Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

G odric was having the most wonderful dream. Emily lay curled up in his arms, finding warmth and protection from her nightmares. He had rarely slept with his former mistress, Evangeline. While she was a wicked temptress in bed, she was an awful partner to lie next to at night. She kicked, snored and stole the covers too frequently for him to enjoy the experience.

His dream was too real and perfect. There was nothing carnal about the act, only the comfort of Emily's body entwined with his. Her face was pressed into the groove between his throat and chest, her body halfway on top of him, lounging asleep with that feline grace only women possessed.

The coils of her hair were a russet waterfall against the pillow, and sunlight slid down the waves in enticing patterns. One of his arms curled around her waist, keeping her close. In this world Emily was his. She belonged to no one else, and he didn't have to share her with the world.

Unfortunately, Emily didn't want to belong to him. Why did she have to be so damned independent? If she'd only surrender herself Godric could make her the most satisfied woman in the world. He'd buy her the most expensive gowns, the richest jewels, and all the horses she could ever desire. He wanted her more than anything in his life.

He wished she wouldn't fight him with such determination. Emily didn't seem particularly protective of her virtue. It was her freedom she clung to. He'd caged her in his manor, and the thought irritated him. Even if it was a cage, it was only a temporary one, and a gilded, luxurious one at that. Why couldn't she be happy?

Emily would never be satisfied unless she was the sole controller of her destiny. But as a young, unmarried woman, she stood no chance of that. A man held the reins over her fate, the only question was which one.

But if she let him take control, he'd promise to make her happy.

Godric was still thinking when Emily started to wake. Her breath quickened and her chest rose faster beneath his palm. Her legs tensed slightly as her muscles came to life. Emily rested her chin on his chest as her lashes fanned open.

"Good morning, Emily." He brushed her loose hair back from her face, absorbed in the sight of her fluttering lashes and parted pink lips. Her sleepy expression warmed him right down to his toes as she snuggled against him .

She blushed, shutting her eyes. "I actually slept here, didn't I?"

"Don't be sorry. Enjoy the fact that we spent an innocent night together. It is something I have never been able to guarantee any other woman."

One of her brows arched. "Is that because I'm no temptation or because you've learned some self-restraint?"

"It's because I respect you enough to not break my promise. But now you're awake, so all bets are off, my dear."

"What do you mean by that?" She started to push away from him.

"I'm allowed sixteen hours of seduction in order to distract you from escaping." Godric grasped her tightly and rolled over, covering her body with his. "Let me kiss you good morning, Emily—just one kiss?" He'd shared no moment like this with any woman before and he wanted it with Emily. He needed to thread his fingers in her sleep-mussed hair and feather kisses on her eyelids.

Eyes wide, she flushed but nodded. "One…one kiss, Godric," she whispered.

He didn't need any urging. His mouth found hers at the same time his hand slid inside her night rail. The delicious heat of her skin beneath his palm doubled the throbbing between his legs. He prayed he could hold himself together long enough to see to her pleasure.

Emily flinched as Godric's hand glided up between her thighs. His fingers touched her sensitive folds and stroked the hot wet flesh. When the pad of his thumb skimmed her swollen bud, she jerked. The sensation terrified her. It was almost too much for her.

A sweet tension built there, mirroring the rough possession of Godric's mouth on hers.

She focused on the movement of his tongue in her mouth and tried to imitate it, learn the savage play he sought to teach her. But she was distracted by the hardened length pressing down against her right hip.

His fingers continued to gently brush over her sensitive mons.

"Do you burn for me?" Godric whispered against her mouth.

"What? No…" She tried to deny it.

His lips curved into a smile and he sank his teeth into her bottom lip.

Emily whimpered, straining against him. "Please…"

"Please what?"

