Capítulo 78: Diverging paths

But in a secret corner of her heart, she tucked away the memory of her dream wedding, a shimmering possibility that she wasn't quite ready to let go of just yet.

As she took her seat at the table, accepting a cup of coffee from Mr Higgins with a murmured thanks, Emily allowed herself one last indulgence. She closed her eyes briefly, conjuring up the image of Victor as he had appeared in her dream, handsome and loving at the altar. A small smile played at the corners of her mouth as she savoured the memory.

Then, with a small sigh, Emily opened her eyes and turned her attention to her family and the day ahead. Whatever her dreams might hold, reality demanded her focus now. But the warmth in her heart, the lingering echo of dream-Victor's vows, stayed with her, like a secret talisman.

As the Whitmore family discussed their plans for the day over toast and eggs, Emily found herself only half-listening. Her mind kept drifting back to her dream, to the feeling of Victor's hands in hers, to the love she had seen shining in his eyes. It had all felt so real, so right.

"Emily? Emily, are you listening?" Sarah's voice broke through her reverie.

Emily blinked, focusing on her sister's concerned face. "I'm sorry, what were you saying?"

Sarah raised an eyebrow, "I was asking how your outing with Mr. Mallory went last night. But it seems your mind is elsewhere this morning. Pleasant dreams, perhaps?"

Emily felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. "The outing was lovely," she said, trying to keep her voice neutral. "Mr. Mallory and I had a very productive discussion about our business venture."

"I'm sure you did," Sarah asked. "And was that all you discussed?"

"Ladies, please," Jonathan Whitmore said, lowering his newspaper to fix them both with a stern look. "This is hardly appropriate breakfast conversation. Emily, I trust you conducted yourself with the dignity befitting a Whitmore?"

"Of course, Father," Emily replied, grateful for the change of subject even as she bristled slightly at the implication. "Mr. Mallory was a perfect gentleman, and our discussions were entirely professional."

Jonathan nodded approvingly before returning to his newspaper.

Emily found herself unable to shake the lingering effects of her vivid dream. Throughout breakfast, she kept stealing glances at her left hand, half-expecting to see a wedding band there. The memory of dream-Victor's loving gaze and tender words continued to play in her mind, a bittersweet reminder of what might be.

Yet, alongside these pleasant recollections, another image kept intruding – Victor's face contorted with anger when she mentioned the Haven of Hope. Even in her dream, this topic caused a dramatic shift in his demeanour. Emily couldn't help but remember the real Victor's reaction to her discovering his connection to the charity. What was he hiding? Why was it such a sensitive subject?

As Jonathan excused himself from the table to attend to business matters, Emily saw her opportunity. She turned to Sarah, trying to keep her voice casual. "Sarah, I hate to impose, but I was wondering if you might do me a favour."

Sarah looked up from her tea, curiosity evident in her eyes. "What kind of favour?"

Emily took a deep breath. "I'm supposed to meet with Victor today for another site visit, but something's come up. Would you be willing to go in my stead?"

She braced herself for questions, ready with a handful of excuses she'd concocted. To her surprise, Sarah's face lit up with enthusiasm.

"Of course!" Sarah replied, perhaps a bit too quickly. "I'd be happy to fill in for you. It would be good to get a closer look at this business venture of yours."

Emily blinked, taken aback by her sister's eagerness. "Oh... well, thank you. I appreciate it."

As Sarah called for Mr Higgins to make the necessary arrangements, Emily felt a mix of relief and an unexpected twinge of... was it jealousy? She pushed the feeling aside, reminding herself that this was exactly what she wanted.

"Mr. Higgins," Sarah said, her voice filled with authority, "please send up the maids. I'll need to prepare for an outing with Mr. Mallory."

Emily watched as her sister swept out of the dining room, a spring in her step that seemed out of place for a simple business meeting. She shook her head, trying to dispel the uneasy feeling settling in her stomach. This was for the best, she told herself. She needed time to investigate the Haven of Hope without Victor's knowledge.

