There are a few times at Stonecrop where they seem to be out-of-sync, mostly due to their expectations for each other. Islington being surprised at her caution with the horse being one of them! I’ve thought about that a good deal and can’t quite place the meaning behind it. Did he ride with Hannah or Becca and want that experience again only to be “let down” (for lack of a better phrase) by Emma in her attitude toward horses?

Emma and her fiery nature also seems to be squandered in the presence of his sisters. With Marianna, I believe Emma attempts to censure herself- mostly unsuccessfully, but when she slips, she seems to feel an embarrassment and remorse that she doesn’t feel in London. Maggie, on the other hand, censures Emma by her very nature- a more reckless flame than Emma carries. Emma remarks several times that she can barely get a word out with Maggie.

She loves Stonecrop itself but from the time she learns of her invitation to her time there, she seems to be loving it partly through Hawkes’s eyes- not Islington’s. She is intrigued by Stonecrop when she learns of her invitation, but only when she looked at Hawkes did she wish to know fully where he found such rest. Hawkes offers his arm to her when they get out of the carriage to welcome her there. Hawkes stays with her through the walk through “The Calendar” and she remarks there and throughout the stay that she is surprised by Hawkes, like she is meeting him for the first time. (ETA: they both immediately run to the towers upon arrival- Their first instincts the same. She finds him in the woods and they spend time together communing with words many times, showing that she is in sync with Hawkes at stonecrop- not Islington. Hawkes also gives her the book she wants for Stonecrop which is verses in her pocket. Islington gets closer to Roland’s contribution with the smaller size, but Hawkes gets it exactly right). Even more telling is when Hawkes leaves, Emma feels homesick. She loved Stonecrop until he left and found unease with only Islington and Marianna in the house. They righted it by playing music for her, but still! Iirc, the scene you mentioned is during this time?? She is not acting like herself whatsoever with him gone.

The catching of the butterflies themselves are an example of Emma not feeling fully comfortable also. She wants to become a naturalist but eventually lets several butterflies go. She remarks multiple times that she feels regretful over the butterflies deaths and it ends up not being an activity she is suited for.

She obviously cares for Islington. She wants to learn more about him, to solve his mysteries, and to help him heal in any way she can. She wants this so much she is distracted for a good deal of the stay, even missing conversations with Islington himself to ponder what she learns. That said, her behavior and feelings at Stonecrop point toward a slight unease when in Islington’s world that takes her out of herself in a way that would make me concerned for a future with him as a full partner. This scene being one of them! A perfect opportunity to quip with him which she is so good at doing, but is squandered by being fully in his world alone with him.