To Love a Tormented Earl - Bridget Barton Page 0,5
right as rain in no time.'
'A fall?' he said, his words softened by the swollen lips that were an ever-present reminder of his illness. His voice had taken on a fretful tone.
'Yes, my dear Papa, why in heaven’s name were you out of bed?'
'Oh,' he said. 'I don’t recall.'
Confused again, Emilia thought with concern.
'Well, I’m certain you had your reasons,' she said quickly.
He touched his wounded head and saw the blood on the tips of his fingers. 'Oh, Emmy, I apologise, I’m afraid I’ve rather made a mess of things, haven’t I?'
'Nonsense,' she assured him. 'Tis but a scratch, you’ll see. Sometimes things look worse than they are, after all. We mustn’t rush to judge.'
Yes, she thought. That’s true. Papa will be well again.
She wanted to believe it so desperately. Perhaps that was why she had become fixated on the man with the dog. ‘twas a way to avoid thinking of the very real problems she felt unequal to solving.
'Oh dear, oh dear,' said Randall as he approached. 'Perdition, what has happened?'
'Mister Randall,' Mrs. Gale exclaimed from behind him, scandalized by his language. Alice was close on their heels.
'I do beg your pardon, Miss,' Randall apologised to Emilia. 'Please, allow me.'
Emilia took care to place a hand behind her father’s head as Randall raised him to standing.
Papa’s colour was very bad. His face looked puffy and his mouth leaked saliva. The blood from his injury was running down his temple and cheek.
He will be well again, she thought with resolution. I shall do what I must to make it so.
When they were still living in Surrey, on the family estate, the apothecary said Papa needed to take the waters at Bath, which they had heeded for some years before the Whitmore finances became truly strained. But Papa had not improved, and now the family’s surgeon suggested a trip to Germany or Italy, to seek treatment for Papa in the sanatoria.
However, the Whitmores were running out of money. What her father had saved over the years had dwindled to nothing, especially after weather destroyed a dam and flooding ruined much of the farmland rented to tenants of their land in Surrey.
The disaster led too many of the tenants to leave and the houses were terribly damaged. Acting as her father’s 'assistant,' Emilia corresponded with solicitors and other agents, attempting desperately to remedy the situation, but she was out of her depth. There was no question of telling Papa, whose weak heart must be considered at all times.
Eventually appealing to a cousin of Papa’s, Emilia thought that matters would be better handled. The cousin managed to sell much of the land, despite the legal difficulties involved, and he then made investments on their behalf. Emilia, Alice and her father left Bushley House, the Whitmore family estate in Surrey, for a leased townhouse in Bath. This cost them dearly. Then, Emilia was devastated to learn that the investments collapsed—this was two years ago.
It was upon that occasion that Emilia realized that her only hope was a fortuitous marriage, and that time was running out to secure one. Emilia was forced to sell everything she could without drawing the notice of the ton, in order to move the household to London to attend the season. That money held for a year, but in recent months, the situation was becoming more and more desperate.
She had her business with Dassel, but it was inadequate to the needs of the London household, much less those of Bushley House, in Surrey. Bushley House was mouldering, empty. If she did not find a wealthy husband soon, she would have to sell it. Without property, the Whitmore name would be shockingly diminished. The situation could not continue forever in this way.
‘Twas plain enough what she had to do. At the next ball, she would find a husband.
As for mysterious men who rescue dogs...well, they probably aren’t who they appear to be, in any case. I shan’t trouble myself over any of it. The identity of that man is no business of mine.
Things weren’t always what they seemed.
A shock of guilt washed through her as she and Alice accompanied Randall and Mrs. Gale, each supporting her father on one side, as they helped him back to his bed.
Look at me, thinking again of some stranger, when my father has just injured himself.
Truly, the accident was a sign. She must put distractions from her mind immediately.
She had her purpose, and nothing must stand in her way.