Chapter Eleven #2
Oh, dear heavens, what has he gotten himself into now?
“If you’ll recall, the man you fairly promised to let into you bed during Darkemore’s ball has dropped in for a visit while Ravenhurst is here, apparently.” Low-grade annoyance rumbled through Thornton’s voice, and it tickled through her lower belly.
“What?” Shock slammed into her. “Galahad was here?” Just when she assumed nothing further could surprise her, this managed to shake away some of the annoyance she’d held for her husband over the past few days.
That didn’t mean she still wasn’t perturbed by his antics, but when she saw his clothes were mussed, his top hat missing—that was two in the last week—and the beginnings of a purpling bruise marred his chin, concern had overridden everything else.
“He is, but he ran off somewhere. No doubt has decided to cool his heels in the stable until Ravenhurst concludes his business.” His eyes were much like a summer storm as he rested his gaze on her. “Does that mean you wish to encourage the golden-haired duke?”
“No, but don’t you find it odd that he’s even here? Clearly knowing I’m married to you?” Then she tsked her tongue. “And what came over you, exchanging fisticuffs with the man like you have no sense.”
“You are mine, Emma! Or have you forgotten?”
“I have not, but then I don’t go around challenging other women for the possession of you. Obviously, we come at a problem different.” She narrowed her eyes. “You seem on edge. Still wish to fight him?”
“I don’t know anymore.” Thornton waved a hand. “Perhaps he’s right. He told me I should turn you loose.” He blew out a breath. “Go back to damned London, Emma. Clearly, you’ll be snapped up by a man like him who is more suited—”
“Enough!”
Both she and Thornton flinched slightly at the explosive word that came from Ravenhurst. Emma glanced at him the same time her husband did.
The tall, dark-haired duke glared at them both in succession. “Sit down, the both of you, so I can finish my damned tea and return to London and to my wife.”
“I apologize,” Emma said in a suddenly meek voice as she slipped into her place on the sofa she’d vacated when Thornton came into the room. Their guest was quite imposing, but in a different way than her husband was.
Of course, Thornton took it as a challenge, but he sat on the sofa beside her. He leveled a gaze on Ravenhurst that would strike fear into the heart of lesser men. “Did Eggleton send you to check on me? That has been his wont in recent months.”
“He did, only because none of the other men were free at this time.” In contrast to his grouchy demeanor, he sipped tea from his delicate porcelain cup, the vessel fragile in his large hand.
“Frankly, I didn’t wish to come, but he insisted after the whole big scandal you enacted in that ballroom, Thornton. ”
“What the devil does that mean?”
Ravenhurst drained his teacup and gave Emma a nod when she asked if he wanted a refresh. “It means you made a cake of yourself then absconded with your wife, over your shoulder like a villain in a fairy story.” He shook his head. “It gives all of us a bad name.”
Before Emma could speak, her husband said, “As if you weren’t just as scandalous a year or so ago. At the least the woman I kidnapped was my wife, whereas you stole someone else’s fiancée.”
The other man bristled. “I married her.”
“But not until the scandal had already been bandied about Town.”
When Ravenhurst’s eyes flashed, Emma knew it was time to step in.
“That’s quite enough, gentlemen. We have all had our share of scandal.
None of us have the right to judge each other, and if that scandal was a means to an end, so be it.
” She gave her husband his own cup, and as their fingers brushed during the hand off, tingles raced up her arm.
Both dukes nodded.
Then Thornton growled. “Frankly, it’s no one’s business what I do with my wife.”
Ravenhurst’s gaze narrowed. “It is when you treat her like a lightskirt in full view of someone else’s house and then you land blows on a fellow club member.”
“Because he dared to proposition my wife!” Thornton was on his feet in a thrice.
“Cecil, sit down.” Heat poured into her cheeks. “I am with you, not Galahad, and clearly, he’s embarrassed enough that he didn’t come into the house for tea with us. You won.”
With a huff, he resumed his seat. “Why is everyone so damned concerned about my marriage anyway?” he grumbled before taking a large gulp of tea. “Where the hell were you and Eggleton two years ago when I needed you?”
Emma stared at him with widened eyes while Ravenhurst finished his second cup.
