Intertwine (28 page)

Emme cocked an eyebrow as her gaze turned to follow him. She rapidly searched her brain, trying to remember anything that would make sense of his presence.

I got nothing. You got anything?
Alter Emme asked.

Emme mentally shook her head.

“I know who and what you are,” he said, menacingly.

Emme sucked in her breath. Did Linwood know something about her past? Was he the key to understanding how she had come to be along the lane that night?

He turned back to her, moving to block her way.

She shook her head, bewildered. “If that is the case, my lord, then you know more than I myself. Perhaps you would care to share what you know with me?”

Linwood snorted. “Let us not play these silly games. As I said, I know what you are. Did Knight think that his little secret would remain hidden? That I would not find out?” Emme could see a small amused grin dance on his lips.

Truly puzzled, Emme stared at him in confusion. At a loss to say anything. His words made no sense to her.

“I don’t understand . . . ,” she hesitantly began.

“Do not play innocent,” he cut her off. “It is hardly convincing.”

“Again, my lord, I really have no idea of what you speak. Truly. If you know something about me, about my past, please share it.”

“Are you still pretending to have lost your memory then?”

“It is no pretense, sir! How dare you imply that I am deliberately lying to everyone!” Emme could feel her temper rising.

Really, the arrogant man was impossible.

We’re just going to take a second and imagine him riding a pig through Marfield,
Alter Emme said.
And maybe only the pig will have clothing on.

He looked at her, contempt evident in his stance, his stare.

“You forget, madam, that Arthur is incapable of keeping a secret from Marianne. And Marianne, in her turn, is incapable of keeping a secret from me.”

Emme cocked her head at the statement. It made sense but still didn’t illuminate her understanding.

“I’m still not following what this has to do with me. What dastardly thing does Arthur know?”

“Are you really this obtuse or just pretending stupidity to annoy me?”

Oh, is this annoying him?
Alter Emme muttered.
Cause I can get behind that.

Emme stiffened her neck, refusing to rise to his insult. “Pretend that I really am this obtuse. What, my lord, are you accusing me of?”

Linwood continued to stare at her. “I know about your locket. I know everything.”

Emme blinked.

Uhmmm, okay, so he knows about the locket. And that’s bad why?
Alter Emme was equally befuddled.

“My lord, I do have a locket. It has been kept a secret because of the odd resemblance between the sitter and Jam—I mean, Mr. Knight—but I fail to understand why this simple fact is so significant.”

“Ah, so you claim the sitter is not James Knight?”

“Of course. It would simplify everything if it were Mr. Knight, but the inscription within the locket itself makes it clear that the sitter is not him. And then there is Mr. Knight’s word.”

Linwood snorted and shrugged his shoulders. “We know what Knight’s word is worth, what honor means to him.”

Emme bristled at the derision in his tone. “I will not stand here, sir, and allow you to speak ill of Mr. Knight. He has been all that is good and kind to me. He is a man of honor and—”

“Honor! Please, Knight cares little for honor. But I do believe that he has been kind to you.” Linwood stepped closer to her. Too close. “Has he been all that you would wish? Generous? Are you happy with your current arrangement? Or would you perhaps be interested in a change?”

Emme gasped. “What are you implying?”

“My implication should be obvious, madam.”

Emme frowned as Linwood looked her up and down. Assessing. Contemplating a new purchase.

“I am a wealthy man. You would be wise to consider coming under my protection. I will happily double whatever Knight currently offers you.”

Emme stood still with shock.

Uh, honey, does Mr. Arrogant mean what I think he means?
Alter Emme gasped.

She shook her head in disbelief. “I find this conversation offensive, my lord. I am done with it.”

Emme turned on her heel and prepared to leave, shaking in anger. How dare he! How dare he suggest what she thought he was suggesting! As if!

She had taken only one step when a strong hand on her forearm stopped her, holding her tightly. Forcing her back to him.

“You would be a fool to walk away from me,” Linwood said lowly in her ear. “I am always fair. Lavish even. You would have everything you could wish for. An establishment of your own, clothes, a carriage, jewels. Is Knight currently offering you that? Or do you just subsist on his sister’s cast-offs?”

Emme found she was actually too stunned to reply. She just stared at him, at his hold on her arm.

Wow! Could he
be
any more offensive?
Alter Emme whispered in shock.

Linwood raised his opposite hand and stroked her shoulder. Slowly, almost possessively.

Why, yes. Yes, he could.

Emme suppressed a shudder. She took a step back, pulling on the arm he still held.

“You will release my arm and stop touching me. Now.” Emme could feel her temper rising. “You clearly have mistaken my relationship with Mr. Knight, not to mention the kind of person that I am.”

Linwood snorted in disbelief. “Please, spare me your protestations of virtue and innocence. As if anyone would believe such a thing after your behavior here over these last weeks. ”

Emme gasped. “How dare you! Release me!” Emme kept her voice low and firm. “Release me or I will be compelled to release myself.”

“Release yourself?” Linwood gave her a thoroughly amused look and strengthened his hold on her arm, his eyes taunting. “You are merely a woman. What could you possibly do?”

