Page 23 of Choosing Her Earl at Last
Louisa studied the items, turning them over and over in her hands, searching for any clues. “I know that your sister enjoys riddles, but I cannot see one here. What am I missing?”
Emmeline shook her head. “I do not know, but I cannot rid myself of the feeling that it is a message.”
“What makes you so certain?” Louis asked, her forehead scrunched up in thoughtful examination of the handkerchief in her hand.
“Where Rebecca keeps that handkerchief, no one should be able to get to it,” Emmeline answered pointedly, her tone conveying more than her words.
Louisa looked into Emmeline’s eyes with compassion. “Emmeline…” she began, pausing, uncertain how to say whatshe felt compelled to say. “If Rebecca were…” She could not finish the sentence.
“I know.” Emmeline stopped her from saying anything else on the matter, her mouth going dry at the thought. “But I cannot think that way.”
Louisa nodded her head in understanding, returning to silent contemplation.
Emmeline, overcome with emotion, accidentally jerked too hard on her necklace, and felt it come apart in her hand. “Oh!” Emmeline exclaimed in dismay as she pulled her hand away to view the damage.
“What is it?” Louisa asked, concerned at hearing Emmeline’s distress. “What has happened?”
“My necklace, the one that my father gave me … It is broken!” She held out her hand to show Louisa the damage, only to notice as the light from the window fell upon it that it was not broken at all. “What is this?” she asked aloud, leaning forward to inspect the pendant more closely.
“It looks like a piece of paper,” Louisa noted, squinting as she leaned forward.
The two women hovered over the pendant, staring in surprised confusion. Inside the pendant was a hidden opening with a tiny internal latch that Emmeline’s fidgeting had sprung open, causing the pendant to separate and reveal its hidden compartment. Reaching out with her empty hand, Emmeline gently pulled the fragment of paper from the pendant.
She looked into the compartment to make certain that she had not missed anything, then set it aside. Unfolding the piece of paper, she immediately recognized the handwriting. She looked up at Louisa with wonder in her voice, “It is a coded message from my father.”
“Coded?” Louisa replied with consternation. “Why would he use a code to write you a letter, then place it in a pendant? One would think that he would have at least told you about it. Did he never speak of it?”
Emmeline shook her head. “Never.” She was just as bewildered as Louisa at this newest find. She studied the markings on the paper.
“What does it say?” Louisa asked, leaning forward to see the strange markings on the paper.
“I do not know,” Emmeline replied, turning the paper in various directions to see if a change in vantage point might reveal something.
“So, not only did your father not tell you about the letter when he gave it to you inside the pendant, but he wrote it in a code that you do not know how to decipher?” Louisa asked, the look on her face was one of disapproval and frustration.
“It would appear so,” Emmeline murmured, sighing as she closed her eyes and feeling overwhelmed. “This is too much,” she breathed, leaning back in her chair. She rubbed the bridge of her nose and forehead. “Rebecca is missing, possibly in great danger, and now this. It is all too much.”
“Is it possible that the two are related? Did your father have any enemies who might wish to take revenge upon him posthumously by taking his daughter? Or your mother? Would she know what the letter says?”
Emmeline shook her head. “Mother never participated in Father’s riddles. She did not consider it to be proper for a lady of her years and standing. As far as Father having enemies, I cannot imagine such a thing, but honestly, I do not know. Father traveled often to procure rare antiquities. I would have no way of knowing who he might have encountered that might mean him, or his family, harm.”
Louisa leaned back in her seat, sighing. “I am sorry. I do not feel as though I am being of much help.”
Emmeline gave Louisa an appreciative look. “Having you here with me is help enough.” She reached out and took her friend’s hand. “Without your calming influence, I fear Mother and I might be bound for Bedlam.”
Louisa shivered at the reference to the insane asylum. “Perish the thought. I shall endeavor to do all that I can to keep you from the edge of such an abyss.”
“Father’s message is not helping,” Emmeline murmured, releasing Louisa’s hand with a squeeze. She inspected the mysterious code once more. “What was he trying to say, and why did he not simply say it to me when he was alive?” Tears slipped from her lashes to spill down her cheeks. “Why?”
“My lady,” Mr. Hardy’s voice drew her attention to the hall beyond. She raised her brows in question, brushing the tears from her cheeks. “Mr. Colin Barrington has arrived to escort you to your meeting with the Earl of Ravenshollow.”
Emmeline nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Hardy. Please inform Mr. Barrington that I will be with him anon.”
“My lady.” Mr. Hardy bowed, then left the room.
“News?” Louisa asked, her voice lifting in hope.
Emmeline shook her head. “I do not know. Michael said that he would send Colin when he had finished with the Bow Street Runners.”
