Emilia shook her head. “No, because I believe, deep down, that you are a good person.”
Clarissa scoffed. “You don’t know me. Everything you think you know is wrong.”
The sound of booted footsteps came from behind Clarissa. “But I do,” Roswell said. “It is over, Clarissa. You have lost.”
Clarissa’s eyes widened in desperation. “No! She can’t win, not again,” she shouted. “I won’t go back to Cheapside.”
“You may change your mind when you see the accommodations at Newgate,” Roswell joked. “Lower the pistol or else Miss Delacourt might release another one of her daggers.”
With a defeated expression, Clarissa reluctantly lowered the pistol to her side, allowing Roswell to move in and secure the weapon.
Roswell shifted his gaze towards Fredrick. “Will you inform Anette that I might be a little late returning to the ball? I am going to see them to Newgate.”
“Newgate?” Clarissa asked. “You cannot be in earnest. I won’t go.”
Calvin’s face was pale. “I need a doctor.”
“They will send for one when you are in Newgate,” Roswell said. “If you don’t cooperate, we will be happy to parade you through the townhouse.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” Clarissa snapped.
“Try me,” Roswell responded.
Clarissa tossed her hands up in the air. “Fine. We will go, but we shall be out by morning when they discover who we are.”
“I wouldn’t count on that. You did threaten to kill two people, one being an earl,” Roswell remarked. “Let us depart. I tire of waiting around.”
After Roswell guided Calvin and Clarissa out through the back gate, Emilia turned towards Fredrick, who regarded her with a furious expression.
Chapter Twenty
A myriad of emotions coursed through Fredrick as he stood before Emilia. Anger. Frustration. Relief. He couldn’t quite bring himself to believe how close he had been to losing her. If he hadn’t chanced upon them, the outcome could have been dire.
What had she been thinking when she moved to stand in front of him, and then later when she practically challenged Clarissa to pull the trigger? He was the one that was supposed to protect her, not the other way around.
He watched as Emilia approached Miss Delacourt and smiled. “Thank you for your help in saving my life,” she expressed.
Miss Delacourt returned her smile. “You are welcome,” she said. “When Lord Chatsworth failed to appear with you to dance the waltz, Lord Roswell and I went in search of you.”
“I am relieved that you did so.”
With a knowing glance at Fredrick, Miss Delacourt remarked, “I am sure that you and Lord Chatsworth have much to discuss. Although, I shall remain close for propriety’s sake.”
Emilia turned back to face Fredrick, and she clasped her hands in front of her. She looked hesitant, and that hadn’t beenhis intention. He wanted to run up to her and wrap his arms around her. But so much needed to be said between them.
“What were you thinking?” he asked. “You could have gotten yourself killed.”
“Clarissa wouldn’t have shot me,” she insisted.
“I disagree,” he replied. “You were so desperate to have a family that you overlooked that Calvin and Clarissa were just using you.”
Emilia lowered her gaze. “I was wrong to do so.”
“Yes, you were,” he said, taking a step towards her. “And I tried to warn you, multiple times, in fact.”
“I know, and I am sorry.” Her voice was soft.
Fredrick closed his eyes. What was he doing, he thought. He should be confessing his love for her, especially after she had been willing to give up everything for him. Surely that meant that she cared for him, loved him, even.
