Then a soft voice piped up from behind Bridget. “Don’t hurt her.”
Bridget was so shocked that she turned around.
Emma had spoken.
She was on her feet, tears in her eyes, arms wrapped around herself, but she faced the man in front of her and spoke again.
“Don’t hurt Miss Bridget, Papa,” she said. “Please.”
CHAPTER 3
The man—the Duke of Greystone, Bridget was now sure—dropped to his knees and held out his arms. “Emma.”
And finally, at long last, all the tension left Emma’s body.
She burst into tears and ran into her father’s arms, burying her face in his shoulder.
“It’s all right,” he soothed. “I’m here now.”
Bridget was taken aback by how gentle he had become. Had this side of him always been there? He had been so rough and intimidating when he had come in, but now he was every bit the sweet and loving father. He kissed Emma’s forehead and held her close, and Bridget could tell that the bond between the two of them was powerful.
But… why did she hesitate? If she’s so comfortable with him, why didn’t she run straight to him the moment he arrived? Shereally did seem frightened in the beginning. How can I ignore that? I don’t know what to think now.
“I apologize,” she said hesitantly. “I shouldn’t have gotten in the way. It’s clear that you are who you say you are.”
The duke nodded. “You were only trying to protect her,” he said gruffly. “I should be thanking you. And I do thank you for putting a roof over her head these last few days. I’m grateful she was here, and not somewhere worse.”
She clearly was somewhere worse, though.Bridget held her tongue. She still didn’t trust the duke. There was something about the way Emma had reacted to him at first that had left Bridget feeling deeply uneasy about the whole situation.
The vicar now approached them. Some of the other workers must have run to fetch him. In all the excitement, Bridget hadn’t noticed what anyone else was doing. But she was grateful for his presence. It was good to have someone here who could bring a little extra authority to the situation.
“Your Grace,” the vicar said. “I’m so relieved that you were able to find your daughter and that the two of you have been reunited. I’d like to offer lodgings tonight, for both of you, and for your men, of course. And we’re happy for you to join us for supper. Our table is humble, but it’s a blessing for us to open it to a guest.”
“That’s kind,” the duke said curtly, not sounding remotely affected by the vicar’s kindness. “But we won’t be staying. We must return home, and we’ll be setting off at once.”
Bridget’s eyes hadn’t left Emma, and she noticed how the girl tensed up again at that statement. Her lips pressed together, and her shoulders tightened. She pulled away from her father’s embrace and took a quick step backward toward Bridget.
“Emma?” Bridget asked. “What is it?”
But Emma seemed to have reverted to her formal muteness. She shook her head and reached out for Bridget’s hand.
“What is this?” her father wanted to know.
Bridget hesitated, but if he was going to leave with Emma, he needed to have all the information. “She hasn’t spoken since she came to us,” she said. “We’ve had to guess at what might have happened to her, because she hasn’t been able to tell us. When she spoke to you just now, that was the first thing I have ever heard her say.”
The duke’s brow furrowed with concern. “She hasn’t spoken? That isn’t like her.”
Bridget hesitated. “Your Grace…” Using his title would be necessary to get what she wanted now. “May I speak to you?”
“Speak, then,” he said.
“I mean privately.” She didn’t want to risk Emma overhearing what she had to say.
His eyebrows shot up. “You want to speak to me privately?”
She blushed, realizing how inappropriate that had sounded. “We can use the vicar’s study,” she said. Surely, he wouldn’t suspect her of suggesting they get up to anything scandalous in a vicar’s study.”
“Very well,” he said after a moment. “Lead the way.”
