He hadn't said it last night, but Emma knew Adam loved her. She now knew what it felt like to be cherished. Each caress, each kiss demonstrated his tender feelings toward her. She knew, too, what it felt like to be a wife. She knew what it was to be in love.

But she had not uttered those words to him, either. He must say it first. She had already made all the advances.

On this, the last day of their journey, they sat very close in the carriage, and neither she nor her husband seemed able to keep their hands off one another. She could not remove the smile from her face or the effervescence from her heart. She could shout her love of Adam from the spire of every church between here and London. What had she ever done to deserve such happiness?

Just as on the first day of their journey, she did not want this to come to an end. His house was awfully large, and as lovely as it was, she preferred the intimacy of this coach. It kept them so close, a sheet of paper could not have wedged between them.

"Are you not looking forward to being home?" Lady Sophia asked her.

Emma shook her head. "I have enjoyed every minute of this excursion—except for that one horrid night." Her gaze dropped to the red circles of oozing flesh at her wrists. They were healing. She wondered if Adam's tender kisses last night had aided in their visible recovery.

Even though that one night had been horrendous, all her physical and mental suffering was obliterated when Adam had drawn her into his arms. He had then given her to understand that losing her had made him realize how important she was to him.

Every second of her misery had been worth it for it solidified their love for one another.

"What could you possibly find to enjoy about being cooped up like this for days on end?" Lady Sophia asked.

"Many things. I acquired the experience of staying in an inn. Because it was a new experience for me, the anticipation was every bit as exciting as the actual stay."

The expression on William's face was one of incredulousness. "You mean you really enjoyed staying at an inn?"

Adam chuckled. "Something as lackluster as building supplies being drawn down the Strand inordinately excites my wife."

"It's because I'd spent all of my life in a village of less than one hundred people."

"Oh, dear," Lady Sophia exclaimed. "That certainly would limit the marriage pool."

Emma laughed. "Indeed. I had but one suitor, and the poor fellow was exceedingly dimwitted. He gave me a fright when he told me he'd proclaimed his love for me by carving into the Queen Elizabeth tree on the village common. I was relieved when I saw it for he misspelled my name."

"How could one misspell Emma?" Lady Sophia asked, her brows lowered.

"I-M-A."

They all laughed.

"Pray," William asked, "what is the Queen Elizabeth tree?"

"The queen was supposed to have planted a tree in our village green on her progress north, but somehow she bypassed Upper Barrington—as is commonly done. Since they did not want to waste a good oak, one of my Lippincott ancestors went ahead and planted it, and it's been called the Elizabeth tree ever since."

"I would say," Lady Sophia said, "that it's most fortunate you left Nothing Barrington, came to London, and swept Adam off his feet."

It pleased Emma that they thought her marriage to Adam had begun as a love match. She hoped with all her heart it truly was one now. Emma tucked her arm into his. "I am very fortunate." She had started to say she was the most fortunate girl in all of England, but her husband would have been sure to chide her for speaking in hyperbole. But she most certainly did believe she was the most fortunate girl not only in England but in all the universe.

Because of the fair weather and the good roads, they reached London before dark. Before they left the carriage, Adam stealthily peered from his coach window to see if he could tell if someone was watching their house. He hadn't told them what he was doing, but Emma had come to know him very well—as he had come to know her.

This blending of minds, too, was part of being married. There was not a part of being married that she didn't enjoy.

"Any solo men lurking about, eyeing our house?" she asked. It was the first time she had ever referred to the Curzon Street house as our house. Today was the first time she felt as if she truly was Adam's wife.

"Not that I can tell."

They said their farewells to William and Lady Sophia and climbed from the coach. "We're back at our home, my dear one."

He'd said it! Everything that had been his was now ours. She felt as if she walked on air as she strolled on her husband's arm to their front door.

* * *

The following morning, after they awakened in her bedchamber within each others' arms, Adam told her he had a very busy day.

"I must go to the bank, but before that, we shall go to Emmott's. It's been almost a week since we left those handwriting samples there. We ought to have an answer now."

"I know the answer already."

"I believe I do, too." Their eyes met. "You, by the way, are coming with me wherever I go." He climbed from the bed and began to get dressed.

She sat up in bed and watched him. "As much as I loathe James Ashburnham, I shall have to be grateful to him for keeping me by the person with whom I most want to share my life." There! She'd said nearly the same words to him that he'd said to her the first night of their lovemaking.

