Adam paused, wishing that he could ask for Susannah but knew that he couldn’t. He sighed and walked up the stairs. It was very quiet in the house.
By the time he entered the parlor, someone had already been in to light the fire. He sank down into a nearby armchair, letting his body relax as he basked in the warmth of it.
When Mr. Howard came into the parlor, a tray in hand, Adam was sitting and staring at the flames.
“It’s very quiet in here,” Adam mused. “Is everyone asleep already?”
“Most of the servants are out,” Mr. Howard said setting down the glass and the bottle.
“Oh,” he said, “good, good.”
What if I went there to find her?
He thought of dancing with her. He just wanted to hold her in his arms.
“Can I get you anything else, My Lord?” Mr. Howard asked.
“No,” Adam said. “That will be all.”
He sat, drinking. The alcohol hit his bloodstream. It combined with his thoughts of Susannah in a heady mix. He craved her. He wondered what she was doing at that moment. With whom she was dancing.
He wished, with a deep ache, that it could be him. He knew that the servants would talk if they saw him at an assembly ball dancing with a house maid. He would never be able to live it down. They all knew he was eccentric but if he arrived at a dance and spent the evening with his maid, he might lose their respect.
So, he sat staring into the flames. He knew that his parents would hear from Gerard. He knew that his friend would convince them that things were worse than they were.
Let them come. I’ll let them all know.
He could never be Tom. That was the problem. He could only be himself. He was resolved to live his life according to his own values from then on out. He had been holding back from Susannah. He wanted to be with her. That was all that mattered. He didn’t want her as a mistress—he wanted her as his wife and life partner.
If I can stand up to Gerard, then I can stand up to the whole ton. My parents, included.
He felt galvanized.
Chapter 16
When Susannah woke up the next morning, she felt well-rested despite her late bedtime. She stretched and got up. After washing her face in the basin, she began to dress.
Lucy groaned. “Why can’t we have one morning?” she complained.
Susannah smiled at her. She couldn’t wait to see Lord Malmore. It was her only thought. However, she wouldn’t see him until much later. It was Sunday, so the servants all attended church before beginning their chores.
“Why are you so happy?” Lucy asked.
“What’s there to be sad about? Here we are, two city girls,” Susannah flashed her a brilliant smile. Lucy looked at her sleepily.
Susannah left the room in time to hear two of the other servants talking. She paused in the hallway listening.
“He seems odd these days,” William, the footman, was saying. “He’s not in the lab as much as he used to be.”
“Last night, he was up ‘til late,” Mr. Fort, Lord Malmore’s valet, said. “Drinking in the parlor.”
“What do you think is going on?”
“I don’t know,” Mr. Fort said. “Must be that he’s sad. After all, Lady Cecily ended their engagement.”
“He’s requested that Susannah clean his lab for him. Who knows what happens when they’re alone—”
Susannah swallowed. Her face went hot with shame, embarrassment. Quietly, she stepped back.
I am no longer a country girl. I belong here.
Then, she walked forward making sure that her footsteps were audible this time. They both went silent.
When she turned the corner, they both looked at her.
“Morning, Susannah,” Mr. Fort said.
“Morning,” she replied, her disposition as sunny as she could muster. She looked them both in the eye. “By the way, I only clean when I’m in the lab.” She glanced back and forth between them. “His Lordship merely makes sure that I don’t do anything that might set the house on fire. It takes a smart person to clean a lab properly.”
She let her mouth fall downwards as she looked them both in the eyes pointedly. Their smiles fell. She raised her chin then turned toward the servants’ dining room.
“We didn’t mean anything untoward, Susannah,” Mr. Fort said.
“Gossip is always mean,” she said. “Telling lies about people isn’t kind.”
She then went in to eat her breakfast. She felt better for having put them in their place. They both entered, neither of them meeting her stern gaze.
* * *
Adam was sitting in his usual pew at church. He listened to the Reverend deliver the sermon, but his mind was on other things. He was a little hungover from the night before. He had partaken of too much drink.
On top of that, he was frustrated. Angry with Gerard. Adam didn’t think for a moment that he’d done or said anything the night before which would change his mind. He knew that Gerard was in church. He could feel him watching Adam from his own usual seat. As soon as the Reverend ended the service Adam stood up and walked out.
“Lord Malmore!” Gerard called out, his tone genial. Adam turned toward him keeping his face composed. It was clear that Gerard thought that Adam would wake up this morning having changed his mind.
“Lord Wrentbour,” he said. “I meant what I said last night. If you do not mean to treat Miss Fenton as you should, then I need some space from you.”
Gerard looked stricken. Adam turned and then walked out heading straight to his carriage.
