The Wedding Escape by Karyn Monk Page A

tonight, at precisely nine o’clock. There he will declare his intention to marry me before the hundreds of guests in attendance, and shall make arrangements for our marriage shortly thereafter.”
    Jack stared at her incredulously. “Why in the name of God would he put you in such a public place when all of England is looking for you?”
    â€œIt’s very clever, don’t you see? My parents will not want to endure any further scandal by trying to stop a marriage that has been formally announced in a public setting. It’s brilliant.”
    â€œIt’s madness,” Jack countered furiously. “You may be interested to learn, Miss Belford, that there is a ten-thousand-pound reward being offered for any information leading to your being found. That means anyone at that ball could grab you and claim that reward—or, if they prefer a less sensational route to your father’s wealth, they could merely contact the authorities and let them know where you are.”
    â€œPercy would never let that happen.”
    â€œPercy wouldn’t have any goddamn choice,” Jack snapped. “Only a fool would let you walk in there alone. You’re not going.”
    â€œForgive me, Mr. Kent, but I was not aware that you were my keeper.”
    â€œI’m not your bloody keeper, but I am your—” He stopped, unsure how to finish.
    â€œI asked you to help me get to London and find Viscount Philmore, and I am indebted to you for having done both,” Amelia assured him. “I do not, however, expect you to dictate to me how or where I am to reunite with him. Percy believes this is the best way for us to make our intentions public. If he suspected there was any risk involved, he would never suggest it.”
    â€œHe may not have thought the matter through.” Either that or Lord Philmore was a goddamn idiot, which was entirely possible. “Or he may not be aware of the reward. Either way, Miss Belford, I’m asking you to trust me.” He moved closer to her, narrowing the gulf between them. “Stay here tonight, and let me go to the ball and meet with Lord Philmore instead. I will make him understand the ball is not safe for you, and arrange another meeting for tomorrow night. If he cares about you as much as you claim, he won’t mind a delay of one day. If anything, he will appreciate my concern.”
    Amelia wanted to say no, to tell him that she refused to be separated from her Percy even a day longer, for every moment was like torture to two tragically separated lovers. But something in the powerful intensity of Jack’s gaze made her pause. Somehow she did not think he would be moved by her declarations of love. Jack Kent did not strike her as a man who had ever known what it was to surrender himself to that glorious emotion. He would also not share her confidence that Percy would do everything within his means to see that she was safe. Jack had already made it abundantly clear that he despised Lord Philmore, although she didn’t understand why. All she knew was that he believed he was protecting her, while she was quite certain she needed no such protection.
    He was staring at her intently, waiting for her response. It confused her that the man who had so reluctantly spirited her away from her own wedding now felt that he held some sort of responsibility for her. She certainly didn’t want Mr. Kent to think she was ungrateful for all that he had done for her. But she also didn’t want to be separated from Percy even a moment longer—not when he was so close and their life together was finally about to begin.
    â€œVery well, Mr. Kent,” she said. “I will remain here while you make alternate arrangements for our reconciliation. Will that satisfy you?”
    Jack regarded her warily. “Yes.”
    â€œNow if you will excuse me, I still have a number of outfits to try on before I send Beaton to return the clothes I will