“I would like to continue this, ah, conversation later, darling, but you are right. We cannot stay here.”
The look of disappointment on Emily’s face was enough to make Alex reconsider and drag her to the nearest bedroom. But there would be time enough for that once they were married.
Married? What a surprising thought. He supposed it had been on his mind lately. He had said as much to his anonymous friend, before he knew it was Emily and even after. But he hadn’t really given it much serious thought. Yes, he had decided to court her, but he hadn’t considered beyond that. Now that he had, he thought it a capital idea. An eminently brilliant idea.
Now to just convince Emily…
“Alex?” Emily said, breaking his reverie.
“Yes, dear,” he replied, looking down at the woman still locked in his arms.
“Ah, Harriet says that Mr. Wheeler is awake. Should we take him to the hospital now?”
“Absolutely,” he said, finally releasing Emily and walking over to the man. “Let me help you, sir. Emily, would you mind putting that case in a safe place for our friend here?”
“Thank you,” Wheeler panted as he struggled to his feet. “Did I pass out again?”
“We were attacked, sir,” Emily answered. “But we chased the man away…and without his prize, too.” She shook the satchel meaningfully. “Do you have a safe, by any chance?”
“I do, yes,” the inventor replied. “It is open in the office. It will lock upon closing.”
“Very good,” Emily nodded. “I will return in a thrice.”
“Meet us at the carriage, darling?”
Alex didn’t await a response. Wheeler weighed heavy on him and, now that the excitement was over, he found his side hurt dreadfully. He wanted to get everyone in the vehicle as soon as possible so that he could sit back and relax for a moment.
Luckily, Emily was true to her word, and they were on their way to the hospital before he knew it. During the ride, they introduced themselves to Wheeler and explained the purpose for visiting. He, in turn, told them all about his invention and his trips to the brewery—most notably the one that took place on the day of the flood.
Alex felt sure that he had figured out the mystery by the time they had left the man at the hospital. And when they returned to Lady Lancaster’s and had told her everything, including a very thorough description of the attacker, she was in complete agreement.
“I will contact the authorities and tell them what you have found out,” the dowager announced once all was said and done. “I have a feeling they will want to keep sabotage out of the official report. Call it an act of God or what have you.”
“Does that mean the saboteur will evade justice?” Emily wondered.
“For now, yes,” Lady Lancaster replied, “but rest assured, spies like that man always get caught in the end.”
“I still can’t believe he was trying to steal Mr. Wheeler’s plans.”
“Industrial espionage is an age-old crime. In fact, it was such a case that brought the duke and me together.”
“Really?” Emily asked. “How romantic.”
“Yes, it was. Someday, I shall tell you the tale.”
“I would like that, my lady.”
“I still don’t understand what the fiend hoped to achieve by destroying the brewery,” Alex wondered aloud.
The duchess appeared thoughtful before answering. “I imagine he hoped to trap Mr. Wheeler so that he could retrieve the plans. No doubt Mr. Young had overheard the owners of the brewery discussing them with the inventor while he was working for the same spy that tried to steal the plans from Wheeler. I suspect the timing went wrong, and the inventor had already left when the cask broke open. Despite the plan not working to perfection, the brewery has had quite the setback. This, too, worked in the spy’s favor. If you can’t steal the technology, at least throw a wrench in it.”
“What if the man comes back? Is Mr. Wheeler in danger?” Emily asked with concern.
“I shouldn’t think so,” Alex replied. “Too many people know what he looks like now. He would be a fool to try again.”
“I concur, Mr. Bredon. In any case, you two are to be commended. You have solved the mystery and saved a good man. If not his life, at least his life’s work.”
“Thank you, my lady. Is there anything else for us to do?”
“Just go home and rest. There is a ball tomorrow, and you have had a torturous few days. You, in particular, sir, need to continue your recovery. You were lucky not to have opened a few stitches.”
“Very lucky,” Alex agreed.
And with that, Emily and Alexander made their farewells. Having been offered the use of the carriage once more for their conveyance home, the two of them—and Harriet—were soon on their way.
…
Lady Lancaster, on the other hand, busied herself penning many letters to her old War Office contacts. The description of the assailant had been too familiar to ignore. A short, stocky man with no hair and a scar above his left eye? Could it be possible? Forty years ago she had met such a man while working on a case with the lord who was to become her husband. Surely it could not be the same spy. He would be close to sixty by now. Much too old for such dangerous work.
On the other hand, the duchess would not put anything past the Frenchman. There was only one way to find out if he was, indeed, still in the business. And if he was, she would root him out once and for all. It was time he paid…
Paid the ultimate price for murder.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The fear of making the wrong choice should not be the reason you don’t make a choice.
~The Duke of Lancaster
Emily was spent when she got home despite the relatively early hour, and she gratefully allowed Alex to escort her to the door. He kissed her hand and said goodnight almost too easily, but she wasn’t in the mood to find out why. She asked Harriet to prepare her room for the evening, but to not disturb her when she was done. She planned to eat a little something and read for a while to take her mind off the last few days.
