“Will anyone follow?” the driver called back.
“I don’t know,” he answered, his eyes meeting Emily’s. Her face was now ghostly white. She was in danger. That he knew. “I’m not sure we should return to Bash and Isabella’s.”
“Why?” Emily asked, leaning toward him.
He took her hands in his. “They might be waiting to ambush us there.”
“But my sisters,” she gasped.
“Will be at the palace for hours. We’ll send word to Bash there. But right now, we need to get you to safety. And I know just where.”
“That’s all well and good, but I’d like to know the why and the who. Who attacked us and why would they want to?”
“Arrests were being made today.” He grimaced. “They should all be in prison.”
Emily gasped. “What should we do?”
He raked a hand through his hair then tapped to signal the driver again. “Head toward the docks.”
“The docks?” she said, her voice trembling.
“Oh no.” Aunt Mildred shook her finger. “This was not part of my contract. Sea voyages were definitely not listed.”
“Stay on the docks then,” Brandon gritted out. “But Emily and I are headed to where she will be safe.”
He would not make a mistake again. He’d put her safety first. Above everything else. They needed to leave London.
He’d deal with all the other consequences after she was safe.
Chapter Ten
Emily stood on the bow of the Return looking out at the inky sky. The captain said the sun would rise soon but it was dark, she could hardly believe it.
A cold, stiff wind pulled at her skin and hair, but she ignored its bite.
Aunt Mildred had been tucked into a cabin, rather grumpily complaining about a lack of clothing and Brandon had sent a hastily penned note to Bash warning him of the attack, but she had no idea if her family had made it home safe.
She drew in a shuddering breath.
She understood why he’d shuttled them off onto this boat. Mostly because he’d explained it several times at length.
But it wasn’t in her nature to leave her sisters like this.
Brandon had said the attacks had focused on her. True. And that she might be drawing danger away from her sisters. Hopefully.
But what if she were just leaving them to bear the brunt? What if they now focused their efforts on Abigail?
Emily’s breath stalled in her chest. It was for her safety that he was packing her off to who knew where.
And their nuptials? She hadn’t a clue. Would they marry now? Later? Not at all?
She sighed. Why was she never in control?
Yes, she was a woman, but her sisters seemed to manage their lives just fine.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to marry Brandon. She did. But he wanted her for all the wrong reasons and her heart knew something wasn’t right.
“You should get some rest.” Brandon came up behind her.