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Emma, Bella, and Amelia sat in the drawing room, each working on an embroidery piece for Emma’s baby when the butler entered and announced a missive had just arrived.
“Thank you,” said Emma as she took the sealed letter addressed to her husband. Under normal circumstances she would have left it on his desk in his study, but with him gone and no telling when he would return, she opened it. “Who can this be from?” Her eyes scanned the parchment, and she felt all the color drain from her face.
“Oh dear. Sebastian got lost during a terrible storm and was thrown from his mount and hurt.”
“What?” Both Amelia and Bella cried at once.
“He states he is recovering with a brother and sister near Northumberland and that he suffered a large, deep gash on his leg, a broken arm and a skull fracture. He may not be able to travel for a fortnight or more.” She scanned the letter then continued. “He apologizes to Wentworth for not being able to make it to our half-sister and could he please dispatch Smythe for the quest. He says he will be home as soon as he’s able.”
“What! That’s all. Please tell me he wrote more than that,” Amelia said with worried eyes.
“Actually, Amelia, he didn’t write this, it’s in someone else’s handwriting. A women’s I would guess.”
“What should we do?” Bella asked as she stood and began pacing the room. “We need to speak to Bridgeton and Myles. Are they home?”
“I believe I hear them now.” Amelia hurried out of the room and came back moments later with the men.
“What is this I hear about Sebastian being injured?” Myles said as he kissed his wife’s flushed cheeks.
Bella handed over the thin parchment and waited as both Myles and Bridgeton scanned the contents.
“It says he is recovering nicely. Should we worry?” Myles stated.
Emma honestly didn’t know what to say. “I wish my husband were here.”
Bridgeton and Myles looked at each other with concern. Which didn’t make Emma’s nerves settle down any. Not to mention the baby was moving around making her uncomfortable.
“I wish we were in London.” Myles sent another silent look to Bridgeton. “It will be two or three days before we can expect to hear anything back from Smythe. I’ll send word immediately. Until then there is nothing we can do. Bridgeton and I can’t very well set off and leave you ladies alone. Wentworth would have our heads on spikes if we did.”
“We can’t have that,” Bella said as she stood up and slid her hand into her husband’s. “I am worried though.”
“I admit I am too,” Myles stated. “Not about Wentworth and Spencer but about Sebastian and the medical care he is receiving.”
“Can’t we all travel by coach to Northumberland and take him back home with us?” Bella asked.
“Bella,” Amelia said with a frown. “Emma can’t travel that extensively with a baby due soon.”
“I know. I just can’t stand here and do nothing.”
***
As dinnertime approached, Emma’s nerves twitched below the surface of her skin. She didn’t relish explaining to her mother-in-law what had happened to Sebastian. Thankfully, the dowager wasn’t one to take to fits and needing smelling salts. She handled the news well.
“That went better than expected,” Emma said as she, Bella, and Amelia retired to the drawing room to await Bridgeton and Myles as they shared brandy in Wentworth’s study.
“Mother always takes news well at first.” Amelia sat on the settee and smoothed her skirts. “By tomorrow she will be beside herself with worry and will keep to her rooms to pray.
“Indeed, she will,” Emma interjected. “But she is the strongest woman I know. By day two she will be back to her normal self and insisting on helping with our charity. Do you suppose we should tell her about my gothic novels? It will give her something else to dwell on.”
“Knowing my mother,” Bella said, “she already suspects something.”
Emma gasped. “What makes you think that?”
“Just a feeling. When she talks about the books by Anna Smith, she looks at you and smiles secretly. And her eyes tell the same thing. She knows. She is just waiting for you to tell her.”
Emma sank down into the settee with a sigh. “Now I feel terrible keeping secrets from her.”
“Nonsense.” Bella smiled. “Mother loves games. When she’s ready to reveal her knowledge of you as the author, you will be the first to know. Meanwhile, I wish the gentlemen would join us. I can’t stand the waiting.”
Just then two sets of footsteps entered the drawing room. “Did I hear someone mention gentlemen,” Myles said as he made a beeline to the sideboard, poured brandy into two crystal glasses, and handed one to Bridgeton.”
“Yes. I’m having a difficult time with all the waiting. Honestly, Myles...” Bella exhaled. “When will we hear something?”
“Truth?”
Bella glared at her husband. “Yes. The truth.”
“My dear, we went over this earlier. It will be a sennight or longer before Smythe reaches Sebastian. And that’s if he rides like the devil. May I suggest Emma start a new novel and have you and Amelia help. And don’t try and tell me you have never given her suggestions about her stories.”
“Yes, well, only when she asks,” Bella said, looking guilty.”
“I’m asking,” Emma said. “I have a story in my head, but I’m having trouble penning it. Perhaps tomorrow afternoon when the children are having their naps, we can meet in my chambers and talk the storyline over. Per usual my hero and heroine are not behaving as I want them to. You would think since I married them last book, they would get along better? But no, she is too stubborn and he is too old fashioned.”
“You lost me.” Myles chuckled. “But I think it is a splendid idea.”
Bella agreed, although Emma knew she would much rather be taking to the road in hopes of rescuing Sebastian.
