Charles winced. “It has nothing to do with you,” he remarked slowly. “My brother is rather a complicated man.”
“He tried to bribe Ellie to leave,” Emma declared, shifting towards her brother. “That is inexcusable.”
“I didn’t say that it wasn’t wrong, but Roswell has made some poor decisions these past few years,” Charles pressed.
“I would agree with you,” Emma said.
Ellie’s horse whinnied, drawing her attention. “I can’t go home; at least, not yet.”
“I know, and we don’t want you to leave,” Emma stated. “Mother will be so disappointed to hear of Roswell’s actions.”
Charles met Ellie’s gaze. “Emma is right. You aren’t going anywhere.”
“Thank you,” Ellie replied.
“Besides, Roswell has no right to dictate your actions,” Charles insisted. “I will talk to him when we arrive home.”
Emma let out a puff of air. “It won’t do any good.”
“I can only try,” Charles said. “I still see glimpses of the man he once was.”
“He changed after our father died,” Emma pointed out.
A pained look flashed across Charles’s face. “I’m afraid it was before that,” he revealed.
“How can you be certain?” Emma asked.
“You must trust me on this one,” Charles insisted.
Emma nodded before turning her attention back towards Ellie. “Would you care to go shopping later today?”
“I do love shopping,” she admitted.
Charles chuckled. “That isn’t a surprise. I haven’t met a woman who doesn’t enjoy shopping.”
Emma grinned. “But we must hurry back and prepare for all the suitors who will call on you today.”
“What if no one calls on me?” Ellie asked, voicing her greatest fear.
“Then we shall have plenty of time for our needlework,” Emma said. “But I do not believe that will be the case.”
“No?” she questioned.
Emma shook her head. “I saw the way the gentlemen were looking at you last night,” she said. “You caused quite a stir.”
“I can’t hope that is true,” Ellie murmured.
“You are being much too hard on yourself,” Emma pressed. “With any luck, our drawing room will be filled with potential suitors for both of us.”
“Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” Ellie asked.
Charles turned his horse towards the stables. “Shall we race back?” he asked. “My horse is anxious to stretch its legs again.”
Ellie bobbed her head. “I’m game.”
As they raced back to the stables, Ellie felt buoyed up by Charles’ and Emma’s support, wondering how they could possibly be related to the infuriating Lord Bideford.
Roswell sat at his desk as he reviewed his correspondence. He had plenty of work to accomplish, but his mind kept returning to the look on Miss Bentley’s face when he had offered her the money. It was as if he had betrayed her. Which was ludicrous; he owed her nothing. She was staying as a guest in his townhouse, completely at his whim.
