Theo cleared his throat loudly, breaking through Will and Emilia's passionate interlude.

If Will wasn't so eager to know what had become of Trevor, he might have wholly ignored Emilia's brother. He wasn't afraid of the duke or the glower that he was currently giving him.

On the other hand, Emilia jumped out of his lap, leaving Will feeling bare and uncomfortably exposed. While brother and sister were embracing in a tight hug, Will stood up, awkwardly adjusting his breeches.

Now that they had found Emilia, Will was eager to get her home, marry her, and then promptly keep her in bed for a week.

Oh, and also destroy Lord Trevor. Will was eager for that, as well. But the man seemed to be nowhere in sight. "Where's Trevor?" Will asked, his brows furrowing.

Theo released Emilia and turned to Will. "He bolted. I was too distracted by seeing Emilia to catch him before he managed to leave the bedchamber, and then he ran like the devil from me."

Theo looked mightily annoyed by the turn of events, and Will had to agree.

"He escaped, then."

Theo gave a tight nod of his head.

"I was able to keep an eye on him as he pushed through the crowds in the tavern, but then he slipped through the door. I even launched myself over a table of drunken idiots, but by the time I managed to follow him out, he had disappeared. I searched the courtyard and the stables, but nothing."

He shook his head slightly, rubbing his chin with a puzzled expression on his face. Will could tell that Theo felt as frustrated as he did.

Actually, frustrated didn't quite cut it. Will was fuming, his hands clenched at the idea that the bastard had escaped without punishment. But considering Will hadn't even noticed that Trevor left, he could not be mad at the duke for not catching him. Will should have been there to help.

"Trevor cannot run from us forever," Theo added tensely. "He'll come crawling back to London eventually, and when he does, he'll wish he had never—"

"May we go home now?" Emilia interrupted, and Will could see Theo deflate at the words of his sister, her face so full of exhaustion.

The two men connected eyes, an unspoken agreement to put talk of Trevor aside until later. "Soon, Emilia," Theo said softly. "As soon as the roads permit."

Luckily, the rest of the evening passed quickly. Will learned that Emilia hadn't eaten since that morning and hastily returned to the tavern in search of something for her to eat. While he was downstairs, Will also found their friendly innkeeper to ask if the man knew of anywhere or anyone who might be able to provide a spare dress.

The innkeeper, who did not look eager to repeat their scene from earlier, quickly offered one of his wife's dresses. Will knew that gowns were not something that an innkeeper's wife would likely have an abundance of and paid the man handsomely for his generosity. His wife would probably be able to buy ten dresses with the amount Will forked over. And though the innkeeper was initially reluctant to take Will's money, Will found he didn't need to be very persuasive to convince him otherwise.

He trudged back up the stairs with food and a change of clothes for Emilia, sliding into room number twelve again. The three of them had decided they would stay in the same bedchamber for the night on the chance that Trevor would return; Will and Theo planned to take turns staying awake to guard the room.

Setting the food down by the hearth, Will turned to see Theo emerge from behind the three-paneled changing screen in the far corner, donned with a clean set of clothes and freshly scrubbed face.

"Thank God," he said, looking over the tray of biscuits and beef stew. "I'm starving."

"Help yourself," Will said before tossing the dress on the bed for Emilia. She sat primly on the edge of it, wearing a cloak to cover her gaping bodice. Gesturing to the clothes, he mentioned to her, "I am not sure how well this will fit, but it is for you."

Emilia picked up the dress, shrugging as she inspected it. "I am confident it will do just fine. Thank you, Will. But first, I think I shall eat as well."

Darkness had overtaken the room by the time they had all changed into fresh clothes and filled their stomachs. Will knew he wasn't the only one grateful to be in dry garments that weren't covered in dirt and grime.

Theo fell asleep first; his long limbs were flung across the hard floor, supported only by a few spare pillows and covered with a coarse, scratchy blanket. But the duke didn't seem to care; he was emitting a rumbling snore as he slept soundly.

Emilia was resting as well, tucked tightly beneath the covers of the sagging bed. She had tried to convince them that she didn't need to hog the mattress, as she had put it, but neither Will nor Theo would listen. So now she was watching Will as he positioned a rickety chair by the door to the chamber.

"Will," she whispered. "Will, come here."

She was resting on her elbow, her unpinned hair streaming around her face in a golden halo. That, combined with the crisp, white shift she wore, made her appear angelic as the moonlight streamed through the window, catching the flecks of gold in her eyes.

Will shook his head, not trusting himself to go near her. He could have ravished her on the floor earlier if Theo hadn't walked in when he had.

"Go to sleep, Emilia," Will whispered back softly.

She obeyed, putting her head down on the pillow so that she faced him still. Her hair fanned out around her, the mass of wavy locks tangling about.

Emilia stared at him for a moment, her eyes searching his face. He did not know for what, but he couldn't help but do the same back to her.

