Free Emma in Love by Emma Tennant Page B

chance
other
than thinking of them, but nevertheless, there they were: she had listened to Captain Brocklehurst; she had upbraided poor Miss Whynne in no uncertain manner; she had denied access to her school to the very children she had secretly planned to include there, if her pedagogic plans prospered.
    Yet Mr. Knightley had no idea at what hour she had left the Abbey and walked to Hartfield; she had to admit it would be childish indeed to upbraid him for not knowing her gone. She might have been gone ten minutes, or five; she could have turned back, suspecting rain.
    It was with a sense of determination which lifted the spirits that Emma resumed her progress towards the house. She did not like the fact that her husband was so reserved – even disgustingly so; for she could, after all, have been gone hours for all he knew; but she had decided that she would not be deterred by this repulsive quality in anyone, whether married to them or no.
    Jane Fairfax who was of this same reserved temperament – it was a great deal harder to make a match forher than Emma had hoped – must meet and fall in love with Captain Brocklehurst. It was this which sustained Emma through the remainder of a trying day.

Chapter 12
    Dear Emma, I do believe the little matter of our entertaining several people here tomorrow evening is no longer of any concern to you. Can you recall, even, who they are? I confess I need to scrutinise the list again, myself: we decided against Mr. and Mrs. Cole, did we not, on the grounds that they would very likely ask us back, and we could not tolerate an evening in their company, is that not so?”
    Mr. Knightley spoke; and, as he did so, as Emma well knew, he teased her. They were in the library; Mr. Knightley sat at his desk, with paper and blotter laid out, as if to adjudicate on the sins of entertaining. Emma stood by the window, aware, in a reflection cast on theglass, of her slim figure in a white dress, and of a face which could appeal to some, if not to Mr. Knightley. She disliked his teasing extravagantly.
    â€œMy belief is that you are prejudiced against asking anyone to the Abbey,” said Emma. “You were used to dine out as a bachelor; or to come to Hartfield, for a meal; and it does not strike you as necessary to invite people to the Abbey, and go to the trouble that involves.”
    â€œPrejudiced? I am not prejudiced. I dream night and day of the pleasures of tomorrow evening. And brother John likewise. He has told me so himself.”
    Emma flushed. She could not bring herself to think of a seating plan at her table which would divide John Knightley sufficiently from Jane Fairfax. Safety in numbers were needed: she knew Mr. Knightley well enough to suspect he would say as much when next he spoke.
    â€œWe are too few,” said Mr. Knightley, confirming this suspicion. “Should we not invite Mr. and Mrs. Elton, late though it may be in the day? They are owed an invitation – but you are the mistress of Donwell Abbey, dearest Emma. It is not for me to judge.”
    Emma had thought exactly the same, but she did not care to own it. The dreadful lack of Mrs. Weston and her party threw them up against the Eltons. There was no escaping it.
    The noise Mrs. Elton makes will disguise the silence between the very people whom I had wished to meet and commune in a delight of mutual discovery, thought Emma.
    â€œYes, I will invite Mr. and Mrs. Elton,” she replied, though in a tone that was far from gracious. “But we shall be obliged to ask Mrs. Smallridge also – and when we do, that will leave Jane Fairfax’s French friend alone at the Vicarage. We would be considered inhospitable in the extreme.”
    Emma could not confess her lack of desire to see the young woman who had had the audacity to drop in on Hartfield this morning and teach songs and airs to her nephews and nieces. She thought of telling Mr. Knightley about this, but remained silent. All her