You Never Forget Your First Earl

by Ella Quinn

  The coachman had his pistol out waving it between a gentleman and a servant who kept attempting to touch the harness. Did the cur actually think he could take her cattle and get away with it?

  Taking some coins from her reticule, she handed them to the maid. “Get the bread. I’ll take care of the horses.” She marched out of the shop and up to her coach, pulling out her pistol as she went.

  When she was on the opposite side of the team from the gentleman and his servant, she pointed the gun at a young man who was nervously trying to unhitch her horses from the coach. “Stop now or you will be extremely sorry.” The servant jerked his head up in surprise, then glanced toward the coachman who had his gun out and was holding it on a gentleman she judged to be in his mid-thirties to early forties. Elizabeth raised one brow. “Is this your groom?”

  “He is indeed.” The man raised his chin, and in a haughty tone said, “I assure you I urgently require your horses.”

  “As it happens,” she said, in what she hoped was a loftier tone than the gentleman’s, “I also have an urgent need of them. Additionally, I believe I have the greater claim in that they belong to me, and I shall not part with them.” She cocked her pistol. “Now, unless you wish to be responsible for your servant being injured, you will both step away from my team and my coach.”

  The man actually heaved a sigh. “I am afraid you will have to shoot one of us, ma’am, as I insist that my need takes precedence over yours. I must return to England immediately.”

  “William,” Elizabeth said to the coachman, “sit back a bit and keep your pistol on the groom.” Once her coachman had followed her command, and without saying another word, she aimed her gun at the gentleman and fired, blowing off the beaver hat on his head.

  As one, the servant and gentleman screamed and jumped back. Next to her, Vickers took Elizabeth’s smaller weapon and handed her one of the coach pistols. “You and Molly get in the carriage and pull down the shades.”

  A second later, the gentleman shouted, “What the devil do you think you’re doing?”

  “Protecting my property from being robbed.” She pointed the heavy gun at him.

  “Do you know who I am?” He sounded as if he was as well known as Prinny.

  “That is a ridiculous question. We have not been introduced. Therefore I cannot possibly know who you are. For that matter I do not care to know you. As far as I am concerned you are nothing but a thief.” She cocked the pistol, making it clear to the fool she would have no problems shooting him again. “Unless you wish me to injure something more valuable, I suggest you leave. Immediately.” Elizabeth kept the gun pointed at him until he and his groom had walked down the road and were no longer a threat. “Let’s go, but keep a watch for other people who think they can rob at will.”

  “Do you think he’ll be back, my lady?” Molly asked.

  “Not if he knows what’s good for him,” Vickers answered.

  “That was a pretty piece of shooting, my lady.” Farley, her groom, chuckled. “Ain’t never heard a gentleman scream before.”

  “Like a little girl.” William Coachman slapped a hand on his knee. “Wait ’til his lordship hears about this.”

  “That was well done, my lady,” Kenton said, as he handed her into the carriage.

  As soon as the door was shut, he scrambled up next to William and the horses started forward.

  For the next hour or more, Elizabeth kept the coach pistol in her lap before she finally felt safe enough to return it to the holster. “I will be extremely grateful when this journey is over.”

  “Who would have thought that a gentleman would try to take horses from a lady?” Vickers mused.

  “One who was desperate. But I was not about to allow him to place us in an untenable position.” Elizabeth wondered what Geoffrey would think about the encounter. By the way he had been behaving recently, he might be upset about it. Then again, he had asked if she could shoot. Maybe he would think of it as part of her qualifications.

  Vickers and Molly began to make sandwiches. Vickers offered Elizabeth the first one, but she shook her head. She would eat after the others had been fed.

  Molly handed them through the window to the men before Elizabeth took the one that was offered to her. It was only after she had taken a bite, that Vickers and Molly ate their sandwiches.

  Two hours later, they pulled up before a moderately sized house down a nice street on the back of a large park. The moment the horses stopped, Preston had the door open, and Nettle and Riddle, Geoffrey’s groom, came out to help with the trunks and horses.

  “You will have to guard the horses,” Elizabeth said. “We almost had ours stolen today.”

  “There’s a stable in the back with a lock, my lady. I’ll move a cot down from the upstairs, and we’ll take turns sleeping with them.”

  That should do it. “Keep the pistols loaded and do not hesitate to sound the alarm.”

  Naturally, it was not long before everyone knew how Elizabeth had driven off the would-be horse thief.

  “Shot a hole right through his hat, an’ never even blinked,” William told the others.

  “Your chamber is ready, my lady.” Mrs. Robins led Elizabeth and Vickers up the stairs to a large room overlooking a garden.

  The fireplace had been lit. Beyond a set of French windows, Elizabeth could see a small terrace with two chairs and a table.

  “The house was in good condition,” the housekeeper said. “There’s a Belgium couple taking care of it full-time. She had some maid helping, but since the army and everyone has been here, she’s been doing it mostly by herself.”

  As Elizabeth discussed the menu for this evening and tomorrow morning with her housekeeper, it dawned on her that she finally had her own household to run as she saw fit.

  “Madam knows a very good cook, if you would like to hire him,” Mrs. Robins said.

  “Let us at least try him,” Elizabeth replied. If he was local, the cook would know where to buy the freshest food.

  “Very good, my lady. I’ll tell Madam know.”

  A copper tub was carried into the room, and in a short time it was filled.

  Elizabeth lowered herself into the hot water that her maid had scented with lavender and lemon balm and allowed herself to relax after the day she and her servants had experienced.

  Her mind wandered to her husband. Had he found Sir Charles? Most likely Geoffrey had. None of the staff had seen him, and she wondered if he had been put to work or if he had run into old friends of his.

  There was only one way to find out. “Vickers, send one of the men to look for his lordship. I would like to know that he arrived safely, and I wish him to know that we are here.”

  “Yes, my lady.”

  Elizabeth decided that she would enjoy what little time she would have in the city. If the battle with Napoleon went well, they would be moving to Paris shortly. If not, they’d be fleeing back to England.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Elizabeth must have fallen asleep. The water had cooled significantly, and Vickers was shaking her shoulder.

  She blinked. “What time is it?”

  “Right around five o’clock. Stand up, and I’ll hand you a towel.”

  She did as she was told and was surprised that the towel was warm. “You put it near the fire.”

  “There is a rack there for it. Or I suppose that’s what it’s for.”

  “Has his lordship been heard from?” She did not even know if she was to plan on him joining her for dinner.

  “A note just came.” Vickers handed Elizabeth a robe. “That’s the reason I woke you. That, and you’d be chilled to death if you stayed in there much longer.” Her maid reached into her pocket. “Here it is.”

  My dearest Elizabeth,

  Kenton found me. I trust your travel the rest of the way to Brussels went well, and I am relieved that you arrived safely. I wish I would have been at the house to greet you. Unfortunately, I will not be home until late this evening. Shortly afte
r I saw Sir Charles, I was put to work.

  We have been invited to dine with the Duchess of Richmond tomorrow before the duchess’s ball to which we have been invited.

  Wellington is waiting to hear from someone in Mons before he takes any action.

  Yr devoted husband,

  G

  She blinked back the tears that pricked her eyes. If only they had the type of marriage she wanted, everything would be perfect. Still, she had to have faith. The dowager said it had taken time for Geoffrey’s grandfather to come around. It must be something to do with the men in his family.

  Someday, she hoped, he would love her.

  In the meantime, she would play the role of his qualified wife. “He will not dine at home this evening, but I want soup, meats, cheese, and bread ready for when he returns in the event he is hungry.”

  Vickers nodded. “I’ll tell Mrs. Robins.”

  Once Vickers shut the door, Elizabeth went out to the terrace and sat on one of the chairs. The tower of a church rose in the distance, and the roofs of other houses could be seen. The garden was a riot of colors intersected by paths.

  Tomorrow, after she had the house set up the way she wanted it, she would explore the garden and mayhap venture out into the city. It really was beautiful here.

  Still, she must find more to occupy her time than running the household. Perhaps she would meet some other ladies who would have some ideas on how Elizabeth could be helpful. She did not think she already knew anyone here, but there was always a possibility she did.

  Elizabeth picked up the note from Geoffrey again and gasped.

  The Duchess of Richmond’s ball. How did I come to overlook that?

  His friends had not been joking when they said everyone was hosting entertainments.

  A few minutes later, her maid came back into the room. “Are you ready to dress, my lady?”

  “Yes. Just a day gown. But”—she grinned—“you might want to make sure one of my new ball gowns is pressed for tomorrow evening. We have been invited to the Duchess of Richmond’s ball.”

  A broad smile appeared on her maid’s face. “So all we’ve heard has been true.”

  After a quiet dinner alone, it was still light enough to take a look at the gardens, and Elizabeth decided not to wait until morning.

  The privet borders were fronted by a mix of lamb’s ears, Sweet William, and cat mint. The middle of the squares featured hollyhocks, delphiniums, phlox, and daisies. Other squares had smaller boxwood edges framing in roses. Under the roses lavender bloomed.

  Nestled in the middle of the garden was a fountain with a few tables and chairs on a cobblestone surround. She sank onto one of the chairs and listened to the water, the soft sound of hooves somewhere nearby, and people chatting.

  As the sun began to set Elizabeth went inside, poured a glass of wine, and found a cozy chair in which to read her book, hoping to see Geoffrey when he came home. Yet when the clock struck ten, she went to bed.

  Later that evening or early the next morning, she heard the front door open and the low sound of voices. Geoffrey must be home. Elizabeth hoped he appreciated the food she had ordered for him.

  When next she opened her eyes, the sun was shining through the lace curtains. A bird sat on the edge of an open window, chirping. It was time for her to be up as well. She tugged the bell-pull. There was a great deal to be done today.

  * * *

  Geoff cursed the damned bird. Even his valet wouldn’t wake him up this early. He hadn’t arrived home until after midnight.

  Although he had eaten dinner with Sir Charles, it was a hurried affair. He had been surprised and appreciative that Elizabeth had left orders he was to be fed whenever he returned home.

  Before retiring, he made a hearty meal of a bowl of onion soup followed by ham, some sort of creamy cheese, bread, and wine.

  Her thoughtfulness reminded him that she had nursed him though his seasickness after he had been so pompous about not suffering from mal de mer. And never once complained.

  It wasn’t until Nettle was assisting Geoff to undress that he discovered how Elizabeth had managed to stop the theft of their horses.

  Damn, she was turning out to be a remarkable woman.

  “According to Kenton she marched right up with her pistol and pointed it at the servant trying to unhitch the horses and ordered him to cease.”

  “What do you mean, servant?” He could not imagine that any master would order his servant to steal anything, much less a team of horses from a carriage.

  “There was an English gentleman who said he needed the horses to get back home.”

  “Do we know who he is?” If he found the cur, he’d write his father and have whoever it was arrested.

  Nettle gave a rare chuckle. “The gentleman asked her ladyship if she knew who he was and she just stared at him like he was mad and said something about how could she know him when they had not been introduced, and she didn’t care who he was. She shot his hat off his head.”

  Shot? For a moment Geoff couldn’t speak. “She did what?”

  “Shot the gentleman’s hat off. Then told him if he didn’t want to lose anything more valuable, he’d leave.” His valet pulled off one of his boots. “By then she had one of the coaching pistols.”

  Geoff was glad he was sitting down. Otherwise the news of his wife actually shooting at a thief would have had him falling down. Dear God. If anything had happened to her . . . He never should have left her alone, and the moment he saw her he would beg her forgiveness for having done so.

  Devil it all. He was damned lucky she was all right.

  When Elizabeth had said she knew her way around a pistol, he had no idea she would be forced to confront such a bounder. Most ladies he knew would have been in a panic. But she—his wife—had remained calm and in control of the situation.

  She had also protected their servants from a possible arrest by shooting at the gentleman herself. If the man had been a peer, and based on his attitude, he might very well have been, Geoff’s coachman could have been in a precarious situation by threatening the man.

  He didn’t know how he had been so lucky to have found and married her. In fact, his life would be perfect if he knew how to get her back into his bed, short of going to her room and carrying her to his.

  Geoff had missed waking up to her and mating with her. His dreams had revolved around her and the two days they’d had together after their wedding. By the time the blasted bird had woken him, he’d had the hardest erection he’d ever experienced.

  There had to be a way to get her to soften toward him. Including her in all his decisions hadn’t worked. Or only marginally. She was speaking to him. If his next course of action—being more affectionate with her—didn’t produce results, he might have to try pure seduction.

  Striding into the breakfast room, he was glad enough to find Elizabeth just sitting down to the table.

  Bending, he kissed her cheek. “Good morning. I heard you had an interesting journey yesterday.”

  He lowered himself into a seat next to her as a fresh pot of tea seemed to magically appear at her hand. She poured him a cup adding two lumps of sugar and milk. He took a sip, savoring the malty quality of her blend.

  “More than I would have liked,” Elizabeth responded drily. “However, I believe I acquitted myself rather well.”

  “From what I heard, you were superb.” Her cheeks became pink, and he was glad he’d pleased her with the accolade.

  “Thank you.” She took a roll from the basket on the table. “How did you find Sir Charles?”

  For the first time, it occurred to him that apologizing to her for not being there might insult her in some fashion. Still, he had to say something. “I will tell you in a moment, but first I wish to ask if you are angry about having to deal with the attempted theft by yourself.”

  She drew her brows down, considering his question for several moments before saying, “The situation would not have occurred if you had been there. The man s
aw a coach with no gentleman to contest his right to take the horses. I assume he believed there was nothing I could do about it.” A small smile played around her lips. “In that, he was mistaken. He actually dared me to shoot him.”

  That was when Geoff understood how she felt about the incident. “It was a challenge. You enjoyed it.”

  Her smile became full-fledged. “I did, rather. My brother taught me how to shoot, and I have always been good at hitting targets. To be able to hit what I wanted to in a real situation was thrilling. Being able to foil the thief’s plans was an exhilarating experience.” She waved her hand. “It made me feel . . . powerful.” She took a piece of toast from the rack that had been set on the table. “Now, how was your day?”

  This was the most animated he had seen her in too long. Was she beginning to forgive him? “Unexpectedly busy.” He grinned. “I found Sir Charles easily enough. But there seems to be a great deal of chaos and uncertainty. The fact of the matter is that we are all waiting to see what happens when Napoleon arrives. I did discover why so many people were on the road yesterday. There was a rumor going around that the French were marching north and some of the civilians are fleeing.”

  “Do we know when he is expected to arrive?” She took a bite and munched.

  Preston placed a plate of meat and eggs in front of Geoff. “I take it there were no kippers to be had?”

  “Not this morning.” She raised one dark blond brow. “Napoleon?”

  “That’s just it. We don’t know anything. There has been no word confirming that he has even left Paris. King Louis is still in Ghent.” Geoff pressed his lips together. She had done so well setting the house up in a short time. He did not like to tell her they may be moving soon. Yet, there was no way out of it. “We may be asked to move to Ghent to keep an eye on him.”

  Elizabeth nodded as she dug into a soft-boiled egg that had been placed next to the toast. “Do we still have a house there?”

  His jaw dropped, but he recovered almost immediately. Elizabeth was taking this extremely well. “I believe so. At least, it has not been given up.”