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“No, I don’t.” Emmeline took a deep breath. “Am I making a mistake?”
“I’m afraid I can’t answer that,” Mary replied. “Only you can.”
Emmeline grew silent before admitting, “I don’t think I am. I find that I only feel excitement at this adventure.”
Mary gave her an encouraging smile. “Then you must trust your instincts.”
“Thank you for being my friend for all these years,” Emmeline said. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
“You probably would have looked horribly disheveled,” Mary teased.
Emmeline giggled. “That is a fair statement.”
The long clock chimed, alerting her to the time.
“This is not a goodbye,” Emmeline said as she placed her hand on the windowsill. “I shall see you soon.”
“I will be looking forward to it.”
It only took Emmeline a few moments to climb through the window and descend the wall. Each time her toes found a foothold, she grew more confident, and it didn’t take long for her to step down onto the cobblestone courtyard.
With light steps, she hurried over to a bush and picked up the valise she had previously hidden. She made her way towards the front of the townhouse and saw a black coach parked further up the street.
She cautiously approached it and was pleased when the door opened and Oliver stepped out. He was dressed in a dark jacket and trousers, which contrasted with his white linens.
A footman stepped off his perch and relieved her of the valise, then strapped it onto the back of the coach.
Oliver approached her. “Are you sure that you want to go through with this?” he asked.
“I am,” she replied.
His face, which had been solemn, suddenly broke into a smile. “I’m glad to hear it.” He offered his arm. “I hope it won’t be an issue that we will be traveling at night.”
As Oliver assisted her into the coach, she replied, “That is why I brought my muff pistol with me.”
“Do you know how to shoot a pistol?” Oliver asked as he sat across from her.
“I do,” she shared as she felt the coach jerk forward. “After my parents died, I decided that I would learn how to protect myself, just in case the situation ever arose.”
“You do not need to fear for your safety,” he assured her, “you are under my protection now.”
“I appreciate that, but I can take care of myself.”
Oliver shook his head, but a hint of a smile was on his lips. “You always were the headstrong one.”
“There is nothing wrong with knowing what you want.”
“It is when you are too stubborn and refuse help.”
“Perhaps.”
Oliver gave her a peculiar look. “Did you just agree with me?”
“I did.”
“If you do that more often, then this marriage could work out splendidly,” Oliver joked.
Emmeline laughed. “Thank you for doing this for me.”