He loved this woman in a way that words could not explain.

"Goodnight, Will," she mouthed soundlessly.

Will wasn't sure why, but that simple action made his heart swell to an impossible size.

"Goodnight, Emilia," he mouthed back.

The corners of her mouth lifted in a wordless smile, and then she closed her eyes.

****

Sleep alluded Emilia for most of the night. While she was comforted by Will's watchful eyes, there was also a part of her that felt unbalanced by his sultry gaze.

She wondered if he knew the way he was looking at her.

It sent alternating hot flashes and chills down Emilia's spine even once her eyes had closed, shutting out Will's darkened face.

Unfortunately, there was also a part of Emilia's mind that kept seeing glimpses of Trevor's threatening and unstable stare as he had peered up from her ripped bodice. She didn't know what to think about that look, but the memory made her queasy.

Honestly, Emilia wasn't sure what to make of Trevor at all. And though she was comforted by the presence of Theo and Will, Emilia was uneasy with Trevor's escape.

Wanting more than anything to be home in London once more, Emilia was grateful for the bright light when she woke the next morning. She hoped that it meant the sun was shining, and they would be able to leave quickly without any delays from the rain.

Rushing to the window, Emilia threw it open, disregarding the ear-splitting screech that accompanied it.

"Jesus, Emilia." She checked back to see Theo wincing, likely at both the noise and the ray of sun hitting him square in the eyes. He was sitting by the door, his crossed legs stretched out before him, having taken the second guard shift.

"Sorry," Emilia mumbled before glancing at the floor. Somehow, Will was still sleeping soundly. It allowed Emilia the opportunity to study him uninterrupted. His mouth was gaping slightly ajar, his breath moving deeply in and out. The wavy, black hair on his head was rumpled. For some reason, Emilia found it adorable. She had never seen Will Graham look so unguarded.

"Staring at him will not make him wake up, Emilia."

Well, she thought she was looking uninterrupted, anyway.

Emilia ignored him, instead asking, "I assume that there was no sign of Trevor last night?"

Theo shook his head. "But I am not surprised. I do not know why he would risk life and limb by coming back here."

"Exactly why you should have just slept, Theo."

Her brother shrugged. "It wasn't worth the chance, minimal though it was. The man was certainly determined in his mission to take you. Who knows what else he would do?"

Emilia considered that. "He said it was for the money. You were right about him."

Theo scowled. "Sometimes I hate being right."

"Well, lucky for you, it doesn't often happen," Will's groggy voice cut in.

Theo shot a look over to the other man and rolled his eyes. "Says the man who thought that Emilia actually eloped with Trevor. I was right about that, too." One brow rose high on Theo's forehead, an accompanying smirk settling on his face.

Emilia could see on Will's face that he quickly regretted saying anything. He winced and rolled over then, the floorboards groaning beneath him.

But Emilia had no problem talking to his back. "You really did think I was going to marry him? Even after the night before when we—"

"Alright," Theo interrupted loudly, drawing the word out. "This conversation is over. Forget I said anything." He stood up, stretching his arms up above him as he did. "This has been a delightful little trip, but I am eager to be on our way," he added.

It was Emilia's turn to roll her eyes.

Theo noticed. "Do not roll your eyes at me. My dear sister, this might be a good time to remind you that sneaking men into your bedchamber at night is simply uncouth and unacceptable."

Emilia was unimpressed with her brother's ruling. "First of all, he snuck in on his own." Theo did not seem surprised by that, merely flashing a glare at an unbothered Will, who was now on his back, one arm tucked under his head lazily. His sleeves were rolled up, and the position pulled his shirt tightly against the lean muscles in his chest and arms.

Emilia consciously forced her thoughts away from Will's rakish appearance and back to the point she was trying to make. She peered over at her brother. "And second of all, that's quite the double standard you hold there, Theo."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowing.

Emilia lavished in a smug look as she said, "You wish to imply that you never snuck a certain princess into your chambers?"

Will laughed, tossing his head back. "I mean, you cannot argue with that. She is carrying your child, Kingfield."

Theo scowled but then gave a little shrug and actually chuckled. "As a matter of fact, she snuck in on her own as well."

Emilia raised her brows, and Theo shot out, "Do not give me that look." He shook his head as if to clear it, and then he said, "I thought I said we were leaving?"

Theo turned around, walking briskly about the room collecting their belongings. Will caught Emilia's eyes, and they shared a grin before hoisting themselves up as well.

After spending a few minutes readying himself, Theo made his way to the door. "I shall alert the stables that we should wish to depart soon. The roads should be dry enough with the sun as bright as it is."

He jerked open the door and then paused, swiveling slowly back around to look at them. He pointed emphatically at Will, then Emilia, and lastly himself, poking one long finger into his own chest. "We have two horses and three people," he said in explanation and glanced at Emilia apologetically. "We did not bring a carriage."

He hesitated for another second, frowning, and then slipped from the room.