The Earl's Entanglement (Border Series Book 5)(25)

But it hardly mattered. Garrick was now a betrothed man.

She stood with such force the bench would have likely toppled if it weren’t for Clara still sitting on it. “I’m ready,” she announced.

If she had to leave Dunmure, she would do it on her terms. Which she would inform the earl about as soon as possible. They would not be alone together during their journey for any reason. She would eat with his men, and not alone like a woman accused of witchcraft. After their return to Kenshire, there would never be any need for her to see him again.

“Emma, what are you planning?”

“Planning?” She pulled Clara up to join her. “Whatever do you mean?”

“Alex . . .”

“Aye, wife?”

He pulled Clara to him by the hand, and the happy couple looked at Emma as if she were about to do something foolish. Just the opposite, in fact.

“Lady Emma,” Alex said in the exact same tone her brothers used when they intended to order her about.

“Alex Kerr,” she countered. “I am a grown woman who is well aware that Garrick Clave is neither available nor desirable. As such, you’ve nothing to fear.”

All three of them turned to the open door when a loud cough announced the presence of the very man Emma had spent two weeks trying to forget.

Sod it, as Catrina would say.

“My ladies,” Garrick said. “Pardon the intrusion, but I was told I could find you here.”

Clara and Alex began talking at once, but Emma simply stood there, attempting to breathe normally—or at least pretending that she could. He was much more handsome than she remembered.

Emma managed to gather herself enough to follow Garrick and Clara out of the room.

Alex, who’d hung back, whispered to her, “I know that look, Emma.”

She made a face. “Of course you do,” she shot back. “’Tis the same look you gave Clara, and she gave you in return, when you thought no one was looking at Kenshire. And though I can’t very well see my own expression, I’d imagine ’tis very much at odds with my insistence that Garrick means no more to me than the stones beneath our feet.”

Mayhap it was due to Alex and Clara’s strong bond, but Emma found it easy to confide in him. Talking with Alex was just as comfortable as talking with her brothers. Nay, more so, for he was not quite as protective of her.

“Emma, stop.”

She did, allowing the earl to be led away by her friend.

“I’ve been thinking about Sowlis.”

“You and Clara seem to think an awful lot about him. ’Tis something you have in—”

“Marry him.”

“What?”

She would not have been more surprised if Alex had dropped a war hammer on her toes.

“He is a good man. I’ve known him for years.”

“Aye, because your sister was to wed him. And everyone seems to forget the man didn’t exactly—”

“He and Catrina were friends. Toren refused the match because he’s a stubborn arse. But it’s a good thing he did. Both he and my sister will now admit they were never truly in love. They were merely accustomed to the idea of their match. And Graeme . . .” He looked toward the hall and then back at her. “A more honorable man does not exist. He might be pressured to marry a Scottish lass, but—”

“Alex, this is madness.”

“Nay, it is not. I know you want independence. And that no potential husband compares to your brothers—”

“My brothers?”

“’Tis why you’ve denied so many, is it not?”

“Alex Kerr—”

“I don’t blame you. Though I despised them once, I do not any longer. Just the opposite, in fact. But Garrick Clave is not for you. And if there’s any truth to what he says about Graeme—”

“He was just warning me away.”

“And he did so for a reason. If there is interest there, Graeme is powerful enough not to need permission. Clan Scott will accept you. It’s a good match, one your brothers will condone. Think on it. Spend some time with him to see if you will suit.”

Think on it. Marrying a clan chief, moving to Scotland . . . “I could see Clara often.”

“Aye, you could.”

Emma shook her head. “Alex, I must go.” She smiled, grateful for his concern even though she’d not heed his advice. “Thank you.”

“I care about you, Emma. Enough to have had an interesting discussion with your protector. I believe he—”

Alex stopped since they’d arrived in the great hall, where Garrick stood waiting with Clara.

She took a step toward him and stopped when her legs wobbled.

“Everything is ready, my lady,” he said, indicating they should leave. Now.

Earlish. Very much so.

Trying not to notice the perfect contours of his face, Emma went to Clara and wrapped her arms around her dear friend.

“I love you,” Clara said. “Take care, little sister.”

Though her friend was just a few months her elder, the endearment had stuck.

“Love you back,” she said.

Clara leaned in to whisper in Emma’s ear. “He is quite cute.”

Leave it to her friend to offer that truth even when it was impossibly useless.