How to Train Your Earl
Page 30
Zane kept his eyes riveted on Brina. Her statement was odd. What was she doing? She knew almost every man in the place had wagered on his proposal to her.
There were more than a few clearings of throats, and men looking down at their toes in hopes of hiding their guilt.
“But,” she continued, “if you have friends or acquaintances who wagered that I would reject Lord Blacknight’s offer of marriage tonight, please tell them they lost.”
Zane felt a jolt of hope slam his chest. Had she said what he thought she had? He took a small step toward her as a roar of cheers mingled with some jeers resounded around the crowd.
“However, however,” she hastened to quiet the crowd with a loud voice and movement of her hands, “if you happen to have friends or acquaintances who wagered that I would accept Lord Blacknight’s proposal, you can tell them they also lost.”
Zane’s heartbeat suddenly thundered in his chest again. The cheers and jeers turned to rumblings of discontent and confusion. Zane had no idea what she was talking about, and judging from the mutterings, neither did anyone else.
“How can she accept his proposal if she rejects it?” someone asked.
“What does she mean?” asked another.
“What about his apology?” another commented.
Brina seemed to hear the last question, as she glanced in the direction from which it came before saying, “You see,” she continued, still addressing the crowd, “I do not wish to hear an apology or proposal tonight from Lord Blacknight, but I would like to ask him to answer one question.”
The room fell silent as she turned to him. She looked up at him with her big bright eyes and held out her hand to him, and said, “Lord Blacknight, will you marry me and be my husband?”
Zane felt as if his heart might beat out of his chest as his fingers closed around her hand. He took it to his lips and kissed it. He smiled and said, “I accept with pleasure.”
He then did a very ungentlemanly thing and swooped her up into his arms and kissed her quickly but soundly in front of everyone before setting her back onto her feet.
Brina looked up at him and smiled as gasps and sounds of horror echoed, and mumblings and rumbles of confusion continued to circulate around the room. Her eyes squinted a little in mock concern. “Must you always do the wrong thing, my lord?”
His gaze swept down her face as his hands tightened on her back. Zane swelled with love. “I do believe I still need training from you.”
“Gladly.”
“You are amazing, Brina Feld.”
Love for him shone in her eyes and she laughed softly. “Thank you. So are you, Lord Blacknight.”
He nodded. “You realize you just conquered every man in this room and canceled all their bets by asking me to marry you, don’t you?”
The gathering scattered and the orchestra started playing. She looked around the room and smiled triumphantly at the grumbling crowd before settling her attention back on him again. “Of course I do. It’s what they deserved, but I only wanted to conquer you.”
Brina knew how to go straight for his heart. He nodded. “I surrender to you,” he whispered softly before saying in a teasing tone, “You also realize that I won. I got you.”
“Yes, you did. I think I like it when you win. Dance with me, Lord Blacknight. We just got engaged.”
Epilogue
The September sky was bluer than Brina could ever remember seeing it. A faint hint of autumn stirred in the late afternoon air as she and Zane rode their horses. The grass, leaves on the trees, bushes, and undergrowth were just beginning to show signs of cooler days ahead.
For Brina, everything looked brighter, fresher, and newer since she and Zane had married. After their nuptials they’d made the long trek up to Northumberland to visit with her parents. They couldn’t have been happier that she’d married an earl, though she knew it would take her mother a bit of time to get used to the fact the earl was the once-notorious black sheep of the Blacknight family. Her mother would adjust.
Harper was doing well, and Zane suggested he not be in any hurry to return to London. Surprisingly Harper agreed. After a visit there, they had journeyed down to Dorset to see Robert. He was doing well too, and had changed his affections once again to a lady, having decided ladies were safer than cards.
Both young men had sworn off gambling. Whether or not it would last forever, only time would tell. They seemed to have put their scare with the crimp behind them, and neither were in a hurry to return to their previous lives.
After their wedding journey, Zane had joined Lyon’s card club and seemed perfectly happy playing only once a week, except for a friendly game at the occasional summer garden party Londoners relished in the late afternoons. Brina had assured him she wouldn’t mind if he wanted to go to White’s for a game or two during the week. He insisted he’d much rather have his brandy sitting with her in front of the fire in the evenings than furthering skills he no longer needed to use.
His life was full with her, his duties as the earl, and his family. His uncles persisted with their offers of help, and Zane was always kind when he declined. Brina continued her work for the sisters and the girls’ school. The painting lessons weren’t going as smoothly as she’d hoped, but she was determined not to give up. If just one girl showed a natural talent for the art, it would be worth the trouble.