“I will ring you when I am ready for bed,” Emily told Harriet as she shut the sitting room door behind her. This was her favorite room in the house. It was also the smallest. She supposed that was why it was so rarely used by anyone else but her. She had such fond memories of what had once been her mother’s room.
Well, the whole house had been her mother’s, but this room was where she went when she had finished her chores for the day. Once the menus were been planned and orders given, the Duchess of Torrington would retire here to read, sew, paint, or play the miniature pianoforte that sat in the corner. And once Emily came along, she would be placed on a rug on the floor nearby to play as her mother did these things. The room, even still, smelled faintly of her grace’s perfume.
Therefore, despite its size, this was where Emily came to do all the same things as her mother.
She settled back into a plump armchair and opened up a book of poems. She was just getting comfortable when she heard a sharp tap on the window.
Emily looked up briefly but decided it was probably the wind blowing branches around. She reached over for a finger sandwich and had just taken a bite when she heard the sound again, but louder this time.
She swallowed quickly and stood to inspect the disturbance. She pulled back the sheer curtain and saw a face staring back at her. She let out a small cry of fright before she realized it was Alex. She yanked open the sash.
“What are you doing? Are you physically unable to use a door?”
“Shh,” Alexander shushed as he climbed into the room. “I didn’t want anyone to know I was here.”
“I know you are here,” Emily retorted, crossing her arms.
“Anyone but you, my sweet,” Alex crooned, taking her into his arms. He leaned in for a kiss, but Emily held her face away from his.
“What do you think you are doing?” she demanded.
Alex dropped his arms. “I am trying to kiss
you. I should have thought that was obvious.”
“Of course it is, but what makes you think I will simply let you kiss me?”
“I, ah, guess because of what happened earlier—”
“I was upset earlier,” Emily replied. “Honestly, I don’t know what I am doing. I’m just so confused.” And she was. She knew she had practically begged for him to kiss her when he was holding her in his arms at Wheeler’s house. The last thing she had wanted was for him to let her go. But that was then, and she had been scared and in pain. Now, in the warm comfort of home, she could hardly believe her behavior.
“Oh Alex, I am sorry,” she sighed, sitting down and burying her face in her hands. “I don’t know what is wrong with me.” She felt on the edge of tears again.
She heard Alex moving, and the next thing she knew he was taking her hands.
“Never hide your beautiful face from me. Everything will be all right. The duchess was correct. The last few days have been very stressful. It is no wonder you’re upset and confused. I am sorry if I am making the situation worse.”
Alex’s speech sounded heartfelt and sincere, but that didn’t make her any less confused. Did he love her? She knew he had grown to care for her. He had said as much. But love? And if he did, how did she feel about that? Did she love him? Certainly the thought had crossed her mind many times of late, but she had never really settled on a conclusion. Mostly because of her mystery friend. It was a case of the known versus the unknown.
And right here, right in this very moment, the known was looking at her as if she were the greatest prize in the world. How could that compete with someone she had never met?
“Do you love me?” she whispered.
“Would you believe me if I said yes?”
“Tonight, I think I would believe anything you told me,” Emily said, in all honesty.
“Oh, I like that answer very much,” Alex purred, with a wicked glint in his eye. Then he leaned in and gave her the sweetest kiss.
Emily gasped at the intensity of his mouth on hers. Her heart began to beat faster and she couldn’t help but part her lips.
The kiss was unlike anything she could have imagined. In the last few weeks, Alexander had kissed her in surprise, in fear, and even like a thief in the night, but never had he kissed her like this. It started off as just the warmth of lips on lips, but quickly changed to something new and different. Somehow, he had managed to coax her mouth open, and he was exploring its recesses with his tongue. When it touched hers, she jumped a little in surprise, but he pressed on, and soon she was joining in the playful dance. She heard herself moan, and it was as if the sound spurred Alexander into action.
Within seconds, Emily was wrapped tight in Alex’s embrace, and it felt as if she were falling. Then she felt the floor beneath her, and she realized that she was now lying under Alexander. She reveled in feeling his weight on her. Reaching up, she delved her hands into his thick hair. It was so soft and warm. She wrapped her fingers in the unruly tresses and pulled on it, drawing him even closer.
Alex growled and kissed her deeper, and she thought she had died and gone to heaven.
…
Emily’s enthusiasm was more than Alexander had ever expected. She had opened up to him like a flower, and he was quickly becoming addicted to her nectar.
“Emily, sweet Emily, if we don’t stop now, I don’t think I will be able to.”
“Then don’t stop.”
“Are you sure? Everything will change if we do this.”
Emily looked up at him with a plaintive gaze. “I know, I know. I want it to change. I don’t want to be confused any more.”
“Me either. You are what I want. Now and forever.”
He reached a hand up and cupped a wonderfully ample breast. He ran his fingertips over the nipple, and it hardened to a delightful pebble, even through the layers of fabric.
“Too much fabric,” he mumbled, tearing at Emily’s bodice greedily.
“Hmm?” Emily moaned.
