Lords of Scandal (Lords of Scandal 0.50)
Page 5
“Don’t even think about it,” she said between her teeth.
He made a noise deep in his throat. Emily wasn’t certain if he was angry or enjoying the interaction. But all these people were not helping her and Jack come to any conclusion. “I should never have come here. I’m sorry that I did.” In a quick motion she pushed away from him. “We’ll discuss this tomorrow. Tonight, we should get some rest.”
“No,” Jack said, pulling her toward him again. “We’ll discuss it now. Open the bloody door,” he said to Malice.
Malice gave a small shake to his head. “I’m sorry, Jack, but we need to figure out what to do. No one is leaving.”
For the first time, real fear trickled down her spine. While Jack had said they weren’t in any danger, what if these other men had different plans for her sisters and cousins? “Jack,” she whispered softy, her fingers digging into his hard biceps. “What’s happening?”
In that moment, she understood a few realities. One, she depended on Jack to see her and her family through this night. And he would. In this, she trusted him absolutely.
“Everything’s fine.” He pulled her against his chest and whispered in her ear, “I love you, Emily. You’re everything to me. Do you understand?”
She nodded against his chest.
“Here is what’s going to happen,” he said, continuing to hold Emily tucked against his body. “In five minutes, we’ll put the ladies’ masks back on.” He pointed to Malice. “Then they’ll leave. They will not say a word because, as Minnie already stated, they have far more to lose by being here than we do.”
“Minnie?” The Duke curled his lip. “What a ridiculous name.”
“Oh Darling, you say the sweetest things,” she sneered back.
He growled an actual growl as he stepped closer to Minnie. “It’s Darlington to you, or in these walls, it’s Daring, but I am not your darling.”
Minnie’s eyebrows went up. “Is that like a secret name? Now I’m curious what sort of business you’re doing here.”
“For feck’s sake.” The large redheaded Scot spit on the floor. “Stop talking, Daring. You’re only making it worse.”
Emily swallowed. Her sister needed to be quiet so they could leave. “Minnie, you too. This isn’t helping.” She needed to aid Jack in their removal from the room. “Gentlemen, my apologies for invading your personal space. We didn’t mean to put y
our business at jeopardy. I thought Jack a customer at a brothel, if I were honest.” She turned in his arms and lifted her hands. “When the Countess of Abernath mentioned the name, I just assumed.”
“Wait.” Daring stepped closer. “Did you say the Countess of Abernath?” He gritted his teeth and she shrunk closer to Jack.
“Did I say something wrong?” She turned back to her fiancé, his heat the only thing that kept her from shivering.
“No, not at all.” He gave her a reassuring smile. “In fact, that’s quite helpful to know. Wouldn’t you say, Daring?”
“Indeed, it is,” Daring answered. He slowly raised his elbow and stepped next to Minnie. “Jack is right, of course. We need to send these women home before anyone misses them. We trust ladies, that you will keep our secret just as we will keep your visit here under the strictest of confidences.
Minnie squinted her eyes but slowly slipped a hand into his elbow. “Of course, we’ll tell no one.”
One by one, the men held out an arm to the ladies. Malice was next, giving Cordelia his elbow. “Stay close and I’ll see you to your carriage.”
She gave a tentative nod in return.
The big Scot slipped his arm about Diana.
She swatted his hand. “Hold out your elbow, cad.”
A ridiculously handsome man with blond hair and clear blue eyes held out his arm to Grace while an almost frightening-looking fellow, his features dark and dangerous, stepped next to Ada.
Jack held up his hand. “I need a moment to speak to my future bride in the hall.”
Daring let out a loud breath through his nose. “We should wrap this up.”
“Just a moment,” he answered as he pulled Emily toward the door, his hands still firmly on her waist.
She knew, more or less, what he wanted to ask and she was fairly certain of her answer.