Page 97 of Never a Bride
Edmund stepped to his side. “He didn’t do it. She’s been lying to you, so she could make a wealthy marriage. We just spoke with her.”
The two men exchanged glances, as if they knew what their sister might be capable of but hadn’t thought it through.
“We don’t believe you!” said the younger brother wildly. “You deserve to suffer as you’ve madehersuffer.”
“Harold—” began Kenneth.
“No! They’re lying! We tried to take away his reputation, his money, to humble him as he’s humbled our sister. Well, it’s time for you to suffer, Thornton! If this girl means so much to you, then you can watch her be humiliated. We’re going to compromise her!”
Alex gave an obvious glance at his pistol. “I seem to have the power to stop you.”
“Cease this foolishness!” Edmund commanded. “You will listen to me. It wasn’t Alex who compromised your sister, but me. I’m here, ready to marry her or whatever she’d like, but you will let my friends go free while we discuss this like gentlemen.”
“I still want to shoot one of them,” Alex said darkly.
“If they don’t put down their swords, you can.”
But the Langston brothers weren’t quite that foolish. They let Edmund take their swords and lead them out of the room. Kenneth looked abashed, and Harold was sulky. Alex dropped to his knees to remove Emmeline’s gag before starting on the ropes.
She moistened her lips before speaking. “So is it all finally settled?”
“We spoke to Lady Elizabeth and got her to admit the truth. Frankly, Edmund should refuse to marry her, after the liesshe’stold.”
When he had her hands free, he rubbed them gently. “Are you all right? Did they hurt you?”
She shook her head and smiled. “I am fine. Your deeds were quite heroic this day. Maybe you should write a poem about it.”
“‘The Rescue of Emmeline’?” he asked, feeling a strange warmth flow through him as he watched her sweet face.
This wasn’t just relief; he was feeling something else, something that made him want to remain at her side always. She had become more important to him than his own life. He had spent years protecting himself against this kind of pain, yet somehow she had slipped past his wall of defenses.
Men like the Marquess of Kent didn’t give their daughters to scandalous younger brothers. And he’d already seen how dutiful Emmeline was to her family. He wouldn’t set himself up for disappointment—nor did he want her to once again feel the pain of her father’s disapproval.
He kissed Emmeline’s forehead before helping her to her feet. She smiled up at him, and he had to turn away.
Emmeline felt her chest constrict. Alex couldn’t even meet her eyes. He was doing it again, retreating from her and the emotions she inspired in him. Soon he’d be joking as if nothing had happened. But the look on his face when she’d been in danger—hehadto be in love with her!
As he led her down the back stairs to his horse outside, she just kept looking at him with all the love she felt shining from her eyes. He mounted his horse, then lifted her up to ride across his lap, never looking into her face.
She leaned back against his chest and let the afternoon sun bathe them in warmth. He and she were so alike in many ways, both resigning themselves to life without happiness, as if there were a limited supply.
But no more. She deserved a good life, a good marriage, and she’d find that only with Alex. She had discover the courage to make it happen, especially knowing she had to face her father. Once again, he would try to tell her a man wasn’t good enough for her.
But this time she was truly in love, and she would fight for her happiness.
~oOo~
That evening, Emmeline stood outside her father’s private withdrawing room and tried to steady her breathing. She knocked on the door and pushed it open when he bade her to enter.
“Father?”
He sat behind his massive desk, parchment and account books spread out before him. When he saw that it was her, he only harrumphed and looked back down.
“I am busy, Emmeline. Can we discuss whatever it is in the morning?”
“This is important, Father—it can’t wait.”
Though she seated herself on a bench before his desk, her father didn’t look up.