“Nothing, sweetling, nothing,” Alex said raggedly, turning his attention to her long and supple neck.
His mouth lavished over the rapidly beating pulse that nestled there before he trailed his lips down to Emily’s heaving chest. Alex had managed to pull one glorious breast out, and he could not wait to explore it fully.
The moment his lips enveloped the taut nub, Emily cried out and arched her back, forcing herself even farther into its warm depths.
“Alex, Alex…” Emily whimpered, “don’t stop.”
Nothing on God’s green earth could have made Alexander stop. Especially after Emily grabbed his head and held it to her chest as if her life depended on his continuing.
He moved his hand down her body, exploring every dip and curve along the way, until he felt the hem of her skirt. It had already ridden up past her knees, but he pulled it to her waist.
Within seconds, her most private core was beneath his eager palm. Alex want to sink himself into its depths immediately, but he wanted Emily’s first time with lovemaking to be perfect and unrushed. For all intents and purposes, this was Alex’s first foray into such an act, as well, and it was more than he had ever hoped.
Spending the rest of his life with this angel was, quite frankly, more than he deserved.
Alex returned his focus to Emily’s luscious mouth as he delved his fingers into her hot, wet center.
Emily pulled away and looked at him in shock. Alex could read panic in her eyes.
“Shhh, Emily,” Alex said soothingly. “It’s all right.”
“Wha…what are we doing, Alex?” Emily whispered, her eyes full of passion and confusion.
“We’re doing what men and women do.”
“But—” Emily began, before stopping and looking away.
“What is it? Are you concerned for your virtue? No one will ever know, and soon we’ll be married, so please don’t fret.”
“Married?” Emily gasped, clearly startled by the idea.
Now Alex was confused. He moved off Emily and into a sitting position.
“Of course we’re getting married,” Alexander exploded. “After what we just did…what kind of man do you think I am?”
Emily pulled her skirts down and tried to cover her breasts as much as she was able. Her face was flushed, and she looked mortified.
“Did we…? Am I…? What did we do, Alex?” she asked in a barely audible voice.
“Does it matter?” Alex asked incredulously.
“Of course it matters!”
“It matters only if you are refusing to marry me,” he ground out. “Is that what you are doing?”
“Yes… No… Oh, I don’t know,” Emily cried. “This is all happening so fast.”
“Any faster and you would be ruined,” Alex muttered, getting to his feet.
“I am sorry, Alex,” Emily said, following suit. She reached over and grabbed his arm. “Please just give me some time.”
“Some time to decide whether or not you’ll have me?” Alex replied angrily, tearing his arm away. “I don’t believe this.”
How could she be acting this way? They had been seconds away from lying as man and wife, and now she didn’t want to marry him? She didn’t love him? How had he gotten things so wrong?
Although, thinking back, Emily had never actually said she loved him, too. Yes, they had shared a few kisses and also a passionate embrace or two, but those had happened in times of great distress. Perhaps they hadn’t meant to Emily what they had to him.
Lord, this was not how he had seen this evening going. Not that he had had a plan one way or the other, but once he and Emily had moved beyond a simple kiss, he had seen his whole future unfold before him. And it looked to be a wonderful, surprising future.
But maybe it hadn’t looked all that great to Emily. Why did that thought feel like such a kick in the gut? Well, he had fallen in love with the chit easily enough. He could stop just as simply.
He turned to the window to leave, but Emily
took hold of him again.
“Alex? Please look at me.”
With a deep sigh, he did as she asked.
“Oh Alex, I need you to try to understand,” Emily pleaded. “All of this is so unexpected, and despite my behavior here tonight, my feelings for you are all jumbled up with gratitude and newfound respect. There is also another man. A friend I correspond with regularly. We have grown very fond of each other. I need time to sort through everything and find out what it all means. I think I could love you, but it would not be fair to either of us to rush into something that could make us both miserable. I want what all our friends have. A true love match. Don’t you?”
Alex felt his anger drain. She was torn between two men and they were both him! What was he to do now? Should he tell her? No. Alex did want a love match. And just because he knew he could have that with only Emily, she deserved the time needed to decide that for herself. And, if he had anything to say about it, she would decide that a life with him, the real Alexander Bredon, was her dream come true.
“All right, Emily. I will give you some time, but I am not just going away. I will convince you that I am your love match. And I will use any tool in my arsenal to do so.”
And with that, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly. When he let her go, Emily’s eyes had that glazed-over look that he loved, and she was swaying unsteadily.
“Good night, my love. I will see you tomorrow night at the Hampdon ball. Sleep well.”
He didn’t wait for a response before climbing out the window. He was feeling much better all of a sudden.
A few more kisses like that one and Emily would be begging him to marry her.
Chapter Twenty-Four
I suggest loving what you have, before it turns into what you had.
~The Duke of Lancaster
“Are you all right, Emily?” Rose asked.
They were standing in the Hampdon’s grand ballroom surrounded by a crush of people. It was a situation in which Emily had been many, many times, but this time she felt so out of place she might have well been on another planet.
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