Page 86 of Along Came a Rogue

“If that bastard hurt you—”

“He didn’t.” She cupped his face in her hands and leaned up to kiss him, not caring that Thomas and Edward were in the room and watching them. All that mattered was that she was in his embrace and the nightmare was over. “Because of you.”

His arms tightened around her, and she never wanted him to let go.

“How did you find me?” Her fingertips traced over his lips. She couldn’t stop touching him and reassuring herself that he was really there with her and that they were both safe.

“My men have been watching you.” He turned his head to kiss her palm. “Hedley saw Yardley bring you out of the house. He followed you and sent for me.”

Her eyes blurred hot at the betrayal. “Yardley drugged me. I couldn’t stop her—”

“I know, love.” He smiled reassuringly at her. “But I told you that I would always protect you, now and for the rest of my life. And I meant it.”

She knew he meant more than protecting her from Harold and Yardley. “But your work—” she choked out. “It’s important to you.”

“It is,” he agreed solemnly. “But you’re even more important to me, Emily. I will find a way to make my career work once we’re married, in whatever way I have to in order to keep our family safe.”

Our family. A soft thrill of joy pulsed through her at the possibility.

“But I won’t live without you, brat.” The strength of his determination and love seeped into her. “I simply won’t.”

She nodded through her tears, knowing now the depth of his love for her, of his resolve to never leave her. And her heart blossomed. “I love you, Grey,” she whispered and leaned up to kiss him again. “I’ve loved you since that first kiss—”

A sharp pain pierced through her, and she cried out. The muscles in her belly contracted into a sudden and severe cramp so harsh that it ripped away her breath.

He grabbed for her shoulders to steady her. “Emily!” Concern instantly flashed across his face. “Are you hurt?”

“I think—” The blood drained from her face as she reached for her belly. “I think the baby’s coming.”

His eyes widened. “Now?”

“Oh God,” she whispered, the terror of a fresh hell sweeping over her. “The baby isn’t due for another month. It’s too early!”

“It’ll be all right,” he reassured her as he climbed to his feet and lifted her into his arms. “I’ll get you home, and everything will be just fine.”

But as he carried her from the building and she buried her face against his shoulder, she couldn’t find comfort in his assurances. Because something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

Chapter Sixteen

If you keep pacing like that,” Thomas drawled as his eyes followed Grey on his path across the billiards room, “you’ll have to replace the rug.”

Grey glared at him but never slowed his long strides as he once again traced the length of the room.

“Leave him alone,” Edward admonished quietly as he grabbed the crystal decanter of cognac that Thomas had liberated from his father’s study two hours ago and refilled everyone’s glass.

Stopping in mid-stride, Grey turned toward his former colonel and nodded with appreciation. Thomas had been teasing him mercilessly all night, and it was nice to finally be defended. “Thank you—”

“After all,” Edward continued sardonically, his face deadpan, “he’s about to become a father.”

“Go to hell,” he growled at their taunting, shooting both of them a murderous look, and began to pace again.

Tonight, he had no patience for their antics.

Five hours. It had been five hours since they’d rescued Emily and brought her back to Chatham House. Five hours since her mother and Kate Westover rushed her into a guest room that would serve as the birthing room and sent for the midwife, and Thomas and Edward took him into the billiards room to wait. And wait.

And wait.

While Grey spent every moment on his feet pacing, with Thomas and Edward tormenting him relentlessly in their own brotherly way of attempting to distract him, Emily had been confined in the other wing of the house. Only periodic updates from Kate Westover assuring the three men that all was going as well as could be expected eased his nervousness. The wait was maddening.