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

by Wendy Vella

  “You’re mad, and wh-what’s more, I would never accept you... especially not because I’m a bloody Raven!”

  Emily was now pressed to the door, eyes wide, hands clenched before her, looking at him as if she’d never seen him before.

  “No, I’m perfectly sane, and I’m sorry if my words upset you, but I’ve always believed we spoke the truth to each other.”

  Her disbelief was obvious.

  “You cannot be serious?”

  He grabbed her arms as she tried to turn and reach for the door handle.

  “Totally. I have given the matter some thought, and believe it is the best course of action.”

  “W-well it is not the best course of action for me!”

  “Come and sit down, Emily, so we can discuss the matter.” He heard Eden’s words. “My brother is handling the situation like a bumblehead.”

  “I-I don’t want to sit down, and surely you can all see this is a foolish idea!”

  “It is not foolish,” Cam said calmly. “Most women would be happy to be wed to me—”

  “Shut up you fool,” one of his sisters moaned.

  “I’m not most women! Dear Lord, have you taken leave of your senses? I’m a baseborn daughter of a duke who has never stepped foot in society. Do you wish to give all that up?”

  “You will enter society at my side, just as Max attends functions with Essie, so stop throwing your birth about the place as an excuse for everything.”

  Her head shook furiously.

  “No... absolutely not!” She looked around him to find Max. “Have Essie make him something, I’m sure insanity has taken hold.”

  “I’m perfectly sane, thank you. And as I have explained, it seems I must marry a Raven, so why not you?” He heard another groan, this time from his brother.

  Cam pulled her off the door, and then placed a hand on her stiff spine, nudging her back to the seat.

  “How long has this idea been inside your head?” Dev said, but he no longer looked shocked. In fact he appeared relieved, which Cam thought odd.

  “I thought of it this morning when I encountered Max and James discussing what happened last night.”

  “No!” Emily did a neat little spin and then ran for the door. “You are all foolish to believe we could ever be married.”

  She wrenched the door open and ran from the room.

  “That went well,” Dev said.

  “Cam, you are a fool,” Eden said. “You handled that entire situation badly.”

  “I was truthful!”

  “No woman wants to hear a man is marrying her in such a way, even if it is truthful.”

  Dev held up a hand as Cam prepared to launch a verbal attack on his sister.

  “While I am not displeased by the idea, given what has been occurring between you lately, there is the small matter that you and Emily cannot be in the same room together without fighting. My fear is that we would wake one morning to news in The Trumpeter that you had disposed of each other in a bloody battle over the dinner table.”

  “I have no wish to marry for love.” Cam scowled at Eden. “Indeed I have made that quite clear. So why not marry Emily? It would save her reputation, and as I have just explained it’s likely I will end up with a Raven if history is any indication, so better one I already know, and I have already saved.”

  “God’s blood, Sinclair, we are discussing the future of my sister!”

  “Do you think I take this matter lightly, James?” Cam looked at his brother-in-law. “That I do not see the gravity of the situation? Indeed, when I first offered this morning, it was an impulse, but I have since given it serious thought, and believe marrying Emily is the best course of action. I will give her my name and protection.”

  James put his head in his hands and Max began to pace the room. Eden rose and approached Cam.

  “What now?” he snapped at her.

  “You are a very noble man, brother. I love you.”

  He grunted something, not entirely comfortable with her words, as no man would be, and hugged her back.

  “But you still could have handled this better.”

  “She will need to agree,” Max said. “We will not force her to marry you.”

  “Of course.”

  “You are sacrificing any chance of a love like we, your family have, Cam. Are you happy to do that?”

  “I think they will love,” Eden said softly. “Just as we do, James.”

  “You can stop those fanciful notions right now, sister. I have no wish to love as you do. And if I may remind you again, I have no wish for the messy emotions accompanying that state. I will add to that, marrying someone I know will be a great deal easier than someone I do not. Plus, Emily knows about us, even if she has never outright said anything. She has observed and is an intelligent woman.”

  “You will be loyal to her.”

  Cam held Max’s eyes.

  “I believe in the sanctity of marriage. I will not stray, as she will not.”

  “I can’t believe we are actually contemplating this,” Dev said, impaling Cam with a fierce green look. “You know it is my belief we wed for love... and that our colors must match anyone we choose to live our lives with?”

  “What color is she?” Cam made himself ask. His brother’s smile was small, but a smile nonetheless.

  “A very pretty shade of orange.”

  “Is Cam the same?” Max asked.

  “He is.”

  James and Max looked relieved, as both held a great deal of stock in Dev’s belief that no one should marry unless their mate was a color match.

  “She would be safe with him,” Max mused. “There is that thing they all have.”

  “It is not a thing,” Eden said calmly. “It is a sense, and may I remind you, it saved your life, Max.”

  He looked rueful. “How could I forget.”

  “There are many positive factors to this situation,” James said. “And if he misbehaves we can thrash him.”

  “You could try,” Cam said, glaring at the duke.

