Chapter 17

“I’ll come with you,” Anthony told Brody. The two men gave every assurance they would return as quickly as possible, then left.

Callum stared at Emily. “Are you mad?”

The sum Mr. Loughton had quoted was greater than he’d expected.

“No.” Emily gazed at him with just as much heartache as he had endured when he’d realized the words he’d written would surely hurt her. “I simply recognize my mistake and know I have no choice but to do this. I’ll never forgive myself otherwise, and will always worry you can’t forgive me either.”

“Emily.” He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I made my own mistake so of course I’ll forgive you. Especially since your actions were a direct result of my own.”

“Possibly, but that doesn’t change the fact that this is much worse than what you did.”

“Knowing how much I hurt you, I have to disagree.”

“Nevertheless, I have the chance to make it right and it’s a chance I’m going to take.”

“I still don’t understand how.” Callum glanced at the earl. “Is your father loaning the money?”

“In a sense. He’ll give Mr. Loughton a cheque to guarantee payment and withdraw the sum from my dowry.”

“You’re using your dowry for this?” Callum could scarcely believe it. That money was meant to provide for her in case he failed to do so. That had been his agreement with her father, that the contract should be written in such a way she would retain sole right to the funds she brought to the marriage. “Emily, I cannot in good conscience let you do so.”

Her gaze met his with unyielding directness. “Would you rather tomorrow’s paper be sold as is? Imagine the impact that would have, not just on you but on Westcliffe and Corwin as well. On their families. They need this as much as you do.”

Of course they did, but her sacrifice still seemed out of proportion compared with what she had done. Callum could scarcely credit it. Unfortunately, having wasted most of his fortune, he was unable to make the payment himself. Whatever funds he had at his disposal had to go toward servants’ wages and bills. As such, he lacked the ability to stop her.

Dazed, he watched as her father wrote the cheque and handed it to Mr. Loughton. It twisted Callum’s gut knowing Emily had to save him like this when he should be able to save her instead.

Somehow, he’d have to make this up to her, for despite her argument being that she owed him, he couldn’t stop feeling like it was the other way around. He’d set all of this into motion. Had he simply applied a bit more common sense, they probably wouldn’t be in this situation to begin with.

“Mr. Hudson says he can help,” Brody said when he and Anthony returned some time later, both panting for breath. “Harriet will too. She’ll need a copy of the page that’s getting pulled, a newspaper-sized printing frame, paper, and the review that’s supposed to replace the old one.”

“I can provide the frame and the paper,” Mr. Loughton said, proving himself more helpful now that he knew his expense would be covered.

“Is there a desk I can use?” Emily asked. “That way I can write the replacement review while the rest of the items are being prepared for delivery.”

“You can use mine,” said Mr. Conrad. “I’ll see to acquiring the paper and the frame.”

Emily thanked him as he departed and took her seat. She selected a piece of blank paper from a small stack and dipped the available quill in the inkwell.

Once finished, she re-read what she’d written a couple of times before handing it to Callum.

His pulse leapt as soon as he read the first line. A novel that’s sure to delight enthusiasts of Miss Austen’s writing. He glanced at Emily and saw the hope in her eyes. She bit her lip, betraying the uncertain depths of anxiety she experienced as she awaited his opinion.

“This is incredible,” he whispered.

“Can I see?” Anthony asked. Callum handed him the review. “Filled with memorable characters, an engaging plot, and the sort of wit that will surely brighten your day, this marvelous debut of a novel reinforces the dream of a great romance. It is, without doubt, the sort of story one will want to re-read time and again, and one that I would highly recommend you purchase without further delay.”

“That’s quite the stamp of approval,” Brody said. “Thank you, Emily.”

“Yes,” Anthony said. “Thank you.”

“I scarcely know what to say,” Callum told her. “If this review has the effect I believe it shall have, the book is bound to fly off the shelves when it goes on sale tomorrow.”

“It is the least I could do,” Emily told them as she set the quill aside and stood. “And just so you know, I believe I’ll agree with every word I’ve just written once I finish reading the book. As I intend to do as soon as I return home.”

Impulsively, Callum pulled her into his arms.

She squeaked but he ignored her as he dipped his head and pressed his mouth to hers. It didn’t matter that they were standing in a busy office space and that he really ought to refrain from such an inappropriate show of affection. All that mattered was Emily and her feelings. It was imperative he prove to her that he did not harbor any ill feelings toward her, that he forgave her for what she’d done, and that they would be fine. She need not fear on that score.

So he hugged her close, squeezing her slightly against him while adding a bit more force to the kiss, just to be sure she understood him. They belonged together and no error in judgement, however great or small, would change that. Whatever mistakes either of them made in the future, they would get through it together.

Someone coughed and Callum grinned against her lips as he slowly withdrew, adding distance. The look in her eyes was one of confusion and wonder.

