Emrys drew her closer. “It’s all right, you don’t need to be afraid. We know who he is now and why he was trying to kill you.”
“For the ring,” she said, trying to swallow her sobs and not succeeding. She was shaking still. Hearing his voice had brought it all back.
“Well yes, but primarily because your existence as well as your possession of the ring are the proof of your parents’ marriage which makeshimillegitimate and calls into question his accession to the earldom. His own parents’ marriage was bigamous—at least unless he can prove that Nicolas’s marriage to Janet was set aside in some way. If he can’t, then you are Nicolas’s only legitimate offspring.”
“So, he is my half-brother?”
“Yes, his father married his mother a year after he married Janet. I don’t believe Lawrence can prove your parents’ marriage was invalid. I checked with my solicitor this afternoon and everything seems to be aboveboard. Which means that second marriage is bigamous, and any children born of it are illegitimate.”
“What do we do?” she asked, all her newfound confidence draining away.
“We find a way to eliminate the threat to you.”
“But he’s an earl and I stabbed him!” she said helplessly, wiping tears off her cheeks.
“He threatened to kill you, and he terrorized you!” Emrys’s tone was grim. “Forgive me if I have scant sympathy for him.” He hugged her close. “God, if anything happened to you—” he muttered, kissing her hair. “I won’t let him hurt you, I swear it!”
The coach drew up at Cavendish Square, and he helped her down from the carriage and into the house.
While she removed her jewels and the pins from her hair, she watched him pacing the floor of their bedchamber.
“What are you thinking?”
“I have to find a way to trap him, get him to confess.” He came to a stop behind her at her dressing table, resting his hands on her shoulders. Meeting her eyes in the glass he said, “Will you trust me, Annis?”
“Of course, but what are you planning?”
“I think it best if you don’t know yet. But I promise, I will tell you shortly.”
“Why?”
“I need you to let me protect you. Please?”
She swallowed the questions clamoring at her lips and nodded slowly.
“I also need your permission for me to share some of your story with my nearest friends. I’m going to need some help to pull this off. Will you let me tell the duke, Ravenshaw, and Pendrell? I assure you they can be trusted. The four of us have known each other since we were fifteen. I’d trust each of them with my life.”
“Yes.” She cleared her throat and nodded again.
“Good.” He kissed her and straightened, turning toward the door.
“Where are you going?” She couldn’t keep the panic from her voice.
“Out. I need to set things in motion.”
She rose and ran to him. “Promise me you won’t challenge him to a duel or try to kill him. He could hurt you; I couldn’t bear that! Please!”
He smiled down at her. “I’m not going to do anything like that. I’m a rotten shot, for one thing, and only indifferent with a sword. I’m not the sort of heroic figure who fights duels. Besides, I have children. Getting myself killed wouldn’t be responsible.”
She smiled in spite of herself at this practical view of things. “Good, I’m glad.” She frowned. “Though I’m still not happy that you might be putting yourself in danger.”
“If I do this right, there will be no danger to anyone, including and especially you. Do you think I would do anything that might endanger you or the children?”
“No.” She clung to him all the same. “Do you have to go? I’m behaving like a ninny, but I really don’t want to be alone.”
“You’ll be safe here. If I thought you were in any danger, I wouldn’t leave. I’ll be back before you know it, I promise.” He kissed her softly and she held him close. She loved him so, her heart felt like it would burst.
“Where’s my brave warrior woman who went out alone in the night to face down her nemesis and won?” he asked, husky voiced.