Then he cleared his throat. “We were, but you pushed us all away, remember? You didn’t wish to talk about it, and hell, Thornton, half the club didn’t even know you were married to begin with.”
She frowned. “You didn’t tell your friends we were married?”
“They didn’t need to know, and then when things happened and I left…”
“You have friends, Cecil, and they want to help you just as I do, but we can’t do any of it if you continue to shut us out of your life.” With a glance at Ravenhurst, she smiled. “Thank you for coming, but please know, all is well here.”
More or less.
“Are you certain? Thornton can be—”
“—the same sort of ogre you are, that every man at Club Damnation is,” her husband said in a more moderate voice. “How did all of you manage to have your marriages or relationships come about?”
“We talked. We compromised. We put in the work.” Ravenhurst set his cup into its saucer on the low table.
“But what we didn’t do—outside of Nottingham’s story—is run away when things were difficult.
Love is hard, Thornton, and it will be messy at times, but once you have it?
” He shrugged. “Why would you want to continue to fuck it up?” One of his dark eyebrows rose.
“Let her help you, and a word of advice?”
“Yes?” His expression softened and she had a glimpse of the insecurities he struggled with.
“Help yourself as well. Have a serious conversation between you and your wife. No sex involved that will serve as a distraction. Talk to each other about what you both want and why.” Ravenhurst gained his feet.
“If that doesn’t include each other, then so be it.
If that doesn’t include loving each other until death do you part, then you can each walk away without further harming the other, but you can’t continue to live a half-life, hiding from the truth out of fear. ”
That was the bald truth they both needed to hear, and she was humbled by it.
“Thank you, Ravenhurst. I appreciate that you didn’t sugar coat that.
” Slowly, she rose into a standing position while Thornton frowned into his teacup.
“By the by, Thornton and I are hosting a small Valentine’s Ball on the fourteenth if you or any members of your club, along with your wives, would like to come out. ”
Before Ravenhurst could say anything, Thornton stared at her. “You are doing the ball?”
“Yes, of course. Mrs. Gates told me about it the morning following my arrival here.”
“And you don’t mind?”
She offered him a small smile. “I do not. Once I learned the history of why it’s a tradition to throw it and how your sister had been involved at one time, I was happy to continue that for you.”
He rose to his feet with shock in his expression and confusion in his eyes. “Even though you and I were at odds?”
“Yes.” Then she temporarily ignored her husband to concentrate on Ravenhurst. “Truly, I am quite well. Am I facing challenges with Thornton? Of course. Everyone has them, but I firmly believe that we will come out of the darkness in the end. Please tell Eggleton that there is no need for a rescue attempt. I can handle Thorton.”
The duke nodded but took her hand. “And if you can’t?”
She shrugged. “Then our marriage was never meant to go the distance. We shall talk about options at that time, but please do come to the ball.”
A ruddy hint of color crept up his neck.
“Actually, I haven’t told many of the men at the club this, but my wife is due to be delivered of our first child soon.
” A dreamy sort of expression came over his face.
“The midwife said perhaps the end of the month or first of next, so I’d really like to stay by her side in the event something goes wrong. ”
“How lovely!” She squeezed his fingers and then giggled when he kissed the back of her hand. “I wish you both well, and by all means, go back home to her.” Babies were always a wonderful surprise, but they had no concept of time. “Please do write and let us know how you’ve gotten on.”
“I will, of course.” Then Ravenhurst looked at her husband. “Realize, more sooner or later, what you have, Thornton. It will make such a difference to your outlook.”
Cecil cleared his throat. “What of Galahad?”
“What of him?” Ravenhurst shrugged. “If you, indeed, are making a true claim on your wife and he comes ‘round to dishonor it, clean his clock. Eventually, he’ll take the hint.”
Once they were left alone, Emma turned about to say something to her husband, but he must have anticipated her, for he closed the distance, enfolded her into his arms, and simply held her.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly against the shell of her ear. “I promise not to run any longer or conversely attempt to make you leave me. Just promise you won’t give up on me just yet.”
She lost a piece of her heart to him all over again in that moment. “I won’t, and I’m looking forward to walking this new path with you.”
It was more than she’d had three days ago.