by Laura Landon
“Does that surprise you?”
“Yes.”
“My grandfather was a very intelligent member of Society. He was well thought of, and an excellent businessman. He took the little his father gave him and invested it wisely. He worked hard and was a very wealthy man when he died.”
“What happened to his wealth?”
“It went to my father and my brother. My father was not blessed with a good sense of business and made one bad investment after another. My brother was a lazy wastrel. He enjoyed gambling and womanizing and spent far more money than he had.”
“How did your father die?”
“He drank himself to death.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, and Jonah could tell from the sympathy in her voice that she truly meant it.
“They had both died by the time I came home from the war. Perhaps if I would have been here, things might have been different, but it’s too late to think of that now.”
“Yes,” she said. “You can’t live in the past, or carry guilt for the choices your father and brother made. You only have to answer for the choices you make in the here and now.” She gave him a piercing look. “As I am.”
Jonah shifted on the bench to face her. “Is there not someone else you care for? Someone else you would like to marry?”
Lady Emma drew back, giving him an odd, almost questioning look, as if she were considering his own marital worth. And then she sighed.
“No,” she answered as she rose from the bench and took two steps from him. “I have known I would not marry from the day Society discovered the amount of money my father had put in trust for when I marry. I remember that day vividly. Every man who had not so much as asked me to dance suddenly wanted to court me. There wasn’t an empty set on my dance card from the moment rumors of my worth began to circulate. I felt like a prize horse at Tattersall’s.”
“I don’t blame you,” Jonah said, rising to his feet. “But speaking of horses, walk with me while we talk over a bit of business.”
Emma lifted her gaze and took his arm. The corners of her mouth turned upward into a most appealing smile. To Jonah, her smile was her most enchanting feature. It might be winsome one moment, then pensive, inviting, or even intriguing the next. It could sit suspended upon her face while it lit her eyes, as if she were about to make a spontaneous comment. Or even a scandalous one. Her facial animations cast a prettiness over her features—a warm, smouldering welcome that invited closer study. The very effect of it tugged at his heart and refused to release it.
“Horses, you say?”
“Ahem. Yes. Your horse, in particular.”
“My horse?”
“Yes. You won’t be needing it, as I will be escorting you to London in the carriage. If you should require a mount, you’re welcome to either of the two remaining in my stable.” He cast his eyes away from her. He simply couldn’t voice the real reason for wanting to sell her horse, so he fished about for a compelling reason. “But really, your stepbrother will have put out word that he’s looking for a young woman on horseback, so you can’t be seen out riding anyway. And I have a buyer if you give permission for me to pursue the sale.”
The real reason for the sale stuck in his throat like a bit of bad fish. The funds from the sale of the horse would cover the cost of her passage on Captain Randall’s ship. It was humiliating. He would give the world to gift her the price of her passage himself.
And if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
They walked in silence a few paces down the path until Lady Emma stopped and laid a hand on his arm.
“Jonah, your kindness and hospitality have overwhelmed me. My horse is yours to do with as you please.” She gave his arm a gentle squeeze. “With my deepest thanks.”
Jonah smiled at her warm appreciation. “I’ll see to it the moment I return.”
An expression of surprise crossed her face. “Return? Are you leaving?”
“Yes. I must go to London. I’ll find out if Captain Russell has returned and when he will be sailing again. If I’m lucky,” he said, nudging her shoulder with his own, “he won’t be sailing again for months. Maybe years.”
She looked up in time to catch his dramatic wink. “You’re flirting with trouble now, Lord Glassborough,” she said with a wink of her own. “I think I must leave before I completely wear out my welcome.”
Jonah stifled the words of denial that flew to his tongue and kept his answer light. “I imagine I can suffer through a few more days.”
Emma paused in the middle of the path and turned to face him. “You were serious when you offered to find me passage on your friend’s ship?”
