Page 79 of Wicked Designs
“Are you saying you want to protect me?” This was amusing coming from the man who’d destroyed her reputation.
Godric’s lips twitched but he continued. “I don’t want her to go to the magistrate and tell him I’ve been secretly keeping you. Not before I visit your uncle once more. It could bring Blankenship back down on our heads.”
“Surely she doesn’t know why I’m here.”
“At the moment, no, but she is clever and might guess. It would be best for you to avoid her.”
She knew it was risky bringing up the truth of her feelings, but she did so anyway. “Godric, I no longer care about my reputation. I care about you.”
Godric’s arms curled around her waist. Emily surrendered, leaning back against him. He kissed her neck lightly, teasingly.
“You really mean that?” His breath stirred her hair.
“Yes. I don’t care what she thinks about me.”
He spun her around in his arms and leaned his head down, touching his forehead to hers. “No, little vixen—I meant, did you mean that you care about me?”
“Of course I care for you.” Emily’s cheeks heated. She’d admitted it once, when half asleep, but now was different. She wasn’t blinded by passion. This was her heart, exposed and aching for him to return her love.
Godric’s hands settled on her lower back, pushing her tighter to him. He kissed the corner of her mouth, and then the tip of her nose, then her chin.
“Do you love me, Emily?” He clenched her harder, the pleasure of his touch making her lightheaded with desire.
“I…”
“Answer my question.” It was a sensual rumble, not a command.
Emily shivered. “Yes. Yes, I love you!”
Sweet amusement shone in Godric’s emerald eyes. He was a sorcerer, casting love spells over her heart, stealing her soul with honeyed kisses and whispered dreams.
He lifted her chin and fixed his eyes on her. “Then rest easy. So long as you love me, you need not worry about any other woman. Do you understand?”
“I understand.” But she didn’t. He hadn’t said he loved her, but he’d promised to be faithful so long as she loved him… What on earth did that mean? Could she trust the word of a rake?
Godric released her and started towards the door. “I’ll send Libba up to prepare your bath.”
“Godric…” Emily shouldn’t have spoken. She’d set herself up for disappointment. He paused, hand resting on the door handle. He looked back at her.
“Do you love me?” God, she sounded pitiful.
The sweet, pleased expression which had rested so comfortably on his face withered. “Emily…” Her name escaped his lips in a heartrending sigh. “For me, it is not an easy question.”
I must not cry… I will not cry. She tried to remind herself that this was the man who had abducted her and seduced her. She focused on these darker memories, or else the pain in her heart would surely strangle the very breath from her body.
“You demand an answer from me, but cannot answer in kind?” When he didn’t reply, she threw herself against him, kissing him. Emily curled her fingers into his cravat, pulling him down so she could better reach his mouth.
Pinning him against the door, she plundered his startled mouth. It hurt that he didn’t love her, but she couldn’t help loving him. Come what may, she truly, deeply loved Godric St. Laurent.
Emily broke the kiss and turned away, putting distance between them. The floorboards creaked as he took a step towards her, but came no further. Emily’s head fell, her eyes fixed on a spot on the floor, and she waited for him to say or do something.
“I…I care for you, very much.” And then he was gone, taking her heart with him. She knew with painful certainty she could never get it back.
CHAPTER 14
Dinner that night was a far more formal affair than any other since Emily’s abduction. Prior to Evangeline’s arrival, all propriety and formality had been banished where the five lords were concerned. Now they observed every single point of etiquette, even though Evangeline wasn’t present. Libba had told Emily that Godric had ordered his former mistress to take her meals in her room. That, at least, gave Emily a tiny sense of comfort, knowing that Godric wouldn’t allow her to dine with them.
He sat at the head of the table with Emily directly to his right. The rest of the men ranged down on either side according to titled order. Well turned out, each gentlemen wore black knee breeches and well-tailored black coats. Emily wore an ice blue silk gown overlaid with a layer of silver netting. Pale stars were embroidered on her matching slippers and pearls threaded her hair like frozen dewdrops. She couldn’t believe theresults Libba had wrought. She’d never looked so beautiful, never felt so beautiful before. The butterfly comb was nestled amidst the pearls in her hair. Godric’s eyes had flashed when he’d come to escort her to dinner. A proud smile had crossed his lips, which made Emily smile.
