Page 85 of A Bride for the Beastly Duke
She clasped her hands together and closed her eyes. “I pray for your safe return.”
“You know I have taken precautions so thatyouwill be safe whether I return or not.”
“That is cold comfort.”
He walked towards her and lifted her from her seat and into a tight embrace. “I know my darling. I know.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
The trip to London was fraught with anxiety. Edward kept looking around at every stop to see if he might spot someone following him. He made it all the way to Town without spotting anyone, and he did not know if he was relieved or more afraid.
Just to be on the safe side, he had his carriage drop him at the town house before slipping out the back door and making his way to the mews and riding a horse to Mayfair to the Marshall residence. He went in through the servants’ entrance, much to the butler’s startlement.
Lord Jaxton welcomed him warmly and placed him in a chamber away from the front windows. “How much danger do you think you are in?” he asked once he had Edward settled in a warm corner of his study.
“I have no idea. If I could have been sure that they would leave me alone, I would not be here.”
His father-in-law nodded solemnly. “But you have to make sure your family is protected.”
“Exactly.”
“Well, I am at your disposal. I have retained the services of a guard for you—Martin Freeman, a very accomplished pugilist and firm republican. He has no loyalty to the crown and so is relatively trustworthy.”
“Will that really be necessary?”
Lord Jaxton shrugged. “It cannot hurt. At the very least, he might give you a chance to fight your way out.”
Edward grinned. “Hopefully, it won’t come to that.”
Lord Jaxton filled Edward’s glass with brandy and then filled his own. “Drink to that,” he said, touching his glass to Edward’s.
Ava could hardly settle to anything. She was far too worried about her husband. She tried embroidery but gave up after the third time she stabbed her own finger.
“Fiddlesticks,” she murmured in annoyance before getting to her feet and beginning to pace.
The door was flung open, and Anastasia walked in. “I came as soon as I heard. Are you all right?” She came right up to Ava and grasped her hands tight.
Ava smiled ruefully. “I did not know you cared.”
Anastasia gave an unladylike snort, “Oh I do. You brought my nephew back to life. I had despaired of ever seeing him anything but sad and angry. Having you and the girl to love changed that. I will forever be grateful.”
Warmth blossomed in Ava’s chest. “I love him too. And so does Lily.”
Anastasia nodded. “I know it.” She looked around. “Where is the little girl? Notley told me that His Grace has gone to London?”
Eva’s face fell. “Yes, he did. We pray to the Lord that he will return safely.”
“My son, his cousin, has travelled to London. In the event that Edward will need help he will be on hand.”
“That is a relief to know. My father is helping as he can, but it is always good to have reinforcements.”
“Indeed. These people will understand that Edward is not alone,” Anastasia said in a hard voice, “and we will not let what happened to Jonathan happen to him. If the establishment abhors one thing, it is scandal. I’m sure the threat of it willhave them thinking twice. They might be able to sell their idea that Lord Fenton jumped to his death, but were my nephew to die shortly afterwards and several noblemen raise questions, it would go extremely awry for them.”
Ava nodded, clasping her hands together. “We pray that they have as much common sense as you do, My Lady.”
She gave a snort of derision. “No chance of that. That’s why my nephew has to explain it to them in excruciating detail.”
The two women clasped hands, squeezing hard, as they nodded to each other in commiseration.
