The Earl's Entanglement (Border Series Book 5)(47)

His silence was affirmation enough. He no longer wanted to discuss it. If anything, his resolve had been strengthened by his restless night.

If he could not go a day without her, how could he possibly spend a lifetime without seeing her smile? Without knowing Emma Waryn, both her luscious curves and her beautiful soul, as only a husband could do? It was unthinkable.

Impossible.

Garrick would make this work.

He had no other choice.



It was never going to work.

Sara couldn’t leave the babe, and since the attack, Geoffrey had been more protective than ever. When Emma approached him in the great hall after he received the missive, the one she only knew about from Sara, her brother refused to so much as consider the possibility.

“Until we know who was behind the attack, I think it’s best you remain here.”

Lord, save her from older brothers.

“Besides, haven’t you had enough excitement for the moment?” he continued. “What could you possibly hope to achieve at Clave?”

They stood in front of the mantel in Kenshire’s great hall. This winter was more bitter than most, and the crisp air seemed to have permeated the stone walls of the castle, forcing everyone closer to the fires that burned in every occupied room.

“Achieve?”

Only two days had passed since she’d last seen Garrick, but it was two days longer than she would have liked. She spent most waking moments remembering their brief time together, the intimate moments that seemed so otherworldly now that she’d resumed her regular habits. How had it happened so quickly?

“A gathering of pompous old men sitting around trying to solve the border problems,” he quoted her. Emma couldn’t help but smile at Geoffrey’s poor imitation of her voice.

“I do not sound like that at all.”

Although the words were familiar.

“By your own criterion, there will be no marriageable men in attendance. This crowd is much too ‘titled’ for my baby sister.”

Geoffrey was quite familiar with her thoughts on men with titles. Although he considered her reasoning absurd—he and her other brothers had only been a mite protective, to hear him tell it—he nonetheless accepted that her goals were different than most women’s. He, of course, disagreed that she’d been coddled as the younger sister. They were only trying to protect her, after all.

“But he invited families as well,” she tried.

“Peculiar, that.”

Emma didn’t comment.

“It’s less than a half-day ride. What trouble could I possibly get into on Caiser land?”

That seemed to give him pause. Maybe she could convince him after all? Although it hardly mattered. Emma was going, with or without her brother’s permission.

“No retort?” a soft voice asked from behind them.

Emma turned, grateful for her sister-in-law’s support. “Good day, Sara.”

“Good day, Emma.” She walked to Geoffrey and leaned up for a quick kiss. “Husband.”

Emma followed Geoffrey’s gaze behind her. The hall was empty but for a handful of servants moving trestle tables into place for the midday meal.

“Faye is with him. Sleeping again.”

Apparently satisfied, Geoffrey finally answered.

“You could get into trouble in your own bedchamber,” he said. Emma’s heart pounded. Her brother’s statement was truer than he realized.

Sara gave him a chastening look and a slight nod, and to Emma’s shock, he relented.

“Fine. But you ride next to me. And will remain at Clave until we return.”

Spirits soaring, Emma grinned at Sara. “And where else do you believe I would go? Clave is, after all, an island.”

“With the exception of twice a day during low tide.”

“Oh, aye,” she said. “When I can make a dashing escape, riding swiftly to the shore where I—”

“We’ve been invited to stay the night,” he interrupted.

Emma froze. Sara had not mentioned that. She’d been wondering how it would be possible to steal a moment alone with Garrick, and now it seemed she’d have ample opportunity.

“Oh, there’s Peter. Finally. If you’ll excuse me.” Geoffrey left her and Sara alone together before the enormous mantel.

“Emma? What is amiss?”

Her sister-in-law knew her well. For the past two days, Emma had vacillated about whether she should confide in Sara. Still undecided, she’d taken to avoiding her instead.

Emma shifted her weight. “Amiss?”

Today, Sara looked every bit the countess in her simple cream day gown, her hair in a jeweled filet. It made it more difficult to withstand her penetrating stare.

“Emma?”

“Sara?” she teased. She was just not ready to tell her all. In truth, Edith had scared her.

“I would never presume to ask you to reveal what you don’t wish to tell,” Sara said finally. “Shall we?” She gestured to the chairs in front of the mantel.

Once they were both seated, Sara turned to her and asked, “I know you’ve told the tale of the attack before, but are there other details you can remember?”

The memories still assailed her, but she’d much rather talk about that than discuss her feelings for the earl.