A Lesson Learned (The Willowbrook Series Book 4) by Laura Landon

Author:Laura Landon [Landon, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Historical, romance
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2023-10-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Emma hadn’t seen the Earl of Carnhaven for several days. He didn’t join them for the meal they usually ate together, nor did she see him when he customarily met with his steward. Late on the third day, a footman delivered a missive informing Emma that her employer would be gone for several more days.

She wasn’t sure where he’d gone, but it didn’t really matter. She was sure he’d disappeared to avoid her and his daughters. Felicity was still more than a little piqued with him for getting angry with her for wanting to learn to fish.

Emma spent the time she had with the girls keeping them busy with schoolwork. She also took them for long walks every day when the weather cooperated. She may have been ordered to stay away from the lake, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t at least walk close enough to get a view of it.

“Oh,” Cassandra said upon seeing the lake. “I didn’t even know this was here. It’s beautiful.”

“Why do you think Father never brings us here?” Felicity asked.

“I don’t know,” Emma answered. “And perhaps you shouldn’t tell him we’ve seen it. There must be a reason he doesn’t want you to come here if he’s never told you about it. I had forgotten that he warned me not to go near it.” Even as she spoke the words, Emma hoped they would someday forgive her small lie.

“Then let’s just make sure he doesn’t find out we came here,” Cassandra said.

Suddenly, Emma regretted her decision to take this particular path. She’d been given specific instructions not to go near the water. Instead, she was encouraging Carnhaven’s daughters to keep something from their father. That went against everything she believed in.

“Perhaps we shouldn’t have come this way,” she said, overwhelmed with guilt. “I shouldn’t have shown you the lake.”

“Why not?” Felicity asked.

“Because your father didn’t want you to come here, and I brought you anyway. We need to return home.”

“But we’ve only walked a little way,” Cassandra said. “I don’t want to go back yet.”

“I know you don’t,” Emma said. “But I’m afraid your father will consider my bringing you here a grave error in judgment. He expressly forbade it.”

“Don’t worry, Miss Sullivan,” Felicity said as they turned back the way they’d come. “He’ll never find out. We won’t tell him, will we, Cassie?”

“Never,” Cassandra said.

“Thank you, ladies. I appreciate your cooperation. We’ll go back to the house, and if you would still like to walk some more, we’ll take a turn around the garden. I’m sure the nice, warm weather has caused even more flowers to bloom.”

“Do you think the rhododendrons might have blossomed?” Cassandra asked.

“I think it’s likely. We’ll go see.”

The girls turned away from the lake and made their way along the path toward the house.

“Do you know where Father went?” Cassandra asked. “He’s usually never gone this long.”

“I heard him tell Jasper he had some business to take care of in London,” Felicity said as they entered the house and made their way to the French doors that led to the garden.

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