“Then what is it you need from me? From Hux and Zara?”
Wren clenched and unclenched his hands at his sides. “When I came to you, I offered assistance because Ididunderstand the desire to protect someone you loved, especially against another who had more power and might use it to destroy them. Now I find myself in the same position, trying to protect Lady Wilburn?—”
“Oh, please don’t call me that,” Emilia said softly, which drew Fitzroy’s attention back to her swiftly.
“Emilia,” Wren corrected. “Aiden and I need to protect Emilia and we may not be able to do it in a lawful way.”
“And you think two criminal masterminds may have some advice on that matter?” Fitzroy said with a tilt of his head.
“Please,” Wren said at just above a whisper because he couldn’t force himself to be any louder when his entire being felt like it was going to shake down to nothing.
Fitzroy looked over the three of them for a brief moment and then nodded. “I’ll fetch the others. They can make their own decisions about assisting you. Please, make yourselves drinks while you wait.” He motioned to the sideboard and then departed the room.
Wren sagged with relief. The first step had been made and now his hope was growing. Aiden got up and moved to fix the drinks that had been offered while Emilia stepped up to Wren and slipped her hand into the crook of his arm as she rested her head against his chest.
“Is it wise to reveal so much?” she asked. “Even if it sounds like these three people are like us?”
He shrugged. “I must offer vulnerability to be trustworthy to these three, I think. I’m sorry if it is a humiliation.”
She lifted her head and touched his cheek. “I’m proud of who I love, Wren. There’s no humiliation.”
He smiled at her and then bent his head to gently kiss her just as the door to the chamber opened again and Fitzroy returned, this time with Zara Cooper and Peregrine Huxley behind him. He heard Emilia catch her breath and couldn’t blame her. The three of them were stunning together. Zara was a true beauty and Huxley was very tall, Wren had forgotten how tall, with curly salt-and-pepper hair and an olive complexion. Certainty all but poured from him. He was not a man to be trifled with.
“You remember Mr. Wren, loves,” Richard said. “Even though when you last met him you were both in disguise.”
“I remember he did us a kindness,” Zara said as she nodded toward him. “One it seems he might wish to have repaid if Richard’s brief description is correct. But first, let us meet your…beloved friends.”
Wren briefly introduced Emilia and Aiden and was surprised by how much warmth they were met with. The last time he’d encountered these three, there had been fear to all of them. Hopelessness. Now they seemed at peace together. Joyful. Safe.
He knew how the tables had turned. He and Aiden and Emilia were the fearful ones now. But this gave him even more hope for the future because if they could make it with all the obstacles that had been in their way, he knew he and his lovers could survive and thrive, as well.
“Please sit,” Zara said, and motioned to the settee where Aiden and Emilia had first sat together. They returned to that place, but Wren only moved to stand behind them, placing a hand on each of their shoulders.
Huxley arched a brow at the action and then reached into his pocket to toss Richard a few coins. “You can collect the rest of the wager later,” he said, quirking his lips. “For now, why don’t you three tell us why you’re here? And why her ladyship looks so fearful.”
Wren squeezed Emilia’s shoulder gently and drew a breath to begin, but she reached up to cover his hand and looked up at him. “It’s my story. I should tell it. I should ask for the help myself.”
Aiden made a soft sound in his throat and settled his hand on her knee. Together they buoyed her up as she softly told the story of their parting, of her marriage, of the attempt on her life by her husband and at last how she had fled with Aiden and ultimately came to be with both of them. When she was finished, her shoulders were trembling. Wren had never been so proud of her, to open herself up in such a way. He knew it was difficult, and also an act of trust towardhim. It meant the world.
“As you can see, I need to flee for my life,” she said at last.
Zara’s expression had softened with every word and now she scooted forward on her chair and held Emilia’s expression firmly. “You are brave, my lady.”
Emilia shifted and her cheeks darkened to a fetching pink. “Thank you. I don’t feel very brave at present.”
“That is when moving forward ismostbrave,” Richard said with as kind a smile for her as Zara had shared. Only Huxley was silent, simply observing with no discernible emotion about the situation. Richard continued, “We don’t know each other well. Even Mr. Wren only knows our family in the barest sense, but you came here. You were vulnerable enough to share this story with us. Will you tell me what you need?”
Emilia glanced up at Wren and then toward Aiden. “I admit, I don’t know why Wren brought us here, what he thinks you three might be able…or even willing to do to help me.”
“We need to help her exit the country,” Aiden said. “Without her husband being able to track where she goes.”
“And I know very well that Mr. Huxley and Miss Cooper have some experience in disguise and change of identity,” Wren added.
“Ah,” Huxley said, pushing from the fireplace where he stood at last. “I see. And where will you take her?”
“My thought was Athawick,” Aiden said, and glanced toward Emilia.
Her eyes went wide. “Athawick?” She looked at Wren. “You don’t seem surprised by this. You two have already clearly come up with some plan.”
