Winterly (Dark Creatures Book 1), стр. 37

“What?” Emma looked up, bemused. What had just happened?

“I said, do you think he’s asking her about me?” Milli looked towards the door with growing excitement. But when it opened again, only Victoria entered.

“Will your cousin not be joining us?” asked Milli, shooting a hopeful glance behind Victoria.

“I’m afraid he has another engagement.” When Milli enquired about Lord Winterly, Victoria replied that he had gone to Winterthurse, their family estate which was situated not far from Whitby.

“Whitby?” Emma had always longed to visit the famous abbey ruins.

“Yes, have you been there before?” Victoria took up her cup but appeared in no rush to drink it, content, it seemed, to let the brew warm her hands.

“Not at all, but I have always longed to visit Yorkshire.”

“And should you like to visit Winterthurse while you are there?”

But it was Milli who interjected. “More than anything!”

“What about next month?” Asked Victoria. “Could you bear the journey?”

The half masticated bonbons nearly tumbled from Milli’s mouth as her jaw dropped. “Yes!”

“You are too hasty, Milli,” said Emma, lifting a stern brow, “you cannot accept without first discussing the idea with our aunt and uncle.”

“I won’t hear of your not coming,” said Victoria. “My brother and I will be at Winterthurse for our annual Midsummers Ball, and I defy anyone to miss the ball of the season.”

Milli turned to beam at Emma. “A ball! And on your birthday no less, what could be more serendipitous?”

“Quite so.” Victoria looked thoughtfully at Emma. “How strange. Markus, you see, celebrates his birthday at midwinter. A curious antipode, do not you think?”

The Winter Solstice—the longest and darkest night of the year. Yes, that suited him quite well indeed.

“Ay, very curious.” Milli flashed a warning look at Emma. “I take it as a sign that we simply cannot refuse such a kind offer.”

“I thank you for the invitation, Victoria, but I cannot decline or accept until I have first spoken with my aunt and uncle.”

“Allow me.” Victoria winked conspiratorially at Milli. “I shall write such a charming letter that your uncle would not dare deny me anything.”

“No indeed,” said Milli, depositing another morsel into her waiting mouth. “I confess I should be glad to be gone from London till these infernal murders stop!”

Victoria’s lips curled into an impenetrable smile. “You shall be quite safe at Winterthurse.”

Later, when the sisters’ chariot was homeward bound, Milli turned on Emma. “What maggot has got into your head?”

“What do you mean?”

“It is one thing to dress like an old maid but quite another to act the part.”

“So I am old-maidish because I think and act with caution?”

“Decidedly!”

“You must allow that it does no harm to take a few days to consider the invitation, Milli. What of all your London suitors? Surely you cannot bear to be long away from them?”

Mill crossed her arms. “They are all of them unsuitable and uninteresting, and far too tame besides.”

“You mean none of them are rich enough to suit you.”

“In the main,” said Milli. “Mr. Valko must be very rich if his cousin is a viscount.”

“Our intimacy with the Winterlys is hardly longstanding, they are still little more than strangers to us.” If anything, after hearing that strange conversation in her head, Emma ought to be considering a stint in Bedlam, not skipping off to some country estate. “And don’t set your cap for Mr. Valko just yet, you’ve only met him once!”

“Dearest Emma! Why must you always think a thing to death?”

“And why will you never think at all!” It was a harsh thing to say and Emma instantly regretted it. She apologized immediately and Milli accepted, but the carriage ride thereafter was stilted. Emma took the opportunity to mull over the conversation she’d…what, overheard? “Vauxhall, tomorrow a week.” Had she really heard Mr. Valko’s voice or was she going mad?

“What did you say?” Milli glanced over.

Emma chewed her lip a moment. “Did you…overhear the conversation between Mr. Valko and Victoria?”

“Of course not, the door was shut.” Milli turned back to the window.

As soon as Emma alighted from the carriage she went in search of her uncle.

Robert Haywood looked up from an opened letter as Emma strode into his library. “Back so soon from calling on the nobility, eh?” This was followed by a sportive wink. “I say, it gives me pleasure to see you taking a bit more of an interest in society, it isn’t good for a young woman to keep herself cloistered away with no more company than her books.”

She kissed his cheek hello. “Uncle—”

“Although, Milli might benefit from a little less society and a little more reading.”

Emma cleared her throat. “Uncle, if you should get a letter from Miss Winterly inviting Milli and I to Yorkshire, I must insist that you decline it under some or other of your witty pretexts.”

“What the devil for?”

“We hardly know them.”

“I should think that is best remedied with a nice long visit.” He watched her face fall. “At all events, I’m afraid your request comes too late, my dear.”

Emma’s brow furrowed in confusion.

“You see, I’ve already given the lady my consent.”

Emma sank into an armchair, further confused.

“Her letter arrived only moments before you returned from Mayfair”—he gestured down to the letter he had been reading when she’d walked in—“and the post has just left to deliver my reply.” He patted her head affectionately. “There, there, I’m certain you shall bear the vexation of a holiday tolerably well.”

“But—”

“And, while you’re at it, keep your sister out of mischief, there’s a good girl. That reckless chit wouldn’t know caution if it bit her.”

Emma gave a groan and left her uncle to his letters. Who better to guard an unruly peahen than her barking mad sister.