the exquisite woman exclaimed as she spun around to face the open door. Emily watched him hurry forward to greet the lady, his hands clasping hers tightly, a welcoming smile upon his lips. “Lady Bernice, what a pleasant surprise,” he greeted the lovely vision warmly. “We were not expecting you until Saturday.” Lady Bernice gave a tinkling little laugh before replying, “Mother was convinced that if we did not make the journey today, the weather would preclude our arriving at all.” “Her Grace is still predicting the weather, is she?” And then everyone was talking at once, laughing at some joke they all seemed to be privy to about the lady’s mother whose bad knee foretold the weather. Emily removed her coat, looked down at her snug breaches and mud spattered boots with a grimace, before returning her attention once more to the newcomer in their midst.