  “Christ,” Max hissed. “It is almost more than I can take in. Cam married, but more importantly, to Emily.”

  “She must agree,” James added. “It will not happen if she does not.”

  “Jackson needs to pay for what he has done to this family,” Dev growled. “And pay dearly.”

  “He will. I discussed the matter with Edward, he is going to find every secret and dealing the man has with anyone. I want to crucify him. But it will not be enough to do so physically. I want him to suffer in every way, and the first part of that plan is take away what he loves: money. If we can break him, I will force him to state he dragged my sister into that room with the intention of ruining her.”

  “We have to find him first,” James added.

  “And then?” Cam said.

  “Then what is left of him will be put on a boat somewhere. We are just not sure as yet where.”

  Cam nodded. Jackson would pay, her brothers would make sure of it. But so would he, because Cam would track the bastard down, and make it so.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  “We are to go out, Emily, and would like you to come with us. We are visiting Lord and Lady Cindery, and you like them.”

  “I will stay home, but thank you, James.”

  Her brother frowned.

  “You cannot stay inside this house indefinitely, Emily. The Cinderys will not mention the incident with Jackson, and are lovely people.”

  “I know they are, but I wish to stay home, thank you.”

  “You won’t talk to anyone, and constantly hide in your room. Samantha is the only one you spend time with. Surely you do not wish to live your life in such a way?”

  “Let me go to Raven Castle, and then you will no longer have to worry about me, and everything will return to the way it was.”

  “I will always worry about you,” he said quietly, his voice deadly serious. “And I have no wish to send you away from us.”

  “But sure
ly it is the best for everyone.” Emily tried to make him see reason. “I like Raven Castle.”

  “The same castle you told Eden was chilly even on a warm day? The castle you said echoed with the ghosts of my ancestors?”

  She had said that. However, it had been on a particularly cold day, and the castle had seemed a dreary place.

  “Oh, but if I am there constantly I will—”

  “I am not discussing this now.” James raised a hand. “Eden is awaiting me with Samantha and Isabella downstairs. I would ask that you do not leave the house until I return.”

  “I will not leave, I promise, but please just think about me going to Raven Castle, James.”

  “You will be isolated there, and alone. Is that what you really wish?”

  The thought made her heart weep. To not see those she now loved would be devastating.

  “I will see you all when you return.”

  “And then we will leave again. We are a family, and have no wish for you to be away from us.”

  “Oh.” Emily sniffed. “Thank you.”

  “Emily.” James sighed. “I had thought things between us were improving, but since Cam’s proposal they have regressed. When will you understand that I love you no matter how you feel about me—”

  “Oh... really?”

  “Really, why is that so hard to believe?”

  She had to tell him the truth, she owed him that much. She could not fix everything but perhaps in this she could do what was right and stop hiding behind her fears. “I do care for you, James, very much.”

  Her words surprised him, and that shamed her. She had withdrawn into herself since the incident with Mr. Jackson. Shame had forced her back into hiding, and that was wrong. She’d vowed to be stronger, vowed to be part of this family, and she’d failed once again. It had to stop; at least in this she had to try harder.

  “I’m sorry if you believed otherwise, James. It was never my intention to hurt you. In fact, I love you as you do me,” Emily added softly. Because she did love him, and it was wrong not to say so. This man had done so much for her and she had repaid him by hiding her true self.

  “Really?”

  “Really, and it was wrong of me not to show you that after what you have done for me.”

  “I had thought your actions were because of our father,” he said. “That I am a duke, and therefore—”

  “No!” Oh how wrong she had been to not speak out sooner. He had carried this belief with him, and it could not be further from the truth.

  “My shame kept me distant from you, James. My brother’s actions, and my birth. It was never you.”

  He folded her gently into his arms.

  “No, never could I think that way. You are one of my miracles, Emily. The sibling I always hoped for, but never believed I would have. You, Samantha, and Max complete me. I would never blame you for your brother, or your birth, as I realize now you would not blame me for my father.”

  “I’m sorry, James, I should have spoken sooner. It was just so hard to adjust to this life, so hard to try and fit in when I had lived so differently. I did not want to make a misstep.”

  He held her arms, placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

  “I constantly make missteps, but having my family at my back makes me stronger, and able to cope. Use our strength, Emily, because we are at your back too.”

  She managed a nod, but could find no words around the lump in her throat.

  “And now I must go, as my daughter is likely wailing loudly, and my wife will not be pleased if we are late. But always remember that I love you very much, and you are a part of me, Emily.”

  “Thank you,” Emily whispered.

  “The rest we will talk about later, but for now know you always have a home here with us, no matter what future choices you make.”

  He kissed her cheek, and hugged her close briefly. Emily found herself holding him tight, and then he was gone, leaving her alone, as she would be if she went to Raven Castle.

  Her heart felt lighter, and yet there was still the shadow hanging over her of what to do. Emily decided on a walk in the gardens to clear her head. Surely that was permitted? Pulling on her coat, she patted the pockets searching for gloves, and heard a rustle.

