He raised a brow.
Emily blushed as all eyes descended upon her.
“Last night I heard the names: The Duke of Essex and Viscount Sheridan. Since I’m acquainted with Miss Chessley, I’ve heard those names in connection with three more: the Marquess of Rochester; the Earl of Lonsdale; and Baron Lennox. I apologize if I was mistaken in my assumption,” she said hastily, but the man’s hazel eyes twinkled.
“Don’t apologize, Miss Parr, you are quite right. I am the Marquess of Rochester. Please address me as Lucien. None of us are overly fond of titles, especially in the company of such a lovely lady. That gentleman over there is Baron Lennox.” Lucien pointed to the man who had cornered her by the coach the night before. “Lonsdale has yet to grace us with his presence. Speaking of which, Ash, would you go and rouse him? Best to get him up and walking, or last night’s port will make him disagreeable the rest of the day.”
Ashton smiled pleasantly at Emily before he departed. There was something kind in the man’s face, a sympathetic look to his bright blue eyes that gave her aflash of hope. However, she couldn’t help but wonder why he needed to wake Charles when a servant could have done so.
“You’re a friend of Anne Chessley’s?” Cedric asked.
“Yes. She’s been so kind to me since I moved to London, my lord.”
“Oh, I insist you call me Cedric. I can’t stand that ‘lord’ nonsense. Now, tell me, does she mention me often?” He waggled his eyebrows and Emily almost grinned.This is the man who drugged you, don’t forget.
Setting aside Godric’s arrogance and veiled threats, the others did notseemall that villainous. But she knew of their reputations thanks toTheQuizzing Glass Gazette. They’d willingly gone along with Godric’s scheme to abduct her. Yet she felt safer in their presence than with a man like Blankenship. Perhaps it was because they were all naturally charming. A quality that no doubt furthered their schemes to ruin women all over London.
It was obvious that Godric was in charge, but it seemed that the other men did not bow to him in every decision. With some persuasion, perhaps a tear or two and begging, she could get the others to see what Godric had done was wrong and she should be set free. Even rogues had to have hearts…didn’t they?
Lucien returned to his newspaper. “By the way, Godric,TheGazettementioned our time in Covent Garden last week.”
“Oh? I am almost afraid to ask how our evening was relayed.” Godric collected the tray of coffee and hot chocolate from the sideboard. Emily watched him pour his coffee, taking it black. Lucien flicked his eyes back tothe paper, scanning some article. “They heard about the incident with the stolen swans…but they got the number of ladies involved wrong. Underestimated our appeal to the fairer sex again.”
The men at the table all laughed at whatever antics they had been up to. Emily was certain she didn’t want to know the details. Whatever swans, ladies and Covent Garden had in common was likely to shock her.
Undeterred by this change in topic, Cedric once more demanded to know of Anne’s interest in him.
“Anne has certainly mentioned you quite often.” It was true. Anne complained constantly about Cedric, but Emily knew she rather liked the attention.
Cedric reached for the plate of fruit. “What does she say?”
“You can’t expect me to break the vows of friendship?” she asked, widening her eyes in mock innocence.
“Expect? Miss Parr, I quite demand it.”
Emily imagined no one ever refused Cedric anything.
Rather than answer him immediately, she looked back to Godric. She justified her fascination by telling herself he was like a wolf. One must always keep an eye on the creature that could do one the most harm.
Godric poured a cup of chocolate for her. Her stomach rumbled at the dark liquid that swirled in her cup. He took a tiny porcelain pot and opened it to pinch at the ground cinnamon, which he sprinkled on top. It was perhaps the strangest and sweetest gesture a man had ever made for her, as though seeing to her needs and pleasures were a natural instinct.
Emily turned back to Cedric, who still waited for an answer.
“Your attentions to Anne have been duly noted.”
“So I’m successful in my pursuit?”
“I would not go so far as to say that, but she is thankful that your attentiveness has discouraged others.”
“In other words,” Lucien chimed in, “she’d rather fight you off than half the men in London.”
A little laugh escaped Emily, and Lucien winked. She’d been under the impression he’d been reading his newspaper, and she decided she liked him. Villain or not, she admired his humor.
The thought stopped her cold. She didn’twantto like Lucien, nor did she want her only moments of joy in this life to be with the men who had abducted her.
“At least I’m not resigned to bachelorhood, like someone I know.” Cedric whipped his head pointedly in Lucien’s direction. “I am simply very selective.”
Godric took Emily’s plate and filled it with a little bit of everything before he sat down and replaced it before her.
