Twenty-six

Emma sat next to Dare as he drove back to Greystone Hall along the sea cliff. He said nothing, but his jaw was tight, and he held the reins so firmly that his knuckles showed white. She wanted to ask what he meant by wanting her to leave but could not find the words. Instead, she remained silent and placed a gloved hand on his shoulder for a moment before returning it to her lap. She wanted to provide some comfort yet was unable to shake the ominous cloud that had descended upon them.

“I am sorry you have received such dreadful news,” began Emma, painfully aware how inadequate her words were.

Dare gave a nod of his head without looking at her, his jaw still clenched.

“I had hoped you would find answers and that would bring you peace. One could not have suspected such a revelation as this.”

“I have answers but no peace.”

“I am sorry,” Emma murmured. “I wish I could be of service to you.”

Dare met her gaze with a look of intense longing, only to have it cloud over the next moment and he returned to staring at the road ahead. “No. There is naught you can do. My father was murdered many years ago, but this crime will be avenged, I swear it.”

Emma said nothing, for she feared the vehemence with which he spoke.

Dare glanced again at her and must have seen the fear in her eyes, for he forced a breath and continued, “Forgive me for speaking of this before you. I do not wish to frighten you with such talk.”

“I am not fearful of you. I am afraid for you. You are going to track down this Harcourt, aren’t you?”

“I am.”

“Do you know how to find him?”

“No, but I warrant the bastard is near.” Dare coughed. “Forgive my language.”

“Oh no, think nothing of it. I was thinking something much worse.”

“So was I.” Dare pulled up, bringing the pair of horses slowly to a stop on the empty road. Wind whipped along the bluff and buffeted the white-capped sea. They stood on the edge of a storm.

“My father was a good man.” Dare stared out over the churning waves. “Had he not discovered Harcourt’s treachery, many would have lost their lives, and the princes either captured or killed. I wish I could have known him better.” Dare closed his eyes and hung his head.

“He was a hero. Just like his son,” said Emma softly.

“I never got to spend much time with him. He was away at sea, and when he returned the last time, he had been injured in a cannon misfire, which affected his eyes. We saw him briefly and then were away at school. I had hoped to spend time with him at holiday. Instead, my father was slowly poisoned as everything he owned was stolen from him, and then he was finally killed.” Dare worked his jaw, grinding his teeth.

“Oh, Dare, I am so sorry.” This time her hand lingered on his arm.

He turned to her, the frozen mask cracking open to reveal the anguish beneath. She opened her arms and he fell into her, holding her so tight it almost hurt, but she would never let him go. She pressed herself closer and tried to soothe away the hurt and pain, though she knew the depth of emotion was far beyond healing with an embrace.

“We will work through this together,” murmured Emma.

Dare jerked back and looked around the barren landscape as if worried they might have been seen. “No. You need to get away from here.”

Emma’s stomach clenched as the growing sense of doom washed over her. “I could not think of leaving you at such a time.”

“And I could not think of having you stay. You are in danger if you do.”

“Danger?”

“Those men who attempted to abduct Kate and shot me—they are surely Harcourt’s men. He must have heard that I had managed to crawl back from ruin and regain my fortune. He is determined to destroy me and anyone around me. No, you must go immediately. I can only hope that Harcourt will not connect you with me.”

“But—”

“At least you had the good sense to refuse my offer,” continued Darington, snapping the reins and getting the horses moving again.

Emma’s heart dropped with a sickening sense of falling. “You no longer wish to marry me?”

“What I wish does not matter now. As long as Harcourt lives, I cannot take a wife. I would only put her in grave danger.” Dare looked at her, his eyes softening. “I would not put you at risk for the world.”

A lump formed in Emma’s throat. What could she say in return? She suddenly had the urge to cry but stifled the impulse. She did not wish to burden him with her emotions. This was no time to focus on her own distress. Her mind spun, looking for a way to stay by his side, even as her darling dream crumbled before her.

They reached the house and pulled up to the stable. A stable lad ran out and held the heads of the horses, while Dare helped Emma down. Despite his injury, he lifted her down, his hands lingering for a moment about her waist before he turned back to the house.

They trudged against the wind, but Emma put her hand on his sleeve to stop him. She could not give up. She needed to tell him how she felt. Maybe, somehow, that would make a difference.

“Lord Darington, I cannot begin to express my sorrow for the difficult information you learned today.” She paused, not quite knowing how to proceed.

He stared down at her, his eyes dark, full of longing.

“I want to let you know that, though I have not known you for long, I have come to admire you greatly. I would like to… That is, I should very much…” Emma was not sure how to accept the proposal of a man who had just rescinded it.

“Stop!” Dare yelled past her and pulled her behind him.

Emma was shoved to the ground, hitting the cold mud hard. The dark figure of an unknown man ran from the side of the house. Dare ran after him as fast as he could manage. “I command you to stop!”

The stranger sprinted behind a copse of trees and the sound of hooves could be heard a moment later. Dare did not make it far before he doubled over in pain. He pulled a pistol from his pocket and shot.

Emma scrambled up off of the cold, wet ground and ran to Dare, who was still holding his side. Several members of the house staff ran outside toward them.

“Are you all right? Did you shoot that man?” she asked, her voice drowned out by the others demanding what happened.

Dare was breathing hard, holding his side. “I did not stop him. Go catch him. Quick now!” he commanded, and the men hastened to follow his commands, though the stranger was no longer in view.

“Forgive me.” Dare turned to her as the heavens opened up and began to pour down rain. “Did I hurt you?”

“No, no, I am well,” she answered. She had lost her bonnet and so rain streamed down her face.

Dare took her arm and tugged her back to the house. “Probably best for you to stay here tonight and then I’ll take you to Portsmouth tomorrow. Glad you are going to America. You need to get away from me. Far away.”

Emma was glad for the torrential rain, for he would not be able to distinguish the rain from her tears. The dream was gone. She had lost him.

And now he would never know.