Secrets at Oakwood Manor

Chapter 5

Emmalee followed her mother to the entertainment hall. She had no interest in the acrobats that performed for the Clamage entertainment. They all looked underfed and wore less cloth than a newborn. She almost felt pity for them. If it were not for the conversation she heard behind her, she would have felt the evening was a waste.

"Acrobat?" Question one of the many men. He did not sound pleased with the entertainment. Maybe Emmalee should ask her mother for an introduction. "You know how I feel about people performing."

With that statement, Emmalee's heart gave a sudden lurch. She was just about to turn around to question the gentlemen when another replied.

"Tis no different from a play or an orchestra Wes." a second gentleman whispered just loud enough for Emmalee to hear. Emmalee thought for a moment the man was talking to himself aloud. Discreetly, she peered over her shoulder, making it look as if she were to tell her mother a secret.

"Les, you know very well I would rather read in a quiet place." complained the first gentlemen Emmalee came to understand his name being Wes.

"Did you need something, Emmalee?" Lady Northstone asked when Emmalee said nothing.

"I am looking at these three gentlemen," Emmalee replied.

"Do you fancy them?" Lady Northstone asked, peeked with interest.

"Very much," Emmalee replied, returning her attached to the acrobats. Emmalee did not fancy them like her mother would have liked. It was more of a mystery Emmalee wanted in on.

"I will inquire of them for you." Lady Northstone replied with a smile. "They are very handsome, I belive the one on the end is the young Lord Brodrick."

Emmalee had told her mother the truth. The three gentlemen behind her were very handsome. Her heart skipped a beat, and they all took her breath away.

"Lee, who else knows you?" Wes asked one of the two gentlemen.

"Many." A third voice replied. This voice was deeper than the first. "I did not think of the disguises clearly. Wes, you may have to wear this wig at the next gathering."

"Nonsense," whispered Wes. Emmalee picked up quickly who was talking. When Wes spoke, his voice was soft, as if he barely used his words at all. When the gentleman's name Lee spoke, his voice deep. As if is where used for loud events, for his whispers were not whispering.

"Lee, please try to whisper softer or you will give us away." Came the second gentlemen. Emmalee smiled for his voice held command.

"You are just paranoid, Les." Lee replied, looking around the room. "Here in front of me, this is Lady Northstone, she has nine children. I met her sons, Oh what are their names again?"

"How can you forget names?" Wes asked, shocked.

"I just told you she had nine children." Lee snapped back this caused a few sitting close by to shush the group.

"My apologies," Wes whispered.

"Mother," Emmalee said after a few moments of silence for the gentlemen behind. "Do you not think Peter would have enjoyed this?"

"Oh, I believe he would have." Lady Northstone replied. "He would have also tried to show you some tricks. Maybe even getting poor William to join him."

Emmalee laughed, "Yes, I could see that as Richard encouraged and Robert suggested."

"Oh, stop, you are turning the entertainment into those rambunctious boys of mine." Lady Northstone giggled at the thought of four of her boys doing tricks like those on stage. "Poor Matthew would hunt for your father to scold them for such stupidity."