The Courting Campaign by Regina Scott

Author:Regina Scott
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, Inspirational, Historical
Publisher: Love Inspired
Published: 2013-08-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Emma waited until Nicholas and Mrs. Dunworthy had left the room before turning to her foster brother.

Jerym grinned at her, showing his missing tooth to advantage. “Mr. Fredericks sends his regards.”

Emma felt sick. When she’d first seen Jerym in the doorway, she’d feared this very thing—that, despite his tale of woe to Mrs. Dunworthy, he’d come on behalf of their foster father. Emma wasn’t about to acknowledge that relationship in front of Alice, who was watching them, her eyes large and expectant.

She held up one finger to stop Jerym from continuing. “Not another word from you, sir. You have a position, and I expect you to fulfill it.”

He shrugged. “I’m certain we can come to an agreement.”

Did he think she’d be so delighted to see him she’d do his tasks for him? Or that she’d cower before him like she used to cower before Mr. Fredericks? Best to disabuse either notion now. She pointed to Alice’s bedchamber. “No need for an agreement. You are to prepare the fire in Miss Rotherford’s room, bring up fresh water from the kitchen and take back the dinner tray as you go.”

That wiped the smile from his face. “No one said you were to be my supervisor.”

“I’m the nanny, you’re the footman,” Emma replied tartly. “Who do you think orders your day? Now, hop to it!”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them. They were too much like Mr. Fredericks’s favorite orders. As if her foster brother thought so as well, his shoulders went up and his mouth tightened. Still, he snapped a nod and went about the work she had set him.

She wanted to feel sympathy for him. But truly, the work she’d set out for him was expected of any footman. She couldn’t favor him simply because he was her foster brother. Besides, if he had cut his ties to their foster father, then he should be glad for an honest position and willing to work hard to keep it. And if he was still doing Samuel Fredericks’s bidding, he would get no mercy from her.

“Lady Chamomile doesn’t like him,” Alice announced.

“Lady Chamomile is a very wise person,” Emma replied, returning to her seat. “But we’ll need to become better acquainted with Mr. Jones before we make any decisions on whether we like him.”

She had the opportunity to question her foster brother further after she and Ivy had settled Alice for bed. Jerym was cleaning up the nursery, and the maid kept casting glances at his tall form out the open doorway of Alice’s bedchamber. Emma sent her back to help finish the kitchen work, which earned her a sigh from Ivy.

Emma returned to the nursery to find her foster brother putting away Alice’s toys in ill-disguised annoyance.

“Set those down a moment, and come talk to me,” Emma said, going to sit in the rocking chair by the fire.

“Oh, but I couldn’t shirk such an important duty,” Jerym sneered.

Emma pointed to the chair opposite her, the one Alice usually perched on.

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