“Sleep well, Violet. I’ll have a maid wake you when a meal is prepared,” Wesley said before he closed the door to her chamber.
Violet rolled to her side and tucked her hands beneath her chin as she recalled how Emory had held her as she rested against him. It would be wonderful to fall asleep in such a position now, except not sitting up. It was quite comforting to have his arm about her. If only she could sleep like that always.
If only he liked her enough to want her to sleep with him always.
If only he loved her, as she loved him.
Chapter 29
Emory had first drivento the dower house to deliver Violet to her brother. She’d not awakened in the two hours that it took to return. Because he feared that the horses would grow tired, he’d not pushed them and let them walk at a pace they preferred. Not even when he pulled up before the cottage did she waken, and he’d handed her slumbering body down to her brother.
“Is she unharmed?” Epworth asked with concern.
“Yes. Simply exhausted.” Emory looked around. “My brother is no longer here?”
At the question, Epworth grinned. “You may congratulate me. My heir has arrived.”
Emory wondered that each time the heir’s birthday was celebrated if Violet would remember it as the day that she’d thwarted an abductor. Emory climbed down from the curricle. “Congratulations. I hope your wife is doing well.”
“Perfectly so,” Epworth informed him. “But I should take my sister in and see that she’s settled.”
“I’ve a delivery to make as well.” He nodded to the carriage that had continued to follow him. “Is there a magistrate near?”
The color rose in Epworth’s cheeks. “Is that Eardly.”
“Yes.”
Before he barely had time to react, Epworth passed Violet back to Emory and stormed over to the carriage and yanked open the door.
“What did you do?” Epworth asked.
Emory followed and glanced over Epworth’s shoulder to Eardly who was half lying on the bench, pale and unconscious, his arm covered in blood.
“Lady Violet shot him.”
She mumbled and turned her face to his chest.
“Is he dead?” Epworth asked.
“Not yet, I don’t think.” Not that Emory would be disturbed by the man’s death, and he suspected Epworth wouldn’t be upset either. Though, Violet may appear to have recovered from shooting him, such might not be the case if she caused Eardly’s death.
“Should I take your sister inside?” Emory asked, though reluctant to part with her.
“You can’t deliver her to a chamber. I will.” Epworth held out his arm so that Violet could be passed back, and despite being handed about as one would an infant, Violet didn’t wake. “Does she always sleep so soundly?”
“No. In fact, she’s a poor sleeper, or she had been when she was younger.”
“Then it’s likely that she’s simply exhausted because she fell asleep against my shoulder several miles back.” He wasn’t about to tell Epworth just how long she’d slumbered, or that he’d traveled the entire way with his arm about her waist, tucked up tight against his body and enjoyed every moment of holding her.
“Thank you for seeing to her safety. I’d have gone myself, but I didn’t wish to leave my wife. It was a damned difficult decision.”
“I understand.” In similar circumstances and if Violet were his wife, Emory wasn’t so certain he’d leave her side to save a sister, and he hoped he never needed to make such a difficult decision.
“If it is no inconvenience, I’d like to call on you later this afternoon to assure myself that Lady Violet has fully recovered from her ordeal.”
Epworth stared at him, as if trying to decide if he should grant such a request. The gentleman had once asked him to leave and warned him away from Violet. However, that had been before Emory had saved her.
“Very well. Come back at four. She should have rested by then and be ready to receive you.”
