Page 59 of Truly, Madly, Daring

“Oh, do sit down,” Helena complained. “You promised me you would not murder anyone and you’re acting like a caged tiger. It’s hardly soothing.”

“I said I wouldn’t murder anyone,” he grumbled, not breaking stride. “I said nothing about maiming. I could do with a bit of maiming right now. Where the devil are they?”

“For heaven’s sake!” she said, and shot her husband a look of pure exasperation. “We’ve arrived unannounced, they’re newlyweds, and it’s the middle of the afternoon. Where the devil do you think they are?”

Gabe stilled, his expression darkening. “That didn’t help.”

Helena threw up her hands. “Gabriel Knight, you faced down the duke and told him if Emmeline had stood by Wrexham, it was because she judged him worthy, and that Emmeline was no fool. So stop acting like you don’t believe it yourself.”

“Did you really say that, Papa?”

Gabe swung around to see their daughter had entered the magnificent drawing room the butler had shown them into. It was so cavernous that the Queen’s Guard could have walked in and gone unnoticed. The scale of Cawston Hall had quite staggered Helena, who had grown up at Beverwyck and was not easily impressed.

“Emmeline!”

Helena’s eyes prickled as father and daughter flew across the room to embrace each other.

“I’m so sorry I worried you,” Emmeline said, holding on tight.

Gabe closed his eyes and Helena saw much of the tension that had made him such a bear all morning dissipate now he could see his daughter for himself. He took Emmeline by the shoulders and stood back, studying her intently.

“You’re well?”

Emmeline smiled at him, and with that smile Helena relaxed too, for it was joyful and excited, and everything that she could have wished for.

“Very well, Papa.”

“And what about me?” Helena gave a little sniff. “Don’t I merit a kiss?”

“Oh, Mama!” Emmeline hurried over and hugged her tightly, kissing her cheek. “I’m so happy to see you both.”

“Are you quite sure about that?” she asked dryly, raising one eyebrow.

Emmeline blushed scarlet, which confirmed Helena’s suspicions. “Quite sure,” Emmeline replied with dignity. “But do come along. I’m dying for you to meet Wrexham, only… you won’t be angry with him, will you?”

She turned to look at her father then, her expression stern.

“I won’t have you upsetting him, Papa. He’s been through enough these past days.”

Gabe’s eyebrows almost hit his hairline and Helena bit her lip. Well, something had happened since they’d eloped and no mistake, for Emmeline would never have spoken to her father in such a forthright way before now.

“And what about the upset he’s caused me?” Gabe demanded indignantly.

“I said I was sorry, and there was no other choice,” Emmeline said, putting her chin up. “We would have much preferred to marry with you and the rest of our friends and family to celebrate, but we could not. The duke and Lord Cecil are trying to harm Wrexham, maybe even kill him. We could not take the chance. As it was, Wrexham’s steward betrayed him and told the duke of our plans. He got Lord Cecil to follow us the entire way, and then… well, this morning was horrific, too.”

Gabe’s dark eyebrows drew together, concern in his eyes now. “Go on,” he said.

They listened as Emmeline explained the shocking events of the morning, which had obviously caused the entire household a good deal of upset. Yet as her daughter spoke, Helena found her concerns for Emmeline receding somewhat, for despite the situation with Wrexham’s father and half-brother, there was something else their youngest child revealed as she spoke. She was in love with her husband.

Perhaps Gabe heard it too, for he hugged Emmeline again, and when he spoke, it was to reassure her. “We’re here now, and you have my word I will do all in my power to thwart the duke or anyone else.”

“I know that,” Emmeline said, her voice quavering. “I never doubted that, not for a moment. I only hoped you wouldn’t kill him yourself first,” she added wryly.

Gabe snorted. “Well, as to that, the jury is still out, but let us see what the man has to say for himself, shall we? Then I’ll let you know.”

“Be nice, Papa,” Emmeline scolded, her expression fierce, and so like her father’s when he was in a temper that Helena could only laugh.

“Oh, do come along. I, for one, am dying to meet my new son-in-law.”