Charles slipped out of bed in the early morning. After donning his clothes, he crept to the nursery. Katherine was awake and being tended to by Emily’s nurse.

The nurse curtseyed. “Good morning, my lord.”

Kat ran toward him, and he caught her up in his arms. “Unca Charles!”

“I’ll be your papa soon. Would you like that?”

She studied him, then laid one tiny hand on his jaw and nodded. “Papa Charles?”

“That’s right.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead and held her close, his heart fit to burst as she curled her arms around his neck, hugging him back.

“I have to go downstairs now, but you stay here and play with your nurse, all right?”

The nurse’s eyes lit up as she smiled. “What a lucky child you are, Katherine, to have such a wonderful papa soon.” She led Katherine back to her pile of toys by the fire as Charles took his leave.

He paused in the doorway, watching his daughter-to-be. It didn’t matter that she was Hugo’s by birth; she would belong to Charles in every way that mattered.

As he came down the main stairs, he expected to find the house mostly empty, with everyone still asleep after their late and stressful evening. This was not the case.

“Didn’t expect to see you up and about this early,” Godric said as he exited his study. “Breakfast?”

“Very well, but then I must go. There’s much to be done today.” Charles followed Godric into the dining room. A sideboard laden with chafing dishes awaited them, fresh from the kitchen. As they ate in silence, Godric watched him.

“No nightmares last night?” he finally asked. The question had been phrased casually, but they both knew the significance. Nightmares of that night in the Cam far too often haunted his dreams. Last night he’d drifted to sleep and hadn’t stirred once.

“No, it was peaceful.”

“Good. I was worried.”

“She gives me peace, Godric. I don’t quite understand it, but I damn sure won’t question it.”

Godric’s green eyes glinted with amusement. “You were always so convinced that love was going to destroy the League, that it would make us weaker. I trust you see now that isn’t true?”

Charles sipped his tea and nodded, a rueful smile on his lips. “And I’m sure I won’t hear the end of that, either. But what if I’d never found someone who would be to me what Emily is to you? If I alone never found it, was never worthy of it. I do not think I could have endured that.”

“But you have her now, and all will be well.”

“That is my hope.” They shared a knowing look as Charles got up from the table. “I must return home and make preparations for the wedding.” He looked up at the ceiling, a sense of dread edging at the corners of his mind. “You’ll keep my ladies safe?”

“With my life,” Godric vowed.

“Thank you.” His throat always felt tight when his friends showed such loyalty and friendship to him. He could trust Lily and Kat’s safety to no one better.

A footman brought him his hat and coat as he left the house. It was hard not to study the footman and wonder if this man might be in Hugo’s employ. How could he know which servants to trust? What about in his own household? Could there be another working for Hugo that Lily did not know about? Davis had served in the military. What if…? He repressed a shudder as he rushed down to his coach.

Once home, he found Graham eating breakfast. His bruises had turned an ugly shade of black, and his arms moved stiffly as he buttered some toast.

“How are you feeling?” Charles asked. “How’s Phillip?”

“Still alive, thank the Lord, but he is so…broken. Not just in body, but in spirit. He hasn’t even woken yet except for once or twice to have a bit of water and broth. I’m worried, Charles. Phillip and I have been friends since we were boys. What if he doesn’t…” Graham dropped his toast on his plate and pushed it away, his appetite clearly gone.

Charles came over and placed a hand on Graham’s shoulder. “He will rally. He’s a strong man, as are you.”

“Strong? I daresay I am not. If I had been, he would not be lying bedridden upstairs.”

“Don’t blame yourself,” Charles said. “I know the sort of men he fought. They are strong, but they have no honor. You were damned the moment Phillip lost that hand of cards. I suspect Sheffield told them to break him. And you.”

“Perhaps, but it doesn’t ease my guilt.” Graham covered his face with his hands.

Charles looked away, not wanting to intrude on his brother’s grief. When the moment had passed, he gripped Graham’s shoulder tight and then leaned down to softly whisper in his ear. “I need you to be strong now, brother. The man responsible is coming for me soon. I need you to find an excuse to take Ella and Mother north to Scotland, as far as you can in a week. Ashton’s brothers-in-law are there. They will take you in. Hopefully the roads will be passable for traveling. But you must act calm, play as though it’s a trip to see the sights. Do you understand?”

“But—” Graham began, but Charles held a finger to his lips.

“Shhh. The walls have ears.” He pretended to reach for a plate of food beside Graham.

