Westminster 1822

Waving Accusations

Elton spotted her purple hat next to his mother. Ella strolled back to the table after conspiring with Liam. Elton couldn’t walk out there and steal Emily away it would cause a commotion. Lucia wouldn’t let him take either.

So, Elton hid waiting for the event to die out. He was careful not to cross Liam as well. He feared when his hands gripped his neck, they wouldn’t release him. Dozens of ladies flocked past him unaware of his hiding place between the hedges.

Ella walked ahead of him. He reached out and took Emily’s hand and pulled her between the tall grass. He hoped his mother wasn’t close by. He led her away to his mother’s garden.

‘Elton? What’s wrong?’ She asked.

‘Listen to me my love, you have to be careful.’ He cupped her cheeks.

Emily’s limbs ran cold. She rubbed her shoulders and looked up at Elton. Furlong’s words replayed in her mind. Her heart beat faster. She had a feeling the issue was about Ella. She didn’t want it to, but her instincts insisted on it.

‘Elton… what do you mean?’

He gripped her shoulders, ‘Be careful of your sister. She really wants to destroy her arrangement. I don’t have proof of her plans, but I know she’s conspiring against you.’

Tears burned the back of her head. Ella was her own flesh and bone. She sucked in the cold air and nodded. Emily couldn’t let Ella run her over. Her mother Cecilia had already done that.

‘I’m not comfortable letting you return home.’ Elton said.

‘No, Elton. Whatever her schemes, Ella won’t get away with it. I won’t let her. Her mother made sure to erase my mother’s memory and evidence of my existence. She needs to be put in her place. Her childish games have to stop.’

‘Emily… I don’t think these are childish games I think your sister is dead serious. I heard her talking about how ill Harris is and getting your father to change his mind about our marriage.’

Emily’s body burned with immense fury. Ella needed to be taken care of before she managed to get rid of Emily.

‘Don’t worry about it. Father won’t change his mind and Ella will marry Harris.’

Emily was still convinced Harris was a man of good virtue despite his father’s shortcomings.

She turned to walk back to the carriage when Elton spoke.

‘This isn’t an arrangement for me anymore Emily. I’m in love with you.’

She smiled, ‘I’ll take care of this.’

***

The ride back to Westminster was quiet. Emily’s thoughts ran wild in the silence. The person with a blank stare beside her was capable of driving a knife into her back. Only to get her way. She should have seen it before the day father announced their engagements. Emily thought Ella was only lashing out and she would eventually accept. It certainly looked at way when Harris and his mother visited the castle. She was so tender, soft and concerned when Harris was unwell at dinner.

The memory of her sister at the table flashed in her mind. Emily’s blood ran cold. She couldn’t have cared less when they told her Harris was ill. Emily stole a glance at the girl next to her and didn’t know who she was anymore.

‘Ella…’ Emily said at the door.

Ella rolled her eyes and turned. Emily’s chest rose and fell. The bitter cold smacked her cheeks.

‘What did you do to Harris?’

Seconds ticked by with deafening silence between them.

‘What are you talking about?’ Ella finally said.

‘You know exactly what I’m talking about Ella.’ Emily closed the distance between them.

Ella span and pushed the door open.

‘Answer me, Ella!’

Ella marched through the foyer into the living room.

‘I haven’t done anything to him!’

‘He became ill after he left here, after he spent the day with you.’

Ella’s face became bright red. She twisted her body and raced for the stairs.

‘Get back here! If you did something to him you have to make it right.’ Emily started up the stairs.

‘You’re a fool Emily, you’re coming up with wild stories.’

‘Stop!’ Emily grabbed Ella’s elbow.

Ella whirled and struck Emily across the face. Emily gasped and clutched her right cheek.

‘Ella—’

‘Shut up you worthless lowlife! Give me that ring.’ Ella grabbed Emily’s hand.

Emily tried to yank her arm back. Ella reached for the little ring.

‘You’ve lost your mind!’

‘That ring is mine,’ Ella screamed.

Emily shoved her sister further up the stairs. Ella screeched and pushed Emily mid-way down the staircase. Agrona and Furlong rushed through the living room door in their satin night downs.

‘Girls!’ Furlong shouted.

‘You’re crazy!’ Emily grabbed Ella’s hair.

‘They’ll fall,’ Agrona exclaimed.

‘I’ll be damned if I let you have what’s mine.’ Ella growled as her fingers clawed at Emily’s face.

Furlong lifted her dress and swallowed before grabbing the hand rail. She couldn’t let them fall to their dooms. Emily and Ella swayed on the stairs. One wrong step could send them both tumbling.

‘He was never yours!’ Emily grunted.

Agrona threw her hands to her chest as Furlong grabbed Ella’s hands on her sister’s hair.

‘What is the meaning of this madness?!’ Oscar slammed his cane on the ground.

Agrona rushed up the stairs to pry fingers off flesh. Oscar grabbed his chest and grasped. Agrona’s eyes went wide as Oscar’s cane rattled on the floor and his hand flew to the wall for support.

‘It’s mine!’ Ella spat.

Furlong pinned her hands behind her back. Emily fell against the rail, breathing in short sharp breaths.

‘Enough now!’ Furlong shoved her up the rest of the stairs.

‘Elton won’t ever be yours!’ Emily bellowed.

‘You’ll regret the day you were born, be sure of that.’