Verity looked at Emma. "I would have ridden all day to meet my dear new sister."
Emma was overwhelmed. "I feel the same. I'd even have ridden a whole week."
"But," Adam added, "my wife has the misfortune of being married to a man who cannot take much time away from his business."
"Then I'm very happy I married a man who does not have to work," Verity said, looking up adoringly at her husband.
Emma tried looking adoringly at Adam. "I could never actually travel without you—especially for weeks at time."
"After last night, I'll never let you!"
Having someone care for her so openly thrilled her. She had known that Aunt Harriett loved her, but her aunt had never shown it, never spoken of it.
Emma loved being part of the Birmingham family
* * *
Adam would allow Emma an appropriate period of time in which to ready for bed. It would be best if she were asleep when he came to their chamber so he wouldn't be tempted by the provocative effect she had upon him as of late. It might be better, but it was not what he really wanted. His breath grew ragged when he thought of watching her face brighten when he entered the chamber, of seeing the trace of her nipples beneath the fine lawn of the night shift, of climbing into their bed.
After he walked her to their chamber—he wasn't taking any chances that a threat lurked in either the hallway or in their rooms—and saw her safely locked inside, William drew him aside and spoke in a low voice. "Nick and I need to talk to you."
He followed his brother to a small, dimly lit parlor where Nick awaited them, three fresh bumpers of ale standing on the rough wooden table, a fire burning in a corner of the chamber.
Once they were seated, William began. "We wanted to speak to you about this business with the murderer of Emma's uncle. Who is the fellow?"
"We believe it's the clerk who worked at the Ceylon Tea Company under Simon Hastings, a man named Ashburnham. We have fairly substantial proof that he forged Hastings' newest will, and we strongly suspect that he murdered Hastings with poison." He filled them in on all the details he and Emma had culled over a several-day period.
"I suppose it's occurred to you that Ashburnham may be behind Emma's abduction," Nick said.
"Yes. Emma and I both think that's likely the case."
William's eyes narrowed. "It's got to terrify you to know that they must have meant to kill your wife once this Ashburnham found out what he needed to know."
Adam felt as if a cannon ball plunged into his gut. "It does terrify me."
"You and Emma can't go on indefinitely living in such fear. You can't guard her every minute of every day," Nick said.
"We have the best trained, best armed men in the kingdom in our employ," Adam countered.
Nick frowned. "That's hardly fair to Emma, having her constantly followed by heavily armed men."
"Nick and I have been discussing it, and we think you need to bring out this Ashburnham."
Adam leaned back and regarded his brothers as if they'd just sprouted horns. "How do you propose that I do that?"
"You set a trap," William said.
Adam thought on it for a moment. "I can't think of any way to do that without jeopardizing my wife."
William's face was inscrutable. "The only way it will work is for you to use Emma as bait."
Anger surged through Adam. "Absolutely not!"
Nick held up a hand. "Hear us out."
"We would never put her in danger," William continued. "You—as well as our most highly qualified soldiers—will discreetly follow her at all times. We'll merely make it appear that's she traveling about the city alone."
Adam stood, his fists coiled. "Nothing can persuade me to put my wife in danger. Again." He stormed from the chamber.
By the time he reached their bedchamber, Emma was fast asleep.
Chapter 20
Across the carriage, William's and Lady Sophia's thighs touched, and their fingers intertwined. Such marital bliss could convert the most confirmed bachelor.
Adam moved across the coach seat until he felt the warmth of Emma's legs against his. Her pressed both his hands around hers. Just getting a wisp of a whiff of his wife's rose scent reinforced Adam's new-found contentment with marriage. There was nowhere on earth he'd rather be than in this coach at this moment with this woman.
He was grateful they had been spared rain. Any delay would push them back another day on the road, an additional day away from his bank. He stopped his line of thought. The bank was no longer the most important thing in his life. Until he'd married, his business had been his life. Now, Emma was. He couldn't return to the bank until he knew she was safe.