Miss Hastings' Excellent London Adventure (Brazen Brides Book 4)(62)

 

Adam nodded. "My brother will take it hard that he's responsible for another man's death." His gaze dropped to her reddened wrists. "Does it hurt badly?"

 

"Only when I think about it." She shrugged. "Don't trouble yourself. Only time will heal such wounds."

 

"I wish there were something I could do to ease the pain."

 

Without artifice, she slapped on a bright countenance. "Then you should continue saying those wonderful things to me. I don't think about my discomfort when you do."

 

An amused expression on his face, he asked, "And to what wonderful things would you be referring?"

 

"Being best friends . . . worrying about never seeing me again . . . and most especially, I loved it when you said you didn't know how you could ever leave me again."

 

He threw his head back and roared with laughter. "My dear one must be making a remarkable recovery." His face went serious. "And for that I am exceedingly grateful."

 

He reached across the expanse of the settee and cradled her face. "You've not slept all night. Please, my dear wife, you need to try to sleep."

 

"You didn't sleep, either."

 

"If you promise to sleep, I will."

 

* * *

 

The grueling night had left his wife exhausted. Within seconds of her closing her eyes, she was in a deep slumber. As tired as he was, he could not sleep. The rational side of him told him no one would storm into this quiet bedchamber and harm his wife. But the events of the previous night had robbed him of rational thought. He was still governed by the paralyzing fear he'd felt when he realized someone had taken Emma. He still blamed himself for leaving her, still was terrified the mortifying event would be repeated.

 

He could not allow himself to close his eyes—not until he had his precious wife back on well-guarded Birmingham property, property that would become even more well guarded. The Birminghams did, after all, employ their own well-trained, well-equipped army.

 

All he could think of was protecting Emma. For now, he meant it when he'd said he would not leave her side. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could persuade him to abandon her even for a moment.

 

He kept the candle burning so he could watch her pretty face as she slept. The words that had passed between them here in this room were some of the most welcome he'd ever heard. He kept recalling her sweet voice when she'd said, "Since that day at St. George's I've never thought of you as anything but my husband."

 

Her words had a similar effect to his horse winning the Derby. Such sheer elation!

 

Even besieged with worry for her, just sitting before the fire so close to Emma filled him with contentment. He had a few hours to reflect on this marriage, something he'd not consciously done before. Those initial feelings that he'd been cheated of a loving marriage vanished like the morning dew. He'd not truly wanted this marriage, but now he could not think of life without Emma. Last night had taught him how very dear she was to him.

 

He realized now how empty his life was before Emma. Yes, he'd had something with Maria, but that something was only physical. Her beauty stroked his ego amongst men of rank. He was ashamed now that such a thing had once been important to him.

 

If he could turn back the clocks of time to when he was unmarried, and if he were given the choice between taking Maria or Emma for his wife, he would not hesitate for even a second. Emma was the woman with whom he wanted to spend the rest of his life.

 

He thought about Nick's and Will's solid marriages and realized he had always craved a loving partnership like theirs. Deep inside, he'd craved a wife who would also be his best friend.

 

In Emma, he would have that. The realization made him feel complete.

 

There was just one aspect of their marriage that was lacking. One very important aspect. How hard it had been for him earlier that night not to draw her into his arms, kiss her with pent-up passions, and carry her to their bed.

 

After the ordeal of her night, he would never have put his carnal needs above her comfort. It had, though, been beastly hard not to make love to her when she looked at him as lovingly as she did, especially when she alluded to her affection for him.

 

He thought perhaps—after she was out of danger—theirs could become a complete marriage. The very idea aroused him.

 

He believed she was not averse to being his wife in every way.

 

But that last, final step to the completion of their marriage could not be taken quickly in a posting inn. Nor could it be stolen because of his acute desire for her.

 

He planned to court his wife.

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 19