Scent Of Danger (A Sinclair & Raven Novel Book 4)

by Wendy Vella

  His smile told her he knew exactly what he did to her, and enjoyed doing it immensely.

  “We can never marry, as one morning the servants would find you dead in your bed, for I will have had enough, and killed you!”

  “My brother thought that was a possibility.”

  “A sensible man then,” Emily said. “Then there is your legion of admirers who will be devastated that you are wed. Although what they see in you I fail to.”

  “Ouch.”

  “You, sir,” Emily waved a finger in front of him, “are the devil himself!”

  “And you, madam, are no saint. In fact, you beg me to tease you, and always have with your uppity behavior.”

  “I do not!”

  “Please,” he scoffed. “You’ve disapproved of me since our first meeting, and there is nothing I can do that you like. I simply walk into a room and bid everyone good day and your hackles raise.”

  She was not ready to concede to this, so she looked out the window once more. The carriage was passing through gates and rolling down a long driveway.

  “One wonders why you feel the need to censure me constantly, but then perhaps after that kiss I have more of an understanding.”

  She made herself look at him, let her eyes rest on his face, hoping to unsettle him a little as he did her, but he simply smiled back at her.

  “I have no idea what that means, and no wish to,” Emily said in her most haughty tone. “I am not one of those... those ladies that fall about themselves to get your attention.”

  “How do you know about those ladies when you have not entered society?”

  “I have ears, and hear what people say, plus I have attended a few social functions and see how women behave when you are near. It is nauseating. However, right now, I wish for you to keep a civil tongue in your head, as we have arrived.”

  “I am always civil to everyone but you,” he said, having the last word.

  He opened the door and stepped down, holding out a hand for her. He then retained it and placed it on his arm.

  “Come, I can hardly wait to bask in Fossett’s magnificence,” he whispered in her ear.

  “Stop that.”

  “I shall leave his house a better man for just being in the presence of greatness.”

  Emily refused to smile.

  “I shall leave brimming with knowledge, and the better for it.”

  “S-stop it.”

  He peered down at her.

  “Is that a smile, Emily? God’s blood, I do believe it is.”

  “You, Cambridge Sinclair, are a wicked man, and I’ll add to that by saying jealousy is unattractive in a man.”

  “You think I’m jealous of Fossett?” He hooted with laughter.

  “Of course, and threatened, but don’t be, because your family love you and that is what counts.”

  Emily refused to acknowledge how alive she felt verbally sparring with Cam.

  “You, Emily Tolly, are a witch, and I have seen through your insipid disguise since day one. This is your true nature, shrewish and caustic. You would cut a poor humble man to shreds with your tongue.”

  Ignoring him, Emily looked at the large house. Made of dark stone, it had several turret windows and three floors.

  “It’s very grand,” she found herself saying.

  “Our prince has rewarded Fossett by offering him this house for as long as he wishes, due to his magnificence—and finding that comet of course, which I’m still dubious of.”

  “Only because you did not find it,” Emily said as they stepped up to the front door.

  Lifting a hand, she wrapped her knuckles on the polished wood.

  “One hopes it is answered before we are chilled to the marrow.”

  Emily ignored this, and waited patiently, hoping her teeth didn’t begin to chatter, it was indeed dastardly cold.

  “Hello,” she said when finally it opened. “I am Miss Tolly, and have an invitation to visit with Mr. Fossett and view his reflective telescope.”

  The butler looked at Emily as if she was something nasty he’d stepped in, which didn’t bother her overly as many people had looked at her in just that way in her lifetime.

  “Mr. Fossett did not mention your name to me as a guest for the viewing, Miss Tolly.”

  As Emily had the invitation in her hand, she began to extend it, but a large hand stopped her.

  “I am Mr. Sinclair, and this is Miss Tolly,” Cam said in a tone she’d rarely heard him use before. Looking at his face she noted the muscles bunching in his jaw. “We have an invitation, so please tell Mr. Fossett immediately we have arrived. However, you will first show us to a room to wait.”

  The butler paled.

  “Now,” Cam added softly.

  “Please follow me.”

  They were shown into a small room that held a narrow side table, a painting, and one chair.

  “Please wait here.”

  “And where are we to sit?” Cam said.

  “I’ll stand,” Emily said quickly. She had lived constantly with conflict before coming to live with James, and tried to avoid it now where possible.

  “I will stand,” Cam snapped, glaring at the butler.

  The man left, leaving the door ajar.

  “There is no need to be angry with the butler.”

  “He was rude to you, Emily, and you do not take that from anyone, especially when you have done nothing to provoke it.”

  “There is obviously some kind of mistake. I’m sure he will return and collect us directly.”

  Emily was walking the room; turning, she bumped into Cam. His hands steadied her, and held her before him.

  “You are inferior to no one, no matter what your birth is. I need you to understand this, Emily.”

  “I-I know what I am.”

  “And what is that?” He shook her gently forcing her eyes back up to his.

  “Stop this, Cam.” She tried to get away from him.

  His hands lifted her to her toes, so their eyes were level.

  “Why can you not see the woman others can, and stop allowing people to make you feel small?”