As Sarah disappeared upstairs, Emily finished her breakfast in thoughtful silence. She couldn't help but wonder what Victor would think of the change in plans. Would he be disappointed? Or would he welcome Sarah's company?

Meanwhile, upstairs, Sarah's room buzzed with activity. Three maids had arrived, each assigned to a specific task in preparing the eldest Whitmore daughter for her unexpected outing.

"A bath first, I think," Sarah declared, allowing the maids to help her out of her morning dress. As she sank into the perfumed water, Sarah closed her eyes, a small smile playing on her lips. She couldn't deny the thrill of anticipation coursing through her at the thought of spending time with Victor after her last game with him.

The maids worked efficiently, scrubbing Sarah's skin until it glowed and washing her hair with scented oils. As they helped her from the bath and began to dry her off, Sarah overheard them whispering among themselves.

"Do you think she's meeting Lord James?" one maid murmured.

"Must be," another replied. "Why else would she be going to such trouble?"

Sarah's mood soured at the mention of her fiancé. "That will be quite enough gossip," she said sharply, causing the maids to jump and mumble apologies.

As they began applying various creams and powders to Sarah's skin, she found her thoughts drifting to Victor. She imagined his strong hands guiding her through the property, his deep voice explaining the intricacies of their business plan. A blush crept up her cheeks, and she quickly attributed it to the warmth of the room.

"The green dress, I think," Sarah instructed as the maids presented her with options. It was a bit bolder than her usual choices, with a neckline that dipped just low enough to be enticing without being scandalous. As she slipped it on, Sarah couldn't help but admire her reflection in the mirror. The colour brought out the gold flecks in her eyes, and the cut accentuated her figure perfectly.

"You look beautiful, miss," one of the maids said admiringly as they finished arranging Sarah's hair.

Sarah smiled, a newfound confidence settling over her. "Thank you," she replied, reaching for her favourite perfume – a subtle, floral scent that lingered without overwhelming.

As the maids put the finishing touches on her appearance, Sarah found herself imagining Victor's reaction. Would his eyes widen slightly when he saw her? Would he compliment her appearance? The thought sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine.

"That will be all," Sarah dismissed the maids, taking one last look in the mirror before heading downstairs. She felt beautiful, confident, and ready to take on whatever the day might bring.

Back in her own room, Emily was preparing for her clandestine visit to the Haven of Hope. She opted for a simple, unremarkable dress – something that wouldn't draw attention. As she pinned her hair back in a modest style, Emily couldn't help but think about Sarah's enthusiastic response to taking her place with Victor.

"It doesn't mean anything," Emily muttered to herself, trying to quash the nagging feeling in her chest. "She's just being helpful."

But as Emily made her way downstairs, she couldn't help but gasp softly at the sight of her sister. Sarah looked stunning, every inch the sophisticated lady. The green dress hugged her curves in a way that was sure to turn heads, and there was a sparkle in her eye that Emily hadn't seen in quite some time.

"Sarah, you look... wow," Emily managed, trying to keep the confusion out of her voice. This seemed like an awful lot of effort for a simple business meeting.

Sarah smiled, a hint of colour rising in her cheeks. "Thank you, dear. One must always put one's best foot forward in business matters, as we are presenting Whitmore name, don't you think?"

Before Emily could respond, the sound of approaching hoofbeats announced Victor's arrival. Emily felt her heart skip a beat, the memory of her dream surging forward once again. She took a deep breath, reminding herself of her task.

"Have a good day," Emily said, forcing a smile. "I'm sure Mr. Mallory will be pleased with your insights on the project."

As Sarah swept out the door to greet Victor, Emily couldn't help but peek out the window. She watched as Victor dismounted, his eyes widening slightly as he took in Sarah's appearance. He bowed gallantly, pressing a kiss to Sarah's hand in greeting.

Emily felt a pang in her chest at the sight. She turned away from the window, chiding herself for these irrational feelings. This was exactly what she had planned, after all. She needed this opportunity to investigate the Haven of Hope without Victor's knowledge.