Ghosts of Winters Past Read Online Free PDF Page B

you know. She loves those boys like they were her own.”
    “Very well, Bess and the boys can go back. I’ll just keep you.” His tone was light and playful, but his expression told her he was serious.
    “Shall we make our home in the wood?” she asked, teasing him, surprising herself at how easy it was. It seemed he had something similar to that in mind. They had turned off the main road and were headed toward a densely covered forest.
    “I think that would be a splendid idea. Considerably more fun than taking my place in the House of Lords .”
    “I would hope so. The House sounds dreadfully boring. At least according to my father.” Speaking of her father made her remember she had to somehow confront him about the letter issue.
    There was no time to dwell on that thought, however, for Henry had pulled the carriage over and waved the one following them to move ahead. After it parked, half a dozen boys spilled out, a bemused Bess following.
    “Dear me, y our g race,” she said. “I must thank you again for inviting the boys on this outing. Such little time they have with a gentleman.”
    Henry helped Emma out of the carriage while answering Bess. “I cannot fathom you to still thank me after all that time you spent in the carriage with them.”
    “ ’ Tis nothing I’m not used to.”
    The boys ran ahead of them, chasing each other and tossing snowballs. They were in the middle of a wooded lot, so Emma didn’t spend any time worrying about their shouts disrupting anyone. They were free to run wild and simply be boys. Her heart lifted just witnessing their joy. If only she were as free to run wild. But society had rules…
    “So happy they are, y our g race,” Bess said. “And shan’t be any trouble getting them to sleep tonight.”
    The three adults walked ahead and , for the first time, Emma noticed the axe Henry carried.
    “What are your plans?” she asked him. “Nice as it is for them to have this free time, surely you had some alternate purpose?”
    “Yes, of course. Our goal for the day is to find a Christmas tree for the orphanage.”
    A Christmas tree! She didn’t think the home had ever had one. Not one that she remembered anyway. “Oh, Henry! I, um, mean y our g race, how delightful.”
    She felt mortified. She couldn’t believe she’d called him by his first name in front of Bess. Now word would get back to Laura and, before she knew it, everyone would have heard.
    Bess waved her off. “Please. Think nothing of it. I may be ancient, but I remember well how it felt to be young. I’ll go with the boys to find the perfect tree . Y ou two take your time in joining us.”
    Then, before either Emma or Henry could object, she was off, moving with greater speed than Emma thought possible for a woman of her years.
    Henry gave a stout laugh. “I do like her. A woman after my heart that one.”
    “It’s simply scandalous. Leaving us alone as she did.”
    “Come now, my dear Emma. Who is going to know?”
    “Anyone driving by.” And what did he mean calling her his dear Emma?
    “I picked this place for its remoteness.”
    It occurred to her then that he had planned this. The devil had planned for them to be alone. “Did you and Bess contrive this?”
    He held out his arm and she took it, almost without thinking. To be so close to him … she had to touch him. It was almost as if he somehow drew her to him.
    “We did. And I would do it a thousand fold to steal but a few moments alone with you.”
    “If I had a brain in my head, I would insist you return me home at once.”
    He stopped and turned to face her. “Sometimes, we have to live as though we don’t have a brain in our head. How long has it been since you simply felt?”
    Wetness gathered in the corner of her eyes , and she answered with a whisper. “Five years.”
    He wiped her tears away with his thumb, trailed his fingers downward to trace her cheekbone, and gently cupped her cheek. “Oh, Emma, what have I done to