Enticing the Earl

by Christie Kelley

  Simon scraped back his chair. “I will see to this.”

  Mia started to rise but James shook his head at her. She widened her eyes at him and nodded in Simon’s direction. Again, he shook his head. Once Simon had left, she said, “Why aren’t you following him?”

  “Mia, he is the earl. It is his decision what happens to Charlie.”

  “Charlie is your brother too.”

  “Yes, he is. And in about ten minutes, we will ride out to Mrs. Perkins’s house to see what is going on. That will give him enough time to confront him alone but not enough time to kill him.”

  Mia stared at the clock on the wall until ten minutes had past. “Let’s be off.”

  James stood up from his seat at the same time as her mother. Both James and Mia stared at her.

  “There might be someone hurt,” her mother said. “I am going with you.”

  “I can tend to the sick,” Mia said.

  “I will go with you.” Her voice brooked no reply.

  “Come along, both of you,” James said in an unusually rough tone.

  Mia followed James out the door to the stables. Her irritation with her mother had returned even more quickly than normal. She knew it shouldn’t matter but it did. Her mother had never thought she was a good wise woman.

  She jumped on the horse and then led the mare down the path to Mrs. Perkins’s house without waiting for James or her mother. She urged the horse to a run, determined to find out what was going on at the old woman’s garden. The sound of horses behind her meant she would not have much time alone.

  Once she reached the house, she jumped off the mare and ran toward the garden. She stopped when she saw Simon filling in the holes that Charlie had left. No wonder Mrs. Perkins was so upset. The poor woman would have tripped if she came out here.

  “Did you see him?” she asked.

  “No.”

  “He doesn’t come around until dark,” a feeble voice sounded.

  Mia turned to see Mrs. Perkins standing with an old pistol in her hand. “Please put the pistol down, Mrs. Perkins. The earl is here to straighten this mess out.”

  “You need to come back after dark. That’s when he digs,” Mrs. Perkins said, placing the small pistol in her pocket.

  Simon turned to her. “Would you mind if we stayed until then, in case he returns early?”

  “I don’t care. But I’m not feeding you.” The old woman turned and walked back to the house.

  Simon chuckled. “It’s a good thing your mother arrived and told us about this. She might have shot him tonight.”

  “She never did like him.”

  They spent the day outside waiting for Charlie to return. By dusk, the temperature had fallen so they took refuge in Mrs. Perkins’s house. James had returned to Hartsfield Park and brought back a basket with food for all of them and extra for their host. As they dined on cold chicken and bread, a thud sounded from the garden.

  They stood up but Simon stared at her. “I will go out there with James. It might be a wild animal.”

  Mia rolled her eyes. She traveled this land in the dark many times and had seldom come across more than a fox or an occasional polecat. Simon closed the door to the cottage. Mia followed behind him.

  Simon crept along the side of the house. Mumbling and quiet rambling sounded from behind the house. He couldn’t be sure if it was Charlie or someone else. It sounded too rough to be Charlie.

  He peered around the corner only to find Charlie with a shovel in his hand staring at the ground.

  “Well?” James whispered.

  “Shh.” He wanted to hear what Charlie was saying.

  “Who did this? Probably that crazy old bat.” Charlie hurled his shovel in anger toward a tree. “Now how will I know where to dig?”

  Now that the shovel was out of his brother’s hand, Simon turned the corner. “What are you digging for, Charlie?”

  Charlie gasped. “What the bloody hell are you doing back already? You were supposed to be gone for days.”

  “You didn’t answer the question. What are you digging for?” James asked as he rounded the corner.

  “You brought James with you?” Charlie asked Simon. “Afraid you couldn’t take care of me on your own? Or afraid you might need someone to talk you out of killing me?” His eyes widened. “You told him, didn’t you?” He stared at James.

  Simon clenched his fists. “Why would I want to kill you?”

  “No reason. I’m just digging out here to help you, Simon. I felt bad that your finances had been hurt by that steward of yours.” He scratched the back of his head.

