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

separately
again. At least he knew Maude would join him. And he’d never need more than
that. “How may I help you, Mr. Heskiss?”
    The man was a bit uncomfortable. Good . If you
couldn’t see past a bloke’s appearance you should be a little uneasy.
    Mr. Heskiss continued. “We, the staff, have never had
the pleasure of meeting an Algonquin Indian before and, quite frankly, we are
at a loss. Are there special dishes Miss Emerson likes to eat? Are there
foods she avoids? Are there any special customs that would make her feel at
home? Anything she requires for a religious practice? It is our job to make
all of his grace’s guests feel at home, but we are concerned that we might
inadvertently say or do something wrong. Cook is particularly worried that her
dinners might be lacking. And we certainly can’t have a little girl go
hungry. Can you please help us?”
    Victor hoped he didn’t look as shocked as he felt. It
was certainly not what he’d been expecting. “I’m embarrassed to say I don’t
know the answers to those questions. I haven’t noticed that Miss Emerson has
any particular preferences. In fact, she is very eager to please, so if we
have somehow offended her in Wiltshire, she has never mentioned it. Lord James
has never given us particular instructions regarding his daughter and he is a
very devoted father. But if I do learn anything, I will be certain to let you
know.”
    “Thank you. And if any of the Emersons or Lord Layton
have particular preferences, I would be most appreciative if you would inform
me. Ah, Mr. Rigg.”
    A smartly dressed servant in his middle thirties
approached.
    “Mr. Stemple, please allow me to introduce Mr. Rigg.
He is the butler for Lord and Lady Edward at Marston Vale and his wife helps
take care of the children.”
    “She mostly takes care of me,” said Mr. Rigg with a
grin, as he shook Victor’s hand.
    Heskiss continued. “Lord James asked if it might be
possible to house you and your good wife together, Mr. Stemple. We have placed
you in the nursery, next to Mr. and Mrs. Rigg.”
    Rigg explained. “The nursery is unused, since his
lord and ladyship keep the babe with them in their room and Miss Kellington is
in the bedchamber on the other side of their sitting room. So, the nursery is
actually one of the quietest places to sleep. I can show you where it is, if
you have a moment.”
    “Thank you,” said Victor, still unable to comprehend
the kind treatment he was receiving. “But now I have a delicate question to
ask. At my wife’s former house of employment, it was not safe for women to
walk the halls at night. I do not mean any insult, but…”
    “But you are simply a protective husband,” said Mr.
Heskiss with a smile. “I am glad of it. Too many females in this world are
unprotected, including some who are married. This is as safe a house as I have
ever heard of. Indeed, if something untoward were to occur, his grace would
have the offender prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, after first
being taken outside and, well, punished.”
    “I wouldn’t want to go up against his grace,” said Mr.
Rigg. “Or any of the Kellingtons, to be honest. Now, if you’d like to see
your bedchamber, I’d be happy to show you and I’ll have my wife look out for
Mrs. Stemple.”
    As Victor accepted the offer, he hoped the same good
fortune that seemed to be finding him as of late would also shine on Lady
Winifred. For she certainly needed it.

CHAPTER SIX
    Win was exceedingly nervous. She had deliberated on how
much she was going to tell her family, knowing what it would do to them to hear
her story. But she realized she was done with lies of all kinds. And
especially now that her very life was at stake, it was important to be as honest
as possible.
    Her brothers were much as she remembered, but
different. They were men now. Fully grown men. Not like their father. Never
like their father. But noblemen, in the truest sense of the word.
    Rose was a beautiful