Page 38 of Wicked Designs
“What gossip is there downstairs? I’d love to hear more about His Grace and his friends.”
Libba’s cheeks reddened. “Well, I heard from Bethany, who heard from His Grace’s valet, Jonathan, that Lord Lennox beat His Grace something dreadful over a slight he made against you this afternoon.”
“But…you mean to tell me they were fighting over me?” She recalled Godric’s bruised knuckles, beaten face and split lip. She hadn’t forgotten Ashton’s knuckle bruises, or his black eye, but it was clear Ashton had been the victor.
“Jonathan also said he heard Lord Lennox threaten to kill His Grace if he ever made you cry again!”
“Really? That seems to be a bit of an overreaction, but Ashton is sweet.”
Libba chuckled. “All of those men are sweet on you. You best watch out or His Grace will act on his desire for you to share his bed, just to keep the others from winning you away.”
“Thank you for the warning, Libba.” She hadn’t considered that. If she were to play the men off eachother, she might end up in Godric’s bed quicker than she intended.
“I’ll go now.” Libba shared a conspiratorial smile before she left.
Alone again, Emily crossed to the window and gazed out at the view below. The garden stretched out below it. Mazes of hedges and flowered bushes still clung to their blooming petals despite the approaching fall.
A vine-coated trellis had been constructed six feet below the lip of her window, and next to the trellis, on the ground floor, a window that looked into one of the parlors.
“Admiring the view, or contemplating escape?” Godric’s voice drifted through the room behind her. Her blood heated at the very rumble of his sensual voice.
How long had he watched? Attempting to conceal her surprise, Emily didn’t turn around. He was too quiet; she’d have to remember that.
This time his steps padded barefoot across the floor.
“I made a promise, if you’ll recall. I was admiring the view, unless that isn’t allowed?” She turned to face him.
“That is allowed, so long as admiring the view doesn’t entail you falling out of the window. The height is too great to make a safe leap. It would be a nasty way to snap those beautiful legs of yours,” Godric said, in a mockingly tragic tone.
“A few broken bones might be worth my freedom.” She raised her chin, hiding the urge to smile.
“I’d like to see how far you got on broken legs. Quite painful, I’m told.” He stared at her seriously.
“Is…is that a threat, Your Grace?”
“What?” His eyes widened. “No! Of course not. I would never… I was simply trying to protect you…” he trailed off when she laughed lightly. She was teasing him.
Godric chuckled and came towards her. He’d lost quite a few layers of clothing since dinner. Gone were the waistcoat, boots and cravat. He stood in her bedchamber clad only in breeches and a white lawn shirt, the sleeves rolled up past his elbows. He approached her and leaned casually against the wall a few inches from her, warmly surveying her body from head to toe.
With a flush she remembered she wore nothing more than a night rail. Hands flew over her chest as she turned her back to him.
“Avert your eyes, sir!”
He didn’t obey. “Took you long enough to notice…and might I say that this view is just as delightful as the front,” he purred, a step closer, one finger tracing the curve of her spine.
Emily repressed an achy shiver. “You made it very clear earlier that you had no interest in kissing a child; and if that is what I am, then don’t mock me with threats of your lust.” Her irritation had returned, pressing against her chest.
Her harsh reply brought Godric’s temper to the surface. “Bloody hell, Emily, I apologized!”
She whirled on him, jabbing a finger in his chest. “And I accepted your apology, but that doesn’t mean you can change your mind and waltz in here!”
“Like hell I can’t!” He snagged her wrists with one hand, forcing them up over her head as he pinned heragainst the window with the length of his body.
“Let go of me or I’ll scream!” She tried to break his hold on her wrists, but his hand ensnared them tightly above her head.
“Scream. I dare you. Who will come?”
In mere hours he’d gone from prince to villain. She wasn’t frightened, only furious. He thought he was entitled to her, but after the way he’d treated her in his study, he deserved no cooperation, not unless he groveled…on his knees…for at least an hour.
