Roswell leaned back in his seat. “I am worried about you,” he said. “You are not one to take unnecessary chances, especially when it comes to matters of the heart.”
“As I have said before, there is no risk.”
“No?”
“What if either of you fall for the other?”
Charles shook his head. “There is no possibility of that,” he replied. “Henrietta is much too sensible to fall for me.”
“Henrietta?” Roswell repeated. “You are calling her by her given name now?”
“I am, but that is only because we are friends.”
Emma’s voice came from the doorway. “Who are you friends with?”
Charles shifted in his chair to face his sister. “I am friends with Miss Henrietta.”
“Yes, that is already a known fact,” Emma said, walking further into the room.
“Not to Roswell,” Charles remarked.
Emma walked over to the buffet and picked up a plate. After collecting some food, she came and sat next to him. “I did not mean to interrupt your conversation.”
Roswell lifted his brow. “Does Emma know?”
Charles nodded. “Who do you think gave me the idea?”
“I should have known,” Roswell muttered under his breath.
Emma smiled as a footman placed a cup of chocolate in front of her. “I must assume that this is about you forming an attachment with Miss Henrietta.”
“A pretend attachment,” Charles corrected.
She waved her hand dismissively in front of her. “That is what I meant.” She picked up a piece of toast. “I think it is a brilliant idea.”
Roswell sighed. “Why is that?”
“Our dear brother won’t be as stuffy, and he will save a damsel in distress,” Emma said.
“Henrietta is hardly a damsel in distress,” Charles commented.
Emma nodded approvingly. “True, but without your help, she would be ruined.”
Roswell pushed back his chair and rose. “If you will excuse me, I am going to check in on my wife before I start working for the day.”
“How is Ellie feeling?”
“She is well,” Roswell replied. “She has just been feeling tired as of late.”
After Roswell departed from the room, Charles returned to eating his food, but he noticed his sister wasn’t eating.
He set his fork down. “What is wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“No?” he asked. “Then why are you not eating?”
“I’m afraid I’m not hungry.”
