Page 37 of Until I’m Safe in Your Arms

Alex stuck out his hand and his uncle took it. “Done.”

In the background, Julius was scratching the pencil frantically in his book, muttering. “Francis, Harry, Tom, Yule. Sandy’s in Scotland, I’ll have to send for him. And Grandfather. Good. The notes will go out tonight informing them of the match.” Jules looked at Uncle Jack. “When do you intend to fight? It’s going to take a little time to get everyone gathered here for the match. No one’s going to want to miss this.”

His uncle looked Alex up and down. “If you want to win, you’re going to have to train. Two weeks should give you a fighting chance.” He glanced at Julius. “Will that be enough time for you?”

“Ample.” His cousin grinned at Alex. “I’ll have everyone here in Town before December first. I expect the wagering will be fierce.” He chuckled. “But I can’t tell you if they’ll wager for you or against you.”

*

After waiting all day to hear from Alex, Emma had ordered a bath to be drawn for her in the dressing room. She hoped to soothe her nerves, ready to crack with tension waiting for him to make his decision. Surely, she couldn’t sustain this façade of calm much longer. In desperation, she’d even entertained the idea of accompanying him to India, but only for the briefest minutes. Even so, her body had trembled for a quarter of an hour afterwards. No, she couldn’t do that if her life depended on it.

So her husband would have to make his decision. She could only pray he would choose to stay with her.

Emma eased down into the steaming water, tendrils of her hair escaping from the tortoise shell combs with which Cooper had secured the tresses on top of her head. Stretching out in the tub, she slid down until her body was completely submerged save for her head, and let her body relax. The scent of lavender oil she’d poured into the water helped keep her tranquil. This was so peaceful she could drift right off here…

The door opening brought Emma back up to consciousness, though her eyes remained closed. “I’m not quite ready to emerge yet, Cooper. Can you pour some hot water in, please?”

Water began to trickle in, warming her toes.

“Thank you, Cooper. Please inform me when Captain Bancroft arrives.”

Something hovered near her head.

“I have arrived, sweetheart,” he whispered in her ear.

With a scream, Emma bolted up out of the water, twisting around to face her smiling husband.

The smile turned into a grin as he took in her shiny, wet, naked body. “You have to give me this kind of welcome every day from now on, my love. I can’t think of anything else that would be a better greeting.”

“Alex, you wretch.” She tried her best to shield her body with her hands, but there was too much of her and too few hands. Besides, he’d done more than look at her last night. Much more. She straightened and held out a hand. “Please hand me a towel.”

“Are you certain you’re done with your bath? Don’t you want me to scrub your back?” Laughing, he held the towel just out of her reach.

“Wretched man.” Emma rose from the tub, all peace and serenity fled. “The towel, Captain Bancroft.”

“Don’t you want to know why I’m home so early?” Dangling the towel over her head, Alex coaxed her closer to him.

She glanced into the bedchamber, still bright with daylight. “You are early. Why?” She jumped up, making a grab for the towel, her breasts bouncing freely.”

“Because I’m in training.”

Emma stopped, heart in her throat. “For India?” All the strength ran out of her legs and she sat down on the chair that had held the towel. “You’re leaving me then?”

“No, darling, no.” Alex rushed to her and gathered her into his arms. “No, I’m handing in my resignation tomorrow. In two weeks, when everyone else is leaving for Calcutta, hopefully we will be setting up house. Together.”

“Oh, Alex!” She threw her arms around him, hugging him until her body ached with the scratchy wool of his tunic. “You chose me.”

“Of course I did, darling.” He lifted her chin and kissed her lips. “I only needed time to find the pathway through the tangle. Now I’ll be able to provide for us and our family when we have one. Today, I found that way through, thanks to Uncle Jack.”

“Uncle Jack? How odd. What did he do?” She rested her head on his shoulder.

“He’s challenged me to a wager on a boxing match with him in two weeks’ time. If I win, he gives us an estate with tenant farms to manage as I see fit so we can live quite comfortably as landed gentry.” He kissed her head and nuzzled her ear.

“And if you lose?” That was the more important question, but as he intended to stay in England, it was almost a moot point. They would be together; that was all that mattered to her.

Alex hesitated, and her heart leapt into her throat. “Uncle Jack wins half your dowry.”

Good lord. That quite knocked the breath out of her.