Emily's Song by Christine Marciniak

Author:Christine Marciniak [Marciniak, Christine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Historical, Civil War, Time Travel
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2018-03-18T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Sam

The mantel clock in the study chimed eight, and Sam glanced at it startled, he’d no idea so much time had passed. He placed his pipe on its mahogany stand. It had gone out while they’d talked anyway.

“We’ve been most neglectful of Miss Parks.” How could he have left her on her own that long? He knew it was unacceptable as a host, but the afternoon had shaken him more than he cared to admit. He didn’t know how to handle being alone with her again. So, shamefully, he’d left her to her own devices while he’d smoked and drank with George. There was no excuse for it, and now he had to face the music.

“And I must be on my way.” George stood and stretched. “I’ll come by tomorrow morning, and we’ll ride into town.”

“We’ll take the carriage.” Sam turned down the gaslight on the desk.

“Why? It’s much more convenient to ride.”

Sam cleared his throat, not sure what George would make of what he had to say next. “Yes, but I’m taking Miss Parks into town to have some dresses made up.”

“So, she’s staying, is she?” George crossed his arms and studied him, one eyebrow quirked.

“For the time being.” She had nowhere else to go. It would be ungentlemanly to turn her out. “Which is another reason I can’t be lax on my hospitality.”

“Should I stay and chaperon?”

Sam wasn’t entirely certain his friend was joking.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” He walked George to the front door and then headed to the parlor to see if Emily needed anything. Perhaps he should bring a glass of brandy, was the evening cool enough for that? Was it too forward of him? Considering what had happened this afternoon could anything be considered too forward?

He expected to see her sitting in the big chair by the fire, or perhaps the davenport, but the room was empty. Tobias, as always, was near at hand. “You don’t happen to know where Miss Parks is, do you?”

“No, sir.” Tobias shook his head as he answered. Of course he didn’t, Sam realized, he’d been in the study with him and George, refilling their drinks as needed. “Can I say, though, Mister Sam, that Mr. Phelps is right. You should have a chaperon here if Miss Parks is going to stay. It’s not right.”

Sam frowned at him but knew he was right. It would be cause for scandal in the neighborhood if it were discovered, but he didn’t particularly care, and he suspected Emily wouldn’t either. His mother, on the other hand, would be livid if word got back to her.

“Especially after what happened by the pond this afternoon,” Tobias continued.

Sam gave him a sharp look. “What did you see?”

“Enough,” Tobias answered.

Damn. That was all he needed.

“Anyone else?”

“Not as far I as I know.”

“And you’ll, of course, keep your observations to yourself.” It came out sounding much more like an order than a request to a friend.

Tobias bowed his head slightly. “Of course, sir.”

Sam took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

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