Lady Emma's Campaign Read Online Free

chest as she looked down the list, knowing what she would see even before she found it:
    Captain Sidney Fletcher of the HMS Venture killed at Cádiz, Spain. April 25, 1811.

Chapter 2
    It was nearly a week later when Emma peeked into the small parlor and saw her mother sitting in her favorite chair next to the window overlooking the garden.
    “You look lovely, my dear.” The dowager countess reached to take her hand.
    Emma stepped closer, sitting on the stool at her mother’s feet, just as she had when she was younger.
    “Are you certain you won’t join us this evening, Mama?”
    “I am afraid I still have a bit of a headache. I’m off to bed in a moment. And you young people will have a much more amusing evening without an old lady dogging your steps.”
    “You are hardly old. And I would be happy to remain here with you. I don’t know how I can smile and laugh and enjoy myself as if everything is normal.”
    “Emma, it has been nearly a week since you were out in society. It will be good for you and William and Amelia to be back among your friends instead of . . .” Lady Charlotte reached to touch Emma’s cheek. “Sidney would not want you all to remain like this. He was always cheerful and full of life.” She sighed. “Trust me, dear. The pain does not last forever.”
    Her mother had endured so much in her lifetime, and there were times when it seemed almost as if she closed herself off from emotions. Emma made sure to protect her as much as possible from things that might be upsetting.
    “And I would imagine Lord Dewhurst will attend the concert tonight as well.” Lady Charlotte raised her eyebrows and smiled. “We’ve still not spoken of his visit last week . . .” She allowed her voice to trail off, inviting Emma to speak.
    After a week of keeping to her room, Emma felt she owed her mother the truth of what had happened in the minutes before learning of Sidney’s death. “Lord Dewhurst made me an offer,” Emma kept her gaze on her mother’s hand. The women had a strong connection, forged through years of her father’s abuse. They had sought comfort and found strength in each other, and it saddened her to think that she might marry and leave her mother’s home to become part of a family she hardly knew and wife to a man she did not love.
    “And did you accept him?”
    “I told him that I required time to come to a decision.”
    “That was wise, my dear.” The Dowager Lady Lockwood placed her other hand over her daughter’s.
    “I do not love him, Mama.”
    “I know.”
    “Yet he would make a good husband. What should I do?”
    “Emma, it is for you to decide. I was not given the choice, and I am determined that my only daughter shall not enter into marriage unwillingly.”
    “But I had so wanted to marry a man I love.” Emma did not think she could possibly have any tears left, but one still managed to make its appearance and slide down her cheek until her mother brushed it away.
    “And now he is gone,” Lady Charlotte said softly.
    Emma lifted her gaze to her mother’s face. Had her feelings for Sidney been so very obvious? She wiped away the remainder of the moisture on her cheek and breathed deeply to regain control of her emotions. Emma did not want her mother to see her upset. She stood and wrapped a blanket around Lady Charlotte’s shoulders. “I do wish you would change your mind about this evening.” She pressed a kiss to her mother’s cheek before she turned to leave the parlor.
    “Emma, I heard some wise advice once that I believe bears repeating, though I do not remember the words exactly: find a husband who will make you laugh—”
    “The sound is too delightful to be wasted on someone who will not appreciate it,” Emma finished quietly. Her eyes burned, and her throat constricted. She left the parlor and walked slowly down the stairs. Was a life with a husband she did not love better than a life alone? She knew she would always have a home with her