A Guiding Light for the Lost Earl by Abby Ayles

Author:Abby Ayles [Ayles, Abby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

In the days following his conversation with Emma, things did, indeed, go back to the way they were.

Emma once more smiled at him when they passed each other throughout the house, and she had even returned to her normal, blunt self.

This time, when she would tell him exactly what she thought or how she felt about something, he felt no annoyance. Instead, he felt pleased, almost thrilled. However, even though he should not, he had to admit to himself that he wished that things could progress.

He could not help the continued effect that Emma was having on him and, in truth, with each passing day, he had less and less desire to try to help it.

As the two-year anniversary of Caroline’s death approached, however, he began to withdraw again, from his children and from Emma.

At first, Emma said nothing about it to him. She would merely give him curious looks. On a couple of occasions, she would begin to speak, but then change her mind and give Francis a sweet smile.

However, one day as he sat in his study, trying and failing to focus on a stack of paperwork in front of him, Emma knocked on the open door.

Despite his darkened mood, he was pleased to see her. He motioned for her to enter, pushing the papers to the side, in case she noticed that he had not done a thing to any of them, which he knew she would. He nonchalantly placed a folder on the top of the stack.

“Yes, Miss Baker?” he asked, wincing at the false brightness that his voice projected.

Emma studied him for a moment, and Francis cursed himself.

“Are you alright?” she asked, opting to stand rather than taking a seat. Francis could guess why.

Francis gave her his best casual smile.

“Certainly,” he said, his voice still annoyingly chipper. “Why do you ask?”

Emma frowned, still staring at him.

“You have spent very little time with the children in days,” she said in her strong, direct manner. “And you have taken the last three days’ worth of meals in here.”

“So, you have been keeping count of my absences?” he asked. He had meant for the words to sound light and teasing, but instead, they came out harsh and cool.

Emma blinked and scowled. She put her hands on her hips defiantly.

“Seeing as how we agreed that things would return to normal, with neither of us avoiding the other, I suppose I have been,” she retorted.

Francis flushed and sighed. He had wanted her to stop running and hiding from him, and here he was, doing exactly that to her. He knew that he owed her an explanation, but he was unsure of whether he had one.

“Caroline’s death anniversary is on Friday,” he said bluntly.

He gaped, unable to believe that he had blurted it out so plainly. As he spoke the words, he instantly felt nervous.

Would she be like everyone else and think that he should be moved on already? Would she feel that that was no excuse for once more

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