All Chapters of The League of Rogues: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Godric St. Laurent, the twelfth Duke of Essex, leaned back in his saddle watching the abduction he'd orchestrated unfold. Covering his mouth with a gloved hand, he stifled a yawn. Things were going smoothly. In fact, this entire kidnapping bordered on the point of tedious. They'd intercepted the coach ten minutes before it reached Chessley House. No one witnessed the escort of riders or the driver changing his route. Oddly enough, the young woman hadn't shown any signs of resistance or concern from inside the coach. Wouldn't she have made some protestations when she realized what was happening? A thought stopped him dead. Had she somehow slipped out of the coach when they'd slowed on a corner before they'd left town? Surely not, they would have seen her. Most likely she was too terrified to do anything, hence the silence from inside. Not that she had anything to fear, she would not be harmed.He nodded to his friend Charles who was perched next to the driver. A bag of coins jingled as

Early morning light danced through the lilac curtains, casting purpled shadows across the counterpane. Emily woke, aching and sore. The sensations puzzled her. As she sat up in the massive bed, her gaze skimmed a room elegant enough for a queen. For a brief moment, as the beauty of the furnishings sank in, she reveled in the strange fairy tale surroundings.She slid from the bed and approached the wood and gold-filigreed dresser, tugging gently on the handle of one drawer. It slid open to reveal a collection of chemises as thin as spider-spun silk. Emily fingered the finery, sighed and turned away, only to catch sight of herself in the dressing-table mirror. A loud gasp escaped her lips as she slapped a hand to her mouth. Her gaze fell on the set of reflected eyes, open wide as they took in the sight of her dirty and disheveled dress.Memories flooded through her while terror gripped her anew, fraying her self-control. Where was she? Where had they taken her? Emily's hands shook as s

Emily collapsed on her bed, and her whole body shook. Her face burned."Abducted by a duke."Emily rubbed her temples, her headache returning. This was a nightmare. What would her mother have done in such a situation? Acknowledge the facts. First, in the eyes of society she was as good as ruined. Second, she was at the mercy of a man who wanted to actually ruin her. Third, she needed to figure out what to do about the first and second facts.Emily drew in a deep breath. She had to make a choice: escape and return to her uncle and Blankenship, remain here with Godric or hope she could make a match with some man desperate to get access to her fortune regardless of her tainted state. Only one of these options held real appeal.Godric. The idea half terrified, half thrilled her. Did she want to be with someone though who infuriated her with his arrogance, despite his pleasing form?Emily's shoulders sagged. All she wanted was to have the freedom to travel and live her life, hopefully

The silence that followed Emily's words lasted for several unpleasant minutes. When Cedric stood up from the table, she was relieved for the opportunity to think of something other than her current situation."The sun is out. Fair weather for riding." Cedric sidestepped around a pair of footmen removing plates from the breakfast table. "Mind if I borrow a horse? Mine was favoring his left foreleg last night."Emily stood as Ashton and Lucien took their leave. Charles vanished, but only after casting her a particularly wicked grin."The stables are always open to you, Cedric."Emily rose excitedly at the prospect of riding. "May I go with him, Your Grace? It has been ages since I've been riding." The memory of her last ride was still bittersweet. Uncle Albert had sold her horse to pay off a debt her first week at his house. She still remembered the well-oiled leather saddle and the rough hair of her gelding's mane. She missed riding, missed her old life.Godric's green eyes narrowe

Emily slowed her horse when she heard another shout, this time one of fear. She turned just in time to see Godric clear the fence but get thrown from his horse. His body hit the surface of the lake in a loud splash and sank out of sight. She held her breath, waiting for to him break the surface. Any moment he'd come up sputtering and humiliated.Only he didn't.A thread of fear moved through her, whispering with guilt for letting a man like him die. He couldn't die because of her reckless plan, he couldn't. She was beginning, just a little, to understand him and she didn't want his death on her conscience.Emily cast a panicked look in the direction of Blackbriar, cursed under her breath and headed back to the lake. She refused to consider whyshe owed Godric nothing.She flung herself out of the saddle and plunged into the water nearest his entry. The lake was shallow near the edge but murky. She barely pinpointed the contours of Godric's white shirt. She wrapped her arms about his