Twenty

Dare cursed himself as he watched Emma leave. Why had he not asked her to marry him? He had planned to. He meant to. But somehow, when he looked into those deep, blue eyes, his tongue grew heavy and the words stuck in his throat. He wanted the proposal to be perfect, but how could he find the right words when he couldn’t find any words?

Dare cleared his throat and reached for the familiar comfort of a freshly ironed newspaper. The butler had provided him not only with the most recent paper, but also with the copies from the past two days, so Dare could catch up on his reading. He opened the paper and skimmed it, though his mind was focused more on his current situation than on the state of the war on the Continent.

He and Wynbrook had dealt with the magistrate as best they could. He had informed the staff of possible danger and to be on the lookout. It was his job to keep everyone safe, and he would do it to the best of his ability.

Of additional concern was the loss of his signet ring. He never wore the thing, but kept it in the pocket of his waistcoat. With all the excitement, he had not thought to look for it. And now it was gone. He hoped the ring was truly lost and had not fallen into the hands of his abductors.

“Dare! How are you doing old man?” Wynbrook strolled into the room, looking well and back to his good cheer.

“Feeling older by the minute,” Dare admitted. Wynbrook took a seat opposite him by a cozy fire, which was the only thing cheerful about the otherwise barren sitting room. Their voices echoed in the room without any pictures, throw rugs, or ornamentation to break up the drab space.

“I hear that’s what getting shot can do to a man,” laughed Wynbrook, who had an uphill climb in his attempt to drag Dare into good humor. “Though I do not know this from personal experience, nor do I wish to.”

“I am glad my misfortunes can be used for the edification of others.”

Wynbrook raised his eyebrows with a smile. “Quite right. I will learn from your mistakes, though in truth, this was no mistake but an act of unparalleled heroism in which you sacrificed yourself to save your sister.”

Dare shrugged off the compliment. “You would have done the same.”

“Oh, you think too highly of me. Though I might have been willing, I doubt I would have had the skill to do so. And yet, I am honored by your faith in me, so I shall pretend that I too could act the part of the hero should the need arise.”

“Marrying my sister will be proof of your courage.”

Wynbrook stopped short, his smile fading into something more earnest. “That is indeed what I intend to do.”

Dare gave him a quick nod. Wynbrook and Kate had spent the night together. They should be wed. Besides, they liked each other; even Dare could see that. The men shared a look, for even between two men who shared a mutual affection for Lady Kate, neither was so blind as not to recognize her faults. Wynbrook might have a tough time convincing Kate, who had on numerous occasions expressed her intention never to marry, but if anyone was up to the task, it was Wynbrook.

Now if only Dare could produce a similar outcome with Emma.

Kate entered the room with her perpetual scowl and Wynbrook greeted her warmly. Though Kate did not readily reveal her emotions, Dare could see how her eyes softened when she looked at him. She was not immune to Wynbrook’s charms, and he hoped after all the difficulties she had experienced, she would allow herself to find happiness.

Miss St. James also reentered the room and Dare forgot what he was thinking, reading, and possibly his own name. In the morning light, her golden ringlets glowed, framing her face, a contrast to sparkling, blue eyes and a perfect peaches-and-cream complexion. Her gown clung to her curvy shape as she walked, and her plump décolletage drove out any rational thought.

Dare forgot himself and leapt up from his chair, grimacing at the sudden shock of pain. “Miss St. James.” He remembered not to address her informally before his two witnesses in the room. He motioned for her to take his own seat and sat down across from her.

“What brings you on your journey, Miss St. James?” Kate asked Emma.

Dare leaned forward so as not to miss a single word of Emma’s reply.

“Oh, I have embarked on a remarkable journey,” said Emma with a wide-eyed smile. “My…stepmother has arranged for me to marry a man in America. I know it seems a bit unusual to wed someone you’ve never met…” Emma proceeded to tell the others of her plans to accept an arranged marriage.

As she did so, both Kate and Wynbrook shot glances at him. Not even Emma’s determined optimism could prevent a widespread sense of apprehension regarding her situation. There was more to the story than she was telling, that much Dare was certain. He was determined to uncover the whole situation and remedy it in his favor.

“I do not suppose I could trouble you for a look at one of your newspapers?” Emma asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence. Dare handed her the entire stack of papers, including the one he was reading.

“Thank you. I am so glad to catch up with my reading. I have not been able to get the Times for several days since I began my travels.”

“You enjoy reading the paper? Capital,” praised Wynbrook. Dare was pleased his future wife enjoyed the paper as he did but felt Wynbrook had no business commenting on it.

