Page 46 of Wicked Designs
“Penelope?” Charles asked.
Emily shot Godric a bashful look. “Yes, Odysseus’s loyal wife.”
He blinked in surprise. She’d chosen a name from the story they’d shared yesterday afternoon. An odd warmth settled in his chest.
“Do you want to take her out for a walk now?” Cedric asked.
“May I, Godric? Please?” Emily freed one hand from Penelope to tug on Godric’s sleeve.
“If Cedric and Charles join you.” She missed his wink at Cedric as they shared a mutual triumph over the gift.
The pup had curbed Emily’s urge to flee. It was clear she wouldn’t bear to leave behind her Penelope. Thepuppy squirmed in Emily’s arms and she looked upon it with such happiness that Godric wanted to buy her a thousand more to ensure that look would never leave her face.
Other women might not have been so sweetly lost in joy over such a simple gift—they would have wished for jewels and gowns, but Emily treasured books and faithful animals, not glittering trinkets and fine silk gowns.
“Shall we go?” Cedric asked and, with a delighted “yes” from Emily, the three left the breakfast room.
Lucien and Ashton stayed and turned their attention to Godric.
Lucien smirked. “Leave it to Cedric to buy Emily’s affection and trick her into staying.” The others chuckled.
“Yes, I wonder if he’s tried that little trick with Anne Chessley yet,” Ashton mused.
“He’d have to buy that woman a horse, a good one, before she’d even begin to take him seriously,” Godric said.
They chuckled at the idea of Cedric trying to woo a woman who knew more than him about horses by buying her one. It surely would end in disaster.
“Well, on to more pressing matters I’m afraid,” Godric said. “I have to return to London for at least the rest of the day.”
“Oh?” Ashton’s brows arched. Godric understood his friend’s reaction. He loathed leaving Emily alone.
“Yes, I need to tidy up some affairs with my properties.I must visit my solicitor, and I thought I might pay a discreet visit to Albert Parr.”
“What do you mean to say to him?” Lucien asked.
“You ought to be cautious, Godric, now that Blankenship is on our trail,” Ashton said. “They’re surely both trying to prove you abducted Emily. Keep what you say about Emily veiled. We can’t have another unexpected visit from the magistrate.”
Godric tugged the edges of his waistcoat, already irritable at the mere thought of the man. “Ash, would it be a terrible imposition if I were to ask you to come with me? Knowing how Blankenship fits into this business, I fear I may need someone to help me rein in my temper.”
“Yes, of course I’ll come. Lucien, would you mind taking charge here? We all know how impulsive Charles is and how Cedric can get so easily distracted. I think we’d all be wary of trusting them with a bag of sand under the circumstances. Emily will need a third adversary as much for her sake as ours.”
“You don’t think she’ll run? Even with the dog?”
Both Godric and Ashton nodded.
“She’ll try, or she’ll plot. It’s in her nature.” Godric hadn’t ignored what she told him last night, that her freedom was vital to her. No, it wouldn’t change Emily’s escape plans, only alter them.
“I’ll watch all three of them.”
Godric nodded. “Excellent. Expect us back quite late. We’ll probably miss dinner. Oh, and Lucien, remind Emily of her promise to remain here between the hours of ten and six.”
“You got that little fox to agree to some terms?” Lucien asked. “Did you use thumbscrews or the rack?”
Godric’s face darkened.
“Just remind her of her agreement before you leave her alone, but…and I must press this warning—” Godric and the other two men walked out into the main hall, “—don’t let Emily out of your sight for even one minute before ten.”
“Don’t worry.” Lucien slapped Godric’s shoulder. “She’ll be here for you when you get back.”
