Glitter - Abbi Glines Page 0,76

to believe I had, in fact, met one of the Fae. I was pleasantly surprised to see her this morning when I entered the dining room. Would have been a terrible shame to leave Chatwick Hall believing Lady Emma to be a fairy child when clearly she is a very bright young lady.”

Ashington understood the meaning behind my words even though they had been masked for Emma’s sake. She had been a secret he hadn’t intended to share with me. Yet last night, I had forgotten all about his secret and done things a proper lady wouldn’t do. I trusted him because I wanted him to be worth my trust. However, in the light of day with Emma beside me, it was hard to do that any longer.

“I see,” he said finally.

“Emma,” a stern yet distraught voice came from the doorway, and we all turned our heads to see who I could only assume was Alice, the governess. Her hair was pulled up tightly on her head and the glasses perched on her nose only made her pinched expression appear more severe. I felt the sudden need to protect Emma.

“Hello, Alice. I trust you slept well,” Emma replied, not seeming frightened at all.

“I am sorry, Lord Ashington,” Alice said, looking completely horrified. “I thought she was sleeping when I left the cottage to go get tea. When I arrived back, the door was locked. I thought she’d locked me out and she was inside.”

Ashington didn’t appear angry at the governess. He also didn’t seem surprised by Emma’s actions. Did she do these sorts of things often? I bit back a smile at the thought. What a mischievous little girl.

“Twas the last morning here. I wanted to meet everyone,” Emma said with her shoulders straight and her head held high. No fear in her expression. It was as if she was challenging them both.

“Emma, we spoke of this last night,” Alice said, sounding more exasperated than angry this time.

“I did not like your response,” Emma told her then turned back in her seat and took another bite of pastry.

Ashington stood then and held out his hand toward Emma. “You’ve had your introduction. Tis time you left. Your carriage back to London awaits,” he told her.

Emma sighed and looked longingly at the half-eaten pastry in her hand.

“You may take the pastry with you,” Ashington informed her.

Emma’s face immediately brightened and she smiled up at me. “It was a pleasure seeing you again. I truly hope it won’t be the last,” she said then climbed down out of her chair and started toward Ashington.

Just before she reached him, she spun around and looked at Aunt Harriet. “It was a pleasure meeting you, too,” she said then looked toward my uncle. “We did not speak but hello,” she told him then slipped her hand into Ashington’s and happily let him lead her from the dining room.

Silence fell over the room as my aunt and uncle both stared at me. I didn’t have their answers. I was afraid what this appeared to be… who Emma appeared to be was indeed correct. It did not make me dislike the child, but I feared if word about her were to ever leak to the ton, things could go very differently. The idea made my stomach sick. She was so full of life and a lovely spirit.

“This cannot end well,” Uncle Alfred said.

“We do not know that,” Aunt Harriet snapped at him but even she didn’t look convinced.

“I’m sorry I am late, yet again,” Whitney said as she breezed into the dining room. “I cannot seem to rise at a decent hour while staying here.”

We all looked up and her bright smile fell instantly.

“Oh dear, what did I miss?” she asked in a hushed voice.

“I dare say you would not believe it if we told you,” Uncle Alfred said, standing from his chair. “I must go ready my things. I imagine we will be leaving shortly.”

Whitney’s gaze fell to the table covered in sweet pastries. “Do I have time for at least one?” she asked.

“Of course,” Aunt Harriet replied.

The hot chocolate I had requested arrived.

Somehow I managed to drink a cup and finish a pastry. I will never know how because my stomach was never so in knots as it was in that moment.

Very little was said as we finished our breakfast. Whitney’s curious gaze was on me and although I felt it, I did not meet her eyes. The less people who knew of Emma the safer