“Home,” he ordered his coachman. He stared out at the busy streets as his carriage passed by. It was, as always, a seething mass of humanity. He would leave it up to Gerard to change his ways or to end the friendship. He found himself feeling badly for Miss Fenton. To have been used thusly! How monstrous of his friend.
Adam’s temper was still on a low boil. He needed time to himself. To think. To work on his invention. He decided to dedicate the rest of his day to it.
That will lighten my mood.
The carriage pulled up in front of his house and he climbed out. As he walked up to it, the door opened.
“Welcome home, My Lord,” Mr. Howard said.
“Mr. Howard,” Adam replied with a nod. “I won’t be having luncheon. I will be in my lab for the rest of the day. If you would have no one disturb me, please. Lord Wrentbour, included.”
“Very good, My Lord.” Mr. Howard looked distressed. Adam smiled at him in apology. He knew that his butler would do his best to keep Lord Wrentbour at bay when he showed up.
He went into his lab, closing and locking the door after him. He was going to sit there and focus. He was going to finish the device. He approached his worktable and sat down. The device was taking shape in front of him. He picked up a pair of pliers and began to work.
* * *
The whole household was talking—apparently, Lord Malmore had declared that he was not to be disturbed. Susannah passed by the door walking as quietly as she dared. She was on her way to sweep the foyer.
She lingered just outside of the door to the laboratory, listening for a sound. She couldn’t hear anything, but she could feel his presence on the other side. It made her skin tingle and her heart race lightly.
She thought of him holding her in his arms. She thought of looking up into those lion’s eyes then reaching up to caress his cheek. Then, he would lean in, brushing his lips against hers. She sighed.
If he was working, then that was good news. She moved away from the door silently heading to the foyer.
The foyer had a high ceiling stretching up to the third floor. There was a sweeping staircase. The whole space was painted white and the many windows let in bright light. The floor was covered in black and white tile.
Overhead, a real crystal chandelier sparkled in the light from the windows. As Susannah worked there was a knock at the door.
“Susannah,” Mr. Howard greeted her as he passed.
“Mr. Howard,” she replied.
When he opened the door, Lord Wrentbour was on the other side. Susannah peered at Lord Wrentbour curiously. He was frowning thunderously. She wondered what had happened to make him so angry.
“Where is he?” he demanded.
“Lord Malmore is not accepting visitors today, My Lord,” Mr. Howard said. “If you would leave a calling card—”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Lord Wrentbour stated flatly, “let me pass.”
“I’m sorry, My Lord,” Mr. Howard said. “I have my orders. Lord Malmore wishes to be left alone. He’s working.”
Susannah peered up from the floor which she had continued to sweep. He was clearly gritting his teeth by the way his jaw was tensed.
“Very well. I will leave my calling card.” Lord Wrentbour spat the words out angrily.
“Thank you, My Lord,” Mr. Howard said.
Lord Wrentbour scribbled a message on the back of the card and handed it to Mr. Howard who accepted it and bowed low.
“Have a good day, My Lord,” Mr. Howard stated graciously never once breaking his kind tone. Susannah silently applauded him.
“Thank you, Mr. Howard.” Lord Wrentbour turned and walked out. Mr. Howard closed the door after him. He glanced over to where Susannah stood with her broom in hand. He said nothing, merely nodding to her and then placed the calling card in the little brass dish.
He strode off, leaving her in the foyer, alone. Susannah still had that ache for Lord Malmore. Just the sight of him would have quelled it. Thoughts of him and the promise of seeing him that night in the lab were her only comforts.
Lord Malmore didn’t come out of his lab all day. Susannah walked past it several times as she went about her chores. She would slow her pace, listening for a sound on the other side of the door. Once, she thought she heard something, but the sound didn’t happen again.
That night, the whole household was gathered in the servants’ dining room. Mrs. Larson, the cook, was beside herself.
“He’s not rung for luncheon nor dinner,” she said, shaking her head in disbelief.
“Well, keep something warmed up for him,” Mr. Howard said.
Susannah took one of the empty seats at the table. She and Lucy shared a look and sat listening.
“Has Lord Wrentbour shown up again?” Mrs. Larson asked.
“Yes,” Mr. Howard replied.
“What does he want?” she speculated.
“That is none of our business,” Mr. Howard stated.
“He’s never been shut out before,” Mrs. Larson went on, directing her comment to Mr. Fort, who sat beside her.
“None of our business, Mrs. Larson!” Mr. Howard declared.
Susannah wondered what had happened. It wasn’t like Lord Malmore to turn his oldest friend away. Something had happened last night, when she wasn’t with him. She was dying to know what had occurred. She kept her eyes focused on the plate that had been set before her by the kitchen maid.
