away.' Emma crossed her arms. 'I have given you my promise. It is time for you to honour yours.'
'Miss Harrison, this is a most inappropriate conversation to be having with you. I am shocked at your suggestion.' Jack gave a slight bow. 'Shall we wait until after your polka?'
Weak-willed and weak-minded, Emma decided as the carriage stopped in front of the building site.
That was what she was.
Allowing Jack Stanton to manipulate her into agreeing to go to the Assembly Rooms was a mistake of the highest order. She should have stuck to her plan, refused to be manipulated by either her father or Jack. As it was, she would have to face Lottie Charlton and her minions, and hear the giggling gossips.
She could visit the building site whenever she wished. Jack Stanton could not stop her. He would not dare.
Several of the workmen turned and stared at her, almost as if they had never seen her before.
A hush fell over the site and all eyes seemed to follow her every movement. Emma hesitated, straightened her jacket and bonnet, and proceeded to the office with firm footsteps.
'Miss Emma,' Mudge said, his eyes widening.
'I have come about--' Emma began.
'I will take care of Miss Harrison.' Jack's smooth voice interrupted her words. Without saying a word, Mudge bowed and left the room. Emma blinked. The foreman had never moved with that much speed before.
Jack came forward into the small foyer. He was dressed in his shirtsleeves, his collar open at the neck and a towel looped around his neck. It looked as if he had been doing physical labour, working with the men. Not what she'd expected at all.
Emma swallowed hard and tried to regain control of her pulse. Her head seemed very light, and all she could concentrate on was that little patch of skin at the base of his throat, glistening slightly. She had thought her dreams last night were bad, but the reality of him was overpowering. She ran her tongue over her lips and struggled to focus elsewhere.
'This is a closed site, Miss Harrison.'
'I am the daughter of Edward Harrison.' Emma tilted her chin upwards and waited.
'There are no exceptions. The work is not at a point that I want the public to gaze and gape. It is far too dangerous. You know what happened to young Davy. One misstep and he fell.'
'I have been to see Davy. He is one of the reasons I am here,' Emma said quietly, thinking about the terrible scene of poverty she had come from. Davy Newcomb had been released from hospital. His leg was not broken, merely sprained, but the Newcombs depended on Davy's wages to make ends meet. That much had been clear from the way Mrs Newcomb would not meet her eyes. She had wanted to do something for them. But Mrs Newcomb had refused. She have never taken charity and was not about to start. Emma had left, feeling dissatisfied.
'How is the lad?'
'He will recover, given time. It could have been so much worse. He knows what he did wrong.'
'I am glad to hear that.' Jack gave a nod. 'Hopefully he will learn from this not to take short cuts.'
'Davy is bright. He planned on going to grammar school.' Emma gave a sigh. 'It is just unfortunate his father died earlier this year. His mother depends on him and his wage. He seems to have given up all idea of learning.'
'It is hard, but it can be done if one has the discipline. The Institute of Mechanical Engineering offers night classes and other opportunities for self-improvement.'
'Hopefully Davy will become inspired, but I am more worried about his family. They need every penny. I have told his mother that Davy's position is safe until such a time as he is strong enough to return.'
Jack crossed his arms. 'What is your business, and why couldn't it wait until I returned to your father's?'
'It is not you I wanted to speak to.' Emma clung onto the remnants of her temper. He should show more concern about Davy. He had saved the boy. She looked up at the grey sky, drew a deep breath. Davy was not his employee. Thankfully. And she had to
'Miss Harrison, this is a most inappropriate conversation to be having with you. I am shocked at your suggestion.' Jack gave a slight bow. 'Shall we wait until after your polka?'
Weak-willed and weak-minded, Emma decided as the carriage stopped in front of the building site.
That was what she was.
Allowing Jack Stanton to manipulate her into agreeing to go to the Assembly Rooms was a mistake of the highest order. She should have stuck to her plan, refused to be manipulated by either her father or Jack. As it was, she would have to face Lottie Charlton and her minions, and hear the giggling gossips.
She could visit the building site whenever she wished. Jack Stanton could not stop her. He would not dare.
Several of the workmen turned and stared at her, almost as if they had never seen her before.
A hush fell over the site and all eyes seemed to follow her every movement. Emma hesitated, straightened her jacket and bonnet, and proceeded to the office with firm footsteps.
'Miss Emma,' Mudge said, his eyes widening.
'I have come about--' Emma began.
'I will take care of Miss Harrison.' Jack's smooth voice interrupted her words. Without saying a word, Mudge bowed and left the room. Emma blinked. The foreman had never moved with that much speed before.
Jack came forward into the small foyer. He was dressed in his shirtsleeves, his collar open at the neck and a towel looped around his neck. It looked as if he had been doing physical labour, working with the men. Not what she'd expected at all.
Emma swallowed hard and tried to regain control of her pulse. Her head seemed very light, and all she could concentrate on was that little patch of skin at the base of his throat, glistening slightly. She had thought her dreams last night were bad, but the reality of him was overpowering. She ran her tongue over her lips and struggled to focus elsewhere.
'This is a closed site, Miss Harrison.'
'I am the daughter of Edward Harrison.' Emma tilted her chin upwards and waited.
'There are no exceptions. The work is not at a point that I want the public to gaze and gape. It is far too dangerous. You know what happened to young Davy. One misstep and he fell.'
'I have been to see Davy. He is one of the reasons I am here,' Emma said quietly, thinking about the terrible scene of poverty she had come from. Davy Newcomb had been released from hospital. His leg was not broken, merely sprained, but the Newcombs depended on Davy's wages to make ends meet. That much had been clear from the way Mrs Newcomb would not meet her eyes. She had wanted to do something for them. But Mrs Newcomb had refused. She have never taken charity and was not about to start. Emma had left, feeling dissatisfied.
'How is the lad?'
'He will recover, given time. It could have been so much worse. He knows what he did wrong.'
'I am glad to hear that.' Jack gave a nod. 'Hopefully he will learn from this not to take short cuts.'
'Davy is bright. He planned on going to grammar school.' Emma gave a sigh. 'It is just unfortunate his father died earlier this year. His mother depends on him and his wage. He seems to have given up all idea of learning.'
'It is hard, but it can be done if one has the discipline. The Institute of Mechanical Engineering offers night classes and other opportunities for self-improvement.'
'Hopefully Davy will become inspired, but I am more worried about his family. They need every penny. I have told his mother that Davy's position is safe until such a time as he is strong enough to return.'
Jack crossed his arms. 'What is your business, and why couldn't it wait until I returned to your father's?'
'It is not you I wanted to speak to.' Emma clung onto the remnants of her temper. He should show more concern about Davy. He had saved the boy. She looked up at the grey sky, drew a deep breath. Davy was not his employee. Thankfully. And she had to
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