Page 80 of The Unassuming Curator

“But are you . . . I mean to say, is it safe?”

Phoebe reached out her arm, and Emily walked closer to take her hand.

“I pray that it is,” Phoebe said. “Dr. Thorndike stopped to see me after he checked on Mr. Buckland’s injuries. He told me that since I had gone over a fortnight without any pains, I could go down for dinner as long as I promised not to be on my feet any longer than it took me to go downstairs and back. An hour or two a day is not much, but after having been confined to my bed for so long, it feels like complete freedom.”

“I am so happy for you! Adam will be thrilled.”

Phoebe laughed. “He will fuss over me like a mother hen; we both know that.”

“Yes, he will. But to see you so much improved will do much to alleviate his concern.”

“That is why I waited until today,” Phoebe said. She reached for a letter on the dressing table. “I received this from Adam right after Dr. Thorndike’s visit. He plans to be back this evening. And I want to be downstairs when he comes.”

Adam was returning. Emily’s initial excitement was muted by a sudden wave of nervousness. Henry would ask to speak with him, and she had no idea how Adam would respond. “How did I not know all this before now?”

As though she had read her thoughts, Phoebe smiled. “You have been somewhat preoccupied with another of Aunt Millward’s guests.”

Emily felt her cheeks color. “Forgive me, I should not have waited so long to visit you again after I came to tell you all that happened at the museum and Lord Southbeck’s house.”

Mindful that they were not alone, Phoebe smiled at Hannah. “Thank you, Hannah. You’ve dressed my hair beautifully.”

“Welcome, m’lady.” The young maid looked pleased. “Will you be needin’ anythin’ else?”

“No, thank you.”

“Very good, m’lady.” She bobbed a curtsy and exited the room.

Phoebe waited only until the door closed behind her before tugging on Emily’s hand. “Tell me,” she said. “I have been dying to know. How are things progressing with Mr. Buckland?”

There was no point in hiding her feelings from Phoebe. Not only did Phoebe know her too well for Emily to successfully dissemble, but it was also quite possible Emily would need her assistance with Adam. “I have fallen in love with him,” she admitted. “I am at my happiest when I am with him, and I miss him terribly when we are apart.”

“What of his feelings?”

The warmth in her face increased. “He intends to speak with Adam when Adam returns.”

“Oh, Emily!” She squeezed Emily’s hand. “I so badly wanted for you to have the kind of marriage Adam and I enjoy. If Aunt Millward approves of Mr. Buckland, I have no doubt he is an honorable gentleman. This is the best possible news.”

Happiness bubbled within Emily’s chest. “I hope Adam will feel similarly.”

“He will.” Phoebe cocked her head to one side and appeared thoughtful. “Perhaps if he learns it after he’s had a large helping of bread pudding.”

Emily giggled. There were some days when her gratitude for Phoebe’s friendship knew no bounds. She had a feeling that today would be one of them.

Henry considered twelve minutes of responding to polite questions regarding his health and welfare to be more than enough. He was ready to start asking Claridge some questions of his own. “Have you ascertained how many of the paintings at the museum are forgeries?”

The lines in Claridge’s forehead deepened. “Thus far, Mr. Woolley has identified three from amongst those currently hanging on the walls, but he tells me that he has yet to go through the canvases in the storage room.” He paused. “It appears likely that Fernsby also stole and sold a valuable print from the Grenville donation.”

The manuscript Townsend had found missing. Henry’s heart sank. He had held out a slim measure of hope that Fernsby’s crimes had begun very recently, but if there were three forgeries in addition to the one at Southbeck’s house and the one Henry had seen him switching out, the man had been at it for some time.

“What happens now?”

“Fernsby has refused to divulge the name of his broker. Southbeck, on the other hand, has been invaluable, assisting Toole by giving him details of his own unfortunate purchase. Toole claims to have already made good headway with the case. Ultimately, we hope to discover the names of all those who purchased paintings from Fernsby and will restore as many as possible to the museum.”

“And Fernsby?”

“He will have his comeuppance in court,” Claridge said severely. “Mr. Woolley is unwilling to leave his position at the Royal Academy of Art but has offered to assist at the museum until we hire a permanent replacement for Fernsby. He has given us the names of several Academy members whom he considers qualified for the job, and Southbeck is following up with each of them.”

“What of Townsend?” Henry asked. The last time he’d been with the older gentleman, Townsend had declared his intention to resign.