Before She Ruled (Before Series, Book 1)

Chapter Twenty-One

"Must we really meet at his house," Emilia muttered as they got into the carriage, cloaked in darkness.

"Emilia, you know as well as I that it is the safest place for us all to meet," Theo replied, exasperated. "You are more than welcome to stay home."

Hopefulness was tangled in Theo's voice as he spoke, but Emilia scoffed it away immediately.

"Nice try, brother. When I went to Andrew to learn more about your secret project, he said that he would tell me everything, but there would be a sacrifice."

"Lord Trotten, I presume," Addie stated, the answer obvious.

Emilia nodded, solidity on her face. "He said I had to be ready to face Trotten again."

Addie gave her wrist a quick squeeze. "And face him you have," she said reassuringly.

"Tonight is no exception."

"I know what he did to you was awful," Addie hedged, "but I am inclined to think he still cares for you."

"What?" Emilia sputtered. "How could you ever believe that after I told you what he said to me?"

"Just the way he gazed at you all night at Weston's. He couldn't take his eyes off of you, Emilia," Addie insisted. "Not to mention the way he wanted to protect you from being there."

Emilia's eyes rolled back into her head. "He simply thinks I am a menace who will ruin anything I come near."

Addie ignored Emilia's commentary. "He even said that the only reason he ever supported King Ernest in the first place was due to blackmail," she said in a conspiratorial whisper.

Emilia spun sharply towards her at that, interested.

"He said what?"

"Theo wouldn't stand for his presence at Andrew's the first night we all gathered there. He wouldn't let it go until Lord Trotten stood up and declared that the only reason he had ever shown support for King Ernest was that he was blackmailed into doing so, but he wouldn't say anything further," Addie explained. "I don't condone his actions against you at all, but perhaps he has changed. I rather like him and Lord Farrington."

Emilia was positively beside herself at the statement, stammering its ridiculousness, and Theo seemed to be in a similar state. She heard his snort from across the carriage.

"Farrington was overly kind to you, Adelaide," he pointed out, his voice laden with distaste. He shifted in his seat. "At least he's quit that now that he's realized he was flirting with royalty."

"Yes," Emilia drawled, "at least that makes one of you."

Theo glared at his sister, and Addie couldn't help but laugh at the scene, even as a blush spread across her face in embarrassment.

"Trotten's an ass," Theo said, ignoring both women. "But we have no choice at this point but to trust him."

"Perhaps we must trust him in this," Emilia said, her words cutting across the carriage, "but I do not need to forgive him." She crossed her arms with finality.

Addie waved the thought away. "No, of course not. He shall have to get on his knees and beg before you even consider the action." She smirked then. "But when he does, I do hope you consider it nonetheless."

Emilia glowered at her from across the carriage. "Forgive me, Your Highness, but you are positively addlepated."

Addie just shrugged and watched the darkness of London roll by the carriage window. It had been another late-night summons, and Addie longed to know what news Andrew had. She had been waiting with bated breath and needed to come up for air.