Emily accepted the towel reluctantly. “It must have been a shock seeing me after he left in such a way. Stealing a carriage, too. He’s very remorseful about that.”
“He can convince me of his remorse—or otherwise.” At the stern note in the other woman’s voice, Emily glanced up, but Louisa smiled, softening the sentiment. “If he came back of his own volition, then I believe he is remorseful. And for you to defend him shows there is hope for him yet.”
“You’re not angry that I’m here?”
“Well, has he abducted you?”
Emily could not help her snort at the thought. “No.”
“Are you here against your will? Do you feel as though he has taken advantage of your situation, whatever it may be, for his own purposes?”
“If anything,” she said, holding the towel tightly in both hands, “it is I who have taken advantage of him.”
Louisa’s eyes gleamed with interest. “Ah, now that story seems worthy of telling.”
In as few words as possible, Emily outlined the situation, explaining Oliver’s intention to marry Isabella, how he encountered her instead, and how when they’d returned home, it was to find Isabella gone with Marlbury, a known rake.
As she spoke, she washed her face, surprised to find that such a simple act made her feel so much more human.
A knock at the door interrupted her as she reached the end of her tale, and Louisa waved the maid to the bed, where she lay out a whole host of dresses that Emily would not consider wearing. Pale green ones, soft pinks that Emily would not for a thousand years have thought to wear with her red hair, and one a soft dove grey. All simple morning dresses, yet all exquisitely made.
“Let us set aside the topic of your sister for a moment,” Louisa said. “And, if you please, you may decide which dress you would like to wear for the remainder of the day. I think you would suit them all, and heaven knows I would not suit them. They will languish sadly at the back of my wardrobe until someone takes them off my hands.”
While Emily knew this was an exaggeration, she appreciated the other woman’s kindness. Just like Mrs Chambers, she had accepted Emily’s situation and need for assistance without batting an eye. The least Emily could do was be grateful, even if she despised such things were necessary.
“May I try on the green?” she asked.
“Certainly.” Louisa waved to her maid, but Emily had already half shrugged out of her muddy dress without assistance. It had been too long since she’d had help dressing.
“I’ll wash this for you, ma’am,” the maid said, picking Emily’s dress from the floor and folding it neatly over one arm.
“Oh, you don’t have to—”
“It’s no problem, ma’am.”
Louisa returned to the chaise longue as Emily dressed, the maid combing out her hair and pinning it back. At the feeling of it, Emily closed her eyes—she had not realised how much she’d missed this.
It was only when the maid retreated, taking Emily’s dirty dress and the discarded ones with her, that Louisa spoke again.
“I have a great fondness for Oliver. As far as I’m concerned, heismy brother. But he has also spent most of his life fleeing every possible responsibility and living out his father’s legacy. So to see him here championing your problems and standing up for something . . . That is why I asked if he loved you. I can see you care for him.”
Emily flushed a little. “It would be impossible for anyone to remain indifferent, I think.”
“Obligation can be a powerful motivator.”
“I don’t mean obligation. I amgratefulfor many things, but that is not why I—” Her face grew warmer. “Why I think very highly of him,” she finished.
Louisa’s eyes shone with understanding. “Ah. So that’s how it is.”
“Excuse me?”
“You love him.”
“I—” Was there any point in denying it? She didn’t know if she did or not; the sensation felt very different from the infatuation she had felt for Marlbury. Less all-consuming, but richer in its nature. “I don’t know,” she admitted finally. “Perhaps I do.”
“And yet you are not engaged?” Louisa helped Emily into the dress and working on the tiny buttons at the back. “Has he neglected to ask you?”
Emily closed her eyes. “Things are not that simple.”
