Chapter 6
Emma stepped into the foyer,started at the sight of the men standing just inside, then froze. Uncle Silas and Lord Windham stared back at her. How had they found her? What would they do? Good God, she’d not told Aaron the whole truth, yet. Her heart somersaulted. Now there would be notime.
Before she could determine what to do, Uncle Silas stepped forward and took hold of her arm and yanked her toward the door. “You have had your fun. Now it is time you do yourduty.”
Emma pulled her arm back, attempting to gain her freedom. “Release me.” She turned defiant eyes on him. “Let go, or I’ll scream. I swear Iwill.”
“I could not care less if you do. I am your guardian and you are betrothed to Windham. You belong to us.” He said, his tone low,dangerous.
She shrank back like a cornered animal, digging her heals in as he pulled her toward the door. “No. Youcan’t—”
“Shut your stupid mouth before we shut it for you.” Lord Windham took her other arm, helping Uncle Silas to propel her toward the door while Aaron’s butler watched with wideeyes.
Knowing not what else to do, Emma released a blood curtailing scream. Perhaps Aaron would not save her, maybe he would not, but she had to try. She could not allow Uncle Silas to take her and marry her to Windham without a fight. Now mere feet from the door, she screamed again, so loud that it made her earsring.
Uncle Silas slapped his hand over her mouth, tugging herharder.
Her heart beat so hard she feared it might explode causing her to perish on the spot. A fate she’d prefer over becoming Lord Windham’s wife. “Do not let them take me,” she yelled at the butler, desperation plain in hervoice.
The butler found his courage and slammed the door shut, stepping in front of it. “I am afraid you will have to speak with His Grace before you are allowed to remove MissBaxter.”
Lord Windham let go of her only to grab the butler by his lapels, pushing him against the door. “You do not give meorders.”
“What is the meaning of this?” Aaron stepped intoview.
She moved her gaze to the floor boards when he moved to stand in front of them, his face all hard lines and anger, though she recognized a flicker of betrayal glinting in hiseyes.
He ripped Uncle Silas’s hands from her, turning the man to face him. “Explainyourself.”
Uncle Silas squared his shoulders, notched his chin. “Miss Baxter is my niece and I am her guardian. Further, she is betrothed to Lord Windham. I have every right to take her back and enforce the contract wesigned.”
Aaron met Emma’s gaze causing her heart totumble.
She stared back, her lower lip quivering, hands shaking. “Please.” It was all she could do to speak the word to him and she desperately hopped it was enough to persuadehim.
He turned back to Uncle Silas. “I am afraid you have it all wrong. Emma belongs to menow.”
Lord Windham came forward, his face flaming red. “That isimpossible.”
Aaron strolled over to her with long confident strides then put a secure arm around her. “We arewed.”
“I don’t believe you.” Lord Windham sputtered, looking to Uncle Silas. “He islying.”
“Afraid not old chap. We were married under special license from the Arch Bishop of Canterburyhimself.”
Lord Windham pulled back his fist. “You lying son of abitch.”
Aaron released Emma catching Lord Windham’s fist in his hand. He squeezed it as he walked the man toward the door. “You have over stayed yourwelcome.”
The butler opened the large oak door and Aaron propelled Lord Windham through it before turning to Uncle Silas. “Will you be kind enough to remove yourself, or shall I do it foryou?”
Uncle Silas hastily took his exit. The butler slamming the door in hiswake.
“Thank you.” Emma raced to Aaron’s side. “You have done me a greatservice.”
He turned to her, his eyes still clouded with anger andbetrayal.
Her heart hitched at the knowledge she had caused his upset. “I will leave at once.” She fought the tears rising in her eyes as she started toward thestairs.
