Wicked Designs (The League of Rogues) (17 page)

Godric crossed his arms over his chest. “What did you buy for her?”

“A puppy. An English foxhound.”

Godric didn’t know whether or not to laugh. “A dog? What good will a foxhound do her? She’s not going to be hunting.” What was a girl to do with a puppy, especially a hunting dog at that? Didn’t most women prefer cats? A kitten would have been a smarter choice if Cedric wanted to woo the young lady. Then again, as she was fond of pointing out, Emily wasn’t most women.

“I know what you’re thinking, Godric, but this is more than just a present. The dog will bark and yip and follow her about. She may stop trying to escape if she doesn’t want to leave the dog behind.”

Godric considered this. “You might have a point there, Cedric.”

“Wonderful!” Cedric jumped out of his chair eagerly. “May I bring it to the breakfast room when she comes down?”

“I suppose.” Godric took a seat and started to prepare himself a plate as Cedric vanished.

Ashton arrived at the table without a word. It troubled Godric deeply to see his friend’s usually vibrant eyes so muted and dark, his healing black eye aside.

“Ash?” Godric asked.

Ashton set down his coffee cup, folded his hands and looked up at Godric. “Well?”

“Well what?”

“Did you finish what you started with Emily or did you find some mercy in that black heart of yours?”

His friend’s accusation wounded him, but much like their boxing match, one he knew he deserved. “Ash, I did not harm her after you left. There was a bit of yelling, I admit, but I cooled off, or rather she cooled my temper off.”

“Why do I find that hard to believe?” Ashton muttered.

“I swear it. She is still as innocent as the day she was born… Well, more or less.”

Ashton’s eyes narrowed. “Swear to me on the stones of Magdalene College.” The stones of their college at Cambridge were the foundation of the League’s relationship. An oath upon them was tantamount to swearing on the Bible.

“I swear on the stones.”

Ashton’s shoulders slumped with relief. “Thank God. I lay awake all night worrying that I’d done the wrong thing, leaving her with you. You had that glint in your eye.”

“She worked me up into a good temper but calmed me just as easily. We have worked out a bargain.”

“Oh?” Ashton slid a tray of toast in Godric’s direction.

“Emily vows she won’t make any escape attempts between the hours of ten at night and six in the morning.”

“And what did she get out of that arrangement?”

“My solemn promise not to seduce her between those hours. The rest of the day is fair game.”

“My, my, Godric, you came out on top of that bargain, didn’t you?” Ashton had returned to his usual lighthearted countenance.

The door to the breakfast room opened once more as Lucien strolled in, Emily at his side. Ashton and Godric rose to their feet as she took a seat next to Godric. Her green dress, the shade of summer grass, lit up her lilac colored eyes. The gown’s sleeves were loosely puffed about her shoulders, and gathered at her back in gentle pleats that were not severe on her form, as other dresses might be. It displayed Emily’s natural beauty by accenting her curves and the maid had pulled Emily’s hair into a loose tangle, gathered back by green ribbons.

“So, did everyone have a good evening? I thought I heard sounds of a party…” Lucien watched Emily and Godric as he sat next to Ashton on the other side of the table. “In fact, if I didn’t know better—” Ashton kicked him sharply, and Lucien winced. “I’ve been informed that I do not.”

Emily reached for a plate near Ashton’s elbow. He immediately passed it to her; she blushed. Godric noticed her look and rose from the table, catching Lucien’s eye.

“I say, Lucien, have you spoken to Cedric? I thought we might go see what has become of him…and rouse Charles, no doubt still asleep.” Godric started for the door.

Lucien sighed and followed him. “I suppose.”

“May I…may I have an audience with you, my lord?” Emily tried to keep her voice from shaking, but failed.

“Of course, Miss Parr,” Ashton replied.

She bit her bottom lip. How Ashton must hate her, if he refused to call her by her given name.

“My lord, about last night…” She swallowed hard. She hated apologizing, especially for something she felt she’d done right. But an apology was worth her new friend. Somewhere between her capture and this moment, she’d grown fond of the cool, collected baron. He was kind and courteous and had defended her honor.

“Please, Miss Parr, don’t distress yourself on such a small matter.” His tone was reassuring, but she needed him to understand. She needed to know he wouldn’t abandon her again.

“I…I am sorry that I lied to you. I shouldn’t have.”

I should hate them. I should wish them dead for what they’ve done
. But the rage wouldn’t come. The short span of time she’d been in their company, she had been strangely happy. Godric had shown her passion, the others companionship. She couldn’t let lies, even lies to secure her freedom, ruin her bond with them. How such a thing was possible she did not know.

