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“Demanding?” Lady Theodora asked. “In my father’s house?

Interesting. Might you inform Lord Duncan of the situation?

Meanwhile, I will conduct Lord Davidson to my father’s quarters.

I shall join him there.” She turned to Rheem.

“If you have finished with Lady Emma’s examination, might you also join us?

If necessary, you may address Lady Emma’s prognosis.

” To Emma, Theodora said, “You are not to leave this room. Lock the door behind us. Even if Davidson dares to demand to search this house, you must stay here until I return for you.”

Emma nodded her gratitude. “God blessed me, indeed, when Lord Orson carried me into this house. The Duncans will forever know my loyalty.”

He still questioned his permitting Thompson and Hartley to convince him to seek a special license to marry Lady Emma Donoghue, but when Richard spotted Lord Davidson’s carriage before Duncan Place, his qualms quickly disappeared.

Hartley was to send over a copy of Lady Emma’s birth registration and the special license later on this very day, both of which would be signed by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Richard would use the birth notice to convince Emma to travel in secrecy to Beaufort’s hunting lodge, where she would stay until Monday, when she would be legally able to choose who she might marry.

Mrs. Chester opened the door when Richard reached it. “Where is Davidson?” he asked quietly.

“In the master’s quarters with Lady Theodora and Mr. Rheem,” the housekeeper provided.

“Do they have a need of me?” Richard asked.

“Not to my knowledge,” Mrs. Chester said with a smile, “but you might eavesdrop from the servants’ passage,” she instructed. “Just as you were accustomed to do as a child when your curiosity was more than you could keep under reasonable control.”

Richard smiled also. “And Lady Emma?”

“Confined to her quarters by Lady Theodora.”

Richard squeezed the back of the woman’s hand in a gesture of gratitude.

Mrs. Chester had been more mother to him than his own mother, for the late Lady Orson was too weak-spirited to do more than to be the mistress of her husband’s households, and, of course, satisfy her lover.

She had rarely expressed any true affection for Richard, whereas, Mrs. Chester had often prepared his favorite sweets and allowed him to use one of the garrets for his study of the stars with a telescope purchased by Lady Elsbeth Duncan, and, more importantly, Mrs. Chester and Lady Elsbeth had held him close when he had been sad or lonely.

Climbing the main stairs, Richard darted into the servants’ passage to make his way to Duncan’s quarters, but he was brought up short to discover Mrs. Braylon outside of Duncan’s suite of rooms.

Richard caught the nurse by the arm and dragged her along the passageway. “What in blazes do you think you are doing?” he hissed.

“It is my responsibility to assure Lord Duncan does not become overwrought,” she said as she stood toe-to-toe with him.

“Trust me, Mrs. Braylon, the only time Lord Macdonald Duncan could be termed ‘overwrought’ was when his wife passed.”

Uncharacteristically, the woman frowned. “I was performing my duties,” she repeated.

“And I am performing mine. You have thirty seconds to make yourself scarce.”

Duncan’s raised voice drew Richard’s attention long enough that the woman had taken Richard’s suggestion and managed to disappear without further ado.

Richard would address what he had discovered to Duncan a bit later.

For now, he returned to the door leading to Duncan’s chambers and pressed his ear closer to the opening.

Duncan warned Davidson, “No one enters my home and makes demands and comes to know satisfaction, especially a man whose political leanings go against mine. Mr. Rheem has assured you that Lady Emma is not yet well enough to address your concerns. You must abide by Rheem’s words and mine until Lady Emma is capable of speaking for herself. ” Duncan called out, “Mr. Fields.”

The butler appeared immediately. “Yes, my lord.”

“Lord Davidson’s business is complete. Please see that his lordship is shown to his waiting carriage.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Richard waited until Mr. Fields showed Davidson from the house before he entered Duncan’s room from the servants’ entrance.

“I wondered if you would make an appearance before I had Davidson escorted from the premises. I noted you had opened the servant door a crack. That was always your favorite way of listening in where you should not be,” Duncan said with a nod of greetings.

“Only this time, your presence was welcomed.”

“Lord Davidson is quite desperate to speak to Lady Emma,” Theodora shared. “Though, did you not think it odd that the man was wearing a wool scarf around his neck in May, and he had some sort of plaster upon his cheek?”

Richard confessed, “I could not view the plaster on his cheek, but I did note the scarf. I imagine his desperation to locate Lady Emma is quite real, if his plan is to succeed,” Richard explained.

“Hartley has discovered that Lady Emma will reach her majority on this upcoming Monday. Unless Davidson can discover a man of the cloth who will ignore a woman tied up and gagged while he performs the wedding, his lordship’s plans are quickly falling apart.

As to the scarf and the plaster, what think you on the matter, Rheem? Your expertise would be good to know.”

“Davidson has long been a bit queer in his habits. I heard recently he spends a great deal of time attempting to remedy the wrinkles of old age. He is wearing a man’s corset to keep him from being humped-back and to hold in his waist,” Rheem shared, “though I cannot speak to the man’s physical condition, personally.

He has his own physician, who caters to his lordship’s quirks and often brags about the money Davidson spends to keep himself looking young. Not that any of it has proven useful.”

“Which means Davidson is desperate,” Theodora observed.

“I despise ‘desperate,’” Duncan remarked.

Rheem bowed to them all. “I should make my exit at this point. Call for me if either you or Lady Emma require extra care.” With that the surgeon saw himself from Duncan’s quarters.

Duncan waited until the door was closed behind Rheem before he stated the obvious, “We should learn whether Davidson has someone watching the house.”

