Owen’s heart went out to her. It seemed she had been caught up in her brother’s schemes, and the poor woman deserved better. A wave of compassion rocked him. “Of course.”
“I will wait outside,” Emma said.
Owen nodded. “I can take you inside first. Shall I find Aunt Clara?”
“I would rather stay with you,” she said.
He understood. He didn’t want to move from that spot or release Emma from his hold. She had suffered an ordeal, and it was remarkable that she was managing as well as she was. But he could not stand by and do nothing while that blackguard sat on his land.
He saw red again, his blood simmering. He would make Simon pay.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Emma’s heartstill beat a furious pace as she stood outside the stables beside Sophia, her arm linked through her friend’s. It was unclear which of them was supporting the other more, for they each had suffered a massive shock that evening. The dark night closed in around them, and though the bustle of grooms and drivers was ever present due to the large number of visitors at the house, Emma paid them no mind.
She was not fooling herself into thinking they could keep this situation from their neighbors, however. Not with each of their coachmen in full earshot of Owen questioning Simon.
Platt had remained inside with Simon, ensuring he did not find a way out.
“I’d like to speak with him,” Sophia said. “Do you think that would be…would that bother you?”
“Of course not.” Emma squeezed her arm. The sounds inside the stables had grown eerily quiet, causing her no small amount of alarm. She didn’t want Owen to say or do anything he would later regret. “Perhaps we ought to go to them now?”
“You’d come with me?”
Emma paused, considering. She knew she was safe, ofcourse. But that didn’t mean she wanted to face Simon again. Her body gave a shiver at the thought. “I will stay back, but I’ll walk in with you.”
Sophia nodded. Together they entered the stables and followed the voices around the corner to a stall near the end. Platt stood just outside it, his hands clasped before him, and Owen was in the doorway.
Sophia pulled free and stepped into the entrance, her brow thundering. “Simon,really,” Sophia admonished. “You told me to?—”
“I don’t want to hear it,” he snapped. “You had one task, and you could not even see it through.”
His voice drove a chill through Emma’s body. She took an involuntary step back, glad she could not see him. The ordeal had given her a great fright, and while she knew it would take time to move past it, she had no doubt it was something she would overcome.
“Hard to do when you did not inform me of your plans,” Sophia snapped.
“As though you would have been amenable to them,” he spat. “I had to find a way to save us bothanddo so while you refused to help.”
Sophia frowned. “This was not the way to go about it.”
“I can see that now.”
“Could you not have spoken to me?” she pleaded. “If it was that important for me to marry for money, I could have tried harder. We could have gone to London for the Season and done our best to secure a decent match.”
Simon barked a laugh. “You would not listen. I told you to marry rich, but you have your head in the clouds. All your aspirations for love were getting in the way. If I did not compromise your reputation, you never would have secured someone the likes of Buckley.”
“I didn’t secure him anyway,” she said through her teeth.
“Neither would it have worked,” Owen added coolly. “I am already engaged.”
Sophia whipped her head to face him, then her shocked eyes rounded on Emma. “Is it true?”
Emma couldn’t help the soft smile that formed on her lips. Despite the terror she’d experienced that evening, this news could not fail to bring her joy. She nodded.
Sophia left her brother’s stall and crossed to Emma, pulling her into a hug. “I am so glad to hear it. You deserve every happiness.”
“Thank you.”
