Free Always Have Hope (Emerson Book 3) by Maureen Driscoll

But it would make me very happy if you would be my daughter. For I love you
very much and I already consider you the daughter of my heart.”
    Anna climbed on Irene’s lap and whispered something in
her ear.
    Irene hugged her close. “She said yes.” Then Irene
cried.
    Win reached for her handkerchief and the entire room
was in tears.
    Heskiss chose that moment to knock and let Violet in.
    “Oh, no!” she said. “Why is everyone crying?”
    “I have an English mama!” announced Anna.
    “That’s wonderful!” said Violet. “We should eat
biscuits! Lord and Lady Ridgeway, can Letty come, too?”
    Noting his sister’s enthusiasm, Colin said, “Of
course.”
    Then with one more hug for Irene and James, Anna
followed the two older girls out of the room.
    After a few moments spent toasting the happy couple –
Lynwood had left his best brandy for them – they all returned to the matter at
hand.
    “I suppose,” said Win as she took a deep breath, “that
I should tell you about my life.”
    *
    Victor Stemple had been shocked and greatly saddened
to hear what had happened to Lady Winifred when Lord James’s note had reached
the family in Wiltshire. He’d never met the lady. In fact, he’d only known
the rest of the family for a few short months. But he shared their sorrow.
    He’d originally met Lord Ridgeway at the end of the
war when Victor had been in a hospital recovering from the burns which had
scarred the right side of his face and body. His lordship had been a
lieutenant in the Guards and was there to visit one of his men. But through
the subsequent visits, Victor and his lordship had had a few laughs and spoken
at length of the war that had laid waste to so many men.
    It was only by chance that he’d met the earl again seven
years later. The intervening years had not been good for either of them.
While Victor had returned home after the war, his severe burns had scared away
many of the customers in his parents’ country shop. To make certain they didn’t
lose their business, Victor had invented a job offer in London, then gone to
seek his fortune.
    Unfortunately, he’d not been able to find permanent
employment, given his appearance. He’d survived working job to job and couldn’t
be choosy with his employers. He’d done some illegal work, but had never
stolen or hurt anyone. But he was nearly destitute when fate put him in the
earl’s path once again.
    The earl had been without money and in search of a
rich bride. He’d needed a valet, yet could not afford to pay one. Despite
having no experience, Victor had worked for him in exchange for room and board.
On their way back to Wiltshire for Christmas, they’d been stranded at Lord
Clayton’s estate, where they each met his future wife. The current Lady
Ridgeway had been the governess for Lord Clayton’s sisters and Victor’s wife
Maude had been a kitchen maid at the estate.
    Now they were all in London and while Victor would do
anything to help Lady Winifred, he was not looking forward to his stay in a
city that held so many unpleasant memories.
    He’d just unpacked Lord and Lady Ridgeway’s trunks and
was about to do the same for Lord Layton, when the butler, Mr. Heskiss,
appeared. Butlers in general were an insufferable lot. They too often equated
their worth with their master’s rank. The butler at Lord Clayton’s estate had
told Victor to eat in a separate room so he wouldn’t spoil everyone’s
appetite. He could only imagine what a duke’s butler would expect of him.
    “Mr. Stemple,” said Mr. Heskiss. “I see you are
getting his lordship settled. Please let me know if there is anything he – or
anyone – requires.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Heskiss,” said Victor, hoping to make
a quick escape to Lord Layton’s suite.
    But the butler stopped him before he could walk too
far down the hallway. “I would like to have a word with you, Mr. Stemple,
about a rather delicate matter.”
    Victor sighed. He had a feeling he’d eat