“Of course I was. I completely understand why you’re anxious to leave,”
Emma lowered her gaze. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I have no money yet. I can’t pay you for my passage.”
Without realizing it, Lady Emma had opened the way for him to confess without shame. He could not have been more grateful.
“That’s not a problem. Your horse should cover the cost of it,” he answered.
“Of course! Oh, splendid! I can’t thank you enough, my lord.”
Letting her regain her self-esteem by providing for her own need was an unexpected reward. Jonah locked his gaze with hers. He battled the ache inside him when he thought of how lonely he’d be when she was gone. He’d never taken such pleasure in each day as he had since Emma had arrived. He didn’t want to think of how desolate he would be when she left.
“How long will you be gone?” she asked, looping her arm through his and making her way further down the path.
“Five days at the most, I would think. If Captain Russell is already in London and is preparing to set sail for his return trip to Virginia I’ll return immediately to get you.”
Jonah saw the excitement on Emma’s face and the ache inside him hurt worse.
“Should I go with you? Perhaps—”
“No, you need to stay out of sight. The last thing we want is for your stepbrother to see you.”
Jonah wasn’t sure if Emma agreed with him or not, but finally she nodded.
“When are you leaving?” she asked.
“First thing in the morning. If I make good time, I should reach London before nightfall.”
“Thank you,” she said. Tears swam in her eyes but she swiped them away before they spilled over her lashes.
Jonah brought her close and placed a brotherly kiss on her cheek. He wanted to kiss her mouth as he’d done once before but he knew that would be a tragic mistake. Kissing her once had been a huge error in judgement. Kissing her a second time would be fatal.
“I need to return to the house. I have papers to organize before I can leave.”
He gave her hand a warm pat and stepped away, letting the small pain of separation resume its place above his heart.
As he’d known it would.
Chapter 8
Jonah pushed Jupiter as hard as he dared. His trip to London had gone well. First, Lady Emmaline’s horse had brought a very fair price, sold to a fellow in the next village. He’d promised to keep the horse out of sight in his barn for ten days.
Next, he found that Captain Russell had docked several weeks earlier and was preparing to set sail in a week’s time. That would give Jonah six days to return to Glassborough and escort Emma to London. Thankfully, the captain’s wife agreed to accompany her husband as a chaperone for Emma. It could not have worked out better.
Or worse.
Jonah wiped a hand over his face. He was so tired. He’d been up since dawn and had traveled all day to reach home. When his eyes closed and he swayed in the saddle for more times than he could count, he decided to stop at the Pig and Ale Inn to rest for a moment and drink a pint of ale in an effort to revive himself. He only had a few miles to go until he reached Glassborough, but as tired as he was, he wasn’t sure he could make it.
When he arrived at the Pig and Ale, the yard was th
ankfully empty. He wasn’t in the mood to put up with a crowd of rowdy workers and tenants who’d stopped by for a pint before they went home.
He dismounted and tied Jupiter to a post.
The second he stepped into the taproom, he felt an eerie tension. Ordinarily he found the patrons engaged in jovial conversation. But tonight’s small crowd seemed ill at ease. Jonah turned his attention to the man at the end of the bar and guessed that he was the reason for their unease.
“Surely one of you has seen her. She’d hardly blend in with you lot,” he said, slurring his words. “She’s a lady.”
Jonah took a chair at a table in the corner of the room, far enough from the man that he hoped he hadn’t been noticed. Unfortunately, before the barmaid even came to see what Jonah wanted to drink, the man staggered over.
“Are you from around here?” he asked.
Jonah lifted his head enough to look at the man. “Who wants to know?”
“Baron Marquardt. The woman I’m looking for is my sister.”
“And you lost her?”
Jonah’s comment earned him snickers from the few men in the room as well as a malicious glare from Emma’s drunken brother. Jonah could see why Emma feared her stepbrother. He seemed a black-hearted excuse for a human being.