She choked down a little sob as tension continued to pool between her legs. "I don't know…"

Godric's other hand wound into her hair and pulled her head back. He exposed her throat as his mouth moved to her neck, and his fingers rubbed on that tender bud. Emily couldn't stop her hips from rolling in small circles against his hand. Blood pumped through her as the pressure and tingling turned to sharp pangs of physical excitement. Like gliding higher and higher on a swing, until she succumbed at last to the breathtaking drop. She cried out .

His laughter warmed her neck. His kisses returned to her startled lips when he withdrew his hand from between her legs and laid it on her bare hip. The touch was both possessive and sweet. His thumb smoothed tiny circles on her skin just below her waist and she resisted the urge to laugh at the ticklish sensation.

He rubbed his cheek against hers, his night beard scraping her skin. "How did you like your little kiss?"

Emily breathed in his scent, completely sated. "I liked it very much, but I think you cheated, Your Grace." She gave him an advantage with such an answer, but right now, she couldn't think clearly enough to lie.

"I cannot deny cheating was involved." The devil had the nerve to wink at her. "Every night and every morning I will kiss you."

Emily opened her mouth but he pressed a finger to her lips. "Now don't protest. You will be safe each night in my arms. I have enough restraint to stop." He sat up and released her. Emily should've scrambled off the bed but she couldn't. Her legs would give out and she'd fall right back into his arms.

He chuckled. "I thought for sure you'd flee my bed the moment I let you up."

"I…I see no need to hurry." Emily attempted to hide her unsteadiness. She tugged her night rail down to cover herself and looked at him, hoping he'd let her go.

After what she'd just experienced, she needed a good, long time alone.

Godric allowed Emily to slip into her own room. He shut his door to offer some privacy.

Even though he had not found his own release, there existed pleasure in knowing he had been the first man to touch Emily in that fashion. It put a spring in his step as he dressed for the day and made his way down to the breakfast room. He caught Simkins in the hallway and gave him instructions to send a maid to Emily.

"I trust Miss Parr is well?"

Godric didn't miss the concern in the elderly butler's face. "Yes, she is well. I take it you heard her cry out last night. Well, be at ease Simkins. The lady is fine."

"That is good, Your Grace. I trust nothing shall make Miss Parr angry or scared enough to call out in such a fashion again." A soft admonishment hid behind the butler's tone. Only Simkins could take that tone with him.

"I can't promise she won't call out again. Her temper and independence make her a feisty creature. Tell the servants they mustn't go to her, except for Libba who will see to her personal needs. Emily is my responsibility."

"But, Your Grace—"

"No buts, Simkins. If Emily is shouting, she is getting whatever she deserves, good or ill." Godric was firm on this point. Emily's seduction required daily doses of wickedness. He didn't want her to clear her head. Logic always ruined passion's best moments.

"Very well, Your Grace. Lord Sheridan and Lord Lonsdale rode to London last night, and they returned early this morning. I believe Lord Sheridan wished to speak with you about a present he brought for Miss Parr?"

"What the devil is he playing at?" Regardless of Rule Four, the thought of any man trying to woo Emily with gifts boiled his blood. "Trying to outdo me? I bought her a bloody wardrobe."

"Perhaps, Your Grace, you ought to wait and see what it is."

Was Simkins smiling as he left? Godric scowled as he followed the butler into the breakfast room. Cedric, already eating, still seemed possessed of boundless energy, despite the fact that he'd only slept for a few hours.

"Did Simkins tell you about my gift for Emily?" An irritatingly hopeful gleam in Cedric's brown eyes left Godric distinctly uncomfortable.

Godric crossed his arms over his chest. "What did you buy for her?"

"A puppy. An English foxhound."

Godric didn't know whether or not to laugh. "A dog? What good will a foxhound do her? She's not going to be hunting." What was a girl to do with a puppy, especially a hunting dog at that? Didn't most women prefer cats? A kitten would have been a smarter choice if Cedric wanted to woo the young lady. Then again, as she was fond of pointing out, Emily wasn't most women.

