Page 43 of Tempting a Gentleman
“I’ve had the opportunity to work with the Suttinghams on a number of occasions since the trade embargoes were lifted. From my dealings with Miss Eliza, she is a woman who shares our strong beliefs in fulfilling one’s duties.” Christopher pulled her on to his lap. “I’ve no idea what Lord Burke’s plans are, but I intend to find out.”
“Ye didn’t answer me question.” Emma wrapped her arms around his neck and stared into his eyes. “Ye don’t need to prove to me ye’re the best barrister about. I know ye are. Will ye jus’ answer me straight?”
Christopher grinned. “I’ve no plans to persuade anyone to do anything they don’t want to.”
She wasn’t certain if they were discussing Lord Burke or whether she was willing to accompany him.
He leaned his forehead against hers. “I simply don’t believe Lord Burke has indeed decided not to return. Mayhap he is uncertain as to how long it will take him to convince Miss Suttingham to marry him. She’s not the trusting sort, and there very well may be vile rumors that have reached foreign soil regarding Lord Burke’s sordid past and his recent actions.”
Emma’s heart cinched at the possibility Lord Burke’s affections might not be returned. How painful that would be. Warm and secure in Christopher’s lap, she didn’t want to move and sever the moment.
But Christopher pulled back and placed a chaste kiss upon her forehead. “What do you think about venturing across the ocean with me?”
Miss Suttingham wasn’t the only one who wasn’t the trusting sort. To leave her family, the security of the Network, and place her full trust in Christopher, a man she was only beginning to understand, was too much. Her heart ached. “I want to marry ye, but I can’t leave.” Her stomach clenched, and she shook her head. She wasn’t ready to embark on this challenge. She couldn’t give up the one thing she could call all her own. Not yet.
Her mum’s words, uttered repeatedly over the years, rang in her head—Ye’re sworn to abide by the wishes of all PORFs.What had she done? Christopher wasn’t technically a PORF until he received the mark. She wasn’t bound by her oath—was she? Blast. Why had she agreed to marry a bloomin’ Neale? The skin along the back of her neck prickled. Christopher ignited a passion she couldn’t ignore. He created within her a sense of caring for a man she’d not experienced before. Grappling with her thoughts, she didn’t notice that Christopher had unwrapped her arms from about his neck and settled her next to him on the settee until she was a good arm’s length away from him.
Voice gruff, Christopher said, “I shan’t force you to do anything that displeases you. I myself spent most of the day pondering the request. I fully understand how scary and daunting it is to even think about leaving one's family for an unknown time period. But this is an important mission. The PORFs need to know for certain what Lord Burke’s intentions are. And the Network elders believe it imperative Lord Burke be protected until he denounces his oath as PORF.”
Emma’s shoulders rolled forward. “Do ye still wish to marry me?”
“Aye, most definitely. You can’t get out of your promise to wed me that easily. If you choose to remain, we shall begin your lessons immediately.”
“Lessons?”
Christopher grinned. “I must teach you how to read and write so we can correspond.”
She tried to return his smile, but her lips refused to turn up at the corners. “I need to return to my shop.” Emma stood, and Christopher did too. Before she could do something insane like plaster herself to the man, Emma twirled and fled.
Never before had she wished for a different life.
She loved her shop. Her family needed her support.
Halfway to the foyer, Bronwyn caught Emma by the upper arms. “Where are you going?” Her friend’s eyes filled with worry.
“I must return to my shop.”
“Sarah and Maude are capable. They can look after the orders for the afternoon.”
“I’m not talkin about today. Ye don’t understand…”
“Emma. I know what the council has asked of Christopher. Landon will hate the idea of Christopher venturing so far from home. Christopher will need his wife by his side.”
“But wot of me family and the shop?”
“Don’t you trust Landon and me to care for your family?” Bronwyn let her hands fall to clasp Emma’s. “You know there are plenty of us willing to help with the shop. It will be here. Your husband will not.”
Emma shook her head.
Bronwyn released Emma and took a step back. “I shan’t say more. But promise me you will think upon what really makes you happiest. Knowing Christopher, he will support whatever you decide. But the Americas is a long journey from here. I’d not want Landon to be that far from me.”
“Was it not ye who slept in me bed but a few months ago, after runnin’ away from yer husband?”
“Oh aye, that was me, and I’m telling you don’t make the same mistake I did. If you love Christopher, which I suspect you do—you had best be ready to board the ship alongside him.”
Emma tucked her stubborn chin to her chest and left her friend's side. Marching out of the Hadfield townhouse, Emma concluded Bronwyn was right, but her heart ached at the thought of leaving her family. She needed to return to the shop. Sorting buttons would detangle the knots in her brain.
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