  Simon saw through his lie. “For a gambler, you still haven’t learned to hide when you’re bluffing. Or in this case when you lie to your brother.”

  Charlie raked his hands through his hair until it stood on end, lending him a crazed look. “I’m not lying.” He put a hand to his head as sweat beaded across his forehead. “God, my head hurts,” he mumbled.

  “I know Davies was Lambert, Charlie. And I know you were friends with Lambert.”

  Charlie slipped to the ground hugging himself. “He wasn’t supposed to hurt her,” he muttered. “He wasn’t supposed to hurt her.”

  Anger exploded behind Simon’s eyes. He strode to Charlie and lifted him up to a standing position. “So you did hire Lambert?”

  “He was only supposed to befriend her,” Charlie cried. “I’d heard rumors that she was giving money to the tenants and might have found gold here.”

  Before he could stop himself, Simon’s fist landed on Charlie’s jaw, propelling him backward. He took a step forward but Mia was there between them.

  “Simon, think about what you are doing. This is your brother,” she said in a soft tone.

  “Get out of the way, Mia. This isn’t your fight.”

  “Of course it is,” she cried. “I am the one who was hurt by Lambert.”

  Simon watched as Charlie stood behind Mia. There was a gleam of madness in his glazed eyes and in one swift movement, he wrapped his arm around her neck. Panic raced through Simon at the sight of Mia being held captive.

  “Move back, Simon.” Charlie almost screamed. “Get away from here.”

  “You know I can’t do that. She is my wife and I love her.”

  “She is my only chance at getting away,” Charlie said quickly. “I will take her with me until I get to London. Then I’ll let her go.”

  Simon looked at Mia. Her eyes were wide with fear but he knew she could do this. “Mia, darling, what are you waiting for?”

  Chapter 28

  Mia looked at her husband and suddenly realized what he meant. She could do this. He had taught her what to do in just this situation. It didn’t matter if the man holding her was Charlie. She was not about to be abducted and taken to London against her will. She closed her eyes in thought. Toes. Elbow. Knees. Nose.

  “Say it aloud, Mia,” Simon encouraged.

  “She has nothing to say that will change my mind,” Charlie taunted.

  “Yes, I do,” Mia said. “Toes!” She stomped on Charlie’s left foot and his grip loosened enough for her to move her arm. “Elbow.” A hard jab to his ribs and she was free. She turned quickly to face him and then kicked him in the right knee. Before he fell, she slammed her fists into his nose.

  “Ahh! You crazy bitch!” Charlie dropped on the ground.

  Simon and James were immediately there to restrain him. Once James had Charlie’s hands tied with rope, he walked him around the house. Simon turned to Mia, enveloping her in his secure warmth.

  “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” she whispered.

  “Perhaps. But you needed to know you could take a man down. And the fact that Charlie received the brunt of your anger was only fitting.”

  Mia nodded against his chest. He was right but it was an odd feeling for a healer to deliberately hurt another person. “I didn’t like it.”

  “Most people don’t. When I fought, it was as if another person entered my body. Sometimes
I didn’t even remember the fight.”

  “That’s dreadful.”

  “I never want to experience that again. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before we married,” Simon whispered. “I should have told you so you could make up your own mind.”

  Mia lifted her head. “Yes, you should have.”

  “Come on,” he said, grabbing hold of her hand. “We still have to deal with Charlie.”

  “What are you going to do?” Mia didn’t want to see Charlie hang for what he’d done but many people would think he should.

  “I want your mother to look at him.”

  Mia pulled away. “Why my mother?”

  “Because I don’t want you near my brother again. I think there is something wrong with him. I didn’t notice how much weight he’d lost when he was here before. His eyes are glazed and he was talking about a nasty headache. I want your mother to look at him and tell me what she thinks.”

  “As you wish,” Mia replied in a cool tone. Perhaps it was time to realize that no one wanted her as the wise woman. She started to walk back to the house.

