Page 109 of Ten Lords for the Holidays

“Well, two, really—” Well, really there had been more than that, but Emma had lost count of the kisses he’d left across her bodice. And she didn’t think it wise to tell her sister that bit anyway. Isabel seemed more than a little distracted for some reason.

“Two?” Isabel glanced across the room at the piano.

Heavens. Perhaps it wasn’t distraction but disappointment. Emma’s heart hurt a bit. “Oh, Izzy, please be happy for me,” she begged. She’d feel awful if her sister thought badly of her.

“I am, Em, truly I am.” Isabel smiled brightly. “If you’re happy, then I’m happy.”

Relief washed over Emma. She grabbed her twin and squeezed tightly as though to impart how truly happy she was and how much she needed her sister. “I love you,” she said into her ear. “And I know one day you’ll find someone too. A man who won’t mind that you read books and sing horribly.”

Isabel looked a little pained as she glanced back towards the pianoforte. “I think I may retire early, Emma. Do you mind?”

Something was definitely distracting Isabel, but Emma knew she shouldn’t pry. Doing so would just make her sister more tight-lipped. So Emma smiled at her twin, hoping that Isabel would confide in her when she felt comfortable. “Youwillstand beside me in the morning?”

“Yes, yes, of course I will stand beside you,” Isabel promised. Then they hugged one last time before her sister made her escape.

CHAPTER10

Heath foundhimself surrounded by Whitton men in the ducal study. He’d told Emma he could handle them, and he could. Still, they were a little imposing. He should be relieved that Drew wasn’t among their numbers. He wasn’t sure how his old friend would take the news that Heath had married the man’s sister without even consulting him. Not that Drew’s opinion on the matter would change Heath’s resolve at all. Every second he spent in Emma’s company, he fell more deeply in love with her.

“So you have nothing to say for yourself?” Norland slapped a hand down on the desk, snapping Heath back to the present. He must have missed something.

Clearly the marquess wanted his pound of flesh. “Sir, I have no excuse for my behavior except that Emma makes rational thought flee my mind.”

“Well, I hope between the two of you, you’re able to maintain at least one rational mind in the years to come,” Norland barked.

“I’m afraid I got a little carried away.” And he couldn’t wait to get swept up, once more, in Emma’s embrace. Not that he’d say as much to her father.

The duke cleared his throat. “Happened to the best of us at one time or another, Heathfield. You do remember that I have a pike outside my castle, just waiting for your head?”

Heath touched a hand to his neck. He truly did enjoy keeping his head on his shoulders. “My intentions were…are honorable, Your Grace.”

Danby actually chuckled. “If they weren’t before, they are now.”

Heath shook his head. “I swear it, sir.” And he meant it. “I seem to have fallen desperately in love with Emma.” He wasn’t even sure how it happened, but it had.

“Glad to hear it.” The duke then turned his attention to Henry Whitton. “You did bring the licenses with you as I instructed?”

The vicar nodded and retrieved a handful of foolscap from his jacket pocket, offering the entire stack to his father. “Of course.”

“Licenses?” Heath echoed. “Do you have a special license withmyname on it?” How in the world had Vicar Whitton managed that? Heath had only arrived today. Only realizedtodayhow much he loved Emma. There certainly wasn’t time to get the Archbishop to sign a special license and travel all the way to Yorkshire.

Danby’s dark eyes twinkled mischievously. “Come now, Heathfield, surely you don’t think I’m unaware of what transpires under my own roof, do you?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“That ridiculous letter that lured you here. You do know Emma sent it, not Hardwick, don’t you?”

Heath had figured that out relatively easily. But he had no idea how Danby had knowledge of it. “I knew something was off, but it wasn’t until I saw Emma that I put all the pieces together.”

“Well, knowing my granddaughter as I do, I had no doubt she would bring you up to scratch,” the duke explained. “And knowing your reputation as a lothario, I made certain—” he waved the papers in the air— “that Emma’s good name would not be ruined in the process.”

Heath hardly thought of himself as a lothario, but as he and Emma were caught in a bed—even fully clothed—he thought the better of saying as much. He did, however, narrow his eyes on the number of papers in Danby’s hands. “How many special licenses do you have there?”

Danby glared at Heath. “I haveonewith your name on it, and that’s all you need to concern yourself with.”

Heath supposed that was true. He also supposed he should feel sorry for any other unsuspecting fellow who happened to arrive at Danby Castle for Christmas.

The duke slid a drawer open and retrieved another stack of papers that he placed on his desk with a thump. “Emma’s marriage contract. Do have a seat, Heathfield. Your signature is required in several places.”

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