"You just haven't been around me long enough. You'll be glad when Ashburnham's brought to justice and you can be rid of me."

She pouted. "I almost wish he'd never be brought to justice."

A heated look on his face, he crossed the bedchamber, half dressed, and drew her into his arms, groaning. "Do you have any idea of the effect you have upon me?" He hungrily crushed his lips to hers.

Of this, too, she knew she would never tire.

* * *

As much as she had enjoyed their four days of carriage travel with William and Lady Sophia, Emma preferred being alone with her husband in their coach. This morning he pulled her onto his lap, and they partook of whispery, nibbly kisses between Mayfair and Holborn. They did not even mind when their carriage came to a complete stop for several minutes on the Strand, owing to the snarl of conveyances.

Neither irate hackney drivers, lads hawking hot chestnuts, nor the clatter of glass breaking could detract from her enjoyment of this short journey across London. The lashing of wind outside on this cool day only contributed to the sense of well-being she felt ensconced within the coach—with the man she loved.

As they neared Mr. Emmott's establishment, she saddened. It was so close to where her uncle's company was located. He must have ridden down this same street many times. She could not think of Uncle Simon and not feel cheated that she'd not gotten to meet him, angered that his life had been cut short.

Before they left the carriage, Adam buttoned her warm pelisse almost to her chin, and she placed her hands in the ermine muff. He, too, bundled up. "It's a blustery day. I'll not have you taking lung fever," he said.

She hadn't felt so cared for since she was a small girl.

In Mr. Emmott's office, they were once again greeted in a most enthusiastic manner. "I am honored that you've graced my office, Mr. and Mrs. Birmingham. I was going to come see you today, sir," he said to Adam. "Please, have a seat. I wasn't sure if you'd be at the bank. Since you've gotten married, it seems you're spending less time at your establishment."

Adam nodded. "I pray my business is not suffering."

"Never that! It's the most successful bank in the kingdom. Something built on a great foundation will not crumble."

"We have actually been in Yorkshire this week to help my brother's electioneering."

"Yes, I read about Nicholas's candidacy. He will bring a great deal to Parliament."

"If he's elected," Adam said.

"The best man has to win, and this, most certainly, will be Nicholas."

"In our absence have you had any communication from Ashburnham about our challenge to Simon Hastings' will?"

Mr. Emmott shook his head. "But . . . I do have some hopefully welcome information to impart to you."

Adam's brows hiked. "About those handwriting samples?"

"Yes."

Emma sat up straighter, hardly able to contain her curiosity.

"All of your suspicions have been confirmed."

She and Adam exchanged happy glances.

"According to our expert, that address label does contain all the descenders that are found in the forged will. You will remember, they were incongruous with the rest of the handwriting in the will."

"And the letter purportedly from Faukes?" Adam asked.

"Forged. My expert confirmed your suspicions. Though it was a good forgery, again, the descenders were identical to those found in the address label. They did not match those that were verified to have been written by Mr. Faukes."

"Then all of this points to the fact that the will was forged by James Ashburnham," Adam said.

"Indeed it does."

"What's next?"

"Unless we can persuade him to drop his claim, I will try to bring him to trial."

Her eyes rounded. "Won't that take years?"

Emmott nodded. "Not only that, it will also eat up moneys the will would have provided."

"Nevertheless," Adam said, "I should like you to inform Ashburnham we have evidence against him and are prepared to litigate this matter."

Mr. Emmott nodded. "The letter will be drawn up and delivered to him today."

"I hate to bring this up," Adam said, "but we believe Mr. Ashburnham may have poisoned my wife's uncle. As much as I dislike the thought, perhaps we should have Hastings' body exhumed and tested."

"Proving her uncle was poisoned will not prove who administered the poison," Mr. Emmott said.

"That's true," Emma concurred. "I'm not sure we should go through with that at this time." She sighed. "I'm not sure I can bear it."

Adam took her hand and squeezed it.

* * *

Shortly after they arrived at the bank, where Adam introduced Emma to all his employees, Nick came. "I thought you'd be here," he said to Adam.

"And I knew you'd not be able to stay away from the Exchange. Is there anything you need to discuss with me?" Adam asked.

"No. I was early, so I thought I'd come and say hello." He eyed Emma. "If you need to catch up with your employees, I can stay a few minutes and chat with your charming wife."

