“Again. You’re welcome.” He touched her back once again. It was a small gesture, but Bash clearly caught it, his gaze narrowing.
Emily ignored her brother-in-law’s disapproving glare. “I need to ask you something.” She reached up then and touched his biceps with her fingertips. The intimacy made her sister Isabella gasp, but the room remained silent.
“Yes?”
She licked her lips, titling her chin to look up at him. “Since you’ve saved me twice, don’t you think it’s time that you told me your name?”
Chapter Four
Brandon looked down at Emily. Even in front of all these people, he wanted to kiss her.
Hell, he wanted to sweep her back out the door, tuck her into another hack, and take her home.
Maybe someday he could do just that. But not now. Associating with him would bring even more danger to her door and she had enough of that already. He was at the heart of an investigation that could very well get him killed. In all likelihood, it had her father.
He rubbed his eyes. Something about the crowd of people reminded him just how tired he was. Which was likely why he considered telling her. “I can’t.”
“You can,” she replied. “Your secret is safe with us. We’re on the same side.”
He looked up at Bash’s dark glare. “I don’t think we’re all in agreement on that count.”
Emily followed his gaze. “Bash,” she said, her eyebrows rising. “He’s saved my life twice. He must have chased me halfway across London tonight.”
Bash crossed his arms. “He also waited an entire day before telling us you might be in danger. Ask him about that.”
Brandon winced as her gaze swung back to his. He should have come here sooner.
She took a step back, removing her hand from his arm. “Is that true?”
“Yes,” he answered. “I had to find out who’s been stealing from me, you, your sisters. I can’t let anything distract me from that.”
Her head dropped as she nodded in understanding. But he noticed she didn’t look back up. He’d lost her.
His heart contracted as his fist clenched at his side. He always knew he would. That wasn’t even the worst of it. Holding Ewan from them all these months…that had been his real sin.
Brandon had made his choice and he couldn’t change it now. He reasoned she was never going to be his. But over the last few months he’d seen a myriad of men try to gain her favor as he’d tailed her uncle. And each and every time, he’d wanted to rip that man apart.
Now, he’d just handed her to one of those fellows.
She took another step back.
“Brandon,” he said before he could change his mind. “My name is Brandon.”
“Is it Brandon Brandon then?” Menace asked, cocking a brow.
A small ripple of laughter went through the crowd as Emily lifted her gaze to his. He thought perhaps she’d smile too but she didn’t, and her eyes remained shuttered.
“No.” He rubbed the back of his neck. Without her heat next to him, he was tired all the way to his bones. He let out a long breath. “My name is Brandon Winthrop, the Duke of Lancaster.”
Someone gasped and a man rumbled out a sound that could only be described as a growl.
But he only looked at Emily. Her lips parted and her eyes widened. “You’re a duke?”
Goldthwaite cleared his throat. “His father was a French spy. Our king nearly stripped his title.”
Brandon gave a single nod. “I still have the name but everything else…” He swiped his hand.
“That’s why you’ve hid