His Wicked Embrace novel Chapter 32

Zehra's hand flew to her mouth, but Avery was quick to continue. "My men have tracked him to Brighton, where they are under orders to apprehend him and send him home. And if he resists...well..." Avery let the threat linger. He looked to his brother Lawrence, who sighed and gave him the slightest nod of understanding.

"I'll walk you to the door, Avery." Lawrence squeezed Zehra's hands. "I'll be back in a moment." He left to see his brother off.

Denbruck was smiling again. "See? All's well then, child. You'll come home with me at once. I want you to rest, and you have an aunt and uncle who want to meet you. And we must introduce you to society, of course, when you're ready."

The thought of all that made her head spin. She wanted to go with him, but she also wanted to stay with Lawrence.

"Do you wish to come with me?" he asked, his tone gentle.

She bit her lip and nodded. "But please, Grandpapa, I must speak with Lawrence before we go."

The earl's blue eyes sharpened. "I must know more about him first. Did he do anything untoward to you? Say the word and I will-"

"No! He was wonderful. He gave me everything I needed. He was brave and strong and sweet and..." A thousand other words to describe him never left her lips. Loving, passionate, tender, wonderful, wicked...

"And you fell in love with the boy?" Her grandfather chuckled. "I shouldn't be surprised. Lady Russell's lads are charming. Damned rogues too, the lot of them, but damned fine men as well. Did he break your heart?"

"No," she answered honestly. "I love him. And he loves me."

Denbruck crossed his arms. "Well, you must understand this is all highly unusual. By all accounts it is scandalous, but it won't be hard to sort things out, I suppose. I will let him come calling on you once you've had a proper come-out. In a few months, he can come by with flowers and other such nonsense and take you riding in the park or whatever it is young men do these days with their ladies."

"A few months?"

"I'm afraid it's how things are done. If you were to declare yourselves now, before you've even been introduced in society, I fear it could make matters quite difficult for both of you. Gossip and rumors would damage both your names. A few months won't stop love, if that's what you both feel. Now, let's get you home. We'll talk to the boy first, and then it's time you and I got to know each other. I've missed far too many years of your life. I don't want to miss another moment."

Zehra brushed away a tear as they left the ballroom to find Lawrence.

Lawrence paced the hall. He and Avery had had a few minutes of quiet conversation, and both had apologized. He'd hugged his brother and sent him home, but he hadn't gone back into the ballroom. He wanted to give Zehra some time with her grandfather. Everyone from tonight's disrupted activities had made themselves politely scarce, which left him all alone to wait. At last, Zehra and her grandfather came out of the ballroom. Lawrence nodded respectfully at Denbruck.