“I will see to it,” Richard confirmed.

“And Lady Emma?” Duncan asked.

Before he answered, Richard tugged Theodora closer so they formed a close circle with Duncan. Richard spoke in a whisper, “When I came through the servants’ quarters, Mrs. Braylon was listening outside the door.”

“Father,” Theodora pleaded, “you must dismiss the woman. She claims too much freedom in her interactions.”

“I will dismiss her once we have secured Lady Emma’s safety. I imagine Mrs. Braylon would sell what information she might have to the likes of Davidson, assuming she has not done so previously,” Duncan explained. “What else did Hartley learn?”

“There has been no diplomatic exchange of letters addressing a marriage contract,” Richard provided.

“Thompson has suggested we send Lady Emma to Beaufort’s hunting lodge where it would likely take several days to discover her—hopefully, too late to force a marriage upon her.

Essentially, we must hide her away for four days. ”

“Rheem says by the end of next week, Lady Emma’s bruises and the blow to her head will no longer be an issue,” Theodora provided.

“What is her memory of her attack?” Richard inquired.

“Rheem seems to think she already knows who the person is, but Lady Emma chooses not to remember because her attacker was someone she trusted.”

“Which is what I thought all along,” Richard responded. “I must convince one of the others to escort Lady Emma to Buckinghamshire and hide her away. Best to leave in the middle of the night. Less likely to be seen. I hold obligations to Sir Hunter Wickersham for the next couple of days.”

“Excellent, for Davidson will have someone following you. You should also return to your London home,” Duncan instructed.

“We could dress Theodora in something belonging to Lady Emma. The lady’s bonnet to hide her face and so forth.

Dora could remain with you long enough to have all involved thinking you provided Lady Emma a sanctuary with you. ”

“Essentially ruining Lady Emma’s reputation,” Richard said with a shake of his head in the negative. “I cannot force the lady to accept my hand. It should be her choice.”

“Then you plan to propose to Lady Emma?” Theodora asked.

“You two know me better than any others,” Richard said solemnly. “I would not risk my heart if I could view the world with another beside me and think all would be equally as well as it would be with Lady Emma Donoghue.”

“You mean to send me away?” Emma asked as she clung to his lapels. “Without you to protect me? I know everyone thinks me fearless, but that was when my memory was perfect. At the moment, I cannot claim what is real and what is not with any confidence, and such has me more than a bit off-kilter.”

“I am not abandoning you,” he assured her.

“However, we require a distraction, and Davidson will think me foolish enough to keep you near. I will come to Buckinghamshire as quickly as my duties to Sir Hunter are complete.” Richard wished to promise her never to leave her side, but he knew Duncan was correct regarding Davidson.

“Only for a few days,” he assured her. “Davidson has someone following me about London; therefore, it is best that I return to my London house. Beaufort will escort you to his hunting lodge, and Lord Aaran Graham will join you, as well. I doubt you have encountered Lord Graham previously. Aaran is constantly avoiding social situations, for he sports a scar upon his cheek and has a limp, both thanks to his mother, a woman who deserted him when he was but three years of age.”

“How terrible,” Emma said.

“I only tell you this, for Graham is sensitive about his appearance, and it would bother him greatly if you bring notice to either,” Richard warned.

“I understand,” she said. “I appreciate your forethought, though I do not think myself of a mean nature, I will school my initial reaction when I meet the man.”

“Assuredly, I do not think of you in that manner, but you do hold a reputation for speaking your mind. Graham will have his shields raised until he knows you better, while Beaufort will be as you have already viewed him.” Richard caught Emma to him. “I wish I was not required elsewhere.”

“You owe Sir Hunter your loyalty,” she agreed. “I admire how you stand by the man.”

He took her hand and led her to a nearby chair, where he knelt before her.

“This is what we have planned. I will return to my London home after supper this evening. Lady Theodora will travel with me so we might practice a deception on the men watching Duncan’s house.

One of them will follow me. Perhaps both, but we are assuming only one.

Theodora will wear a hooded cape to disguise her features.

Marksman will return Theodora to this house in the early hours of the new day.

“Meanwhile, Beaufort will come for you in the wee hours of the morning. He will carry your bags, and you will walk together to where his lordship’s carriage will be waiting, several streets removed.

We hope to keep you away from Davidson until Monday when you reach your majority.

That will be four days. We also hope that Davidson will think Theodora is you and will switch those watching this house to watching mine.

Lord Thompson will be staying with me until I come to Buckinghamshire so there will be extra protection at my home.

If you hold objects to any of these plans, make me aware of them now.

Though we will keep much of this on the hush-hush, Davidson will not care if he ruins your reputation, for doing so would provide him an edge in claiming you.

He may openly speak of your coming to my house to spend the night, though, in reality, it will be Theodora.

Society is more likely to believe his tales for the beau monde lives and breathes scandal. ”

“I despise that I have placed you and your friends in danger,” she said as she reached for his hand, which Richard gladly turned over to her. “Thank you for seeing to my care. I understand what may occur, and I hold no objections.”

“As Duncan’s ‘sons,’ we are often required to stand between those who mean harm and those who are innocent.

We have known special training. That does not mean we seek out situations beyond those we perform for the British government.

What I am saying is both Beaufort and Graham will step between you and harm, that is, if someone is able to discover your whereabouts, which we do not think they will. ”

“And you will come... when?” she asked. “I feel safer when you are near.”

“Hopefully on Saturday, but if Davidson’s men are staying too close on my heels, it will be Sunday. Nothing could keep me from you,” he promised as he rose up on his knees to kiss her.