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“If this match is what you want,” Levi nodded, “then I will not stop you. However, you need not follow through with this elopement.”

“What are you saying?”

“I am saying that there is another way, but we must return for it to happen. Fear not, this is not a trick of any kind, but it is what must be done. Do you trust me?”

Rosendale did not seem certain, but when Sarah looked to Emma for support, all Emma could do was nod. She knew that her husband was an honest man, and that he would not be so cruel as to trick them into pushing Sarah into a marriage with the Viscount. He had traveled all the way to Scotland to protect her, after all.

“I do,” Sarah said gently, and after a moment Rosendale nodded too.

“Wonderful. In that case, we must make haste. I do hope that you arrived in a carriage.”

“We did,” Rosendale explained, “but your horses will not fit with the others.”

“That is perfectly fine. I shall have someone collect them when we return. In the meantime, we must leave, and now.”

Nobody argued with him any further, and they took their belongings and left without any further quarrels. The carriage ride was stilted at first, with nobody knowing quite what to say to one another, but eventually Sarah looked at Emma with a wicked grin.

“I heard something interesting last week.”

“Oh? What was that?”

“Gretchen is furious. She is claiming that she and the Duke were courting when the two of you were seen together at the ball.”

“Surely she should have stopped all of that by now?” Emma groaned.

Fortunately, the two gentlemen seemed to enjoy the gossip, and it was causing the mood to lighten.

“You would think so, given that he is now married and therefore cannot be her husband. However, it would appear that she had it all planned from the start. She seemed to think that if she was seen with a powerful member of the ton, she would then in turn have a powerful husband.”

“That is not uncommon, I suppose.”

“No, but one never talks so brazenly of it. She claims that she was alone with His Grace many times, which though true, only served to threaten her reputation. When that was suggested, she quickly tried to explain it away, in the end saying that she had lied, but it was too late. She is staying with her aunt for a while, until it stops.”

Emma laughed, remembering her old plans. She couldn’t fathom the idea of being at her aunt’s estate in that moment, as she had grown far too accustomed to her own life as Duchess.

“We will have to spend some time in the town when we are home,” she told Levi. “I have only been there once, with your mother, and it is important to me that they come to know who I am.”

“They will love you,” he assured her. “We shall go when all of this is done.”

“And what is it exactly that you plan to do?” Sarah asked, and all eyes fell on Levi.

“Well,” he began, “Sarah, if you stay in hiding with us for a while, it will give me time to settle a few affairs, and then you may marry properly. I am quite adept with finding information, and I am certain that this will be no exception.”

“And if it is?”

“Then I will accept that there is no other way, and you need only make one final trip to Scotland. I only ask that you give me this chance.”

Sarah nodded, and Emma knew precisely how much his offer had meant to her. They had only ever had one another to help them, as their father couldn’t have cared less for them if he tried, but now that Levi was there, Sarah was every bit as protected as Emma. It was a blessing, and Emma knew that Sarah was grateful for that.

They arrived at the manor, and Rosendale continued on his way. Levi had offered to let him stay, but the man seemed reluctant to do so.

“It is understandable,” Emma nodded, “when you were going to shoot him yesternight.”

Levi chuckled at that.

His mother came to see them, and she had to look closely at the two young ladies to see the difference between them.

“Levi, how many more young ladies do you plan to present me with?” she joked. “I had thought I might need spectacles for a moment.”