  Simon clasped her arm and turned her to face him. “Darling, this has nothing to do with your skills. My only concern is your safety.”

  She nodded but the feelings wouldn’t leave her.

  “Come along. We need to let poor old Mrs. Perkins get some sleep.”

  “You go ahead. I’ll ride back with my mother. I would like to talk to her before she sees Charlie.”

  “Just come right home,” he said and then kissed her softly.

  “I will.”

  She returned to the cottage and helped her mother collect her things and put them in the valise. Mia put the valise in the saddlebag while her mother lit a lantern. Grabbing the reins, she asked, “Are you all right with walking for a bit?”

  “Of course.” Her mother gave her a strange look. “What is this about?”

  “Hart would like you to look at Charlie when we return.”

  “Why?”

  “At first I thought he might be having a bout of madness but Hart noticed a few things tonight that has him concerned.”

  “Such as?”

  Mia sighed. She already had a feeling what was wrong with Charlie and it would hurt Simon dreadfully. “He wasn’t himself. He complained about a horrible headache, he seemed anxious and his eyes were glazed.”

  “Oh dear,” her mother whispered. “Is he sleeping? Having nightmares?”

  “Are you thinking what I am?”

  “Did he admit to it?”

  “I didn’t want to ask him in front of Hart. He will be so upset.”

  Her mother nodded. “True but it’s better than him being mad.”

  “Is it?”

  Her mother shrugged. “This can be cured but it is not easy. It would explain his actions.”

  “Yes.”

  “But what is really wrong, Mia?”

  Mia clenched her fist around the reins. “Do you think I am incompetent as a wise woman?”

  Her mother stopped and looked at her. “Of course not, darling. Where did you get that idea?”

  “You have never given me the opportunities that you gave Tia. She doesn’t even like being a wise woman!”

  “Mia, sit down over here.” Her mother pointed to a large rock under a tree. After they both sat, she continued. “Mia, you are a fine wise woman. It has just never been what your life was supposed to hold.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “From the time you were five, I realized you had a much greater talent for numbers than you did herbs. It’s not that you were incompetent but Tia always grasped the concepts much faster. You were much more like your father in that aspect.”

  “Oh.”

  “Don’t sound disappointed, Mia. I also knew you were destined for something greater than being an old country wise woman. I met a fortune-teller years ago that I helped with her gout. She told me one of my daughters would grow up to be a countess one day.”

  Mia laughed. “And you believed her?”

  “Well, my lady, you tell me?”

  “I suppose she was right. But why didn’t you tell me years ago? I just assumed you thought I couldn’t handle the work of a wise woman.” And now she felt like a fool for admitting it to her mother.

  “You could handle it but you have a greater purpose. With the earl’s difficulties, you need to oversee more of the estate than a normal countess should. Your father prepared you for that. And it is just as important as sewing up cuts and birthing babies. Plus, I am still young. I have plenty of time to find an apprentice to help me.”

  Thinking back to what Mary said about the bath. “I think Mary would do wonderfully.”

  “Mary Summers?”

  Mia told her what she said about the lavender oil.

  “I shall consider her, if you don’t mind?”

  Mia smiled at her mother and gave her a hug. “I don’t mind at all. I never wanted to tell you this but the sight of blood makes me a little queasy.”

  Her mother tilted her head back and laughed heartily. “Oh my dear girl, it is a good thing you have your father’s way with numbers. Now let’s get back so I can talk to Charlie.”

  Simon paced the length of his study while James sat across from Charlie. “What is taking them so long?”

  James frowned. “Perhaps you should go look for them.”

  Simon nodded but as he headed to the door, Mia and her mother walked into the room. He immediately noticed a difference in his wife but couldn’t determine the cause. That would have to wait until later. As usual, Mrs. Featherstone took control.

  “Everyone out save James.”

  “Mrs. Featherstone, I will remain here while you talk to my brother,” Simon demanded.

  “No, young man, you will not. Go to the library with my daughter and have a brandy. You both need it after the night you had. I will join you after I talk with Charlie.”

