Earl of Shefford: Noble Hearts Series: Book Three (Wicked Earls Book 28)

by St. Claire, Anna

  Her betrothed had made no demands of her, instead telling her to decide about her life and her duties, new and old. That raised him above any gentleman she knew, save her sweet father.

  With Grandmama’s agreement, she had already established a reduced presence at the orphanage. Mrs. Simpkins and Mary had proven themselves quite competent with the children, and they adored their duties. With the new headteacher she and Grandmama had hired, her own duties would be more supervisory. Miss Britthaven brought a wealth of experience, and remarkably, shared their philosophy, having once been an orphan herself. Nora planned to use her newly-gained status to influence the ton and follow her dream to raise funds for orphanages. She envisioned working with her Grandmama to establish at least two more in the East End.

  True to his word, Colin made sure that Doctor Perth visited the children, especially to check on Benjamin’s cough. The doctor had initially worried that the boy might have sustained permanent damage to his lungs. Yet upon thoroughly examining him, Perth determined that exercise and a tonic for the cough would, in time, clear the ailment from Benjamin’s system, which was welcome news. Had his time in the chimneys been much longer, the doctor said the lung damage could have threatened Benjamin’s life. Uncle’s ladybird had probably saved the young boy’s life, Nora contemplated. Her grandmother had been so delighted with the news, she offered to help Doctor Perth find a building for his office closer to the orphanage — an offer the good doctor readily agreed to take.

  A gentle knock at her door signaled it was time to go.

  “Are you ready, my dear?” Her mother stepped into the room, followed by her father. The years had been kind to Lady Eliza Mason. Nora’s mother looked young enough to be mistaken for Nora’s older sibling. Translucent skin, rich auburn hair with naught but a trace of silver, and a youthful figure still turned heads.

  “It means so much to me you could be here. The wedding is happening so quickly.” Nora reached over and hugged each of her parents. Her father’s law practice, together with the management of his father’s fledgling business, gave them little time to be away from home. To her relief, the hard work was finally having the desired result. Her parents’ financial straits had eased. Father’s pride impeded her grandparents’ ability to help them, yet Nora knew her grandmother took every opportunity to direct business in their direction.

  “Your sister and brothers are with your betrothed in the church. They have done nothing but speak of Colin and how wonderful he is. I am afraid we may have difficulty persuading them to leave with us.” Her mother chuckled.

  Lt. Peter Mason pulled his daughter close. “We are all happy for you, Norabelle.”

  She felt comforted by her father’s use of his pet name for her. “Thank you, Father.” A small tear worked its way down her cheek. She had missed his hugs. Nora’s father stood tall and looked trim for his age. He was the type of man who commanded attention from all the women in the room when he entered, even though it was obvious he only had eyes for her mother.

  “Daughter, nothing could keep me from seeing you marry.” He cleared his throat. “Tell me, does Lord Shefford treat you well? ’Tis not too late to back out. I would stand by you.” A slow grin quirked his mouth.

  “Thank you, Father, but you need not worry,” she returned, feeling the warmth of a faint flush tingeing her cheeks.

  “We are so pleased you have found a love-match, Nora. It worried me when Mama told me you were betrothed. We wanted you to marry for the right reason—love. Having seen you together, I can see I worried needlessly,” her mother said, planting a kiss on her cheek.

  A furious blush heated her neck. “We have not spoken of love, yet I feel my heart is engaged.” She took a deep breath. “Colin looks at me the same way Father looks at you.” She had expressed nothing thus to her parents in her twenty years. Nora bit her lower lip, discomfited and uncertain of their reaction.

  “He has not mentioned his feelings?” Father queried, sounding surprised.

  She dipped her head. “Not yet,” she smiled. “Yet, the things he does for me… I feel sure he shares my feelings.”

  “Fear not,” her father rejoined with a slight smirk. “Sometimes the man’s brain is the last to resolve these things.” He glanced from her mother back to Nora. “Are you ready, my dear? We should not keep them waiting too long.”

  “I almost forgot. I have something for you.” Her mother withdrew a black velvet box from her reticule. “It would mean so much if you were to wear this. I wore these pearls on my wedding day. They were my grandmother’s.”

  Nora wondered what Grandmama’s reaction would be when she recognized them. She was certain there would be tears.

  “Thank you,” she breathed, turning the delicate necklace over in her hand and running the pearls through her fingers. “They are lovely, Mother,” she whispered, leaning forward for her mother to attach them.

  “There,” her mother said, softly touching the strand of beads and stepping back to admire them. “You look perfect.”

  Peter Mason extended his arm for his daughter. Proudly, