Trying to be as unobtrusive as possible, Elizabeth made every effort to glide innocently from the room, making her way to the back staircase and climbing to the second floor as the earl had directed. No one else was about, and she felt very conspicuous standing in the large, empty room. Before she knew it, a warm hand closed around her arm and pulled her into another chamber. She hadn’t even noticed the open door and the handsome man standing there waiting for her.
He shut the door with a quiet click and Elizabeth turned to him with her hand still clutching her throat in fear. “You nearly scared the life out of me, my lord.”
“Did you not expect me to be here?” He stood very near to her, with his hand still on her arm. Her heart was hammering in her chest, first from the fright he gave her but now from his nearness. Realizing he was going to think her a simpleton, she tried to recover.
“Well of course I did, but surely you realize my nerves are frayed from the impropriety of meeting you. But never mind about that, I don’t mean to be a ninny hammer, my lord. We ought not to spend any more time here than necessary. Before I tell you everything I know about Broderick, could you tell me why you want to know?” He finally let go of her arm and she took a small step back. She hoped he didn’t notice or realize that she found him attractive. That would just make this even more mortifying than it already is!
“Why, my lady? Are you trying to defend him?” The earl sounded shocked as he questioned her.
“No, of course not!” She was aghast at the thought. “Really, I am just curious. I would like to help you in your investigation if I could. I was helping my friend, Rose, investigate him a little bit and I found it fascinating and exciting to be involved in such an inquiry. Could I please help you, my lord?” She could hear her voice becoming wheedling and blushed with embarrassment. “I am sure I would be of great help,” she continued with more dignity. “I know Rose was happy for my help.”
“Let me first see what you know and then I will determine if you will be able to be of much help to me.”
Elizabeth was frustrated with his noncommittal answer but decided to quit dithering on the subject. If they were going to avoid detection, they needed to keep this audience as short as possible. “Very well, my lord, I will accept that as a polite no, but I will tell you what I know anyway. I agree with you that Broderick is a very bad man and needs to be stopped if he has more schemes up his sleeves.”
Lord Sinclair took her hands and was about to lead her to a chair when there was commotion at the door of the room they were in. Elizabeth froze and knew her mouth was probably dropping open in shock as the door burst open and a crowd of people crammed into the room. It seemed that bedlam broke out as everyone spoke at once.
Elizabeth could feel all the blood draining from her face and head and she felt momentarily faint. She was grateful for the arm the earl placed solicitously around her but knew in that moment that it was about to condemn them both to an uncertain future.
“Elizabeth Marie Castleton, what is the meaning of this?” Elizabeth’s mother demanded, obviously trying to sound strict but the glee was lurking in her tone.
Elizabeth wanted to sink through the floor when she heard the buzz of the other occupants as they speculated about her and the earl. Emmaline and Constance were also in the background fanning the flames of gossip that were about to incinerate her reputation.
She felt almost relieved at the thought that her mother would have to leave her alone now if she was about to be beyond the pale. She smiled wanly at her mother. “We had an important matter to discuss, Mother, and did not wish to be disturbed.” Elizabeth knew they had not done anything wrong so she refused to be shamed.
Elizabeth saw the earl looking about at the gathered gossips and then he met her eye with a look of apology. His next words caused the buzz to increase tenfold.
“We needed to discuss the terms of our engagement. You may all wish us happy, although I cannot fathom what brings you all by.”
“Oh, Elizabeth, that is wonderful news. Now you come right along and accompany me back to the ballroom. It wouldn’t do to sully your reputation at this point. What a coup. The Earl of Heath. You shall make a fine son in law, my lord.” Lady Castleton was beaming at the earl with such delight that Elizabeth felt sick to the pit of her stomach.
She closed her eyes hoping she could open them and it would turn out this had all been a bad dream. Unfortunately, in the next moment, she realized it was sadly very true. Lady Emmaline and her sister were fluttering around her agog with the news. Almost as quickly as everyone had filed into the room they had filed back out, clearly anxious to spread the news of what they had witnessed. Within a couple short minutes it was just the earl, Lady Elizabeth and her mother standing in the room with varying degrees of consternation on their faces. In the commotion, the earl had been jostled to the other side of the room. He stayed where he was but kept his eyes trained upon the two ladies.
“This is not exactly how I would have liked this to be arranged, I must say, but I am thrilled to have you finally betrothed, my dear.”
“Mother, how can you stand there and say you’re happy to see me engaged to marry the Earl of Heath?” Elizabeth was shocked that her mother’s single mindedness would extend to such lengths.
“Why not? He is wealthy, well born, and mannerly. He shall be an excellent husband for you, to be sure.”
“Mother,” she began again. Grateful that he had remained on the other side of the room, Elizabeth turned her back to the earl and kept her voice low in the hopes that he could not hear. “I know we have already discussed this but it bears repeating — it is rumoured he killed his wife. Do you really wish to see me committed to him for life? It might not be for very long.” She knew he had heard her when she heard a soft sound behind her as though he were snuffing out a burst of laughter. She crossed her arms and shot a glare over her shoulder at him. “And how did you know to come looking for me here?” she demanded of her mother crossly. “We had just arrived. We truly did need to talk, nothing of a scandalous nature was about to take place.”
“That is neither here nor there, my darling daughter. Your little friends came and told me they were worried about you. They thought you had gotten lost because they saw you climb the stairs to the second floor and yet you had not returned. It struck me as being quite uncharacteristic of you, so I decided to follow you. And then the girls wanted to come too and his lordship. It all happened very quickly, really. But all is well that ends well, as they say, would you not agree?”
“No, I would not agree. I cannot marry him,” Elizabeth insisted.
“You certainly should have thought of that before you agreed to an assignation with the man,” came her mother’s unsympathetic reply.
“This was not an assignation!”
Elizabeth had lost count of how many times she had wished to disappear since she had come into association with the Earl of Heath, but once more the sensation swept her. She glanced over her shoulder at him again for the barest moment, wondering how he was taking the discussion he could obviously hear, and wondering why he did not speak up. Surely he couldn’t wish for this match! But the daft man remained where he was, at least on the surface looking as though he hadn’t a care in the world.
Elizabeth wanted to stamp her foot with frustration but managed to hold her composure, at least in front of her mother. She would truly die of mortification if her mother gave her another lecture in front of the earl. The dutiful daughter could just hear it, ‘a lady will never find a gentleman to marry if she cannot control her temper, my dear.’ She shook her head and dragged her attention back to her mother as she was replying to Elizabeth’s assertions.
“It certainly looked like it. Why else would you be in a private room away from all the other guests with a man holding your hands? You have no choice; you must marry him. You are just lucky that he had the good sense to see that. I am surprised and disappointed that you do not. Now I will give you five minutes to discuss matte
rs while I stand outside, and then we will return to the ball and you will accept the congratulations that will be directed your way as graciously as you can muster.”
Elizabeth watched with a dropped jaw as her mother strode from the room on the heels of her words, leaving her alone with the earl. She couldn’t meet his eye. She was mortified at the turn of events. Elizabeth wanted to wail in frustration. Her one attempt at having an adventure had gone horribly wrong.
“I am so sorry, my lord, I had no idea things could possibly turn out this way,” she began to apologize before her anger overtook her. “But what were you thinking making a declaration like that? We could have brazened it out. Now we have to become betrothed. What were you thinking?” she repeated in her frustration. “You cannot possibly want to become leg shackled to me, do you, my lord? Was it not just this afternoon that we discussed the matter? You are searching for a much different countess than I shall ever prove to be.”
* * *
Justice took her cold, trembling hands into his and chafed them, trying to bring warmth to her as he knew she was struggling with shock. It was most definitely not how either of them had foreseen their evening progressing, but he could not find it within himself to be disappointed. She was quite correct in her assessment that she was not what he had been looking for, but he could feel anticipation building within himself at the thought of having the lovely young woman as his wife.
“It was the only possible way to defuse the situation, surely you see that. I am sorry it has turned out this way, but we can make the most of it.”
“You are much too calm about this, my lord. I am beginning to think you had a hand in orchestrating this. I do not trust you and I cannot imagine there is any way we shall be able to salvage a comfortable life out of this mess. Why could you not have kept your mouth shut?”
“Elizabeth, my dear lady, you really must make an effort not to fall apart now.” Justice tried to help her regain her composure. “Can you not see that we can now work together against Broderick much more comfortably?”
He watched in amusement as her jaw became unhinged once more. “Do you mean this was a ploy to get my cooperation with your investigation? I was already going to help you! There was no reason to go to such lengths.”
“That is most certainly not what I meant,” Justice insisted. “I am merely trying to make the best out of a difficult situation.”
“So you intend to just have a temporary betrothal until the gossip dies down?”
Justice grimaced at the hopeful note in her voice. “No, we shall have to be wed. You are well and truly compromised, my dear lady. I do apologize to you. I know you came to meet me with the best of intentions and this is a cruel recompense for your efforts.”
“You are perfectly accurate in that, my lord. I feel as though I have been blindsided by this turn of events.” She paused for a moment and Justice held his breath, unsure of what she would say next. “I do not mean to be rude or hurtful, my lord, but I really have no wish to be married to you.”
“Would you rather be banished from polite Society?” he was surprised but not shocked by her words and was trying to help her see reason.
“As a matter of fact, I would, my lord. If it were not for thoughts of how it would affect my mother, I very much would rather be banished. Do you not recall what I told you just this very afternoon that I wished to marry for love? And then there is the little fact of the gossip about you, my lord. No, I cannot be comfortable contemplating a future as the Countess of Heath.”
“I am sorry that you feel this way, my dear, but you will have to conform your thoughts to just such a development.”
Elizabeth wanted to stamp her foot in frustration. This was such a mess. Rosamund would have managed the entire situation far better, she was sure. She felt a momentary wish to curl up and have a good cry, but before she could even feel the tears forming in her eyes her mother was back in the room bustling about and fussing over her.
“Come along, my dear. Let us go. We must remain for at least a half an hour before we can take our leave. My lord, you may call upon my husband first thing in the morning to make the arrangements. And then you must escort my daughter for another ride in the park. It seems you have a lot to discuss.”
As they descended to the ballroom, Elizabeth could feel a myriad of eyes boring into her. She made every effort to keep her smile serene despite the fact that inside she was howling with fury. She could see that Lady Emmaline was waiting to pounce upon her as soon as she reached the bottom of the stairs.
“I thought you said you weren’t setting your cap at him,” she began, her sly look enjoying Elizabeth’s discomfort. “It would seem you don’t give a fig for his sullied reputation.”
Elizabeth felt a shockingly misplaced sense of loyalty rear up within her breast. “I would beg of you to not speak ill of my future husband, my dear Lady Emmaline. I wouldn’t want to have to give you the cut direct when I am the Countess of Heath.”
She felt a deep sense of satisfaction at the other woman’s gasp. “I can assure you I meant no harm my dear Lady Elizabeth. Please do not take my little jest as an insult to his lordship.”
Glancing over at the earl, Elizabeth hoped he had not heard her words. She did not want him thinking she was defending him. She did not trust the man and was shivering in fear over her future, but she would not allow the likes of Lady Emmaline to speak ill of anyone connected with her. Elizabeth doubted if she was being at all reasonable. She couldn’t help a small smile that touched her lips at the ridiculousness of it all. Again she worried that hysteria was going to overtake her as her eyes clashed with the warm, blue gaze of her new fiancé.
The rest of the evening passed in a blur as the scores of people at the ball heard the news of her betrothal and came to congratulate them. Elizabeth could feel the speculative curiosity of the assembled guests and was grateful that etiquette prevented most from giving voice to their true thoughts. Until the elderly Lady Meriwether approached her.
“Are you daft, m’lady?” she asked loudly.
“I beg your pardon, Lady Meriwether?” Elizabeth had a bad feeling about the direction this conversation was going to take.
“How could you get yourself in a fix with the likes of Lord Sinclair, girl?” the lady persisted. “Have you not heard the rumours about him?”
Elizabeth felt a wave of dizziness swamp her. Of course she was afraid, she wanted to yell at the aging busybody. She was swept with profound relief as she felt a warm hand take her arm and heard the deep rumble of the earl’s voice.
“Thank you so much for offering your concern for our future, Lady Meriwether. We shall be sure to take your advice to heart.”
Elizabeth actually felt her lips twitch with amusement over the look of confusion covering Lady Meriwether’s face. She leaned on the earl’s arm gratefully and wondered how much longer she would have to face the rabid curiosity of the wellborn crowd.
As the older lady turned away from them, Elizabeth was alone with the earl for the first time. The reprieve was momentary, she knew, as the crowds continued to press around them. “You ought to head home. You are beginning to wilt under this heat.” Elizabeth did not take offense at his words, recognizing them for the concern they were meant to be. She did not want to be warmed by anything the man did. Her resentment warred with attraction as she gazed at him in silence. Innate politeness won out.
“Thank you for stepping in to deal with her. I was at a loss as to what to say.”
“I do believe it is part of the position as fiancé,” he answered her with a dimpled smile cast her way. Elizabeth refused to be charmed.
“I guess you would know,” she replied, waspishly hinting at his previous betrothal. Despite her fears she knew such a comment was beneath her and flushed with mortification at her show of ill-bred pique. “I’m sorry, my lord, you were right, it is time for me to leave. I most definitely need some sleep. Tomorrow will be soon enough to sort out this mess.”
She
didn’t bother saying anything more to him as he escorted her and her mother to their carriage. It had been a trying day.
Chapter 4
Pansy was beside herself with excitement as she tugged her mistress’ curls into submission. “The entire household is buzzing with the news, my lady. How could you not have told me?” her question was reproachful.
“It all happened very suddenly, Pansy. There wasn’t anything to tell you as recently as yesterday. It’s really a very complicated story,” Elizabeth excused and sighed.
“Aren’t you happy about it, m’lady? He is a handsome fellow to be sure, with all that hair and his broad shoulders. I took a peek at him yesterday when he came to take you for a drive. One of the most handsome men who has called on you, m’lady. And I’ve heard he’s terribly rich. You shan’t have to pinch your pin money with him.”
“Perhaps not, Pansy, but I have my misgivings. It has all happened so suddenly. I do not know what to think.”
“What seems to be the trouble? I don’t mean to be bold, m’lady, but if you need to talk about it, I’m good to listen.”
Elizabeth could feel that her smile was wan as she directed it at her faithful companion. “I appreciate that, Pansy. The trouble, as you say, is the fact that the earl was previously married and the circumstances surrounding the death of his first wife are mysterious. There is speculation that Lord Sinclair was involved in her death. So while I am disappointed that I am not to have the love match I was hoping for, I am actually terrified that I shan’t have a very long future ahead of me.”
The Countess Intrigue Page 5