Free A Country Mouse by Fenella Miller

hours he had just spent in her company. He now considered that his plan to trick Emily into breaking the engagement was reprehensible and hardly appropriate to man of his elevated position and he decided he had no option but to abandon it.
    * * * *
    'I have repaired your lilac gown, miss; it's all ready for you, and I took the liberty of calling up a bath.'
    'Thank you, Jenny. I will not wear that dress, an older one will suffice.' For a moment she was puzzled by her maid's look of horror at the suggestion. Then she felt as though she had swallowed
    a stone. For in less than an hour she was supposed to be in the library ready to agree to marry her cousin.
    It was so unfair! She had been given her life back by her grandfather and had thrown it all away by a moment of foolhardiness. She knew she had no choice. She couldn't understand why the prospect of marrying her cousin filled her with such dread. After all he was handsome, intelligent, wealthy and titled. Most debutantes would love to be in her position. Why was she so set against the match?
     

Chapter Seven
     
    The harsh sound of a clock striking the hour made Emily jump. She was late. How could that have happened? She quickened her steps, lifted her skirt, and ran lightly downstairs. Where was the library? The vast hall was deserted, and none of the usual footmen in sight. There were five routes for her to select from but she had no idea which one to take.
    Frantically she searched for a bell-cord in order to summon assistance but found none. Then she had an inspired notion; she would open the front door and knock loudly on it; that would surely bring Penfold out of hiding.
    Pleased with her scheme she turned the heavy knob and stepped out into the morning sunshine. The trees were so lovely in their autumn colours that she became distracted and released her hold on the door. Its swung shut with an ominous clunk. She spun round too late, the door was firmly closed. She lifted the heavy brass knocker and banged it. She waited expectantly. There was no sound of footsteps hurrying to her summons. She banged again, with such force that she hurt her hand. Yesterday the wretched place had been overrun with staff, where were they all today?
    She decided to abandon the front door and search for another entrance. Penfold, who had been closeted with Mrs Todd, the housekeeper, opened the door to see a flash of lilac vanish round the corner. It was not his place to question the strange ways of his betters, so quietly shut the door and went about his business.
    Emily was breathless, and the hem of her dress limp and dusty by the time she finally found a side door that opened. She burst in, startling two parlour maids about their duties.
    'Thank Heavens! I have found someone. Please could you direct me to the library?'
    The younger girl recovered first. 'Yes, miss, if you would care to follow me.'
    Emily was late, very late. Her hair was escaping from its pins and the hem of her dress was mired but in her urgency she failed to notice.
    * * * *
    Sebastian was glaring out across the park; he did not like to be kept waiting. The sound of her hurrying footsteps alerted him. He turned, and stood, legs slightly apart, arms rigidly beside him, and waited.
    'Miss Gibson, my lord.' The maid, duty done, disappeared but not before she had noted the Viscount's expression and Emily's appearance. Both would be described in detail to the rest of the staff when they sat down for supper that night.
    Emily curtsied and as her eyes dropped she saw the appalling state of her dress. Her spirits sunk even lower. This was not an auspicious start. She raised her head and shrivelled under the icy stare of her future husband. Where was the friendly man she had just been out riding with?
    There was an interminable silence; Emily did not speak, she felt too ill. Sebastian knew if he opened his mouth too soon he would say something they would both regret.
     Emily recovered her composure. 'I must apologize for