4

Emily took a deep breath as she approached her father’s former study. She used to love coming to this room when she was a little girl. It did not matter how busy he was, her father, Lord Farrington, would always make time for her. He would sit her on his lap and let her help him look over contracts and paperwork. By the time that she was eight years old, she knew more about how to manage the estate, shipping crops, and other financial matters than most adults. 

Most children learn how to read using books made for children or computer games. Emily learned how to read by sitting in her father’s lap and reading through contracts, supply lists, and other paperwork he had on hand. Her nanny would fuss all the time that she was not getting a “proper” education for a young lady. Her father would pretend to agree for a while and shoo Emily off with her nanny and various tutors to get her proper education. Her mother was raised as a lady and was presented to society as a debutante. Her nanny and tutors were hoping that Emily would follow a similar path, but as soon as they were done for the day Emily would be right back in her father’s study or outside. 

When Emily was not being educated in the proper manner for a young lady or reading over contracts with her father, she was outside doing all sorts of activities that were not suitable for young ladies, according to her nanny and tutors. Emily loved to ride and help take care of many of the animals that were on the manor. She even helped a mare that was in labor one time. That foal became her mare Millie. Emily smiled at the memory of her nanny’s reaction when she came into the house after that. The poor woman fainted at the sight of Emily’s expensive clothes covered in the after birth, hay, and dirt. Her father did ask her to tone it down for a little while after that, but he also had a good chuckle later that evening remembering her nanny’s reaction.

Emily’s mother passed away shortly after she was born. Emily has no memories of her, but loved the rare times that her father would talk about her. Emily knows that he was still grieving for his beloved wife. He rarely talked about her, but when he did, you could see the love in his eyes. Emily does know that she favors her mother because of the portrait of her over the fireplace in her father’s study and because so many people over the years have told her that she looks just like her mother. Emily knows that she has the same long blonde wavy hair and full figure that her mother had, but she has her father’s bright blue eyes. 

Looking at the door that held such warm memories from her childhood, Emily hesitated to knock. She misses her dad so much. It has been nearly six years since he was killed. It was right before her fifteenth birthday. Her father was on his way back home from a trip when the SUV that he was in ran off the road. Her father and his assistant were killed instantly when the SUV struck a tree. Her uncle was the one that brought her the sad news. Ever since he brought them the news of her father’s death, he has made himself quite comfortable in her father’s spot. He is the reason that she is standing outside of her father’s study stalling for time. The place that she once loved to go has become a place that she avoids as much as possible. 

After her father’s death her uncle said that he was going to help run the manor and all of the businesses till Emily was old enough to take over. Thinking about events today and other things that she has noticed, Emily realized that in her grief she did not question him stepping in to help. With the suddenness of her father passing, Emily did not feel prepared or emotionally ready to run the manor and other businesses. Sure she had always read over the papers with her dad and helped around the estate, but that was still a far cry from being in charge. The day of her father’s funeral, with her uncle’s prompting, she remembered signing the paperwork to allow him to accept the title of Lord and to act in her stead till she was older. 

After talking with Miguel today and some other things that she happened to overhear, Emily was starting to piece together just what all her uncle was trying to do. A few weeks ago, she happened to overhear a conversation between her uncle and someone demanding money for an unpaid debt. Emily had thought that was strange, because as far as she knew the estate was doing well and they did not have money issues. Later that night, Emily had snuck into her father’s study and pulled out the ledgers. What she saw made her sick to her stomach. Large sums of money were being pulled out each month to cover mysterious “expenses.” Emily had debated confronting her uncle then, but she had hoped that she was wrong and that things would straighten themselves out. 

Emily did ask her uncle how things were going casually the next day to see, and he had told her that some large expenses had come up but not to worry. Once the new equipment came and some more workers were hired they would be back on track again. His response had made sense, but after talking with Miguel today, Emily realized that she was going to have to confront her uncle about the money not being used for what it was being put down for.  

Emily decided that after she and her uncle had the argument that she knew was coming about Lord Rotterford, she would ask for a copy of the contract that she signed. Hopefully, if she remembered him explaining it correctly, she would be able to take control back from him since he is abusing her trust, stealing money, and trying to force her into these crazy arranged marriages. 

Just thinking about the argument that was coming made her blood boil when she thought about the one from yesterday that caused her to be in her current position outside her father’s study.Yesterday, Emily had not been able to avoid her uncle. He had summoned her to the study to tell her about the most recent suitor that he had found for her. Usually Emily did not worry too much when he mentioned a new suitor that he found because she would meet with them and then say that she was not interested. Yesterday was different though. Yesterday her uncle told her that he had promised her to Lord Rotterford. 

That had escalated into a big argument between them. Emily had told her uncle that he could not promise her to anyone. Whoever she chose to marry would be her choice. He had laughed in her face and told her that she would be meeting her fiance tomorrow or she would be sorry. Emily had stormed out of the study and up to her room. That was when she came up with the bright idea of being “out” today when Lord Rotterford was scheduled. While she was not afraid to stand up to her uncle, Emily did not see any reason to antagonize him usually. Today was different. He had crossed a line by trying to force her into marrying someone that she does not care for.

Emily was quickly jolted from her thoughts by her uncle's angry yell.“Where is she? I thought I told you to bring her to me!”