companion showed promise of fun-filled days ahead.
*
Emmie stood behindAnna, helping her prepare for the Cramptons’ ball that evening. Although a maid should be fixing Anna’s hair, Emmie didn’t mind the task, only because she wanted Anna to look her part.
Anna wrung her hands against her middle, and in the reflection in the mirror, Emmie noticed the lines of worry etchedon her face. “Mr. and Mrs. Crampton are going to introduce me to their family and friends. Are you certain your father doesn’t know anybody besides the Cramptons?”
Emmie weaved a pink ribbon through Anna’s dark hair and artfully pulled back the sides with pearl-studded combs to complete the ensemble. “I wish I could tell you, Anna. My father doesn’t speak of everyone he knows. He met my mother on a visit to York, and I think her death hurt him so much he doesn’t want to talk about that time in his life.”
“Oh, forgive me, Lady Sarah. I didn’t even think of that.”
“Shh… I’m Emmie now, remember that,” she reminded Anna.
“My apologies, Lady—eh, I mean Emmie.” Anna sighed heavily. “What am I going to do if someone realizes I don’t look like your father?”
Emmie snorted a laugh as she met her friend’s gaze in the mirror. Sometimes the maid could be so obtuse. “Anna, I don’t even resemble my father. I take more after my mother, but you look enough like me that you fit the part.”
Anna relaxed. “Forgive me for being so jumpy. I suppose I’m a little nervous about tonight. I don’t want to muck things up.”
Emmie added the finishing touches to Anna’s hair by pulling the ringlets down evenly. “You will do fine. You have given a splendid performance thus far. Mr. and Mrs. Crampton don’t suspect a thing, and Mr. Crampton was very close to my father.”
Anna nodded. “You’re right as always, my lady.”
“Anna!” Emmie said in a whisper. “You must not call me that. No one must know of our charade. I don’t even want the servants to overhear. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” Anna answered softly.