  Pulling out the note Cambridge had given her, she realized it had been in there since the day he offered to marry her. She quickly read the words. Excitement raced through her, chasing away all other thoughts… well perhaps not all. Cam was constantly inside her head. She read it again.

  Miss Tolly,

  I was extremely interested in your paper. It was well written and researched. Of course I knew all it contained, as I have studied the subject of astronomy for many years. However, I am having a private viewing of my Reflective Telescope on the third Tuesday of the month, and would like to extend you an invitation to come along. I shall expect you at midday.

  It was signed Mr. Fossett, and the third Tuesday of the month was today.

  “Oh, I must see it!” Emily clutched the letter to her chest. To look through a reflective telescope was something she had never thought she would do.

  “But how can I?” she whispered as the memory of James’s words quelled her excitement. If she left the house, her family would be furious. “Think, Emily.”

  Dressing in her bonnet and gloves, she wrapped a scarf around her neck and went to find the butler.

  “Buttles, is there a carriage available?” She found him reading in his small office.

  “You should have rung for me, Miss Tolly,” he said, hurrying to his feet.

  “My legs work perfectly well, Buttles. Now, is there a carriage that I could use?”

  “No, Miss Tolly.”

  “I have a need to go somewhere at once, indeed it is quite urgent.”

  The man gave her a steady look; like all servants, he was fully abreast of what was what in the household, and in his case more so.

  “I’m sorry, Miss Tolly, but the weather is deteriorating, and I’m sure you would be better advised staying inside.”

  Had James told him she was not to leave? Thoughts churned furiously inside her head as she tried to come up with a plan.

  “I wish to have a footman and my maid accompany me, Buttles. I will leave the house shortly.”

  “Can I advise his grace of your destination should he return before you, Miss Tolly?”

  “I am to walk to Mr. Huntington’s.” Emily had to stand firm, or the man would convince her to stay. But if Max was home, he would take her where she wanted to go, and James would surely be happy with that?

  “Of course, please excuse me.”

  Hurrying to the front entrance, Emily waited. Tapping her foot, she realized there were only two hours left to get to Cribridge House, which she believed was at least an hour’s drive from London. It would likely take longer in these conditions, so she must make a move soon.

  With John the footman and Belinda, she hurried out the door that Buttles held open minutes later.

  “Good day, Buttles. I shall be all right.” She patted his hand, as a line of worry had formed on his forehead. “If my brother should return before me, tell him I am with... my other brother.”

  Now she had cleared the air with James, she felt freer somehow, even though this business with Jackson and Cam’s proposal still hung over her. It was one less burden to shoulder.

  Knocking on Max’s front door yielded her nothing, as she was notified by his butler that the entire household was out. She then walked to Lord Sinclair’s next. Perhaps Lilly would accompany her? No one was home there either.

  “Why is everyone out on such a day?” Emily looked skyward. It was gray and cold, with the promise of snow. Surely the best place to be was home?

  Should she just get into a hackney? Would her brothers ever let her leave the house again if she did so?

  Without realizing it Emily’s feet had begun walking once more, and soon she was standing before the Earl and Countess of Wynburg’s house. Lady Wynburg was aunt t
o the Sinclair family and had often enjoyed discussing astronomy with Emily. Perhaps she would like to accompany her? James and Max would not be angry then, surely?

  Five minutes later she was back out on the street. They were not home either.

  I am doomed. She looked skyward; had a snowflake just settled on her nose? The weather was deteriorating. With a sigh, Emily thought about just turning around and walking home. It was only a telescope; surely one day she would be presented with another opportunity to see through one?

  “But I want to see it.”

  “What?”

  Dear Lord, why did it have to be him of all people?

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Emily faced Cambridge Sinclair. He was only a few feet away, but she had not heard him approach. He, however, had heard her words.

  He looked large and intimidating dressed in a black hat, heavy black greatcoat into which was tucked a tan woolen scarf, and black hessians. His hands were encased in tan gloves, and she realized that when he was not surrounded by Devon, Max, and James, he was actually a large, intimidating man. The man who wished to marry her.

  She’d avoided him for days, and now suddenly here he was. Her tongue felt as if it was stuck to the roof of her mouth as she looked at him. He had such a presence about him, such a charisma that it almost took her breath away.

  “Hello.”

  “Hello,” Emily said, digging her toes into the soles of her leather boots. She felt awkward seeing him. When last they met, he had asked her to marry him. Actually, what he had said was he needed to marry at some stage in his life, and as history suggested it would be to a Raven, it may as well be her.

  “What has you out in this weather, alone?” His tone was polite.

  “I have a maid and a footman with me,” Emily said quickly, shooting a look over her shoulder at the servants who were standing several feet behind her trying to appear inconspicuous. “I would never leave the house alone.”

  “My mind is at ease.”

  It didn’t look at ease, Emily thought. In fact, he looked angry.

  “It was reckless of you to leave the house at all, Emily.”

  Emily bit back the words she wanted to say. Right at that moment retreat was her best option. It seemed likely that she would not be looking through Mr. Fossett’s reflective telescope today.