Page 34 of Wicked Designs
Ashton grinned. “Of course not. But it made you laugh. Now, will you give me your word of honor as the daughter of a gentleman not to try and escape until tomorrow?”
Emily nodded, weary from the emotional onslaught she’d suffered but warmed by Ashton’s odd humor. “On my father’s honor.”
“Thank you.” He stroked her hair and pressed hislips to her forehead before he left her alone. He paused at the door, watching her as she fell back onto her bed and lay still, counting her breaths.
“I must always kiss from the depths of my heart…” she murmured to herself after he’d gone.
Godric stormedinto the boxing room where Charles and Cedric had gathered to engage in a bit of pugilism. Charles, an expert boxer, loved to go a few rounds in the ring when in London. Of course, the rings Charles often found himself in were often less than reputable. Though he spent hours training at Jackson’s Salon, he preferred the rougher rings, in which he proved himself.
Cedric danced back as Charles attacked. “Godric? You look murderous.”
“The little brat twisting your trousers?” Charles joked as he swung a loose punch in Cedric’s direction, missing by several inches.
Godric tore off his waistcoat and started to roll up his sleeves. He nodded to Cedric who left the lined ring in the corner of the large leisure room.
“Shut up and fight me, Charles.”
Charles smirked, always ready to throw punches in Godric’s direction when the occasion arose.
They had only been at it for a few minutes when Ashton and Lucien walked in, both visibly upset. Lucien looked nervous while coldness burned behind Ashton’s face.
Godric was so startled to see that expression that Charles caught him off-guard and planted a facer. Ashton peeled off his jacket and vest, handing them to Lucien as he rolled up his sleeves.
It was then that Godric realized all five of them were without Emily.
“Wait a minute… Who’s watching Emily?”
Lucien answered. “She’s in her room. She gave Ash her word she would not escape anymore today.”
“And you believed her?” Godric shouted. “She could be miles away by now!”
“If she promised, then I believe she’ll stay put,” Lucien said with a coolness that left Godric more anxious than before.
Ashton, who’d been silent, came to the ring and spoke to Charles. “Mind if I step in?”
“No, you may not!” Godric didn’t want to fight Ashton when he looked the way he did, not if he didn’t even know from whence his friend’s anger stemmed. Godric had every right to be angry with Emily for what she’d dared to do, the way he felt as a result. What was Ashton’s excuse?
Charles looked between Godric and Ashton and, knowing any place was better than here at the moment, he bowed and fled the ring.
“Scared of a little competition, Godric?” Ashton’s words teased, but Godric sensed the veiled threat.
“You’ve never beaten me in the ring, Ash. Today will be no different.” It would be a pity, but he’d bloody his friend’s nose to prove his point.
“Good, glad to hear it.” The cold smile on Ashton’sface promised pain. He raised his fists and waited for Godric.
Godric danced a few steps to the right, Ashton mirrored him to the left, and so it began. But rather than box defensively, as he usually did, Ashton seemed eager to meet Godric’s every blow. It caught him off-guard and Ashton landed a blow to his stomach. Godric doubled over with the pain.
Ashton didn’t wait for Godric to right himself before he charged and knocked him so hard that Godric flew back several steps. Charles moved to intervene, but Lucien stayed him with a hand.
Adapting to Ashton’s ferocity, Godric retaliated. He snuck in a left-handed hook and caught Ashton in the right eye. It would blacken nicely by the next morning. But his victory was short-lived as Ashton returned the favor.
The fight continued for another five minutes. Ashton fought as though possessed. His relentless pursuit wore Godric down. None of the others interfered. Some things could only be resolved in a ring.
Godric fell back again, finally finding his breath.
“Dammit, man, why are you trying to pound me into oblivion?”
“Why?” Ashton punctuated the word with a blow to Godric’s lower cheek. Blood dribbled down from Godric’s split lip. “If I ever find out that you’ve made that dear woman cry even one more tear, so help me, Godric…”
