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Chapter 28
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The League of Rogues Chapter 29
Emily paused at the open doorway to Godric's study. He was seated at his desk, pouring over ledgers and letters. She took the opportunity to memorize his features, paint them on the canvas of her mind, and burn them into her heartthe way his dark hair fell into his eyes, the strong hands that gripped the pages, the lean muscled legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles.With a tentative step she crossed study's threshold. The wooden floor creaked. Godric glanced up at her, smiled and resumed his work. Perhaps another woman would have been upset that she hadn't been addressed. But Godric's polite acceptance of her trespass had a wholly different meaning. It represented trust. She didn't wish to ruin the moment by being bothersome and distracting. She selected a book from the shelves, a botanical discussion of plants native to Kent, and settled herself on the couch near him.After a quarter of an hour she looked up to find Godric glaring down at a ledger before him, his teeth gritte
The League of Rogues Chapter 30
Emily had calmed down after the scare of Evangeline's unexpected arrival before they reached the stairs, but her relief was short-lived. A door at the far end of the hall opened. Godric's arm tightened beneath her grasp."Ah bonsoir, Godric!" The most attractive woman Emily had ever seen walked down the hall. She was radiant with her salmon-toned gown, large breasts and wide hips. Blonde ringlets danced down her back in perfect proportions.Emily's chest tightened. She expected Godric to have taken a gorgeous woman as his lover, but to see this Aphrodite in the flesh was too much to bear. By comparison, she was young and inexperienced. She could never match Evangeline in looks or mimic that lusty gaze or sway of hips. To Emily's mortification, she realized she was no competition. If Godric wanted a real woman he could take Evangeline back without question.Godric frowned, clearly uncomfortable with the required introduction. "Return to your room at once." The sharp tone in his voice
The League of Rogues Chapter 31
Dinner that night was a far more formal affair than any other since Emily's abduction. Prior to Evangeline's arrival, all propriety and formality had been banished where the five lords were concerned. Now they observed every single point of etiquette, even though Evangeline wasn't present. Libba had told Emily that Godric had ordered his former mistress to take her meals in her room. That, at least, gave Emily a tiny sense of comfort, knowing that Godric wouldn't allow her to dine with them.He sat at the head of the table with Emily directly to his right. The rest of the men ranged down on either side according to titled order. Well turned out, each gentlemen wore black knee breeches and well-tailored black coats. Emily wore an ice blue silk gown overlaid with a layer of silver netting. Pale stars were embroidered on her matching slippers and pearls threaded her hair like frozen dewdrops. She couldn't believe the results Libba had wrought. She'd never looked so beautiful, never felt
The League of Rogues Chapter 32
Godric held Emily's body loose against him. One of her bare legs stretched over his abdomen, and he rested a possessive hand on the soft skin of her outer thigh. Her head rested on his chest and her faint breaths betrayed her deep state of sleep. He'd worn her out tonight, she was still adjusting to his voracious appetite. She was bolder too, but she still made love with that strange mixture of wanton innocence.It would be a lie to deny his joy at the enthusiasm and boldness in her responses. She loved him, he heard her breathe it once while asleep, and today, she'd said it without the influence of passion. She'd not taken it back, and for that he was glad.No one had ever claimed to love him before, no woman besides his mother. He was loved by Simkins and the League, but Emily was different. He'd always assumed a woman's love would be a burden, but it wasn't. Her affection and loyalty strengthened him. She knew him for who he was, but she loved him anyway, loved him enough to decla
The League of Rogues Chapter 33
The house was rid of Evangeline Mirabeau long before breakfast was even set. Someone had seen to her early departure, and the rest of the house was none the wiser as to who it was. It would seem that, having played her role, she had wisely chosen to leave lest she still be around when Blankenship's men arrived. The relief among the lords was tangible. Breakfast became a cheery affair, and despite Emily's plans to depart, she took advantage of these last few hours with her friends. For they were just that. She'd miss Ashton mothering over the others. She'd miss Lucien's attempts to hide behind his newspaper while teasing the others. She wouldn't get to fish or hunt with Cedric, nor listen to Charles's outlandish tales.And Godric She would miss life with him, but she had no choice."Toast, Emily?" Charles offered a plate of toast as it came her way, breaking through her dark thoughts."Why, thank you, Charles," she said."You're welcome." The earl winked, and when she fetched a slic
The League of Rogues Chapter 34
Emily spent her last hours collecting her few possessions into the small cloth bag that Libba left under her bed. Tucked away were her butterfly comb and brush, her night rail, and a spare set of clothes to change into once she could remove Libba's uniform. The trickiest part would be Penelope. She couldn't leave the puppy behind. Libba would fetch the dog and bring her out to the cart. Soon she would be Emily's only companion.Libba returned and helped Emily into the extra maid gown. Emily tucked her small bag of possessions in her arms while Libba fixed the white cap over her hair. If she kept her head down, she might yet escape.Libba peeked out the door, then waved to Emily that the halls were clear. There was no sign of anyone; the upper manor hall was quiet. She walked briskly, head bent to the floor, her ears pricked for the slightest noise.In the parlor, Cedric and Godric laughed about something. She lingered for a brief painful second.Goodbye, my League of Rogues.She s
The League of Rogues Chapter 35
Godric left Cedric alone in the drawing room to check on Emily. She'd looked decidedly pale and he was worried.I'll read to her! She'll like that.His eagerness surprised him, the temptation to abandon his friends and seek her out was great. But she probably needed some time alonewomen often did; they were quite mysterious creatures. Knowing this didn't make him miss her any less. He snatched a book from his study and hurried upstairs.On his way to her room he passed by a chamber he'd not entered in years. Strangely tempted, he opened the door. The nursery was a lovely room, even when muted by afternoon shadows and warm with its buttery yellow walls decorated by various painted scenes. Scenes painted by Godric's father a month before Godric was born.He remembered his father pointing to a mighty frigate, guns blasting at a pirate vessel, deep voice rumbling as he spoke of age-old tales.Godric's gaze fixed on another scene, one of a babe in a basket nestled against a wall of ree
The League of Rogues Chapter 36
Godric caught Emily a second before she hit the floor. He cradled her to his chest, savoring the feel of her in his arms, then chastised himself for doing so.Her escape had proven her intentions well enough. Her whispered words of love were nothing more than lies, a clever ruse to lower his guard.He retrieved Emily's small cloth bag where she'd set it down by the door. Her head lolled sideways, bumping into his chest. God, he was a fool.He was even more a fool for threatening to return her. He knew what life awaited her theremarriage to Blankenship, a lifetime of misery. He wanted her to deserve that after what she'd done to him, but revenge seemed the farthest thing from his heart.Emily needed to go. That was all. If she stayed, he'd do something he'd regret, like beg her to love him. He'd relive his boyhood all over again, seeking love, knowing it would never come. The self-loathing that coiled about him increased with every step as he finally opened the door and came out int
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