Emma gave a shrug. “I mainly read the gossip columns.”

“I also enjoy glancing at them from time to time,” said Wynbrook with a social ease that Dare did not share. “Mostly, of course, to see if I am listed.” He continued to ask if Emma would see how his sister’s wedding was mentioned and raised his eyes at Dare when Emma’s golden head disappeared behind the paper.

Dare realized he must have been glaring at Wynbrook and attempted to school his features, though he did wish Wynbrook would cease any conversation with his Emma. How was Dare to stand a chance if Wynbrook showed her how a gentleman was truly supposed to behave?

Emma read a notice about Wynbrook’s sister’s wedding and went on to the next day.

“There won’t be any mention of us the next day,” said Wynbrook.

“But I believe there is,” said Emma, her head behind the newsprint. “Oh!” She looked up over the paper, her mouth a perfect oval. She bent back down and read a passage about Wynbrook and Lady Kate. The society paper had done little to hide their identities and shockingly claimed Wynbrook and Kate had eloped.

Dare was confused for a moment, but then remembered that Wynbrook and Kate had taken off after him in Wynbrook’s coach. Apparently, someone had seen them chase after the coach that held Dare and jumped to conclusions. He shook his head. Why had nobody been looking out the window of the posting house when Kate had been abducted?

“This is nonsense,” said Kate in a slightly strangled voice that did not quite seem her own. “We simply need to tell people that…” She paused, looking at Dare, unsure.

“We shall tell people we planned to meet Darington on our journey,” said Wynbrook. “We then traveled together to your home, where we were married.”

“Married?” Kate glanced around the room, silently pleading her case to all present. “Surely there can be no cause for anything so extreme.”

Dare hated to see her uncomfortable, and certainly this was not the way he had hoped Wynbrook would propose, but it was done and hopefully for the best.

“Robert?” Kate barely mouthed the word at him. Her eyes were desperate. Though he thought she should marry Wynbrook, he hated to see her so unhappy. It was now up to her whether or not to accept the proposal.

“I think I should attend to some of my correspondence,” said Emma with a tight smile, rising to her feet. It was clearly time to leave Kate and Wynbrook alone.

Dare rose with Emma and gave his sister and Wynbrook a brief nod. “Good luck,” he said as he walked to the door. It was directed at both of them, though for different reasons.

“I am so sorry,” apologized Emma in a fervent tone as Dare shut the door to the drawing room.

Dare was confused. What had the lovely lady done to require such an ardent apology?

“I should not have read the society pages. I fear I have made things difficult.”

Dare waved off her concern. “You have nothing to apologize for. Best they know.”

“Still, I hate to see your sister so distressed.” Emma looked up at him, her cheeks plump and rosy, her eyes compassionate. She was as beautiful as any siren and Dare was hopelessly entrapped.

There was a pause and he recalled that staring silently at her was perhaps not the best social response. He had to struggle to remember the topic of their conversation. “Wynbrook is a good man. I hope she will accept the offer. Her decision though.” He had given up long ago trying to figure out why his sister did things the way she did. His job was to simply support her, and so that is what he did.

“I am sure she would not want to marry someone who was offering just because they were caught in a compromising situation.” Emma stopped short as if recognizing that her description was rather similar to their own situation.

Dare also saw the clear similarity between Kate’s situation and theirs. He hoped Wynbrook could help Kate to see that marriage might suit her. He further hoped he could convince the lovely lady before him to accept his proposal.

“Shall we retire to the library?” he asked. This would allow him to speak with her without any interruptions.

“Oh, yes, I would like that exceedingly well.”

“I should have asked this before, but is there anyone who will be missing you that we should alert to your safety?”

“Well, I am sure that Eustace will have noted my departure, but I certainly do not wish him to be alerted.”

“He cannot touch you here at Greystone.” Dare would defend her against whatever unpleasantness her stepbrother might bring. In truth, he hoped to be given the honor of protecting her for life.

“Thank you. That is very kind.” She smiled and her whole face came alive.

“I do hope you will stay with us here. My sister would appreciate your company.”

“And I would like to see the wound heal a little more, if you are amenable.”

“Yes, I think that would be essential.” He would agree to anything if it meant she would stay.

“Then stay I must, at least for a few days. I am supposed to meet the lady who is to be my chaperone to America in Portsmouth in a few days. The ship is scheduled to leave in four or five days, I believe.”

Dare’s mouth went dry. He could not let her sail away. He gave a nod, his mind spinning. He only had a few days.

They reached the end of the hallway, and Dare pointed in the direction of the library, motioning for her to proceed down the next passage. His step grew slower as the pain in his side demanded that he pause for a moment to catch his breath. The medicine helped, but he felt much better when sitting.