The barmaid approached with the ale and Jonah lifted the mug to his lips and took a long swallow.
“So, have you seen her? She’s not much to look at. Dark hair, well-dressed. Rides a chestnut mare.”
Jonah finished his ale and lifted his mug to indicate he wanted another tankard.
“I’m just returning from London where I saw several women who match your sister’s description. No doubt they felt it safe to walk the streets now that you’ve vacated the city.”
“You’re a bloody smug toff,” Emma’s stepbrother hissed as he rose and kicked his chair across the room.
Before he could step away from Jonah’s table, Jonah slammed his hand down and clasped Marquardt’s wrist in an iron grip. “I’d watch my temper if I were you, Marquardt. We don’t take kindly to pompous jaybirds from London causing trouble where there’s no need.”
Jonah gave Marquardt’s wrist a cruel twist, then released him. Emma’s stepbrother staggered across the room and took his place at the end of the bar.
“Thanks, my lord,” the bartender said, bringing Jonah another mug of ale. “That bloody bloke’s been nothing but trouble since he came.”
“How long has he been here?”
“Two, three days. Been looking for his sister who ran away from him. Not that I blame her. I’d run as far from that one as I could get.”
Jonah cast a glance at Marquardt. He’d knocked over a stool at the bar and was stumbling up the stairs to his room. “Hopefully, you won’t be bothered by him any longer tonight.”
Jonah reached in his pocket and pulled out coins to pay for his last mug of ale.
“No,” the bartender said. “Last one’s on the house. You earned it.”
“Thank you,” Jonah said, then finished his ale. The sooner he left, the sooner he’d get home so he could protect Emma. The man who threatened her future was altogether too close for comfort. She was right. She needed to leave England as soon as possible.
Jonah mounted Jupiter and rode to Glassborough Manor. He handed his mount to Farley and strode to the house. When he reached the door, Carter was waiting for him.
“Has Lady Emma retired?” he asked as he entered the foyer. It was late, but not so late that he couldn’t stop to bid her good evening. He needed to tell her what he’d found out from Captain Russell, as well as that he’d met her stepbrother. He knew she would be pleased to know he’d arranged passage to America. Just as she’d be more anxious than ever to be gone from Glassborough Manor. Even though he wasn’t ready to see her go.
“Yes, my lord. The lady is in the library. She’s waited up every night since you left.”
Jonah couldn’t help but smile.
“Would you like me to have the servants make up a tray, my lord?”
“Yes, please, Carter. And some bread and cheese and meat. I didn’t stop to eat on my way home.”
“Right away, my lord.”
Carter turned away and Jonah turned toward the library. He couldn’t wait to see Emma. He couldn’t put into words how much he’d missed her. Now he looked forward to bringing that joyous smile to her face with his good news, even though it would crush him to do so.
He touched the inside pocket of his jacket and felt the books he’d purchased on his way out of London. He knew she would enjoy reading something more current than the books he had on his shelves.
Jonah walked down the hall and stopped before he entered the library. Emma wasn’t sitting in one of the chairs reading like he imagined she would be, but was standing by one of the cushioned wing chairs, facing the doorway.
“Greetings, my lord,” she said with a smile on her face. “I heard you enter. I can’t tell you how pleased I am to see you’ve returned safely.”
“Emma,” he said, taking long, eager strides to reach her. He leaned close to her and placed a kiss on each cheek.
“May I pour you a glass of brandy?”
“With haste,” he replied jovially, then sat on the sofa and stretched his legs out in front of him. He couldn’t believe how good it felt to be able to stretch out after riding all day.
Emma brought the glass of brandy and he took it from her hand.
“I was sure you’d arrive home tonight.”
“Were you?” he said with a smile, then took a swallow of the brandy. It was much more satisfying than the ale he’d had at the Pig and Ale. He took another sip.
“Yes I was. Did you have a successful trip?”
