Page 106 of Wicked Designs
The man was more foolhardy than Ashton could believe. Had he actually hired thugs to attack the duke’s estate? It had to be a bluff, but Blankenship was capable of almost anything. He had destroyed more than one rival in a completely legal manner through financial disasters. Yet those had been over issues of money. With a woman involved, Ashton couldn’t help but fear Blankenship would resort to more violent measures. Well, if that was the case, Ashton would not underestimate him.
Perhaps the best solution was to play a game of thimblerig with Emily in London. They could move her from residence to residence, since the League members owned several. It would be impossible for Blankenship to find her.
In the meantime they needed to convince Godric that he ought to marry Emily. If he did, Blankenship would have no claim to her. Emily would be infinitely safer and a scandalous kidnapping would become a romantic elopement in the eyes of society. A door opened down the hall and a bleary-eyed Cedric came out, shirt and breeches wrinkled as though he’d slept in them. He yawned and then caught sight of Ashton.
“How go the sentinel duties?”
Ashton chuckled. “Intolerably dull. I had expected much more entertainment, but the love birds haven’t moved an inch. Godric is finally getting some rest, though.”
Cedric heaved a sigh. “Thank God for that.”
“Cedric, are your sisters at your house in London?”
“Yes, they’ve been there for two weeks.” Cedric eyed Ashton. “Why?”
“Would you mind if we brought Emily to London and hid her in your house? If your sisters are present they might make for a confusing scene if Blankenship’s men end up looking there.”
Cedric’s brown eyes narrowed. “Are you asking me to use my sisters as bait?”
Ashton held up his hands. “No! But I think that Blankenship won’t expect us to take Emily to London. She might escape notice there. Meanwhile, we will spread ourselves out into the other residences about London and scatter Blankenship’s men until—” Ashton paused here, hesitant to reveal his plans fully.
“Until?”
“Until we can convince Godric to marry Emily.”
Cedric was quiet for a long moment. “You think he will?”
“I think he must. He cares about her to the point of self-destruction. She loves him. There can be no other answer.”
Cedric frowned. “He’s the one who always insisted that matrimony was folly. What if he doesn’t agree?”
Ashton raised his chin. “Then he is a fool. But Emily must be protected. If Godric won’t marry her, then I shall. She’ll be free to live and love as she chooses, as will I. It is not an uncommon arrangement, so long as both parties use discretion. But she needs the protection of marriage.” He couldn’t forget the greed in Blankenship’s eyes, the monstrous coldness that overtook his nature when he’d searched room by room for the girl. “Otherwise,Blankenship will hound her steps until the day she dies.”
“You can throw my name onto the list of marriage options. We can let her choose between us, should Godric refuse.”
This surprised Ashton. He thought he would be the only one willing to endure matrimony for Emily, but it appeared he’d been mistaken. “And what of Anne Chessley? If Emily chooses you, you could never make Anne a mistress, not when you’ve married her friend.”
Cedric’s face transformed into such a state of despair that Ashton set his cup aside and rose from his chair in concern.
“Perhaps not, but I would give Anne up, if Emily chose me. For my sins in this affair, I owe her. I’d do everything in my power to protect her.”
“Let us hope that Emily won’t need to choose anyone besides Godric.”
Godric heardevery word from behind the door. He’d been content to let Emily stay nestled up against him, but at the sound of Simkins’s voice, he’d forced himself up. He paused at the door and absorbed the conversation between his butler and later his friends, moved by their views and touched by the sincerity of their wishes.
However their offers hadn’t been necessary. Godric had decided last night he’d marry Emily. As soon as they reached London, he’d start immediately on weddingplans. But, to maintain Emily’s safety, the ceremony would have to be hasty.
With an excited smile, he splashed his face at the washbasin before he changed for breakfast.
He adjusted his cravat in the mirror when Emily stirred. He moved to the bed, leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Stay in bed awhile, darling. I’m just going down to breakfast.”
She sighed, shifted under the covers and drifted back to sleep.
For a long moment, he simply enjoyed the sight of her. Soon they’d have a lifetime to share, and for the first time in Godric’s life, he looked forward to the idea of one woman till death did he part.
And, to think, if Albert Parr hadn’t been of such low moral fiber, Godric would never have met Emily, never known her the way he did now.
On an irresistible impulse he bent down to kiss Emily’s lips. Her mouth opened sleepily beneath his and he savored the sweetness. An eternity would not be enough time. He would always yearn for her, all of her, body and soul.