Emma glanced back, concern instantly shining in her eyes. “Oh, you poor thing. Let me help.” She rushed to him, but he put up a hand to stop her.

“No!”

She blinked at him and he realized that had sounded more forceful than he intended, but he did not want to be her “poor thing.”

“I am fine. Just walking a bit slowly.” Dare put a hand on the wall to brace himself.

The housekeeper made an appearance, probably drawn by his loud voice as it echoed down the empty hall.

“Mrs. Brooke,” called Dare to the housekeeper. “Could you show Miss St. James to the library?” He turned to Emma. “I need to attend to something and will join you shortly.” He stood up tall and bowed slightly, ignoring the angry complaint from his injured side.

There was nothing Emma could do but follow the housekeeper, though she threw him a glance of concern over her shoulder as she left. He doubted she was fooled by his attempt to prevent her from knowing how much he hurt. In truth, if it hadn’t been for his desire to see Emma and, more importantly, her to see him as something other than an invalid, he would not have left his bed.

When they were out of sight, Dare leaned back against the wall to rest. He wanted to sit down, but he feared someone would turn the corner of the hall and see the master of the house sitting on the floor. Emma might be alerted to the situation, and that was the last thing he wanted.

As he rested, he thought about how best to conduct the proposal. What would be the best words?

Miss St. James, you are the loveliest creature ever born. You have saved my life and I am forever in your debt. Would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?

That was good. Or maybe…

My dear Miss St. James. With your own blessed hands, you have healed me and given me back my life. I am forever in your debt, and my deepest desire is to spend the rest of my days repaying this debt as your devoted husband and slave.

Hmmm…maybe too much. How about…

Miss St. James. You are eminently practical, reliable, and levelheaded in a crisis. Your beauty is beyond compare. You stand as a shining exemplary of womanhood. Your hair is golden, your mouth like rosebuds, your eyes deep pools of timeless beauty. You are like the sirens of myth. Your breasts alone could drive a man into madness…

No. No. NO.

Dare took a few more steps and leaned against the wall once more, though this time it was his mind he needed to get into better regulation, not just his body. He wished to propose marriage, not terrify the girl. He had done this before. How could it be so difficult now? Of course, his previous attempts had been flatly refused, so perhaps it was best not to try to replicate a failed offer. Still, it didn’t seem like it should be so difficult. He just needed to propose sensibly. And yet, he could not shake the fear sparked by his past rejections.

He did not want to fail.

Really, truly did not want to fail.

Young, unmarried females typically terrified him, but he felt comfortable when he was with Emma—and desperately uncomfortable, but never in a manner that made him want to run away. No, he only wanted to see her more.

She was beautiful, intelligent, kind, skilled, beautiful, sensible, practical, cheerful, beautiful…really, really beautiful. Maybe her breasts had driven him to madness. They quivered when she walked. Or laughed. Or breathed. Quivered! How was a man supposed to think when something so tempting was trembling right under his nose? It was impossible.

If he could pull himself together enough to make an offer she would accept, he would be allowed the opportunity to introduce himself more formally—or, more importantly, informally—to her breasts. He could actually touch them. Cup them. Hold them.

“You all right, my lord?”

Dare was brought forcibly back to reality and realized he was leaning on the wall, his hands outstretched, fondling the air. He dropped his arms immediately and stood upright no matter how it pained him to regard Mrs. Brooke.

“I…I was just… I’m not myself.” He ended in a mutter. There was no way to explain his actions.

“It is the laudanum, I warrant,” she said kindly. “When Jonathan, the footman, hurt his ankle, he took a goodly amount. Helped with the pain, but he also had an entire conversation with a set of fire irons. Later, he said he was sure they were talking back.”

“Yes. Laudanum. Very bad. Not in my right mind.” Dare was relieved for a plausible explanation.

“You ought to be upstairs. I warrant Lady Kate will be quite irritated by you walking about. And Miss St. James as well. They seem very attentive.”

“Cannot stay in bed. Just catching my breath before going to the library.”

“I’ll call Jonathan to help you, then.”

“No, I’m perfectly fine. Do not trouble yourself.” But the housekeeper was gone, and before he had reached his destination, the footman appeared and offered to help. The assistance was helpful, but Dare’s grand entrance was rather marred by being assisted into a chair by a ruddy-faced footman.

Emma sat in a narrow block of sunlight from the one open window drape. She smiled when they entered, the pale winter light illuminating her golden hair and giving her an ethereal presence.

This was the woman he would marry. If only he could get her to say yes.