Emma handed the note back to her. “What if Lord Worthington absconds with you and takes you to Gretna Green?”
“I don’t believe that will happen,” she replied. “I think he just wants to talk to me.”
“I’m not so sure,” Emma said, her voice hesitant.
Slipping the note back into her pocket, Ellie pressed, “I have to go. I can’t risk that he will make good on his threat and kill my mother.”
“Which is why we must report this to the constable, and quickly.”
Ellie shook her head. “The note says to inform no one,” she said. “I shouldn’t have even told you.”
“I am glad that you did.” Emma sat back in her chair. “I’m not going to be able to talk you out of speaking to him, am I?”
“I’m afraid not.”
Emma pressed her lips together for a moment. “You must at least take my muff pistol in your reticule.”
“I have no argument against that.”
“I still contend this is a terrible idea,” Emma stated. “Lord Worthington is not an honorable man, and I can think of many ways this could go horribly wrong.”
“I have to do something,” Ellie asserted. “I could never live with myself if something happened to my mother, knowing I could have prevented it.”
Emma let out a heavy sigh. “I understand, but I will be watching you from a window.”
“I can live with that,” Ellie replied as she reached for the second cup of chocolate. “And I would expect no less from you.”
“My brother will be furious when he hears that you met with Lord Worthington,” Emma said, picking up her fork.
“I am well aware.”
Emma gave her a curious look. “I saw you in the gardens with Roswell yesterday.”
“You did?”
“I’m afraid my mother and I were shamelessly watching you both from her bedchamber window.”
“I should have assumed as much.”
“You two appeared to be quite cozy with one another,” Emma commented.
Ellie gave a half shrug. “I suppose we are.”
“I am pleased to hear that,” Emma said. “It has been nice seeing my brother transform back into his old self, and it is all because of you.”
“I do not dare take the credit for that.”
“It is most definitely because of you,” Emma responded with a side glance, “and I do hope you will become my sister-in-law.”
“I cannot presume to know Roswell’s feelings.”
Emma smiled. “Interesting,” she remarked. “I see that you are calling him by his given name now.”
“He gave me leave to do so,” Ellie defended.
“I am happy to hear things are progressing quite nicely between you two.”
Ellie took a sip of her chocolate. “Need I remind you that our engagement is not real?”
