Page 78 of Wicked Designs
He kissed her forehead. “Trust me, sweetheart. She’s nothing to me. There’s only you.” To his astonishment, he meant it. For him there was only Emily. Only her laugh, her smile, her sunny daydreams and her fierce passion. Everything beyond her was inconsequential, irrelevant.
Emily didn’t relax. She was innocent, but she was not without her natural feminine instincts to defend and protect what was hers. Godric, at least for now, was most certainly hers. If Miss Mirabeau decided to declare war over him, Emily would prove herself to be a dangerous foe. The grim determination in her face warmed him. He held her more tightly against him.
Ashton’s brows drew together. “You said she thought you’d invited her?”
“Yes. She showed me a letter she’d received. It certainly looked like my handwriting. She claimed someone must have played a prank on her.”
Ashton’s frown deepened. “Perhaps. But the timing could not be more suspicious. We’d best be on guard for mischief.”
Charles nodded. “I agree. Evangeline is an ungrateful little—”
Lucien stamped on Charles’s foot to silence him.
“When is dinner?” Emily asked Godric, still leaning into him.
“In a few hours, I imagine. Why?”
“Might I have a bath? I didn’t have a chance this morning.” She squeezed his arm.
Godric’s lips twitched in a smile.
“Of course, I’m sorry I forgot. Come with me.” He walked her out of the drawing room, leaving behind four men who knew far more about her personal life than was proper. But nothing about the League was proper, and that was the way it should be.
Emily had calmeddown after the scare of Evangeline’s unexpected arrival before they reached the stairs, but her relief was short-lived. A door at the far end of the hall opened. Godric’s arm tightened beneath her grasp.
“Ahbonsoir, Godric!” The most attractive woman Emily had ever seen walked down the hall. She was radiant with her salmon-toned gown, large breasts and wide hips. Blonde ringlets danced down her back in perfect proportions.
Emily’s chest tightened. She expected Godric to have taken a gorgeous woman as his lover, but to see this Aphrodite in the flesh was too much to bear. By comparison, she was young and inexperienced. She could nevermatch Evangeline in looks or mimic that lusty gaze or sway of hips. To Emily’s mortification, she realized she was no competition. If Godric wanted a real woman he could take Evangeline back without question.
Godric frowned, clearly uncomfortable with the required introduction. “Return to your room at once.” The sharp tone in his voice made both women flinch.
“But, Godric…” Evangeline began in a breathy lilting French accent.
Emily was thankful she didn’t have to exchange pleasantries with this woman. She wanted to toss her out the nearest window, preferably one overlooking a prickly rose bush. That would mar her perfect complexion nicely.
Evangeline put a well manicured hand on his arm. “I was about to seek some entertainment. Godric, are you sure you will not join me?”
Godric slid his other arm around Emily. “I have matters to attend to. My other guests are in the drawing room. I suggest you seek their company.” There was a command rippling out of those words. A command Evangeline ignored.
“You would not throw me to those wolves you call friends?”
Emily almost growled. “Wolves? Those four men downstairs are some of the most generous and charitable men in all of England. Don’t dare insult them.” Emily delivered her speech with such venom she hoped Evangeline would wither on the spot. Instead, she laughed.
“I speak in jest.” The gleam in her eyes belied her words. She turned to Godric again. “Wherever did youfind such a charmingly naïve creature, Godric? Children can be so sweet when they misunderstand things.”
Child? Resentment tore through Emily’s insides. Had Godric not been standing there, she might have done something truly childish…such as pull the woman’s hair out, ringlet by blasted ringlet.
Godric rescued Emily from any further embarrassment. “You must excuse us.” As rescues went it felt more like a cowardly retreat.
Alone in the safety of her room, Emily pulled away from him.
“Why didn’t you defend me? Why didn’t you…do something?” Emily fought off the urge to shout at him. His lack of action felt like a betrayal.
Godric sat at the edge of her bed while she paced. “I wanted more than anything to take you in my arms and kiss you senseless, prove you were my woman.”
Emily’s blood heated at the thought. “Then why didn’t you?”
Godric seemed bemused. “Because she can be jealous and when she is people get hurt, my dear.”