"I know what you're thinking, Godric, but this is more than just a present. The dog will bark and yip and follow her about. She may stop trying to escape if she doesn't want to leave the dog behind. "

Godric considered this. "You might have a point there, Cedric."

"Wonderful!" Cedric jumped out of his chair eagerly. "May I bring it to the breakfast room when she comes down?"

"I suppose." Godric took a seat and started to prepare himself a plate as Cedric vanished.

Ashton arrived at the table without a word. It troubled Godric deeply to see his friend's usually vibrant eyes so muted and dark, his healing black eye aside.

"Ash?" Godric asked.

Ashton set down his coffee cup, folded his hands and looked up at Godric. "Well?"

"Well what?"

"Did you finish what you started with Emily or did you find some mercy in that black heart of yours?"

His friend's accusation wounded him, but much like their boxing match, one he knew he deserved. "Ash, I did not harm her after you left. There was a bit of yelling, I admit, but I cooled off, or rather she cooled my temper off."

"Why do I find that hard to believe?" Ashton muttered.

"I swear it. She is still as innocent as the day she was born… Well, more or less."

Ashton's eyes narrowed. "Swear to me on the stones of Magdalene College." The stones of their college at Cambridge were the foundation of the League's relationship. An oath upon them was tantamount to swearing on the Bible.

"I swear on the stones. "

Ashton's shoulders slumped with relief. "Thank God. I lay awake all night worrying that I'd done the wrong thing, leaving her with you. You had that glint in your eye."

"She worked me up into a good temper but calmed me just as easily. We have worked out a bargain."

"Oh?" Ashton slid a tray of toast in Godric's direction.

"Emily vows she won't make any escape attempts between the hours of ten at night and six in the morning."

"And what did she get out of that arrangement?"

"My solemn promise not to seduce her between those hours. The rest of the day is fair game."

"My, my, Godric, you came out on top of that bargain, didn't you?" Ashton had returned to his usual lighthearted countenance.

The door to the breakfast room opened once more as Lucien strolled in, Emily at his side. Ashton and Godric rose to their feet as she took a seat next to Godric. Her green dress, the shade of summer grass, lit up her lilac colored eyes. The gown's sleeves were loosely puffed about her shoulders, and gathered at her back in gentle pleats that were not severe on her form, as other dresses might be. It displayed Emily's natural beauty by accenting her curves and the maid had pulled Emily's hair into a loose tangle, gathered back by green ribbons.

"So, did everyone have a good evening? I thought I heard sounds of a party…" Lucien watched Emily and Godric as he sat next to Ashton on the other side of the table. "In fact, if I didn't know better—" Ashton kicked hi m sharply, and Lucien winced. "I've been informed that I do not."

Emily reached for a plate near Ashton's elbow. He immediately passed it to her; she blushed. Godric noticed her look and rose from the table, catching Lucien's eye.

"I say, Lucien, have you spoken to Cedric? I thought we might go see what has become of him…and rouse Charles, no doubt still asleep." Godric started for the door.

Lucien sighed and followed him. "I suppose."

"May I…may I have an audience with you, my lord?" Emily tried to keep her voice from shaking, but failed.

"Of course, Miss Parr," Ashton replied.

She bit her bottom lip. How Ashton must hate her, if he refused to call her by her given name.

"My lord, about last night…" She swallowed hard. She hated apologizing, especially for something she felt she'd done right. But an apology was worth her new friend. Somewhere between her capture and this moment, she'd grown fond of the cool, collected baron. He was kind and courteous and had defended her honor.

"Please, Miss Parr, don't distress yourself on such a small matter." His tone was reassuring, but she needed him to understand. She needed to know he wouldn't abandon her again.

"I…I am sorry that I lied to you. I shouldn't have."

I should hate them. I should wish them dead for what they've done . But the rage wouldn't come. The short span of time she'd been in their company, she had been strangely happy. Godric had shown her passion, the others companionship. She couldn't let lies, even lies to secure her freedom, ruin her bond with them. How such a thing was possible she did not know.

