London Husband

Boston, Massachusetts February 1816: "Are you sending me away?" From the shock and disappointment, Emma Dunster's violet eyes widened. "Do not be so dramatic," her father answered. "Of course, I'm not sending you away. You'll just spend a year in London with your cousins." - But why? John Dunster fidgeted in embarrassment: "I just think you should see the world. That's all." "But I was in London. Already twice." "And excellent. Now you're older ... " Henry and Caroline love you like a native, and you yourself said that Bell and Ned are more dear to you than any of your friends. - They stayed with us for two months, and I saw them only recently. John crossed his arms over his chest. "You sail with them tomorrow, it's decided." Emma looked narrowly at her father. "Do you want to marry me quickly?" - Of course not! I just think that changing the situation will do you good. - Not true. And there are a thousand reasons why I can not leave Boston now. - Really? - Yes. For example, a household. Who will take it upon me until I am here? John smiled indulgently. "We live in a house of twelve rooms, and our farm does not require too much attention. I have no doubt that Mrs. Mullins may well take up a little of what is required. "What about all my friends?" I will terribly miss them. And Steven Ramsey will be very disappointed if I suddenly leave. I think he is about to make an offer. "For God's sake, Emma!" You should not encourage the poor man, even if you do not want to go to London. "But I thought you wanted us to be married." His father is your best friend. John sighed: "When you were ten, maybe I was thinking about your marriage." But even then it was already clear that he was not your partner. You drive him crazy in a week. "Your concern for the only child is so touching!" "Believe me, he'll bore you until you lose consciousness," John finished softly. "I just want Stephen to realize how unpromising this is, and that's one more reason why you should leave. If you divide the ocean, Stephen might seek his wife elsewhere." "But I prefer Boston to any other place." "You adore England," John said in a voice that already felt irritated. "In the past, our visit you just talked about this." Emma bit her lip nervously. - And what about the company? She asked softly. John sighed and leaned his elbows on the back of the chair. Now he finally became clear the reason why Emma did not want to leave Boston. "Dunster Shipping will be there when you come back." "But I still have so much to study! How can I take over the management of the company, if I do not know everything now?" - You can. No one but you, I will not leave the company. I founded it from scratch, and the Lord knows that I want to give it to a blood-born person, but ... We should reckon with the facts. Most of our clients will not want to deal with a woman, and workers will not want to take orders from you. Even if your name is Dunster, it will not change anything. Emma was ready to burst into tears from such injustice. "No one is better than you to manage the company," John said gently. "But that does not mean that the others will agree with me. As much as it irritates me, it is necessary to put up with the fact that the company will not stand if the woman is at the helm." "And yet in the future I will lead it." "Of course, you will not give up! Did I tell you about the time when you were sick with influenza? Then you defeated the disease, and I realized that you were saved: you were too stubborn to die. But maybe I'm the only person in the world, more stubborn than you, daughter, and so you should accept and accept your fate." Emma almost moaned. So, she can not avoid traveling to England. However, it was not worth considering this trip as punishment. She adored her cousins: Bell and Ned. Still, Emma did not want to neglect the voluntary commitment to Dunster Shipping. - Okay. She got up, deciding to pack her things, because tomorrow she had to sail on one of her father's ships. "But I'll be back." "I'm sure you will certainly return. While you are there, do not forget about the entertainment, okay?" Emma smiled dazzlingly. "Dad, you do not think that I will deprive myself of a pleasant pastime in London only because I do not want to go there?" Emma took hold of the door handle and opened it a few inches. - The girl just once in her life falls luck to become a debutante in the London season, and she should get pleasure from it, even if she does not like social life. - Wonderful! So, you managed to convince her? Exclaimed John's sister, Countess Huert, suddenly entering the room. "Did anybody tell you that it's impolite to eavesdrop?" John asked softly. - Nonsense! I walked through the hall, I heard Emma's voice and decided to ask: what's wrong with the thief to whom you slapped today? - What? John narrowed his eyes. "I noticed someone trying to pull Ned's wallet." He and Bell were arguing for something, as usual, and Ned did not notice that they were trying to rob him. "And Emma hit him? Daughter, could not you scream?" "For God's sake, Daddy, what would I make a cry?" - Well, at least it was a full-fledged slap in the face? Emma's face took on a stupid expression. - Of course. It is possible that I broke his nose. Caroline threw up her hands. "I hope you will not be offended if I say that young ladies in London do not engage in fights with dubious faces and do not beat them in the nose." "Believe me, Aunt Caroline, the real young ladies in Boston do not do anything like that." John grunted. - By the way, did you manage to get Ned's wallet? Emma could not help smiling: - Of course. "I knew that, my girl!"