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Chapter 8
When everything in life pressed against her, Amelia only felt more determination to fight back. Standing in the well-lit entryway to her home, the chandelier above her reflecting light from the sun streaming through the tall windows, she stared at her brother as he looked back with no comprehension in his clear, blue eyes.
Andrew squinted, tilting his head to the side. “You mean to tell me that you were set upon by gypsies, that you lost your horse and Charles’s—”
“For different reasons.”
“—walked to his house in the middle of the night, then returned home and slipped quietly into your room without informing me of any of it?”
“Well, yes. What would informing you have accomplished?” Amelia asked, repressing the desire to shake clarity into her brother. “Waking you in the dead of night to speak of my misfortunes would have only put you in a dark mood when it was not safe to go after Howard at that time anyway.”
He rubbed his chin, his mouth hanging slightly open. “I just cannot…” He looked up, his blue eyes pale in the morning light. “What of your friends? You met with Hattie and Mrs. Pepper—”
“I wrote to them this morning and am now awaiting word that they had no mishaps on their journey home. And Charles went to check on them both after seeing me home last night.”
He nodded, digesting this information. Looking up, Andrew narrowed his gaze. “And you say you are meeting with Charles now to go after your horse?”
“That is the plan we devised. He proposed we go at first light.”
“With Sir Percival fully aware of the situation?”
Amelia paused. “I hadn’t thought of that, but it would likely be a wise move to inform the magistrate.”
Andrew barked a laugh. “Well, yes. You cannot face gypsies on your own. Merely speaking to them could land you in gaol.”
Amelia scoffed.
“That is not an idle threat,” Andrew said, moving toward the stairs. “You must be careful. In fact…perhaps it is better if you refrain from going at all. I can assist Charles if you will remain here and look after Mrs. Halpert.”
Amelia pivoted, her mouth hanging open. “You do not trust me to do this, do you? Andrew, need I remind you that you are neither my father nor my husband? I am my own mistress.”
He paused midway up the stairs, exasperation evident in the lines on his forehead. “I am not trying to step into either of those roles. I am merely stating that this situation could be dangerous, and I would like to help Charles retrieve your horse, but one of us must remain here because Mrs. Halpert is unwell.”
A flicker of unease stole her breath. Torn, she searched his anxious gaze, his pleading eyes reaching her heart.
“You feel a responsibility for Howard,” Andrew said, as the root of her stubbornness had just occurred to him.
“I do.”
“I will do everything in my power to return your horse to you.”
He genuinely meant that. Amelia nodded, stepping back. “Very well. I will see to Mrs. Halpert. But if you insist on going in my stead, you must do two things.”
“What are they?”
“Inquire about Hattie and Giulia—I should like to know they were safe last night.”
He nodded. “I can do that. The second thing?”
“You must not scold Charles.”
“I make no promises in that regard.” The dry look he cast her way before he mounted the remainder of the stairs was mixed with exhaustion, and she followed him up to the next floor, pulling her gloves free from her hands before untying her bonnet.
She assumed her friends had made it home without mishap. She likely would have heard from Charles by now had he discovered anything ominous the night previous. But she had written to each of them that morning anyway, to explain her own misadventures and to hear from their own words that they were truly well and whole. She was certain they would each write back eventually, but a confirmation from her brother wouldn’t go amiss. Setting her gloves and bonnet on a table in the corridor, she knocked on Mrs. Halpert’s door as Andrew disappeared around the corner.
“Come in.”
Amelia slipped through the open doorway, surprised to find the woman sitting up in bed and leaning against a pile of pillows, her head resting against the headboard. When she caught sight of Amelia, she moved to sit up further, and Amelia rushed to her side.
