Page 100 of His Scandal
“And make her think that I didn’t want to marry her honorably by the light of day? But why take Spencer?”
“Because they think he’s me! Haven’t they proven their stupidity over and over again? Just let me explain my plan.”
Emmeline sank into a chair beside the door and simply watched Alex. He looked tired, with dark circles beneath his eyes, as if he’d spent the week as sleepless as she had. Yet his voice was cool and precise as he explained his plan to invade the Langston household with a score of men. He showed no desperation, only the confidence of an intelligent man who knew without a doubt that he would succeed at whatever he did.
Emmeline could only watch, feeling the enormity of her love for him swell in her chest. The jokes he reserved for when things were too emotionally confusing were gone—he was serious and focused. Would it always be like this? Would she always find a new, deeper Alex to love?
As she contemplated her feelings, a man who looked just like Alex walked into the withdrawing room. As she looked up, he smiled down ather and took off his rain-spattered cloak.
It was Spencer, alive and unharmed!
He held a finger to his lips, a devilish glint in his eye reminiscent of Alex. She could only gape as relief made her sag back in the chair. He casually strolled toward the two men still pondering their plans at the desk. With his hands behind his back, he studied them.
Alex was talking to Edmund. “I’ll go in the main door, so they’ll be confused. After all, they think they have me. I want you to enter through the back, and try to keep hidden until you see that I need you.”
Spencer cleared his throat. “And what would you like me to do?”
“You go around to the—” Alex broke off and swiftly straightened. “Spence!”
Lady Thornton let out a glad cry and rushed to hug her son. Emmeline saw the deep relief Alex quickly covered, and the easygoing grin that replaced it. Before her eyes he turned back into scandalous Alex Thornton.
He clasped Spencer’s hand. “Well, I’m glad I don’t have to exert myself. It’s been so long, I was certain I’d forgotten how to use a sword.”
Lady Thornton dabbed at her eyes, even as she kept Spencer’s arm about her shoulders. “Tell us how you escaped, my son.”
“’Tis hardly a tale worth telling,” Spencer answered, as he accepted a goblet of wine from Edmund. “Of course they wouldn’t believe me when I said I wasn’t you. They were inept and didn’t think to post a guard after they’d tied me up and left me in a room. It was rather easy to get away after that.”
As the three men congratulated each other, Lady Thornton called out, “Lady Emmeline! Please come join us.”
Emmeline rose to her feet as the men turned to stare at her. Alex’s black eyes seemed to light from within for a moment, then his smile faded.
“Lady Emmeline,” he said, nodding too courteously to her. “Forgive me for not greeting you earlier.”
“I did not want to disturb you,” she said, coming forward. “But now you could introduce me to your brother.”
He seemed to blink at her in surprise, then did as she asked. “Spence, this is Lady Emmeline Prescott. Lady Emmeline, my brother, Lord Thornton.”
“My lord,” she said, curtsying, all the while keeping her gaze locked with Alex’s. “I’m glad to see you have returned safely home.”
“How did you know about the kidnapping?” Alex asked.
“Lady Thornton sent me a missive.”
He glanced sharply at his mother, who merely smiled innocently at him and said, “Now thatshe’s here, she can enjoy a celebratory dinner with us. Would you stay, Lady Emmeline?”
Alex said, “I’m sure she won’t want—”
“I would enjoy that,” Emmeline interrupted.
He studied her as she allowed Spencer to lead her into the dining chamber. Let him think what he would. She didn’t know what she meant to do about Alex Thornton yet, but she was not about to let him go easily.
