"Let me ask you this. If Lady Fiona were in a situation comparable to mine, would you be able to allow her to walk about London alone? Would you entrust her safety to those Birmingham soldiers?"
He did not respond for a moment. "I don't know if I could."
"I assure you, Adam feels the same. He doesn't believe anyone could protect me as well as he can."
A slow smile hitched across Nick's face. "I knew the first night I met you that Adam was going to fall hard for you. It just happened faster than I thought."
"I was blessed neither with fortune nor great beauty, but for some unaccountable reason, I have been inordinately blessed to have won Adam's affection."
"Fiona and I have enjoyed watching you two fall in love."
He went to rise.
"Don't go. We need to discuss this plan of yours. I am most willing to use myself as bait. I completely trust Adam to see to my welfare. The difficulty is in finding some way in which he will be able to watch me without Ashburnham or his hired hand seeing him." She looked up at Nick. "For Adam will never consent to leaving my safety in the hands of others."
"I do understand. I couldn't let Fiona out of my sight under such circumstances."
"I'll talk to William. He'll know what to do. He spent years on the Continent eluding men intent on killing him."
As soon as he referred to William, he came strolling into the bank.
Nick told him Emma was willing to go ahead with their plan if they could think of a way that would allow Adam to observe her at all times without being detected.
"That's simple," William said. "We dress him like a woman. I've not faced the enemy yet who notices middle-aged or elderly women. Adam would have to decide if he wants a white wig or a . . . red one."
She couldn't imagine anything that would persuade Adam to dress as a woman.
"But you're considerably shorter than Adam," Nick protested. "Have you ever seen a woman over six feet tall?"
"Many times, though I will own, they're rare in our motherland." William thought for a moment. "He needs to be seated. That way his height won't be as pronounced. Sit a horse or drive a cart."
"That's contingent upon my husband approving."
"Hopefully, with your consent, he'll be more willing," Nick said.
Adam came to the reception area and greeted his brothers. "Have you not seen enough of me these past four days?"
"We had a matter of import to discuss with your wife." Nick eyed the door to his brother's office. "Permit us to discuss this in private."
Once they were in the office, Emma spoke. "I think your brothers have a brilliant plan to catch Ashburnham."
Adam glared at William. "If it's the same as you brought up two nights ago, I'll have no part of it."
"But I will," she said. "I have no objection to using myself as bait—knowing my husband (as well as disguised Birmingham soldiers) will have me in his line of sight the whole time."
Still glaring, Adam asked William, "How do you propose to have me watching her without anyone seeing me?"
"You'll do as I've done many a time when I've found myself in a dangerous situation."
"What's that?" Adam asked.
"You'll dress as a woman."
Adam froze. Not a word was said.
They waited for his response.
Emma was certain he would never agree to it. First, he'd be too averse to leaving her alone. Second, his male pride wouldn't allow him to dress as a woman.
Finally, he spoke to William. "You're in charge of procuring wigs and dowdy clothing for a very tall woman."
Chapter 22
The following day William showed up at Curzon Street with a large sack.
"What the devil have you brought?" Adam asked.
"An assortment of women's wigs ranging in colour from white to red. You can't count on the plan succeeding the very first day. You'll want a different look each day so as not to attract notice." He removed them from his sack, one by one.
When he began to unload the used clothing, Adam groaned and looked at his wife. "I wouldn't do this for anyone else."
She moved to him and wrapped her arm about his waist. "I am most appreciative."
Even in broad daylight in front of his brother, her touch still had a profound effect upon him. He wondered if being with her would ever become mundane. He hoped to God she could always make him feel as she did today. He absently kissed the crown of her head.