Owen jumped down from the bench and ran for her.
“Where are you going?” Miss Yardley called.
He did not answer. The Italian garden had a new layout with which he was unfamiliar, and it slowed his run, forcing him to dodge unexpected plants and urns. By the time he reached the outer edge of the garden, Emma met him at the gate. Her breaths came hard, cheeks mottled red from exertion, and angry hand-shaped marks marred her arms.
Owen froze, his body going rigid. “Who did this to you?”
Emma gasped for breath, taking his forearm in both hands. She looked up sharply, seeming to notice the sudden shift in his demeanor.
Before she could answer, however, Miss Yardley joined them and drew in a gasp. “What happened?”
The panic that entered Emma’s eyes at once betrayed the scoundrel who mishandled her. “I should not—oh, but it was terrible, Owen.” She closed her eyes, swaying on her feet.
He drew her into his arms as she inhaled a steadying breath. She leaned against him, allowing him to support her, which proved how stunned she was.
“Take your time,” Owen said, though he wished the opposite. If Simon was getting away, he needed to hurry.
Emma was all consideration, as usual. “Sophia, you will not wish to hear this.”
Miss Yardley’s expression flattened. “My brother had a part in it?”
“He was the whole of it.”
She shook her head. “Where is he now?”
Emma looked up into Owen’s eyes. He cradled her cheek, wanting to crush Simon between his fists. There was a reason for the deep green grass stain on the front of her gown, and hewouldpay.
She swallowed. “In the stables.” In a few concise minutes, Emma relayed exactly what had occurred at Primrose End. “Platt noticed the strange carriage waiting in front of the door, so he returned to the house. He arrived in time to help me.”
Owen inhaled, his hand gently rubbing Emma’s back as he held her upright, all the while his body in turmoil, desperate to find Simon and string the man up by his feet.
Emma was not finished. “Evidently, Simon recently learned that he will inherit a sum from his mother upon his marriage.”
Miss Yardley nodded, though her golden brows drew together in confusion. “My father only told us a few weeks ago. He had kept it from us because he was trying to find a way to claim the money for himself, but the directive is unbreakable.”
Emma looked at her, pulling away from Owen’s chest. “Why would he need the money?”
She colored, her cheeks splotching red. “He lost our mines. We have been doing our best to retrench, but the funds are drying up.” She lifted one delicate shoulder in a shrug. “My father wanted access to that money in an effort to restore our fortune, but it is tied up in our marriages.”
“Which is why you are remaking your gowns and bonnets,” Emma said.
Miss Yardley nodded. “But that does not explain why my brother…why he did this.” She gestured to the bruises forming on Emma’s arms, concern lacing her tone.
Owen cleared his throat. “Perhaps he wants Emma out of the way so I am free to marry you.”
Miss Yardley gasped. “How ridiculous. Everyone in Briarstead knows you love each other.”
Emma’s gaze snapped to Owen. “He told me that himself, so I know it to be true. He also mentioned that taking me away would help secure more funds. I thought he meant the money from his mother, but perhaps he implied that the two of you marrying would bring in the Buckley fortune as well.”
“It would certainly explain why he dispatched servants and notes to orchestrate a private meeting between Sophia and me in the garden tonight. He was hoping to catch us in the middle of a tryst, but I imagine containing you was more work than he bargained for, Emma.”
“He certainly did not plan on being detained,” Miss Yardley said weakly.
Emma leaned against him, breathing out. “I feared I would not succeed, but Platt arrived in time. Simon’s hands and feet should be tied by now, and they are waiting in the stables.” She shot an apologetic look at Miss Yardley before continuing. “Platt wants to know whether you would like to send a groom for the magistrate.”
“No need,” Owen said, tightening his arms around her. “He is inside now.”
Miss Yardley chewed on her lip. “May I come?”