"Miss Parr, it is I who seeks forgiveness. You did what was necessary to protect yourself from unscrupulous rakehells." Ashton pushed his chair back and walked over to her. He grasped her hands between his, holding them against his chest. "I would have acted no different in the same circumstances. I daresay I'd have done worse."

"Then…then you are not angry, my lord?"

"Miss Parr—"

"Please, don't call me that!"

"Emily, you were forgiven the moment I left your room last night."

Her head tilted. "Then why were you so quiet this morning?"

"I feared you'd not forgiven me for abandoning you. Did he harm you?" Ashton pulled Emily up on her feet and spun her around, as though inspecting her for obvious signs of harm, but there were none.

"He yelled dreadfully, but he didn't hurt me. My lord—"

"Ashton."

"Ashton, if you ever ask me for the truth, you shall have it."

Ashton smiled. "I have but one question, my dear."

"Yes?"

"How many other languages are you fluent in?"

Emily was overcome by the surge of happiness. He appreciated her intelligence where her uncle had not. "I am fluent in Greek and Latin… I am passable in French, German and Spanish."

"Not Italian?" His lips quirked into a crooked smile.

"Italian? No, I suppose it's similar enough to Latin that I might make out some of it, but not enough to be fluent."

"Ah, good, a language I can use against you, should I need to." Ashton chucked her under her chin as Godric and Lucien returned to breakfast.

Accepting the hot chocolate Godric once again served her, Emily settled herself back into her seat and relished the dark, exotic aroma. The kindness presented here was genuine and because of the rapport between them, she grudgingly forgave the kidnapping, and all that had come after it.

Despite the sometimes-rough treatment, Emily was still better off in the League's care than under her uncle's suffocating rule—or, worse, the fate she'd face with his business partner.

After breakfast, Emily rose but Godric put a hand on her arm.

"Stay. Cedric will be down soon, and he has a gift for you."

Lucien and Ashton both looked up in surprise.

Emily's eyes filled with shy disbelief. "Cedric brought me a gift?"

"Yes, he has." Godric found a smile, but not without difficulty .

It was strange that he should be angry with Emily's excitement. Godric knew her uncle had been less than kind when providing for her, but he had begun to notice just how poorly Albert treated her in the past year. The young woman deserved fine gowns, and embroidered pelisses, not threadbare dresses or worn slippers. He should be glad to see this childlike curiosity flare up in his Emily. But it hadn't come from him.

Five minutes later, Charles entered, followed by Cedric, who held a large blue hatbox. Charles shot an impish grin at Emily as she nearly bounced in her chair.

She looked to Godric. He nodded and she leapt up.

Cedric bowed and held out the large box, setting it down at her feet. "A gift for you, kitten." The box shook and Emily stepped back. Godric wrapped one arm around her waist to comfort her.

"Did it just move? What have you brought me?" Her hands rested lightly on Godric's arm.

Godric put his lips to her ear. "Open it and find out."

The men watched with fascination as she untied the loose string that held the box lid.

The lid popped off and a puppy's head peeked out, a blue satin bow around its neck. Its tail wagged so hard its little body shook. The puppy's fur was white, its ears a warm reddish brown, and its muzzle white, tapering into an elegant line up the puppy's nose and between her furry eyebrows. It was far too chubby now, but it would grow into a lean white-legged hound.

Emily didn't say a word, but she dabbed at her eyes. His friends looked aghast at her reaction.

"You don't like her?" Cedric knelt across from her, his fists clenching against his thighs, as though he fought off a wave of frustration and disappointment.

"Not like her?" Emily scooped up the wagging pup and shoved it toward Godric, who barely had time to grasp the puppy before she embraced Cedric.

Godric glowered as she placed a light, excited kiss on Cedric's face. The poor rake was blushing deeply by the time she released him and reclaimed her gift from Godric. The puppy's pink tongue lapped her chin as she held it up to her face. Never in all of Godric's life had he been jealous of a dog.

