is no way on earth you can remain in my employ
now that you are engaged to Stokes." Lady Mayfield, I beg you" Letty gave her a knowing look. I am
proud of you, my dear. You're a credit to me, if I do say so myself. Paid attention, you did. Invested
your assets wisely." Emma stared at her. I beg your pardon?" It's true Mister Stokes ain't exactly in his
dotage. Likely to be around for a good many more years from the looks of him. But there's some thing to
be said for a healthy gentleman in his prime." Letty." Expect you'll learn to manage him so that you won't
have to wait for him to cock up his toes in order to be able to enjoy his fortune." Emma clenched her
hands at her sides. You don't understand." Of course I do, my dear." Letty winked very much the way
misses Gatten had earlier. Your strategy was a bit dicey, in my opinion. Personally, I believe in a gel
keeping her assets under lock and key until she's got a wedding ring on her finger. But you did get a
public announcement of an engagement out of Stokes. With any luck, that should do." Emma swallowed
heavily. Do?" He's not like so many gentlemen of the ton who'd think nothing of promising a gel marriage
in order to seduce her and then abandoning her when she becomes inconvenient. The man's got a
reputation for keeping his word." Lady Mayfield, I don't know how to tell you this, but" Mind you, some
will think it's a bit peculiar that he chose you for a bride. But I believe I understand his thinking in the
matter." You do?" Aye." Letty looked shrewd. Stokes's known to be something of an eccentric. Word
is, he's not easily dazzled by superficial airs and graces. They say he positively loathes the vast majority of
the ton because of the unfortunate circumstances of his birth. Yes, I can see where he'd prefer to choose
a wife who did not move in Polite Circles." Emma gazed at her in mounting frustration. It was hopeless.
There was nothing she could say that would convince Letty to allow her to
remain in her employ. The notion that the new fiancee of the fabulously wealthy Edison Stokes
desperately wished to retain her post as a paid companion would strike everyone as ludicrous. There
was only one thing left to do, Emma thought. She braced herself. Would you mind very much giving me a
reference, Lady Mayfield?" Letty cackled. Don't be ridiculous, gel. You've got no need for a reference
now" She laughed harder. A reference, she says. Just imagine." I'm doomed, Emma thought. An hour
later Emma discovered that the day, which had started out on such a dire note, was about to get worse.
Edison sent word via Polly that he wished to go riding. For heavens sake, tell him no, Polly." Fresh panic
lurched through her. She understood instantly that she was in immediate danger of losing her second post
of the day. When Edison discovered that she was no longer in Lady Mayfield's employ, he would
conclude that she was no longer in a position to assist him in his investigation. She needed time, Emma
thought. She steadied herself with a deep breath and tried to think of a reasonable excuse to avoid the
inevitable. Kindly inform Mister Stokes that I do not possess a riding habit," she told Polly.
Unfortunately, perhaps predictably, given her luck today, the small ruse to avoid the morning ride failed
miserably. Polly returned a few minutes later with a dashing, dark turquoise velvet riding habit and a pair
of kid boots. Her eyes danced with excitement. misses Gatten found these things," she explained proudly.
They belonged to Lady Ware. Afore she took sick, the mistress was accustomed to ride out every day. I
think they'll fit ye close enough." Emma stared dully at the rakish blue habit. There was, she noticed, even
a clever little turquoise hat complete with a blue feather to go with it.
Letty emerged from the dressing room at that moment, a vision in a bright yellow gown with a low,
square neckline that framed her ample bosom. She took one look at the
now that you are engaged to Stokes." Lady Mayfield, I beg you" Letty gave her a knowing look. I am
proud of you, my dear. You're a credit to me, if I do say so myself. Paid attention, you did. Invested
your assets wisely." Emma stared at her. I beg your pardon?" It's true Mister Stokes ain't exactly in his
dotage. Likely to be around for a good many more years from the looks of him. But there's some thing to
be said for a healthy gentleman in his prime." Letty." Expect you'll learn to manage him so that you won't
have to wait for him to cock up his toes in order to be able to enjoy his fortune." Emma clenched her
hands at her sides. You don't understand." Of course I do, my dear." Letty winked very much the way
misses Gatten had earlier. Your strategy was a bit dicey, in my opinion. Personally, I believe in a gel
keeping her assets under lock and key until she's got a wedding ring on her finger. But you did get a
public announcement of an engagement out of Stokes. With any luck, that should do." Emma swallowed
heavily. Do?" He's not like so many gentlemen of the ton who'd think nothing of promising a gel marriage
in order to seduce her and then abandoning her when she becomes inconvenient. The man's got a
reputation for keeping his word." Lady Mayfield, I don't know how to tell you this, but" Mind you, some
will think it's a bit peculiar that he chose you for a bride. But I believe I understand his thinking in the
matter." You do?" Aye." Letty looked shrewd. Stokes's known to be something of an eccentric. Word
is, he's not easily dazzled by superficial airs and graces. They say he positively loathes the vast majority of
the ton because of the unfortunate circumstances of his birth. Yes, I can see where he'd prefer to choose
a wife who did not move in Polite Circles." Emma gazed at her in mounting frustration. It was hopeless.
There was nothing she could say that would convince Letty to allow her to
remain in her employ. The notion that the new fiancee of the fabulously wealthy Edison Stokes
desperately wished to retain her post as a paid companion would strike everyone as ludicrous. There
was only one thing left to do, Emma thought. She braced herself. Would you mind very much giving me a
reference, Lady Mayfield?" Letty cackled. Don't be ridiculous, gel. You've got no need for a reference
now" She laughed harder. A reference, she says. Just imagine." I'm doomed, Emma thought. An hour
later Emma discovered that the day, which had started out on such a dire note, was about to get worse.
Edison sent word via Polly that he wished to go riding. For heavens sake, tell him no, Polly." Fresh panic
lurched through her. She understood instantly that she was in immediate danger of losing her second post
of the day. When Edison discovered that she was no longer in Lady Mayfield's employ, he would
conclude that she was no longer in a position to assist him in his investigation. She needed time, Emma
thought. She steadied herself with a deep breath and tried to think of a reasonable excuse to avoid the
inevitable. Kindly inform Mister Stokes that I do not possess a riding habit," she told Polly.
Unfortunately, perhaps predictably, given her luck today, the small ruse to avoid the morning ride failed
miserably. Polly returned a few minutes later with a dashing, dark turquoise velvet riding habit and a pair
of kid boots. Her eyes danced with excitement. misses Gatten found these things," she explained proudly.
They belonged to Lady Ware. Afore she took sick, the mistress was accustomed to ride out every day. I
think they'll fit ye close enough." Emma stared dully at the rakish blue habit. There was, she noticed, even
a clever little turquoise hat complete with a blue feather to go with it.
Letty emerged from the dressing room at that moment, a vision in a bright yellow gown with a low,
square neckline that framed her ample bosom. She took one look at the
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