The Inconvenient Widow: Chapter 1, Part 6

Emily glanced at the doorway as a lanky seventeen-year-old stepped into the lounge. His wavy, black hair was not quite long enough to tie back, and he had not donned a wig or powder to cover it. His blue eyes shot fire from them. Not only was his dark green coat unbuttoned, but also his waistcoat had been fastened unevenly. There was even little attention given to his cravat.

Emily wondered if he were normally so careless in the way he dressed because of his age or if he had dressed in a hurry tonight.

“’Allo, Master Stephen,” an older feminine voice called from the hallway. “Good to see ye again, though I wished it were for a better affair than the one ye came to visit us about. I’ll make ye a light sup quick as can be.” The innkeeper’s wife glided into the room and deposited a tray on the table nearest Emily. “There you go, miss. That’ll be a thruppence.” She held out her hand expectantly.

“Molly, where are your manners? You don’t charge before a meal,” Stephen protested.

Molly glanced at him. “I’m sure the miss understands our position. We can’t be trusting total strangers like those we ken.”

Although Emily wished she could keep her few precious coins, she could not find anything wrong with the inn’s policy. She reached into her reticule to retrieve the money.

“Hold, m’ lady,” the youth interrupted, raising his hand grandly. “Although Molly has lost her manners, I retain mine. Here are three guineas to pay for any expense this lady, my brother, Grummel, or I incur this evening.”

“But, sir!” the woman’s jaw dropped. “Ye ken that ‘tis too much. You can have got three rooms, your meals, and the private parlor and still not spent all that.”

“Good. Hopefully, the extra will pay for you to acquire a little etiquette,” he replied, dismissing her and turning his attention to Emily. 

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