Adam nodded. "Thanks. I do need to speak to Johnson." His gaze lingered on her for a moment before he walked away.

"Won't you sit by me on that sofa?" Nick asked.

Sometimes it seemed funny for her to hear Nick speak. Because he looked so much like Adam, she thought they would sound alike, but they didn't. Nick spoke much faster, and the tone of his voice was entirely different than her husband's.

"I was hoping to get you alone," he said.

Her brows lowered. "Is something wrong?"

He shrugged. "We are all, quite naturally, concerned about you and Adam. You can't possibly live a normal life as long as that threat lingers against you. I know Adam's nearly sick with worry."

"As much as I adore being with my husband every minute, I know the situation is unsustainable."

"William and I came up with what we thought was a solution, but Adam became enraged when we brought it up with him."

Her eyes narrowed. "Why?"

"Because he said it would endanger you."

"Go on."

"We believe that you could be a lure for this Ashburnham."

"I believe I already am."

"But with Adam constantly at your side, it's not likely Ashburnham will ever make a move."

"He must be brought to justice. What do you and William propose?"

"Adam needs to let you appear to walk about London alone. You wouldn't really be alone. The Birminghams have a creditable army of highly skilled men who would watch you at all times. They can be disguised as anything from a chimney sweep to a hackney driver."

"Let me ask you this. If Lady Fiona were in a situation comparable to mine, would you be able to allow her to walk about London alone? Would you entrust her safety to those Birmingham soldiers?"

He did not respond for a moment. "I don't know if I could."

"I assure you, Adam feels the same. He doesn't believe anyone could protect me as well as he can."

A slow smile hitched across Nick's face. "I knew the first night I met you that Adam was going to fall hard for you. It just happened faster than I thought."

"I was blessed neither with fortune nor great beauty, but for some unaccountable reason, I have been inordinately blessed to have won Adam's affection."

"Fiona and I have enjoyed watching you two fall in love."

He went to rise.

"Don't go. We need to discuss this plan of yours. I am most willing to use myself as bait. I completely trust Adam to see to my welfare. The difficulty is in finding some way in which he will be able to watch me without Ashburnham or his hired hand seeing him." She looked up at Nick. "For Adam will never consent to leaving my safety in the hands of others."

"I do understand. I couldn't let Fiona out of my sight under such circumstances."

"I'll talk to William. He'll know what to do. He spent years on the Continent eluding men intent on killing him."

As soon as he referred to William, he came strolling into the bank.

Nick told him Emma was willing to go ahead with their plan if they could think of a way that would allow Adam to observe her at all times without being detected.

"That's simple," William said. "We dress him like a woman. I've not faced the enemy yet who notices middle-aged or elderly women. Adam would have to decide if he wants a white wig or a . . . red one."

She couldn't imagine anything that would persuade Adam to dress as a woman.

"But you're considerably shorter than Adam," Nick protested. "Have you ever seen a woman over six feet tall?"

"Many times, though I will own, they're rare in our motherland." William thought for a moment. "He needs to be seated. That way his height won't be as pronounced. Sit a horse or drive a cart."

"That's contingent upon my husband approving."

"Hopefully, with your consent, he'll be more willing," Nick said.

Adam came to the reception area and greeted his brothers. "Have you not seen enough of me these past four days?"

"We had a matter of import to discuss with your wife." Nick eyed the door to his brother's office. "Permit us to discuss this in private."

Once they were in the office, Emma spoke. "I think your brothers have a brilliant plan to catch Ashburnham."

Adam glared at William. "If it's the same as you brought up two nights ago, I'll have no part of it."

"But I will," she said. "I have no objection to using myself as bait—knowing my husband (as well as disguised Birmingham soldiers) will have me in his line of sight the whole time."

Still glaring, Adam asked William, "How do you propose to have me watching her without anyone seeing me?"

"You'll do as I've done many a time when I've found myself in a dangerous situation."

"What's that?" Adam asked.

"You'll dress as a woman."

Adam froze. Not a word was said.

They waited for his response.

Emma was certain he would never agree to it. First, he'd be too averse to leaving her alone. Second, his male pride wouldn't allow him to dress as a woman.

Finally, he spoke to William. "You're in charge of procuring wigs and dowdy clothing for a very tall woman."