Chapter 28. Elouise Bridgerton.

                                    

                                          
Amelia Phillips's eyes opened up wide in shock at the question that Elouise Bridgerton had just asked her, the question that the young Bridgerton woman was patiently waiting for an answer for. Did she know who Lady Whistledown was? What was she supposed to say? Could she deny it that easily? Or had Elouise been doing her own homework recently? Amelia had a feeling that this question would have been coming at some point but she wasn't expecting it today, at this exact moment. She could feel her heartbeat beating rapidly inside of her chest, her hands had become sweaty and shaky. She didn't want to let Elouise or any of the Bridgerton family down, they had been so kind to her and her family but how long could she keep Penelope Featherington's secret to herself? Slowly she used her tongue to wet her lips, trying to get her mouth to talk.
''How could I possibly know who Lady Whistledown is if the Queen doesn't even know who she is?'' Amelia asked, pretending to be confused and acting like she had no idea what Elouise was talking about.
''I just thought that I would ask... Because I've been reading her lastest Whistledown and I did notice that she seemed to know a lot about what happened the night that Adam died. She also seemed to know a lot about your mother like someone had told her these things. I didn't even know what happened to Adam the night that my brothers went and rescued you, but Lady Whistledown knows. You didn't meet up with her, did you?'' Elouise asked, her voice trailing off a little bit, Amelia knew that deep down the Bridgerton woman didn't believe her.
''I... Okay, I have met her, I told her what happened the night that Adam was murdered and what Mrs Phillips's involvement in the whole situation was. I wish I could tell you everything, but I can't tell you who she is. I have to keep her identity a secret to protect not just my family but also your brother, please believe me when I say that what I did, I did it all for your brother, so that me and Benedict could be together.'' Amelia replied as she was now starting to pace backwards and forwards, her mind going crazy inside of her head. 
''Do you have any idea what this woman has put my whole family through? Last year she almost destroyed Collins life and now this year she's trying to destroy me. I have been questioned by the queen a million times, she's accusing me of being Lady Whistledown, I am under her scrutiny. What about when she wrote about your past? When she wrote about you being in a little fling with that farmer boy? Have you simply forgotten about that?'' Elouise asked as she looked at Amelia in disbelief not wanting to believe what the Phillips woman was telling her.
''I know, I know she has upset a lot of people in the Bridgerton family but what choice did I have? If I didn't do anything then I would have been sent away right now preparing for a wedding that I did not want. She was the only person that could help me get out of this situation and be with Benedict.'' Amelia looked down at the ground, starting to regret everything that she has done but she wanted Elouise to understand that she did it for love, for Benedict.
''What happens when Benedict finds out that you know who Whistledown is? That you have personally spoken to her? How do you think he is going to feel knowing what she's written about our family?'' Elouise crossed her arms over her chest in a stubborn way as she asked the questions that Amelia didn't know if she could answer.
''I don't know, I don't know what will happen when he finds out but hopefully he will understand that I did this for us. When you're in love with someone, Elouise, you do everything that you can to make sure they stay in your life forever because you can't live without them. I fell in love with your brother and at this point I am deeply in love with him that I can't imagine a life where I'm not in love with him. I want to have a future with him but I couldn't do that with Mrs Phillips standing in the way, surely you understand that?'' Amelia asked her voice and eyes filled with desperation.
''I suppose I can understand why you did it but I need to know who she is? If the Queen has her way then soon everyone will be accusing me of being Whistledown. I can't have any more drama coming to this family.'' Elouise let out a soft sigh, blowing a few strands of hair away from her face, Amelia could see just how frustrating this was for her.