Tears threatened at the corners. “I think you have grown wicked, Emmalyn, and that is the true, tragic consequence of the assault and abduction. There is no evidence of your fine sensibilities, nor any inkling that they ever existed. You say whatever comes to your mind with no regard for another’s feelings. Have you not upbraided me for the very same? Now the shoe is on the other foot, and I must needs reproach you. I can only hope that gives you pause, for I assure you that I will be uncompromising in the application of the standard of conduct you used to set.”
Emma closed her eyes briefly while she massaged her temple. The seeds of a headache had been firmly planted. “Marisol,” she said softly, exasperation mingling with respect, “you quite take my breath away.”
“Then it was an adequate setdown?”
“Better than adequate. I shall give consideration to all you’ve said, but just now—”
“Oh, yes. Father is waiting.”
“Yes.” Emma leaned forward and kissed her cousin lightly on the cheek. Her action surprised Marisol, but Emma turned and hurried from the room before she was delayed yet again.
Sir Arthur Vega’s library was on the ground floor toward the back of the house. When he wasn’t painting in his studio with its windows that opened onto a rooftop balcony, he favored the quiet that was only possible away from the street. Out of respect for his preference for peace, Emma tread lightly on the stairs and down the hallway. The butler was waiting at the door to usher her in. Her entry was accomplished so quietly that neither her uncle nor his guest immediately turned.
It was only when the door clicked into place behind her that her presence became known. Sir Arthur came about first, smiling warmly and waving her over.
“Ah, here you are. Come in, come in. You will like this news, I think.” Arthur Vega was not a large man, but the arm he flung around Emmalyn’s shoulders held surprising strength as he brought her closer. “Mr. Gardner, this is my niece, Miss Emmalyn Hathaway, of whom I have spoke with such affection. Emmalyn, you will be pleased to make the acquaintance of Mr. Gardner. It is his stepmother who recently purchased that piece I did of the fishing village.”
Restell Gardner inclined his head politely. “Miss Hathaway. It is a pleasure.”
“Mr. Gardner.” Emma was only aware she had spoken after the fact. She further surprised herself by lifting her face to her uncle and announcing, “Mr. Gardner and I are already acquainted.”
Sir Arthur’s dark eyebrows lifted in tandem, the left one in a slightly higher arch than the right. “You are? That is unexpected.” He cast a look at Restell. “Did you mention that? I don’t recall you mentioning it.”
“I did not,” Restell said. He did not expound upon his answer.
“Do you know my daughter, then?” asked Sir Arthur. “I only raise the question because Emmalyn so rarely knows anyone I do not, while my daughter Marisol seems to be acquainted with the entire ton. I suppose some would consider that an accomplishment as she’s only had one Season, but I have my reservations.”
Restell smiled politely. “Fathers often do.”
Emma noticed that Mr. Gardner had not answered the question, but it seemed her uncle was oblivious to this fact. Further, it did not appear Sir Arthur was going to inquire as to how she’d made their visitor’s acquaintance. She had no idea how Mr. Gardner had presented himself to her uncle, but she was not going to be an accomplice to intrigue and subterfuge. Before she could offer any explanation, her uncle began to speak.
“Mr. Gardner has inquired about commissioning a painting similar to the one his mother purchased. I’ve explained to him that there is no other like it in the studio, but that there are the sketches and an early rendering in oil that I judged to lack the animation I was hoping to achieve. He is expressing an interest in seeing them.”
“That presents no difficulty.”
Sir Arthur gave Emma’s shoulders another squeeze while he addressed Restell. “Did I not say that she was everything accommodating?”
“Yes,” Restell said. “You did.” He caught Emma’s eyes. “Sir Arthur explained that you arrange many of his sittings and keep his schedule. He would have me believe that he no longer knows how he managed without your assistance.”
“He is very kind,” Emma said. “But for many years before I came to live here, he had an extremely competent secretary who did exactly what I do.”
Sir Arthur cleared his throat. “Yes, well, Mr. Gardner does not wish to hear about Johnston, and neither do I. Will you show our guest to the studio, Emmalyn? Forgive me, Mr. Gardner, but as I told you, my knees are throbbing with distressing vigor today. It’s the rheumatism.”
“I understand. Do not give it another thought.”
“It will not surprise me if there is a change in the weather, probably by nightfall.”
“My grandmother made similar predictions. I do not recall that she was ever wrong.”
Sir Arthur let his arm fall so that it rested lightly at the small of Emma’s back. He gave her an encouraging nudge when she remained rooted to the floor. “Show Mr. Gardner every courtesy, Emmalyn. His mother is a singular woman, a force, I believe, to be reckoned with, and I am glad to have secured her patronage. Her presence at Lady Greenaway’s sittings is enormously helpful. The children, remember? I told you about them.”
“You did, but recall I did not arrange that commission.” Still, she offered a commiserating smile because she had heard a great deal about Lady Greenaway’s young heathens. What Sir Arthur had failed to mention was Lady Gardner’s presence at any of the sittings. That would have raised her interest as tales of the children had not. “This way, Mr. Gardner. My uncle’s studio is on the uppermost floor. Once you have made the climb you will appreciate his desire to remain behind.”
Emma turned on him as soon as they were on the other side of the door. Through clenched teeth, she asked, “What are you doing here?”
Restell answered with considerably more warmth. “You receive full marks, Miss Hathaway, for waiting until we were in the hallway to put that question to me. I wasn’t sure that you would. You did not make much effort to hold your tongue or wait to follow my lead.”
“Can you not imagine that I was in shock? It has been some ten days since I saw you.”
“Eleven.”
“What?”
“It’s been eleven days. When you visited my home you said it had been nineteen days since you were attacked. By my reckoning it’s now been a month.” He paused in his steps and held her up, taking her by the elbow so that he might examine her face critically. “The bruising has all but faded, except for that spot on your chin, and my recollection is that it is a remnant of a carpet burn.” He released her immediately upon sensing her discomfort with both his touch and his study of her features. “The healing for the sake of appearances seems almost complete, but I wonder about the wounds that are not visible. How do you fare, Miss Hathaway?”
“I can’t think why it concerns you, but I am well enough.”
“Of course it concerns me. There is the matter of our agreement.” He turned with her to mount the main staircase. It was wide
