Free The Star-Crossed Bride by Kelly McClymer Page A

Granbury's hold.
    He supposed it was the letter proving Granbury's misdeeds which had convinced her of his desire to protect her mistress. Though he did not yet fully trust her motives, so far she hadn't led him wrong. "Is this walk better?"
    "I suppose." As they hurried up the back stairs, Nan whispered nervously, "Did all go well?"
    "The countess did not once look at my face." The girl's forehead was still creased with worry, so he added, "And I only dropped the fish into her lap once."
    For a startled moment she stopped on the steps, and then, realizing he was joking, she forced a giggle. "'Eaven's above, you near gave me a fright."
    Valentine smiled in return. "Forgive me for teasing, Nan. I have just spent two hours wondering if every time I approached the table, I would be found out and whipped senseless — or worse. I am a bit giddy with relief that your idea worked so well."
    She beamed at the compliment to her ingenuity. "Then Lady Emily did not give you away?"
    "No, she did not. I safely delivered my note and she understood matters even more rapidly than we had hoped."
    "Good. The only thing to give your disguise away would likely be Lady Emily making moon eyes. It would not go well for 'er if 'er ladyship found out that you were 'ere."
    Or for Nan herself. Valentine admired the girl for not saying so aloud. "You're a good girl, Nan, to help Lady Emily. I promise no one in this household will ever know of it from my lips, no matter what happens. And I will see that you are properly rewarded when this business is finished."
    They had reached Emily's room as they talked, and he carefully poured half of the bucket of water into Emily's pitcher, and used the rest to fill a large washbowl that Nan indicated to him. He reflected that this masquerade involved doing a great deal of real work. But for Emily, he would do anything.
    "It'll be reward enough if you can keep 'er from marryin' that devil." Nan's voice quavered slightly with emotion. "I knew 'e was a bad 'un, but after the letter you read me, I 'd rather kill 'im meself than let Lady Emily wed 'im."
    If only Emily had read the letter as well. Apparently she had survived the afternoon without his aid. Her expression had reflected sheer misery as she picked at the tasty dishes he had set before her, but that was only to be expected. Without the knowledge that he had not escaped the household and left her alone to face Granbury, she must have felt that the marriage was inevitable. She did not realize that Valentine had discovered the man was more than simply unsavory, he was a murderer.
    No one would expect Emily to honor the engagement once that information became known. He would show her the letter tonight, even though it would be painful for her to learn the details. If .... He whispered to Nan, "Is everything set for me to visit her tonight?"
    The girl bit her lip and looked uncertainly at him. "It ain't a bit proper, you goin' right to 'er room, you know."
    He thought, with guilt, of seeing Emily in her nightgown, holding her against him, never wanting to let her go. "I can promise that I will be a gentleman where Lady Emily is concerned, Nan."
    She didn't look eager to accept his word, which made his estimation of her intelligence rise even further.
    "I must let her read the letter, so that she will understand the kind of man she is dealing with."
    "I could give it to her," Nan offered, reluctance to help sneak him up to Emily's room plain on her features.
    For a moment he considered allowing Nan to show Emily the letter. But no. It was the only piece of hard evidence he had, he could not let it out of his own hands. Nor could he bear the thought of Emily reading those cold, horrible details of murder and dishonor without him beside her to ease her shock. "I must keep it with me, Nan. If Kerstone were to arrive tomorrow, he could use it to convince the countess that her plans for Emily are not only unwise, but dangerous."
    Stubbornly, the girl crossed her arms