* * *
Adam sat at his worktable staring, at the device that he’d begun. It was for processing materials which had been harvested. It was to cut them down so they could be prepared and manufactured, something which was currently done only by hand. It was slowly but surely taking shape before him.
It would decrease manufacturing time. Workers could use this. It would, as he had wanted, work for many different industries. It could be used for tobacco, as well as cotton, and several others. It just needed some more tweaks.
He worked throughout the day, making small improvements to the device. His focus was deep for the first time in a very, very long time. He had forgotten what this was like. It felt natural, as though it came to him without struggle.
Absent-mindedly, he lit a candle for himself as the light faded outside. He continued working late into the night. Finally, he sat back. He was pleased with his progress. He stretched, feeling the tension in his shoulders. He rubbed it with his hand. His stomach rumbled and he realized that he hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
He picked up his candle and left the lab, locking the door after him. He made his way downstairs to the kitchen. He knew that it was far too late to ask for someone to bring it up to him. It was nearly three in the morning and even Mr. Howard was in bed.
There was a light on in the kitchen and the soft sounds of slippered feet moving about. He entered, finding Susannah in there. She was wearing a flannel housecoat over her nightgown. Her hair was loose over her shoulders. He froze, amazed at how lovely she looked when her hair wasn’t in that severe bun she always wore. Even being out of the plain black frock she usually wore softened her look. He felt his body react to her. He suppressed the urge to cross the room and take her in his arms.
Adam stood there, observing her in the firelight. He had dreamed of this for so long. He could hardly believe his eyes. She was there, real and solid. This was no dream. If he wanted, he could reach out and take her in his arms, press his lips to hers—
She jumped when she found him standing there. She had out a glass bottle of milk and a pot. She had just lit a small fire in the grate.
“My Lord,” she said, her hand going to her chest as if to keep her heart from leaping out of her chest.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said.
“That’s all right,” she assured him looking down at the bottle in her hand.
“What are you doing in here?” He was pleased to find her here alone. They could talk freely.
“I couldn’t sleep,” she said. “I came in here to make myself some hot milk.”
“Would you heat some up for me, as well?” he asked. “I haven’t tried sleeping yet, but it would be nice to start feeling drowsy.”
“Of course,” she said. He went into the larder, helping himself to some bread and cheese and an apple.
When he returned, she had the pot on the grate over the fire. The milk was beginning to heat up. He sat down at the table and began to eat. He had never enjoyed a meal so much before. When the milk was boiling, she poured out two mugs and joined him.
“How have you been?” she asked him.
“Me?”
“Yes, you,” she said. “You’ve been locked away in your laboratory all day. I was wondering how you were getting on.”
“The device is coming together,” he said, happy to finally give an honest and positive report. “For the first time in years, I’m coming up with something. And in good time, too. Everyone is awaiting the plans that I’ve been telling them to expect.”
“If you don’t mind my saying, you seem…sad, My Lord.”
He looked at her. She smiled half-heartedly. She saw him so clearly. Adam was touched. He truly was coming to appreciate her. He nodded, slowly.
“I had drinks with a friend last night,” he explained knowing that he could trust her with the truth. “I was upset by something he said.”
“What was it?” she asked, placing her chin in the palm of her hand.
“I thought better of him,” he said. “I cannot believe how young gentleman can think so low of women. Gerard—Lord Wrentbour—whom you met—”
“Oh, him,” she said, raising her eyebrows. Adam laughed.
“Him,” he agreed, knowing how Gerard had made himself appear to her. “He has met a young actress. Instead of treating her as the object of his affections and pursuing her as an equal, he is planning on making her his mistress.”
“That is low,” Susannah agreed. “But that’s usually what a lowly woman can expect from a gentleman.” She looked sad when she said that.
“It’s disgusting,” Adam said. “Meanwhile, he told me that I’m the one who isn’t playing by society’s rules. One should treat others as you want to be treated…I want to be treated with kindness.”
She was looking at him. She smiled, placing her hand on his. “That’s lovely, My Lord.” The touch was gentle, fleeting, for she pulled away as soon as she had done it. Her fingers were gentle, though calloused from work. She look
ed away from him, then glanced back. Their eyes met.
He could see her desire for him in her eyes. He knew, without her saying it, that she wanted him, too.
He leaned toward her, daring to press his lips to hers. She froze for the briefest moment before she kissed him back. He placed his hand on her cheek. Her skin was soft. She moaned softly against his mouth, awakening desire within him.
Finally. She’s as perfect as my dream.
Lured Into Sin By The Wicked Earl (Steamy Historical Regency Romance) Page 13