coming.”
Tears from Elda Mae’s velvet brown eyes spilled onto her cheeks. “But, my lady, I
should be with you. You need me . . .”
For the first time since Aimee’s abduction, Millie’s look was firm and unwavering,
hinting that not all of her soul had been crushed with Chase’s indictments. “No,”
she stated forcefully to Jennelle. And then, looking back at her faithful companion,
she pleaded softly, “Elda Mae, what I need most is for you to apply those eavesdropping
skills you have perfected over the years and discover what Chase knows about Aimee.
Send word to me and Jennelle as often as you can. It is important, this thing I ask
of you. Please do not turn me down.”
“I could never turn you down, my lady. Haven’t in all my born days, and I’m not likely
to start now. I love you like you was my own flesh and blood. And if you need me to
stay, then I will. And don’t you worry none on Aimee. She’s a delicate-looking thing,
but you and I know differently. Our girl’s a scrapper and will be back here in England
giving her brother what for before you know it.”
Millie closed her eyes and looked out the window, watching Chase order another team
to be added to the post chaise. “Your words to God’s ears, Elda Mae. For I don’t know
how I shall go on if harm befalls Aimee because of my thoughtlessness.”
Jennelle marched over, grabbed her friend by the shoulders, and swung her around.
“Now you will listen to me and all that I say, Millie. I will not hear any more of
this. You refused to listen to me last night, but you will do so now.” Jennelle was
just as much to blame as Millie, and if she could not convince Millie that Aimee was
safe with Reece, then she herself would begin to doubt it, and the fragments of composure
she was clinging to would disappear.
“I did hear you, Jennelle. That Aimee would have screamed and fought if she were truly
captured? That based on what I told you, she intentionally got caught by Reece’s men
in order to seek him out? Maybe, but there were five ships that left the harbor and
four of them were not the Sea Emerald . If you are correct—and I hope and believe you might be—then Reece is most likely
turning around and returning at this very moment. Aimee will be reunited with her
brother.”
“And all will be forgiven.”
Millie sank down onto her bed and closed her eyes. “I do not know. Despite what you
heard, Charlie does love me and I so love him. His anger is in many ways justified.”
“But it was not your fault! Aimee practically made us go, and it was she who put herself in danger. Not you and not me. I love her just as much as you, but
I will not own responsibility for her abduction and neither should you!”
“I agree it was Aimee who made the choice that caused her to be captured. But you
cannot deny she would have stayed home if I had stayed firm and refused to go. She
could not have made it there safely without us, and I knew in my heart that we should not have gone. So it is my guilt that weighs heavily on me. Not Charlie’s anger.”
Jennelle crossed her arms and started pacing. “Aimee will be fine. You and Charles
will be fine. We will all be fine!”
Millie nodded. She did honestly believe Aimee was safe and with Reece. The more she
thought back and considered the events of last night, the more convinced she became.
Aimee had not been caught unaware. She had been hidden when the two men walked by
and actually had jumped in front of them. She then patiently waited as they got over
their shock and finally decided to grab her. Aimee had had ample opportunity to run
away, let alone scream for help. But as much as she believed Aimee would return and
all would be well, Millie was not convinced that the same could be said of her and
Chase.
He was furious with her, and though she was not to blame for much of what he had accused
her, there was one point he had made
Tears from Elda Mae’s velvet brown eyes spilled onto her cheeks. “But, my lady, I
should be with you. You need me . . .”
For the first time since Aimee’s abduction, Millie’s look was firm and unwavering,
hinting that not all of her soul had been crushed with Chase’s indictments. “No,”
she stated forcefully to Jennelle. And then, looking back at her faithful companion,
she pleaded softly, “Elda Mae, what I need most is for you to apply those eavesdropping
skills you have perfected over the years and discover what Chase knows about Aimee.
Send word to me and Jennelle as often as you can. It is important, this thing I ask
of you. Please do not turn me down.”
“I could never turn you down, my lady. Haven’t in all my born days, and I’m not likely
to start now. I love you like you was my own flesh and blood. And if you need me to
stay, then I will. And don’t you worry none on Aimee. She’s a delicate-looking thing,
but you and I know differently. Our girl’s a scrapper and will be back here in England
giving her brother what for before you know it.”
Millie closed her eyes and looked out the window, watching Chase order another team
to be added to the post chaise. “Your words to God’s ears, Elda Mae. For I don’t know
how I shall go on if harm befalls Aimee because of my thoughtlessness.”
Jennelle marched over, grabbed her friend by the shoulders, and swung her around.
“Now you will listen to me and all that I say, Millie. I will not hear any more of
this. You refused to listen to me last night, but you will do so now.” Jennelle was
just as much to blame as Millie, and if she could not convince Millie that Aimee was
safe with Reece, then she herself would begin to doubt it, and the fragments of composure
she was clinging to would disappear.
“I did hear you, Jennelle. That Aimee would have screamed and fought if she were truly
captured? That based on what I told you, she intentionally got caught by Reece’s men
in order to seek him out? Maybe, but there were five ships that left the harbor and
four of them were not the Sea Emerald . If you are correct—and I hope and believe you might be—then Reece is most likely
turning around and returning at this very moment. Aimee will be reunited with her
brother.”
“And all will be forgiven.”
Millie sank down onto her bed and closed her eyes. “I do not know. Despite what you
heard, Charlie does love me and I so love him. His anger is in many ways justified.”
“But it was not your fault! Aimee practically made us go, and it was she who put herself in danger. Not you and not me. I love her just as much as you, but
I will not own responsibility for her abduction and neither should you!”
“I agree it was Aimee who made the choice that caused her to be captured. But you
cannot deny she would have stayed home if I had stayed firm and refused to go. She
could not have made it there safely without us, and I knew in my heart that we should not have gone. So it is my guilt that weighs heavily on me. Not Charlie’s anger.”
Jennelle crossed her arms and started pacing. “Aimee will be fine. You and Charles
will be fine. We will all be fine!”
Millie nodded. She did honestly believe Aimee was safe and with Reece. The more she
thought back and considered the events of last night, the more convinced she became.
Aimee had not been caught unaware. She had been hidden when the two men walked by
and actually had jumped in front of them. She then patiently waited as they got over
their shock and finally decided to grab her. Aimee had had ample opportunity to run
away, let alone scream for help. But as much as she believed Aimee would return and
all would be well, Millie was not convinced that the same could be said of her and
Chase.
He was furious with her, and though she was not to blame for much of what he had accused
her, there was one point he had made
Similar Books