  “My f-family do not make me feel small,” Emily managed to get out. Her eyes were fixed on his, and the green depths were filled with so much emotion. No longer was he the humorous Cam she saw most often. “I am making strides to be stronger,” she found herself saying. “In fact, just today I told James I cared for him and we talked. And why I am telling you this I have no idea.”

  “Husbands and wives should not keep things from each other.”

  “We are not married!”

  “We will be. But this business between you and James is a good start. Did you also share with him why you behaved as you had?”

  She nodded.

  “Excellent. I have great hopes that now you have started, the changes will continue.”

  “I’m not sure why my behavior concerns you so much?”

  “Because I will not have my wife believing she is beneath anyone.”

  Emily’s heartbeat kicked at his words. She did not want to marry this man; he was too much of everything for her. Too vibrant, too strong, too funny, and yes, too well respected among those that ignored her.

  “I... I am not your wife, and will never be so.”

  He hauled her closer and kissed her hard. Releasing her, he stalked to the door.

  “I shall return soon, do not go anywhere.”

  Emily slumped into a chair. As if she could move when her limbs had turned to liquid.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  Cam took the stairs two at a time. With distance from Emily his body temperature had lowered once more. Christ, the woman had lips to tempt a saint. Every time he was near her now he wanted to kiss her. Which was surely a good thing if she was going to be his wife.

  He wasn’t sure why he was so committed to the idea of marriage to Emily, but he was, very committed. Now, however, was not the moment to think through why; he had a hunch why Fossett had not given the butler Emil
y’s name. He hoped he was wrong, but as he climbed the last set of stairs and a raised voice greeted him, he knew he was not.

  “You allowed her inside my house!”

  “Problem?” Cam approached Fossett from behind. The man spun to face him and the butler took the opportunity to scurry away.

  “Who are you?”

  Fossett’s face was flushed with color, lips drawn tight in rage. There was no sign of the handsome countenance women worshipped.

  “Mr. Sinclair.”

  “You brought that woman to my house!”

  Cam wasn’t a man who angered easily, for all his volatile ways. It usually took a great deal and a direct threat to someone he cared about for him to reach the state.

  “That woman,” he said, leaning into Fossett, deliberately intimidating him, “is worth ten of you!”

  “I-I know of her reputation. I was informed what she did with that man, Mr. Jackson!” Fossett thundered, his face turning puce with rage. “I was willing to overlook the unfortunate circumstances of her birth, but I want no contact with a woman who would behave as she did!”

  Cam grabbed Fossett’s collar and lifted him to his toes, shaking him as he did so.

  “She is a duke’s daughter, and under the care of her brother the Duke of Raven, who will be most interested in this conversation and your behavior. The brother who is a close confidant of our prince. Her other brother, Mr. Huntington, is one of the wealthiest men in the United Kingdom. I’ll throw my family into the mix also, as they are noble, unlike you. In fact, you were born the son of a blacksmith.”

  “I-I....” Fossett’s eyes were bulging now.

  “Did you hope to keep that a secret? Believe me, word spreads to all corners of London very quickly. However, due to your work, most people overlook your birth. Now, back to Miss Tolly. What happened with that scum Jackson was not of her making, in fact he frightened her, and—”

  “Let him go, Cam.”

  Cam closed his eyes briefly before releasing Fossett. He didn’t want to, but the fingers on his arm had him looking down into Emily’s pale face.

  “He is not worthy of your anger,” she said.

  Fossett staggered back clutching his necktie, which was now a mess, and gasping like a landed fish.

  “H-how dare you?”

  “How dare I, you sniveling little rodent? How dare you!”

  Emily stepped in front of Cam as he advanced on Fossett again.

  “That will do, Cambridge.”

  Instead she advanced on the man, and he took a backward step which made Cam feel better.

  “I wish for you to hand me back my papers please, Mr. Fossett. I’m sorry you believe me unworthy of seeing through your reflective telescope, however, I will not beg you to let me view it.”

  “I-I do not know where your papers are.”

  He knew, Cam realized. The bastard just wanted to keep them for himself.

  “Yes, you do.” Cam stepped to Emily’s side. “Now fetch them or I will go through every room in this house until I find them.”

  With a last furious, terrified glare, Fossett turned from them and hurried away.

  “I’m so sorry, Emily.” Cam put a hand on her shoulder. It was rigid with tension. “Really sorry.”

  “I-I had thought him a better man than that.” The whispered words were loaded with pain.

  “He should be considering he is the son of a blacksmith and should know better than most what it is like to struggle in such a world.”

  “Thank you for defending me, Cam.”

  “I hate snobbery, especially when the snob is ignorant.”

  Emily sighed. “It is the way of this world you inhabit. I’m just glad I never truly entered society.”

  He made an understanding grunt.

  “Have you looked around these walls? They are covered in the most amazing pictures,” Cam said, hoping to distract her. She followed as he moved closer to the paintings.

  “Dear Lord, is that... oh it is.”

  “A naked man and woman,” Cam said, smiling. “Several different versions of them actually.”