“What are you thinking about?” Zane asked as he halted his horse and folded his hands over the pummel.
Brina reined in her mount too, and looked at Zane with all the love she was feeling. She thought about asking him to remove his hat. She loved to see his windblown hair and the sun’s rays shining on it. But, of course, it was proper he keep it on until they were seated to have their refreshments. She was so blessed to have him love her.
“I was thinking about you.”
He chuckled. “Good. I was thinking about you too.”
“Were you?” she asked teasingly. “Thinking about me doing what?”
“Racing.”
She quirked her head and narrowed her eyes. She liked that idea. “If you wanted to race the curricles again, why are we on horseback?”
He shook his head. “Not curricles this time. Horses. You are seasoned now. Your horse against mine.”
She rather liked that idea. “Do you mean it?”
“Of course. You are doing so well, I was thinking it’s time we had a short race. Longer when you are more comfortable. But for today, if I win—I get to take you to our bed as soon as we get home.”
Her breaths increased at the thought he was suggesting. The racing and the prize. “And what do I get if I win?”
“You get to take me to our bed as soon as we get home.”
She gave him a completely unserious frown. “You are impossible.”
He laughed, but said, “I’m serious. You’ve been riding again for several months now. I think you can handle yourself.”
“Hmm,” she said. “A lady and a gentleman are not supposed to race horses in the park.”
He grinned affectionately. “I know, but are you game?”
“Ha!” she said in good humor. “I think I can handle myself, the horse, and you, my lord.”
“Prove it. To the tree?” He pointed. “I’ll let you have a generous—”
Brina didn’t wait to hear the rest of his sentence. She’d already snapped her heels against the horse’s flank and the mare took off faster than she’d expected. It took her a moment to settle into the saddle at the faster pace, but she felt safe, comfortable. Wind quickly brushed her cheeks, swept her lightly tied bonnet to the back of her shoulders, and grabbed at strands of her hair. She laughed, so pleased with herself that she had gotten a head start until she heard Zane’s horse coming up fast behind her.
She saw the head of his horse edging up beside her. She urged her mount to go faster. Zane actually wanted to win. She was so close to the tree. So close, but no, he passed by her the length of his horse’s nose.
“No fair,
” she complained in jest as they stopped the horses under the tree. “You are a beast.”
“I told you. I always win.”
“You are no gentleman, and you never will be, Zane Browning.”
He jumped down and rushed over to help her dismount. “I love it when you are upset with me.”
“I shouldn’t call you by your first name, you know.” She put her hands on his shoulders as his hands circled her waist and lifted her to the ground. “I called you by your first name in front of your sister once.”
He looked into her eyes. “It doesn’t bother her. She forgets and calls me Zane sometimes too. And I forget where we are sometimes and do this.” He bent his head and kissed her lips softly, wonderfully.
She stepped away. “And I never mind when you do.”
Brina reached back and grabbed the blanket roll from her horse while Zane untied the basket from the saddle. After they’d settled themselves, she started to open the hamper, but Zane put his hand over hers, squeezed lightly, and said, “I have something I want to share with you before we have refreshment.”
He looked serious. Too serious. “All right. I like surprises. That is as long as they are good ones.”
“You will have to decide that, but I thought it was something you needed to know.”
She pulled her hand out from under his. “Now you are making me quite uncomfortable. I do hope you don’t have bad news.”
He pulled a sheet of foolscap from the pocket inside his coat and unfolded it. “I hope you don’t feel that way by the time I finish. I think of it as good news. May I read it?”
Her heart was pounding. “Yes, of course.”
“Mrs. Caroline Hawkins had her second child last week. Mother and child are doing fine.”
Brina didn’t know that name and had no idea why he was reading it to her, but she remained quiet and let him continue.
“Mr. Arnold Pendergrass just entered his first year at Oxford. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Graves celebrated twenty years marriage this month.”
“What are you doing?” she asked. “I don’t understand. You have my interest. I’m quite happy to hear about these people, but I’m also quite befuddled. Why are you telling me things about people I don’t know?”
“Because I thought you needed to know their names and stories. The first person I mentioned was Miss Caroline Smithers when Stewart saved her. She’s now married with two children.”
Tears came to Brina’s eyes so quickly, so fully, she didn’t have time to stop them from overflowing or blink them away. She quickly wiped her cheeks.
“Arnold was only eleven when he was saved,” Zane continued in a somber tone, after glancing at her. “Mrs. Graves was pregnant when Stewart helped her onto a piece of wreckage. She lost the child she was carrying, but because of your husband, she’s alive and taking care of her other three children. There’s more, but you can read them when we get home. I see this has upset you.”
