The Captain's Impossible Match by Laura Martin

Author:Laura Martin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-09-10T18:37:02+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Guy leaned back in his chair, swinging on the back legs as if he were still a child. There was something about being back in his childhood home that made him regress to some of his youthful behaviours.

He couldn’t suppress a smile when Emma eventually emerged, yawning and still looking half-asleep despite it being after nine. She’d never been a morning person, even in Egypt where the most productive time was often in the hour or so after dawn when it was still cool from the night. Instead she would do things when the sun was at its height and wonder why everyone looked at her as though she were crazy.

‘Good morning,’ he said. ‘Did you sleep?’

‘A little, thank you. It took me a while to drop off after the excitement of the night.’

‘I heard all about it,’ Sophia said, hurrying in. For someone whose life revolved around Elmwood House his sister always seemed to be in a rush, as if she was worried the world was getting away from her.

‘Did something happen?’ Cecilia asked. She looked well rested and fresh, obviously undisturbed by the night’s events.

‘I came downstairs to get some books from the library and was surprised by Lord Templeton, that’s all.’

‘Our father wanders at night,’ Sophia said, taking a slice of toast even though Guy knew she had already had breakfast.

‘There was a commotion?’ There was concern in Cecilia’s eyes.

‘I screamed,’ Emma admitted quietly. ‘In my defence it was very dark.’

‘Woke the whole household up—I’m surprised you didn’t hear it, Cecilia,’ Guy said.

‘Henry always said I could sleep through anything.’ The smile slipped from Cecilia’s lips as she realised what she had said. Although in Egypt Emma’s father and Cecilia had often walked arm in arm, heads bowed together showing the intimacy of their relationship, Cecilia had always been careful when among people they didn’t know to keep up the pretence that she was first Emma’s governess and then her companion.

Luckily it was only Sophia and she was too caught up in her buttery toast to notice the look of panic on Cecilia’s face.

‘Right, I’ve got the solicitor coming later today, but I have time this morning to give you a tour of the estate if you would like.’ He directed his words to Emma and Cecilia, but he knew his sister would join them. She’d been so excited about the prospect of guests she wouldn’t be left behind.

‘We can show them the gardens and the old dairy and the lake and the woods,’ Sophia said in one great gush of breath.

‘Is your wrist too painful to ride?’

Emma flexed it a few times, smothering the grimace.

‘It isn’t too sore. Let me change into my riding habit and I’ll be ready to go.’

‘Can I tempt you, Cecilia?’ Guy asked.

The older woman shook her head. ‘I think I’ll keep my feet firmly on the ground if your sister is going to accompany you. Your mother promised me a tour of her garden.’

Guy stood, meaning to go and tell

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