Page 43 of The Girl Out of Time
“He was three years older than me,” Theo said. “Could never stand still, except in the mornings. Getting him out of bed in time to start work on the farm was a chore in itself! He always joked. Always was up for some kind of mischief, whether to prank the neighbor’s cart or sneak out to the village in the evening …”
As he talked and recounted his childhood memories, and his cousin constantly dragging him into trouble, Theo’s voice lifted, and his arm fell back to his side, fingers relaxing. Emmeline grinned at his tales, realizing, somewhere in the back of her mind—it was working. She made him feel better.
“He thought the army would be another adventure. It wasn’t.” Theo grew serious again. “It was all because of me. I wanted to follow him. If I didn’t get hurt, he wouldn’t try to get us back home in the shortest way possible.”
“Don’t blame yourself.”
“He died because of me.”
“He was a good man, and a great cousin, for going to such lengths to save you,” she said. “The ship sinking wasn’t your fault. And if it had to happen—because fate, destiny, whatever you want—willed it to, at least he died a hero, trying to help you.”
He looked down, dark lashes resting against his pale cheeks. She wasn’t so sure anymore if she had made it better. With memories of Leon intertwining with her new perception of Theo, her heart ached—perhaps for both, if they shared any part of their lives, but mostly for Theo, right here, right now. If only she could hug him, give him any kind of consolation …
“Thank you.” He raised his eyes. “I don’t have anyone else to talk to. About him.”
Her eyes stung, but she mustered a smile. “You can always talk to me.”
A corner of his mouth quirked, just enough for the acknowledgment.
“I should get back,” she said after a bit. She’d given him an opportunity to talk, but he needed time to be alone, too.
She rose and nimbly climbed off the roof, Theo helping her with the last few steps. She dusted off her hands and, for an awkward moment, they stood there, close, but not quite touching.
“Would you like me to bring you some books? Other than philosophical works, that is,” she blurted out.
Theo clasped his hands behind his back, breaking his eye contact with the ground only for a second, to give her a shy look. “I’d appreciate it, if it doesn’t get you into trouble.”
“I’ll be fine, don’t worry. Oh, you must readDark and Stormy! Alistair, the hero, he’s just like you—well, I won’t spoil it. But will you read it?”
He inclined his head. “I will.”
“All right.” She beamed at him. “I’ll bring you the books when I can.” She turned to leave. “Good night.”
“Good night.” He shuffled on his feet. “Emmeline.”
After a restless night, fighting against all the upsets of the previous day, Emmeline woke up into a morning with the weather as befuddled as herfeelings. The heavy rain, pounding against the windows as she descended for breakfast, was gone by the time she finished eating. Five minutes later, the sun shone as if no storm had passed at all.
But a different storm awaited Emmeline. She’d barely made it back to her room when she was summoned to the foyer, where Lord Farenham wished her for “an outing”. She hastily put on a light muslin spencer jacket she’d bought with Louisa, a bonnet with ribbons in matching blue, and topped it off with a rose pink scarf. If Daniel’s mood had not cleared up, she might need something to fidget with.
He waited in the foyer, along with Theo and a female servant, the two of them standing to the side. Emmeline sent a curious look at Theo, who hit her back with his best poker face.
“Miss Grey.” Daniel’s tone barely skirted the politeness line. “I was wondering if you’d take a walk with me.”
“M-me?”
“Unless there’s another Miss Grey around here, then yes, you.”
She nearly missed the last step.Oh, if he knew.“Uhm, all right.” He wasn’t going to take her to a secluded place to murder her, was he?
Wrong genre, silly.And he was much too handsome to be a murderer.
“I was told you hadn’t brought a lady’s maid, so I’ve called for your servant and my sister’s maid instead. This should satisfy my mother’s sensibilities, and yours, I assume.” Without waiting for an answer, Daniel headed to the front door.
After a moment of shock, Emmeline jolted into action, running after him to catch up with his fast pace and long steps. Daniel clasped his hands behind his back, continuing his march toward the beach, as Theo and Louisa’s maid fell into step behind them.
“I do love a walk in the morning,” Emmeline said after a minute, to break the silence—and, well, she didn’thatewalking.
“I’m sure you do,” he responded with mild sarcasm. “At least if it’s short enough, and invigorating, but not too intense as to be considered unladylike, is that correct?”