  “I shouldn’t be looking at them,” Emily said, not moving an inch. “They are quite depraved.”

  “Look all you want, darling, they are quite educational.”

  “No.” She made herself turn, and Cam saw color had filled her face, replacing the pallor of before.

  “Oh come now, surely you are curious. After all, these things are what take place between a man and a woman.”

  “Th-they do not!”

  “They do with couples who enjoy each other in bed sport. See this one—”

  “Cam!”

  He chuckled.

  “Don’t be a prude, Em. Your reputation allows you to look at these, so why not.”

  “My reputation is unjust!”

  She turned on him, eyes flashing now. He liked Emily when she was angry, because she forgot to be the timid mouse the rest of her family saw. Her beautiful eyes flashed, and her cheeks flushed. Shoulders back, she was glaring at him.

  “Yes it is, and I’m glad you realize that fact.”

  “You did that on purpose.”

  “What?”

  His eyes roamed her features. She really was a beautiful woman, Cam thought. He wondered what she would be like in the throes of passion. The hell of it was, he wanted to find out... desperately.

  “Don’t let him weaken you, Emily. Show him only your strength now.”

  “Here, now leave my house.” Fossett arrived and thrust the papers at him. Emily stepped forward and took them, making the man look at her. Good girl. She had a backbone, it was just hidden under years of submissiveness.

  “You are a fraud, Mr. Fossett. A blacksmith’s son who has no right to judge me for something that I had no hand in instigating, and no wish to participate in. Good day.”

  Cam watched Emily turn and walk away, then leaned closer to Fossett. The man scurried back a few feet.

  “Pray that I never encounter you alone when there is no lady present, Fossett.” Cam emphasized the word lady. “For it will not go well for you if I should.”

  Cam turned and followed Emily from the room. He left the house on her heels.

  Placing his hand on her waist, he lifted Emily into the carriage, and then joined her.

  “I have tried my entire life to be a good person, Cam.”

  She spoke the words to the window after the carriage had been moving for several minutes.

  “Put him from your mind. Fossett is an idiot.”

  “Yes, because it is that easy to do so.”

  “There is no need for sarcasm.”

  She sighed again and turned to face him.

  “I’m sorry, and thank you again for defending me.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  She’d lost all that wonderful fire now they had left the house.

  “I wish I could have stopped that from happening, and yet I had no way of knowing that fool would react in such a way. Had he been a peer, I would understand, as most of them can’t form a sensible thought.”

  “I had hoped my disgrace was not common knowledge, it seems I’m wrong.”

  Cam snorted. “Society thrives on gossip, even if it is not one of the nobles disgraced. Your brother is a duke. People love to glean any tidbit of gossip attached to such a man, as do most Londoners. I should imagine even the mice have heard about it by now.”

  Her eyes held his for long seconds and he knew what was coming. The breath locked inside his chest, and suddenly the palms of his hands inside his gloves grew sweaty. The air was full of a spicy scent, as he watched her mouth open to say the words.

  “I will marry you.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  They chose a small church, just outside of London. James had wanted them to go back to Raven Castle and marry there in the little church on the hill, but Emily had not wanted that. Not wanted to wed Cam in the same place their three siblings had married for love. She was to marry Cam to save
her reputation, such as it was, and to protect her family from her disgrace.

  “He is a good man, Emily.”

  “I know that, James.”

  “But it is not too late to stop this, if that is what you wish.”

  “It is not.”

  “For heaven’s sake, James, stop it, you will scare her.”

  James, Eden, and Essie were accompanying Emily to the church. He would walk her down the aisle and the sisters would stand at her side.

  Samantha and the twins had been disappointed not to be included, but she’d had no wish to turn it into a celebration when what it actually was, was a disaster.

  A disaster for Cam more than her, because this selfless act would change his life forever. He’d said he would be faithful to her, but would he? Was it possible that the man who had loved the company of many women could actually do such a thing?

  “You are frowning, Emily.”

  “Sorry, Essie.”

  Her sisters-in-law looked stunning, as they always did.

  “No, if you are to frown,” Eden said, “then today is probably the day to do so, but let me tell you something about my brother.”

  “Oh Lord, are you going to list his virtues again?” James groaned.

  “Shut up,” Eden snapped, kicking her husband in the shins.

  Emily giggled, and the noise surprised all of them.

  “Begging your pardon.”

  “Don’t apologize for giggling, Emily,” James said. “It is a wonderful sound, and one we do not hear nearly enough.”

  Emily had thought she was done with tears, but felt them choke up inside her as James cupped her cheek.

  “Come now, there is no need for tears. You know I love you, as you love me, just as we love the others, and that is all that matters, Em. The love we all share in this family. It completes us.”

  “Oh,” Eden wailed, sniffing loudly. “That was lovely.”

  “I want only for you to be happy, so if at any time you are not, then you need only contact me and I will come, Em.”

  “My brother will not make her unhappy.” Eden sniffed.

  “Eden, Essie, will you give me a minute alone with Emily please,” James said as the carriage stopped outside the church. “I know you’ll listen, but at least it gives the appearance of time alone with my sister.”