Ada & The Queen (The Woodhouse Series #3)

Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

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*Woodhouse Residence, Belgravia/Aintree Racecourse, Merseyside*

"Theodore! We are leaving in an hour!" Emerson banged on his bedroom door and he jolted awake, groaning.

"Alright!" He called, his face buried in the pillow before turning.

Florence was next to him and he smiled. He kissed her bare shoulder and she smiled, turning to face him as their faces met. "You have an hour..." Florence said, her voice delicate as she stroked the back of his head gently.

"And off to the races in Merseyside..." Theodore replied as Florence giggled. "You still should have come."

"Someone needs to stay back and take care of Charlotte..." She said as Theodore nodded. "And keep an eye on Adelaide?"

"Oh...what would we do without you?" He teased, his arms coming around her as Florence smiled, their faces meeting as they kissed passionately, basked in the morning sun.

***

Overnight bags were packed as Theodore and Emerson boarded a train, taking up seating in the first-class carriage as they journeyed to the Grand National in Merseyside.

"Charles has offered to house us for the night at the family castle in Cheshire. A valet will take our things to Cheshire and a carriage will pick us up from Aintree when we are done..." Theodore explained shoving his carpet bag into the overhead storage as Emerson made himself comfortable.

"I would've preferred staying in Merseyside instead of with that buffoon..." Emerson replied as Theodore turned to him.

"He is not that bad of a person..." Theodore protested as Emerson scoffed.

"I'll believe it when I see it..."
As the train moved off, Theodore turned to his brother. "How's Charlotte?"

"Well enough for me to leave her..." Emerson replied. "I was not too sure about it but she assured me that she would be alright. However, if anything happens..."

"You will be on the first train out?" Theodore said as Emerson agreed. "Have you told them?"

"Who?" Emerson frowned. "The staff?"

"No...them..."

Emerson tilted his head as Theodore sighed. "Her parents! The Duke and Duchess of Buckingham!"

"Absolutely not!" Emerson replied. "After everything that happened with them..."

"But do you not think that they deserve to know? She is poorly..."

"It is her choice to make..." Emerson said. "I am not going to go over her. If she wants to tell her parents, then she can."

Theodore let it go but Emerson wanted some answers of his own.

"You know...when was the last time we had a conversation?" Emerson asked as Theodore frowned, turning to face him from the window.
"We were having one before you shut it down..." He replied as Emerson shook his head.

"I meant more in terms of you..."

Theodore frowned. "Me?"

"Yes...you..." Emerson raised his eyebrows. "Tell me...where was Florence this morning?"