Emme had had enough. He had insulted her in every possible way. Linwood was not a small man and his grip on her arm was tight and hard. Vice-like. But she suddenly understood with lightning clarity what she could and would do.

“You were warned.”

Hardly thinking, Emme stepped slightly sideways and swung the arm he held in a tight circle, breaking his grip. At the same time, she grabbed his forearm with her free hand and used the leverage to thrust her knee squarely into his groin while simultaneously driving an elbow into his jaw.

Hard.

The moves felt fluid. Practiced. Instinctual. Like she had done them hundreds of times in the past.

Linwood went down with a whimpering moan, collapsing on the pavement.

Emme didn’t wait for him to rise. She turned and half ran down the path, eyes intent on the back garden door and escape.

Suddenly, another hand snaked out to grab her. She stifled a scream and nearly lashed out again, but stopped herself in time as James’ voice washed over her.

“Hush! It’s all right.”

Chapter 23

J
ames had noticed Emma slip out through the door onto the small balcony, Linwood following shortly after. Concerned, he had worked his way through the crowd and slipped out after them. Hurrying down the stairs, he heard Linwood’s low voice rumble and Emma’s tense reply, seeming to defend him, James. Coming around the corner, he noted with alarm that Linwood held Emma’s arm and stood over her threateningly.

But his shout of “Release her!” stopped in his throat. James watched in wide-eyed astonishment as Emma moved sharply, breaking Linwood’s hold on her arm and, with a well-placed knee and elbow, dropped the viscount to the ground like a stone.

It was the most amazing thing he had ever seen. Smooth and clean. The movements of a fighter but unlike any he had ever witnessed.

James fell completely and utterly in love with her at that moment.

Whoever and whatever she proved to be.

He was hers.

Grinning, he stepped back into the shadows and snared her hand as she rushed past.

As she turned on him, he realized a little late that grabbing her probably hadn’t been the best decision.

Instantly releasing her, he whispered, “Hush! It’s all right.”

She gave a little sob of relief and partially collapsed against him. Grasping her hand, he led her away from Linwood, still groaning on the ground, drawing her through the garden and out the side door, emerging into an alleyway that opened onto the village green.

James could feel her shaking as her altercation with Linwood sank in. He drew her next to him as they walked down the alleyway, wrapping an arm around her bare shoulders. And then, as she continued to shake, he stopped and shrugged out of his coat and tucked it around her. He watched as she snuggled into its warmth.

“Come,” he whispered and led her into the trees of the village green, settling her onto a bench that looked toward the parish church and cuddled her into his side.

“Are you all right? Would you like to talk about it?” he murmured in her ear.

Emma stared ahead, her face expressionless. Then she sighed and looked down.

“Linwood knows about the locket. He thinks my memory loss is a sham and that you . . . that we are . . . ,” her voice faded off.

“Lovers?” James supplied.

“Yes. And he also implied that I am . . . well . . . that you are not . . .”

“Your only lover?”

“Yes. That I am a professional.”

James stared angrily ahead, unseeing.

“That wasn’t the worst of it though.”

“Truly?”

“Linwood . . . well . . . he suggested I might like a change of, uh, scenery, if you will.”

James felt as if he had been clubbed in the chest. The breath hissed out of him.

“Linwood is an absolute ass.”

“Yes.”

“How hard did you hit him?”

“Hard.”

James nodded in satisfaction.

“That’s a good start. Would you like me to call him out for you?” he asked.

Emma turned slightly to look up at him. “You would do that for me? I thought you didn’t hold much to silly old-fashioned notions of besmirched honor?”

“I don’t,” he said, carefully tucking that one stray curl behind her ear. “But I will always defend you.”

Emma silently considered him for a moment, blinked and then turned her face away.

“What if he is right?” she whispered. “What if that is the reason I was on your lane that night? What if someone had cast me off? What if I am no better than someone’s unwanted mistress?”

James shrugged. “That is a possibility. But I decided long ago it makes no difference to me.”

“But it matters to me.” Her voice hung quietly between them. “I would like to think that I am more than that. More than a person who would sell herself for profit.”

James sat silently, contemplating her lovely profile, wishing he had answers for her.

“I want to be more for you.” She turned to him. Her hazel eyes dark in the dim moonlight. “I want better for you than some . . . someone’s cast-off mistress.”

James captured her chin between his fingers before she could turn away. “You are a lady to me and that is all that matters.”

Her eyes swelled with unshed tears. At that moment, James gave up resisting.

She belonged with him. Not
to
him. But
with
him.

She was part and parcel of his soul.

And he was done denying it.

“No matter what anyone says of you. No matter what you might have been in your past, I will always treat you with respect.”

His voice was emphatic. Impassioned.

“I want you by my side. Honorably. Not as a purchased possession. I may not care too much for society’s rules, but I care very much about personal dignity. Particularly in those I love.”

She gasped at his words, blinking as tears slipped down her cheeks. James leaned in and brushed them away with his lips, tasting their bitter saltiness.