Ashton cut into this silent war. “Emily, may I ask you a rather odd question?”
She nodded.
“Do you, perchance, speak Greek?”
Emily managed to mask her face to hide the truth, that she was indeed fluent in that particular language, as well as Latin.
“No.” she lied. Ashton turned to his friends and broke into fluent Greek. She followed the resulting discussion with ease. “Charles, what did you do to her?”
Charles looked guiltily at Godric then at the floor.
“I asked to kiss her. She slapped me. I swear it won’t happen again.”
“Sounds like you’re losing your touch,” Lucien joked.
“I got a little carried away with my earnestness, but no harm was done.”
Godric pounded the table with his fist. “No harm?You can’t demand such things and not expect it to affect her!”
Emily’s teacup clattered sharply and tea spilled onto the table.Hypocrite.She shot Godric a worried look. But none of the others paid attention.
Cedric spoke in a low voice. “Godric… Not to play devil’s advocate, but you did more than demand a few kisses this morning, if I recall.”
Exactly. Heat rose in Emily’s face, but they didn’t notice.
“If I want her, Cedric, then she’s mine!” Godric shouted. “It’s my money her uncle stole, so I can steal back in kind!”
“But Emily didn’t steal your money,” Lucien said sharply. “You’ve ruined her just by bringing her here, you don’t actually have to seduce her. We aren’t Arab sheikhs keeping her as a slave for our harems.”
Ashton cleared his throat, silencing the room. “It’s evident we all have taken an interest in Emily that goes beyond captors and captive. I advise we consider our actions more carefully and try to think with our upper heads, not our lower ones. If possible.” He shot a glance at Charles. “It’s time we abided by Rule Four of our code. If any man here wishes to have Emily he must convince her to take him. Once claimed, no others may try for her. There will be no more forcibly stolen kisses, not even from you, Godric. I am putting my foot down.”
His command left Emily to wonder if perhaps he really was the group’s secret leader. Perhaps peerage did not actually affect the League’s inner politics.
“But, Ash,” Charles protested, “you can’t expect us not to touch her. She’s so—”
“Irresistible?” Godric said darkly. “Who the devil is in control, you or your loins?”
“Yes, she has enchanted us all, but if she knew that she could use it against us. So again I say: if any man wants her, he’ll have to seduce her properly. If she resists that man’s advances, he has a duty to stop paying court to her.”
“And any further discussions on the matter,” Lucien added, “shall be conducted in Greek.”
“Excuse me, gentlemen,” Emily said in English, drawing all eyes back to her. “Is everything all right? I feel as though I’ve caused some trouble.” The tension in the room eased somewhat.
“Not at all, Emily,” Lucien replied. “We were merely telling Charles he could not repeat his actions…unless you wish it, of course.”
Charles grinned.
“I…” Her face heated and she turned away in embarrassment. “I am not sure what I wish. I’ve never had such attentions paid to me until being brought here. I find it all overwhelming.” The guilty looks on their faces proved they believed her.Excellent. She stood a chance of escaping after all. She’d never realized how persuasive feminine wiles could be until she’d had these five men struggling to figure her out and woo her.Fools.
“Then I must apologize for my forward conduct, Emily.” Charles bowed his head respectfully.
“Apology accepted.” She allowed Godric and Charles to serve her a late luncheon from either side of her,pretending to ignore how even that had become a competition. How funny it was that, two days before, she could not have imagined she would have five roguish lords to eat out of the palm of her hand. Emily smiled as she ate, and watched.
She belongs to me.I will have her.
Thomas Blankenship ascended the steps to his townhouse, seething. He knew what that fool Parr was up to.He means to play me against Essex in a secret bidding war. Well, I won’t play that game. She’s mine.
He pounded his fist on the door rather than use the knocker.