“Yes.” Brina choked down a sob and wiped more tears from her cheeks. “Of course it has. You know how I once felt. How do you know all this? Why are you doing this?”
“I thought it was important for you to know. After we made love the first time, you shared your feelings about Stewart with me. I could see that you were still sad, and I just kept thinking you should be happy. Look what your husband did so unselfishly so others might live. Just as you do good things for the sisters at Pilwillow Crossings. You are happy when you roll bandages and make tea for them to hand out. Look, you, Adeline, and Julia—you’ve saved nine girls by starting that school. All these are reasons to be happy, not sad. And Stewart should be remembered in your heart as he is in their hearts with happiness. You said Stewart had saved five people, but it really was more than that because of how life goes on and touches others.”
Brina sniffed again and looked into the eyes of the husband she loved so dearly. “Thank you for doing this for me. I should have looked into finding them myself.”
He shook his head. “I wanted to do it for you. I want to make you happy about your past, your present, and your future with me. You are my life.”
“I am the happiest person in the world because of you,” she whispered. “I love you, Zane. I’m so glad I found you in that room in Paris.”
Zane grinned. “You are never going to let me forget that, are you?”
She laughed and reached over and hugged him tightly. “Not in a million years.”
His strong arms circled her waist and he kissed the top of her head. “That’s the amount of time I want to have to love you.”
“I want that too.”
Zane reached over and kissed her. Brina thrilled to her husband’s touch.
Author’s Note
My Dear Readers,
I hope you have enjoyed the last book in my First Comes Love series, and that Brina and Zane’s story has touched your heart as it did mine. It’s always a challenge not to keep telling the same story when you have an event that holds three characters together as was the case in this series with the sinking of the passenger ship Salty Dove.
During the Regency, crimping was lawful. Crimps thrived in port cities and were paid to coerce men into military service or as a seaman onboard a ship using a variety of methods including indebtedness, trickery, intimidation, and sometimes drugging and violence. For ships in particular, the boarding master relied on crimps to bring him young, able-bodied men strong enough to withstand the harsh life. Particularly when it was difficult to find seamen who wanted to sail to places as far away as India and Singapore.
I always look forward to hearing from readers. If you haven’t read book one and two in this series, I hope you’ll order The Earl Next Door and Gone with the Rogue from your favorite local bookstore or e-retailer.
You can email me at ameliagreyauthor@gmail.com, follow me on Facebook at FaceBook.com/AmeliaGreyBooks, or visit my website at ameliagrey.com
Happy reading to all!
Amelia
Also by Amelia Grey
Gone with the Rogue
The Earl Next Door
It’s All About the Duke
To the Duke, with Love
Last Night with the Duke
The Duke in My Bed
The Earl Claims a Bride
Wedding Night with the Earl
Praise for New York Times and USA Today bestselling author
AMELIA GREY
and her acclaimed novels
“Grey’s unconventional meet-cute, compelling series backbone, and authentic characters move an interesting plot forward.… An engaging series start.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Grey’s prose is strong and her characters are fun.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Grey launches her First Comes Love series with a perfectly matched pair of protagonists, a vividly etched supporting cast, and plenty of potent sexual chemistry and breathtaking sensuality.”
—Booklist
“Each new Amelia Grey tale is a diamond.… A master storyteller.”
—Affaire de Coeur
“Devilishly charming … A touching tale of love.”
—Library Journal
“Sensual … witty and clever … Another great story of forbidden love.”
—Fresh Fiction
“Grey neatly matched up a sharp-witted heroine with an irresistible sexy hero and lets the romantic sparks fly.”
—Booklist
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Amelia Grey read her first romance book when she was thirteen and she’s been a devoted reader of love stories ever since. Her awards include the Booksellers Best, Aspen Gold, and the Golden Quill. Writing as Gloria Dale Skinner, she won the coveted Romantic Times Award for Love and Laughter and the prestigious Maggie Award. Her books have sold to many countries in Europe, Indonesia, Turkey, Russia, and most recently to Japan. Several of her books have also been featured in Doubleday and Rhapsody Book Clubs. Amelia is the author of tw
enty-five books. She’s been happily married to her high school sweetheart for over thirty-five years and she lives on the beautiful gulf coast of Northwest Florida. Visit her at: www.ameliagrey.com, or sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Epilogue
Author’s Note
Also by Amelia Grey
Praise Page
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
First published in the United States by St. Martin’s Paperbacks, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR EARL
Copyright © 2021 by Amelia Grey.
All rights reserved.