“Miss Parr, it is I who seeks forgiveness. You did what was necessary to protect yourself from unscrupulous rakehells.” Ashton pushed his chair back walked over to her. He grasped her hands between his, holding them against his chest. “I would have acted no different in the same circumstances. I daresay I’d have done worse.”

“Then…then you are not angry, my lord?”

“Miss Parr—”

“Please, don’t call me that!”

“Emily, you were forgiven the moment I left your room last night.”

Her heat lilted, confused. “Then why were you so quiet this morning?”

“I feared you’d not forgiven me for abandoning you. Did he harm you?” Ashton pulled Emily up on her feet and spun her around, as though inspecting her for obvious signs of harm, but there were none.

“He yelled dreadfully, but he didn’t hurt me. My lord—”

“Ashton.”

“Ashton, if you ever ask me for the truth, you shall have it.”

Ashton smiled. “I have but one question, my dear.”

“Yes?”

“How many other languages are you fluent in?”

Emily was overcome by the surge of happiness. He appreciated her intelligence where her uncle had not. “I am fluent in Greek and Latin… I am passable in French, German and Spanish.”

“Not Italian?” His lips quirked into a crooked smile.

“Italian? No, I suppose it’s similar enough to Latin that I might make out some of it, but not enough to be fluent.”

“Ah, good, a language I can use against you, should I need to.” Ashton chucked her under her chin as Godric and Lucien returned to breakfast.

Accepting the hot chocolate Godric once again served her, Emily settled herself back into her seat and relished the dark, exotic aroma. The kindness presented here was genuine and because of the rapport between them, she grudgingly forgave the kidnapping, and all that had come after it.

Despite the sometimes-rough treatment, Emily was still better off in the League’s care than under her uncle’s suffocating rule—or, worse, the fate she’d face with his business partner.

After breakfast, Emily rose but Godric put a hand on her arm.

“Stay. Cedric will be down soon, and he has a gift for you.”

Lucien and Ashton both looked up in surprise.

Emily’s eyes filled with shy disbelief. “Cedric brought me a gift?”

“Yes, he has.” Godric found a smile, but not without difficulty.

It was strange that he should be angry with Emily’s excitement. Godric knew her uncle had been less than kind when providing for her, but he had begun to notice just how poorly Albert treated her in the past year. The young woman deserved fine gowns, and embroidered pelisses, not threadbare dresses or worn slippers. He should be glad to see this childlike curiosity flare up in his Emily. But it hadn’t come from him.

Five minutes later, Charles entered, followed by Cedric, who held a large blue hatbox. Charles shot an impish grin at Emily as she nearly bounced in her chair.

She looked to Godric. He nodded and she leapt up.

Cedric bowed and held out the large box, setting it down at her feet. “A gift for you, kitten.” The box shook and Emily stepped back. Godric wrapped one arm around her waist to comfort her.

“Did it just move? What have you brought me?” Her hands rested lightly on Godric’s arm.

Godric put his lips to her ear. “Open it and find out.”

The men watched with fascination as she untied the loose string that held the box lid.

The lid popped off and a puppy’s head peeked out, a blue satin bow around its neck. Its tail wagged so hard its little body shook. The puppy’s fur was white, its ears a warm reddish brown, and its muzzle white, tapering into an elegant line up the puppy’s nose and between her furry eyebrows. It was far too chubby now, but it would grow into a lean white-legged hound.

Emily didn’t say a word, but she dabbed at her eyes. His friends looked aghast at her reaction.

“You don’t like her?” Cedric knelt across from her, his fists clenching against his thighs, as though he fought off a wave of frustration and disappointment.

“Not like her?” Emily scooped up the wagging pup and shoved it toward Godric, who barely had time to grasp the puppy before she embraced Cedric.

Godric glowered as she placed a light, excited kiss on Cedric’s face. The poor rake was blushing deeply by the time she released him and reclaimed her gift from Godric. The puppy’s pink tongue lapped her chin as she held it up to her face. Never in all of Godric’s life had he been jealous of a dog.

Cedric ruffled his hand through the puppy’s fur. “She’s an English foxhound. She’ll need a lot of daily exercise, but she’ll be the best hunter and the most loyal companion you’ll ever have.”

“You are utterly darling, my little Penelope.” Emily bestowed a kiss on the puppy’s head.

“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. The puppy 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, onto 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.”