“Scotland?” Graham whispered back.

“Yes. There will be a wedding soon. After that, you must go quickly.”

Graham reached for his cup of tea. “A wedding? Whose?”

Charles waited for him to take a deep sip. “Mine, of course.”

Tea shot all over the table. “Yours?”

“Yes. Congratulate me, brother.” Charles spoke in a normal voice now.

“Good God, the world must be ending. Is it the woman Mother wanted to meet at the opera last night?”

“Yes, Mrs. Lily Wycliff. She’s a widow, formerly married to a cousin of the Duchess of Essex. How did you know of the opera?”

“Ella came by last night. She said Mrs. Wycliff looked stunning and was very sweet-natured.”

Charles grinned. “She is certainly the most beautiful woman the world has ever seen. She puts Helen of Troy to shame.” She had even launched the proverbial thousand ships to war, just as Helen did.

Graham stood and held out a hand to his brother. “I never thought I would see the day, but I am truly happy for you.”

“Would you…” Charles swallowed hard. “Would you stand with me, at the wedding?”

Graham was taken aback, his lips parted as he hesitated. “You want me there beside you?”

“You’re my brother,” Charles said. “There’s no more deserving place for you than at my side.”

Graham’s smile dropped as he looked away. “I’m sorry, I cannot.”

Charles’s heart fell. “Why not?”

“I have not been a proper brother to you. Too much time has passed for me to take this place so easily. I wish for things to improve between us, but I must insist on one of your friends being there instead. They have been there for you when I have not.”

Charles clasped his brother on the shoulder. “There is room enough for all of you, I wager. Don’t see it as a reflection of the past for us, but a promise for the future. Please, say you will stand by me.”

Graham hugged Charles. “I happily accept the honor.” Charles smiled, feeling that wellspring of hope inside him again. Meeting Lily had changed everything in his life for the better. Well, almost everything. “Remember, after the wedding you must take Mother and Ella north.”

Graham nodded as he let go of Charles. “Understood.”

“Now, I must meet Ashton to acquire a special license from the Doctors’ Commons. I’ll see you later this evening.”

Charles returned to his chamber and had Davis lay out a fresh set of clothes. After he bathed and dressed, he walked to Ashton’s house. Ash’s residence was on was Half Moon Street, only one block over from Charles’s home.

Ashton was coming down the stairs as Charles was let in. “Charles!” He smiled as if he were genuinely surprised to see him there, ever the actor when it was required. There was a reason no one in the League played cards or chess with the man.

“I thought you might like to accompany me to the Doctors’ Commons for a special license.”

“I’d be honored. I heard the news only this morning. Rosalind is thrilled, of course.” He took a hat and coat from his footman and followed Charles outside to wait for Ashton’s coach. They both stood outside, the cold morning air cutting through them, but at least they were reasonably sure they were alone.

“Graham will stand up with me for the wedding, as will you all, I hope. He’s going to take my mother and Ella to your wife’s relations in the north. Can you have Rosalind notify your brothers?”

“Yes. I think it’s a splendid idea.”

“What about Kent?” Charles asked. “It won’t be easy for him to move from my home.”

“We may have to risk leaving him under your roof. I’m not sure there’s any other option.” Ashton tightened his gloves as his coach stopped at the base of the steps. Charles followed him inside and waited until the vehicle was in motion again so the clatter of hooves would keep the driver from eavesdropping.

“What is our next move?”

“There’s only one left to make. Lily must go back to Hugo.”

Terror squeezed Charles’s heart. “What? She can’t. That’s too dangerous. What if her deception has been noticed?”

“She must or else her deception will be noticed. He will expect her to report on the wedding plans so that he may make his own. With luck, he may reveal to her what his next move will be, and that is information we desperately need.”

Charles wanted to argue the point, but Ashton was right. “I don’t like it.”

“I know this will be hard for you, Charles. You’re finally feeling what the rest of us feel, that wild, desperate desire to protect the woman you love. It makes us irrational and unpredictable at times, but if you cannot learn to control it, you will only make things more dangerous for her. You must trust her. She has been well trained. She would have to be to escape my detection for almost a year.”

“I suppose that is true.” The last thing he wanted was to put Lily in any more danger because he couldn’t control himself.

“Now, you should focus on the wedding. There’s still much to be done. Leave the game of chess to me and your future wife.” Ashton’s grim smile only made Charles more nervous. Ashton was welcome to play games all he liked, but not at the expense of Lily’s safety.

She comes first. Always.