  Mia grabbed his hand. “Come on, you know you can’t win against her.”

  For once, he didn’t hear any rancor when she spoke of her mother. With a nod, he followed her out of the room to the library. “Did you have a talk with your mother?”

  “Yes,” she said, pouring them both some brandy. She handed him the snifter. “Why do you ask?”

  “I noticed a difference in your attitude when you walked in the room with her. Do you want to talk about it?”

  Mia smiled and then told him all that her mother had said. “I feel a little foolish. Like an ill-behaved child.”

  “I’m just glad you understand her reasons.” He took a long draught of brandy. “So, she always knew you would be my wife. That explains a lot.”

  “Oh?”

  “When you first came here, she told me to do whatever it takes to keep you here. It took me a minute to realize she meant seduction if necessary.” Simon smiled at the look of shock on Mia’s face.

  “She said that to you?”

  “Yes.”

  Mia burst out laughing. “She’s devious. She already knew you loved me. It was her way of making sure the fortune-teller was right.”

  Mrs. Featherstone slowly walked into the room. It was one of the few times he’d seen her look so pensive.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Mrs. Featherstone sat down. “I’m sorry to have to tell you this, my lord, but your brother is an opium eater.”

  Simon’s gaze moved to Mia who nodded. “You knew?”

  “After what you’d told me tonight and with his previous actions, it makes sense,” Mia said softly.

  “He admitted it to me,” Mrs. Featherstone said. “He told me it started over a year ago when he went to a gaming hell. Before long, he couldn’t go more than a day without it. His expenses were not just gambling losses, it was the opium.”

  Simon released a frustrated sigh. “What do we do now?”

  “I know a physician in London who works with people who might be dealing with this type of issue. He doesn’t believe in putting them in Bed
lam unless they are a danger to themselves or others. He only takes a few people at a time so he can give them his attention.”

  “Has he had any success?” Mia asked softly.

  “Some,” her mother replied. “But it all depends on the person. Some prefer the habit and despise the pain of stopping. Ridding the body of the opium is a dreadful process. I’ve only seen it once and hope to never have to see it again. If I send a letter to the physician, he will likely take Charlie.”

  Simon closed his eyes. He had to do something and the last thing he wanted was to see his brother in Bedlam or worse, dead from the drug. “Write the letter, Mrs. Featherstone. I’ll speak to James about this.”

  “Of course, Hart. I think you’re making the right decision.”

  Simon stood and nodded. “I hope you are right.”

  Mia climbed under the covers and moved closer to her husband. She rested her head against Simon and sighed. It had been a very long day. “Are you all right with what my mother suggested for Charlie?”

  “Yes,” Simon said. “He needs help. Hopefully, this physician can give him that.”

  “So what’s troubling you?”

  “I am responsible for his gambling debts and the cost of his treatment. On top of all our other financial issues. James has offered to help with Charlie’s debts but that’s not fair to him.”

  Mia had spent an hour pouring over the books this evening. “The crops have been helping this year. We’re already up from last year and the harvest isn’t all in yet. Perhaps the tenants could afford a slight increase in rents.”

  “I hate to do that after what Burton did to them.”

  She gently caressed his chest. “I know. We’ll get through this together, Simon.”

  “Yes, we will.” He hugged her tighter to him.

  “I love you so much, Simon. I’m sorry I ever doubted you.”

  “I promised your mother that I would never hurt you, physically or otherwise. I meant those words, Mia. I love you.”

  Her heart swelled with love for her husband. She had found her place in life as wife, caretaker, and perhaps one day soon—mother.

  Author’s Note

  Simon has what is now known as dyscalculia. Many people also call it dyslexia for math because it is similar. Dyscalculia can be inherited or brought on by a brain injury. Like dyslexia, people across the whole spectrum of IQ scores can have it. People with dyscalculia have difficulties understanding basic operations of addition and subtraction. Complex math problems such as multiplication and division are even more difficult to comprehend.