Page 108 of A Foolish Flirtation

Jeremy smiled at her. He couldn’t help himself, despite the odd turn the conversation had taken. “We could always cut the acquaintance,” he answered with a thoughtless shrug.

“Cut the…?” Emmeline sat up straighter in her seat. “I thought you wanted me to repair relations with your neighbors, not reduce them even further!”

Oh yes. Silently he cursed himself. “I meant, you need not regard Mrs. Needham. She seldom leaves home in any case. I expect she only ventured out today out of curiosity to see the place. She’s never been to Vance before to my knowledge.”

“Mama, my other mama I mean, always said she was an invertebrate whiner,” Teddy said helpfully.

“Inveterate,” Jeremy explained hastily. “And your mama never had much patience with ill health.” He turned back to his wife. “Perhaps you could try to draw Miss Halperston out of her shell,” he suggested.

Emmie nodded. “Perhaps,” she said, but still looked puzzled by his attitude. Thankfully, they had now swung up the avenue to the house, so Teddy began his usual game of pointing out the statues as they came into view.

“There’s Hermes!” he exclaimed. “And Ares!”

By the time he had counted off the twelve major Olympians, they had reached the front steps of the house.

Teddy now seemed reconciled to the fact he was sleeping in his own bed that night, but Jeremy still accompanied him up to his room. Emmeline came along, too, as a matter of course.

“I need to put something in the nursery before I go to bed,” Teddy said with an air of mysterious import, pausing at that door.

“What is it?” Jeremy asked.

His son hesitated before reaching into his pocket and drawing out a little peg doll wearing a purple crocheted dress and bonnet. “Miss Pinson made it for me,” he admitted with some reluctance.

“Well, that was kind of her,” Jeremy said calmly, wondering at his son’s expression.

“It is Miss Pomfrey,” Teddy admitted, sending his father a faintly embarrassed glance.

“Miss Pomfrey!” exclaimed Emmeline. “Has she journeyed to the fort to visit with her ne’er-do-well brother?”

Teddy nodded again, this time with more enthusiasm. “She has come to plead Captain Gerrard for clementines.”

“Clementines?” Jeremy repeated. “Is she at risk of developing scurvy?”

“I thought that was limes,” Emmeline said, taking the proffered doll and examining it. “Look at her brown wool hair and little painted face. I declare I am quite jealous! Pinky never made me any peg dolls.” Teddy looked rather smug to hear this. “Yes, she looks just as I imagined her,” she concluded and handed her back.

“Pomfrey is up for court martial again,” Teddy explained patiently. “So, Miss Pomfrey wants the clementines for him.”

He passed Miss Pomfrey to Jeremy, who agreed she was most cunningly wrought.

“You mean clemency,” Jeremy cut in, handing her back to his son. “She has come to plead for clemency.”

“Yes,” said Teddy serenely. “That’s what I meant.”

“Well, I am sure she will succeed,” Emmeline said confidently. “Captain Gerrard’s heart is sure to melt the minute he catches sight of her.”

Teddy darted inside the nursery. “You really do look remarkably pretty in that dress,” Jeremy commented as they awaited him in the corridor.

“Ballentine,” she prompted. At his querying look, she added, “You have not called me that so much lately.”

“Haven’t I?” She shook her head. “You like it when I call you that?” She nodded and he felt his heart turn over. At least he was permitted this one leftover from their past. Even as he opened his mouth to reframe the compliment, Teddy reemerged.

“How went the introduction?” Emmeline enquired.

“He melted alright,” Teddy said, nodding in a satisfied manner.

Jeremy caught Emmeline’s eye, and they shared a look of amusement. “Come along, General Vance,” he said to his son, “let’s put you to bed.”

Once Teddy was settled in for the night, he escorted Emmeline back to her bedchamber. “I’m going to bathe and change,” he said, halting at her door. “Then, if you’re agreeable, I’ll return with my book for the night.” She nodded, looking strangely nervous. He paused. “Or would you prefer your own company tonight?”