“Oh,” was all she said, in response to which Callum almost kissed her again. She was simply too adorable.

“There will be time for that later,” her father said. “After you speak your vows.”

Three long months from now.

Callum sent the earl a disgruntled look only to note that he seemed to be forcing a frown in an effort to hide his amusement.

“He’s right,” Anthony said. He waved the piece of paper with the review. “There’s work to be done at the moment and we’ve a schedule to keep if we’re to succeed.”

“I’ll need the new pages by midnight, at the latest,” Mr. Loughton informed them when Mr. Conrad returned. Three men followed him, each carrying bundles of newsprint while Mr. Conrad himself carried the frame.

“We’d best get on with it then,” Brody said.

Callum agreed. They couldn’t afford to waste a second. “I’ll hail a hackney carriage so we can transport the items.”

“We can use our carriage too if needed,” Emily said. She glanced at her father. “Right, Papa?”

The earl agreed and the paper was loaded into both the Rosemont carriage and a hackney, leaving just enough room for two to three people in each. Callum travelled with Emily and her father while Anthony and Brody took the hackney.

“I need to return home once we’ve dropped off the paper,” Rosemont said. “Friends will be calling to offer condolences on Lady Seaton’s death. I’d rather not leave your mother alone with it, Emily.”

“Of course. I understand.” She clasped her hands together and worried her lip between her teeth before asking, “Will you permit me to stay at Hudson Co? My friend, Harriet, the Duchess of Corwin, will be there too, so I shan’t be without a chaperone.”

Rosemont’s expression turned slightly more serious. He seemed to consider, and eventually nodded. “Provided you’re home no later than ten. I’ll send the carriage to pick you up.”

“Thank you, Papa.”

They arrived moments later and Callum alit first so he could help Emily down. He then held the door for her father. Anthony and Brody, who’d arrived a moment before, helped carry the paper around to the back of the print shop.

“I’ll wish you luck,” Rosemont said. He extended his hand to Callum, who instantly shook it. “Once this is over, I trust we’ll get on with planning your wedding.”

“I look forward to it,” Callum told him.

Rosemont added a nod, reminded his daughter that he expected her home in four hours, and departed. A light and giddy sort of sensation spiraled through Callum’s chest. He glanced at Emily, whose eyes brimmed with a mixture of uncertainty and excitement.

“I hope this works,” she said.

“It will,” he assured her. It did not escape his notice that they were the only two people who stood on the pavement. Everyone else had already vanished inside Hudson Co. Callum reached for Emily’s hand. This was as good a place as any for what he’d been waiting for most of the day. “There’s something I wish to say before we go inside. When I proposed, I did so on a whim, without having an actual plan. It was a spur of the moment decision, and because of this, I wasn’t as prepared as I ought to have been.”

“Callum, if you have regrets, I completely understand. It was a game of pretend that got out of hand, so if you’d like to break off the engagement, I’m sure we can find a way.” She produced a sad sort of chuckle. “I mean, if we can get The Mayfair Chronicle to change their paper’s content at the last minute, anything is possible. Right?”

He stared at her, feeling a bit like she’d just grabbed his heart and yanked it sideways. “Is that what you want?”

“Of course not, Callum. I love you more than I thought I could ever love anyone. That’s why this mess I’ve gotten us into is so incredibly hard for me to deal with.”

“I forgive you for it. I do not blame you, so please stop blaming yourself. Can you do that?”

“I’ll try, but it may take a while. I still feel awful.”

“As do I,” he confessed. “But I love you too and I don’t want to end our engagement either. In fact, I’d like to make it official by giving you this.”

He reached inside his jacket pocket and produced the ring he’d selected earlier. Gently holding her hand, he slipped it onto her finger.

“Oh...” she breathed. “It’s absolutely stunning.”

“Peter helped me select it.” He admired the perfection with which it fit her finger. “Honestly, I had considered selling it and the rest of the jewels I’ve inherited from my grandmother. They would have solved my financial woes. Without an immediate plan to marry, I didn’t think I’d be needing the jewelry any time soon. But now that you are to be my wife, the Duchess of Stratton, they shall be yours.”

“Callum…”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her fiercely before setting her back on her feet.

“I don’t know what your father was thinking to leave you here in my care.”

She grinned. “I’m sure he believes you’re aware of the risk you’ll be taking if you attempt something truly improper. His dueling pistols are his most prized possessions.”

“You don’t say,” Callum muttered while taking a large theatrical step backward. “Best keep my distance then. Shall we?”

The warmth of her laughter as she preceded him inside the printers settled his nerves and assured him all would be well. The damning review would be replaced while he, the luckiest man in the world, would soon become Emily Brooke’s husband.

Life was beginning to look a bit brighter.