Cedric ruffled his hand through the puppy's fur. "She's an English foxhound. She'll need a lot of daily exercise, but she'll be the best hunter and the most loyal companion you'll ever have."

"You are utterly darling, my little Penelope." Emily bestowed a kiss on the puppy's head.

"Penelope?" Charles asked.

Emily shot Godric a bashful look. "Yes, Odysseus's loyal wife."

He blinked in surprise. She'd chosen a name from the story they'd shared yesterday afternoon. An odd warmth settled in his chest.

"Do you want to take her out for a walk now?" Cedric asked.

"May I, Godric? Please?" Emily freed one hand from Penelope to tug on Godric's sleeve.

"If Cedric and Charles join you." She missed his wink at Cedric as they shared a mutual triumph over the gift.

The pup had curbed Emily's urge to flee. It was clear she wouldn't bear to leave behind her Penelope. The puppy squirmed in Emily's arms and she looked upon it with such happiness that Godric wanted to buy her a thousand more to ensure that look would never leave her face.

Other women might not have been so sweetly lost in joy over such a simple gift—they would have wished for jewels and gowns, but Emily treasured books and faithful animals, not glittering trinkets and fine silk gowns.

"Shall we go?" Cedric asked and, with a delighted "yes" from Emily, the three left the breakfast room.

Lucien and Ashton stayed and turned their attention to Godric.

Lucien smirked. "Leave it to Cedric to buy Emily's affection and trick her into staying." The others chuckled.

"Yes, I wonder if he's tried that little trick with Anne Chessley yet," Ashton mused.

"He'd have to buy that woman a horse, a good one, before she'd even begin to take him seriously," Godric said.

They chuckled at the idea of Cedric trying to woo a woman who knew more than him about horses by buying her one. It surely would end in disaster.

"Well, on to more pressing matters I'm afraid," Godric said. "I have to return to London for at least the rest of the day."

"Oh?" Ashton's brows arched. Godric understood his friend's reaction. He loathed leaving Emily alone.

"Yes, I need to tidy up some affairs with my properties. I must visit my solicitor, and I thought I might pay a discreet visit to Albert Parr."

"What do you mean to say to him?" Lucien asked.

"You ought to be cautious, Godric, now that Blankenship is on our trail," Ashton said. "They're surely both trying to prove you abducted Emily. Keep what you say about Emily veiled. We can't have another unexpected visit from the magistrate."

Godric tugged the edges of his waistcoat, already irritable at the mere thought of the man. "Ash, would it be a terrible imposition if I were to ask you to come with me? Knowing how Blankenship fits into this business, I fear I may need someone to help me rein in my temper."

"Yes, of course I'll come. Lucien, would you mind taking charge here? We all know how impulsive Charles is and how Cedric can get so easily distracted. I think we'd all be wary of trusting them with a bag of sand under the circumstances. Emily will need a third adversary as much for her sake as ours."

"You don't think she'll run? Even with the dog?"

Both Godric and Ashton nodded.

"She'll try, or she'll plot. It's in her nature." Godric hadn't ignored what she told him last night, that her freedom was vital to her. No, it wouldn't change Emily's escape plans, only alter them.

"I'll watch all three of them."

Godric nodded. "Excellent. Expect us back quite late. We'll probably miss dinner. Oh, and Lucien, remind Emily of her promise to remain here between the hours of ten and six. "

"You got that little fox to agree to some terms?" Lucien asked. "Did you use thumbscrews or the rack?"

Godric's face darkened.

"Just remind her of her agreement before you leave her alone, but…and I must press this warning—" Godric and the other two men walked out into the main hall, "—don't let Emily out of your sight for even one minute before ten."

"Don't worry." Lucien slapped Godric's shoulder. "She'll be here for you when you get back."

"She better be because there will be hell to pay if she is not."