Ada & The French (The Woodhouse Series #2)

Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

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*Paris*

There was a ringing sound.

A shrill ringing as I lifted my head, half-asleep.

Juliette jolted awake too from next to me before I jumped out and ran to the living room, answering the shrilling telephone.

"Appel téléphonique de Monte-Carlo. Dites "oui" pour vous connecter..."

All I understood was 'Monte-Carlo' and there was only one person who would be calling me from there.

"Oui."

A beeping noise and Emerson's voice came into the earpiece.

"Hello..."

"Emerson!" I said, weirdly delighted to hear my brother's voice. "So good to hear from you."

"As it might be, but you should not be hearing from me, but rather seeing me..." He replied as I pouted. "The fact that you have answered the phone in Paris means you are not on your way to Monte-Carlo as you are supposed to be."

"Yes...but for good reason!" I said, realising that either Florence didn't tell him anything about me staying or he didn't listen if she did. "I've decided to stay."

He scoffed down the line. "That is not your decision to make."

"I'm not a child!"

"No...but you are my ward and therefore you do as I say..." He explained. "Paris is dangerous right now and with Theodore who knows where you are not staying there by yourself."

"But...I'm not by myself. I have friends..."

His tone changed. "If you are referring to the Earl, then that is even more reason for you to come here. You are not allowed to be alone with him."

I scowled. "I...have friends that are not only him."

"Like who? You have been in Paris for two weeks!"

I turned at the movement behind me, Juliette leaving my bedroom in a dressing gown, her hair messy and yawning as she walked to the windows to let some light in.

"Juliette Delacroix and Colin Boyle, Viscount Dungarvan." There was silence from the other end.

"Look...I do not want to go to Monte-Carlo! You and Charlotte are there for a wedding that I was not invited to!"

"Adelaide..." Emerson tried to get a word in edgeways but I was determined to make my point.

"I have friends here and, let's say Theodore comes back? Someone needs to be here, and it should be me as Florence has gone to search for him with his friends and..."

"Adelaide Elizabeth!"

I pouted at my name being called.

"Adelaide...I do not care if your friends are Bonapartes. You are coming to Monte-Carlo - either willingly or forcefully. But you are not staying there!"

"Please, Emerson!" I begged him, knowing that time was limited as he may put the phone down at any minute. "Please...just let me stay! I promise, I will not be alone with Louis and I will remain in the shadows and not draw attention to myself. I don't want to leave Paris! There is so much I want to do and just because some men are behaving in a way that is undignified by slaughtering innocents in the streets, does not mean I have to cower in fear!" I protested.