“If you’re asking if I saw Captain Russell, then yes. I had a very successful trip. Captain Russell has been in England for nearly a month and is preparing to set sail in about a week.”
“Oh, Jonah!”
There was the joyous smile, igniting dual flames within him and setting fire to his aching heart.
Emma breathed an audible sigh. “I can’t believe it. It won’t be long and I’ll be where Gerald can no longer touch me.”
“Yes. It won’t be long now.”
The expression on Emma’s face was puzzling. But Jonah didn’t have time to ask her what caused her confusion until the maids who had arrived with the tea service and tray left the room.
“You don’t seemed pleased for me,” Emma said.
“How can I be pleased when in less than a week you’ll be gone? I’ll miss you, Emma. Surely you know that.”
“Jonah, don’t.”
Perhaps the thought of Emma leaving caused such a maudlin emotion because he’d been on the road all day and was tired beyond belief. Perhaps the thought of Emma leaving was more real now that the plans were in motion and the date of her departure was not that far in the future. Perhaps the reason was that Jonah didn’t know how he would survive when she was gone.
“Never mind me, Emma. I’m just tired.”
Emma piled meat and cheese on a slice of bread for Jonah, then poured herself a cup of tea and sat back in her chair.
“Here,” he said, handing Emma the books he’d purchased by trading his watch fob to the bookseller. “I thought you might enjoy these.”
Emma took the books. “Oh, Jonah. Thank you. You’re too kind! But I’m the one who should be gifting my host.”
“Your presence has been gift enough,” Jonah said, then tried to cover his forthright words by taking a bite of his sandwich.
“I met your stepbrother tonight,” he said when he finished his food.
Emma dropped the book into her lap and her eyes darted upward. “What? Where?”
The fear in Emma’s eyes was plain to see.
“At the Pig and Ale. I was falling asleep and stopped to rest for a few moments.”
“The Pig and Ale? Is that near here? Did you speak to him?”
“About twelve miles. And yes. He was fa
r into his cups and was asking anyone within hearing if they’d seen you.”
Emma rose from her chair and paced the room. She clutched the books he’d given her so tightly to her breast that her knuckles had turned white.
“He’s found me. He’s found me! What did you tell him?”
“Nothing, Emma. Nothing. Besides, he was so drunk he no doubt won’t even remember he saw me when he wakes in the morning.”
“I have to leave.”
“And we will. Day after tomorrow. Farley has found two men who will accompany us as guards.”
“But if Gerald’s here, I need to—”
“You need to stay where you are. The longer he stays around, the easier it will be for Farley to keep an eye on him.”
Jonah could see Emma wasn’t convinced, and he knew she needed reassurance. He rose and walked to the sideboard, poured her a glass of wine and handed it to her. “Here, drink this. It will calm your nerves.”
“But you don’t know what he’s like,” she said when she’d taken a swallow of the wine.
“Yes, I do. You forget. I met him. He’s got the devil in him. I saw it in his eyes.”
She looked at him with the most terrified expression and Jonah pulled her close and held her in his arms. “Don’t worry, love. Nothing will happen to you. I’ll keep you safe.”
Jonah held her for as long as he dared, then led her to the sofa. “Finish your wine, then it’s early to bed. You can start packing in the morning. We need to be on our way in less than thirty-six hours.”
She took another sip of her wine and nodded as if she agreed with what he said. But the fear in her eyes told another story.
It would be the longest thirty-six hours of her life.
Chapter 9
Jonah slept far longer than he’d intended, but he’d been so tired when he went to bed the night before that he was thankful he woke up any time before noon. He dressed, then went to the breakfast room. He wasn’t sure what he needed more, food to put in his stomach, several cups of coffee to help him wake, or the sight of a beautiful woman.
After he drank his second cup of coffee and cleaned his plate of all the food he’d put on it, he realized he’d needed all three. As he finished, he looked up when Carter entered the room. “Mr. Farley to see you, my lord.”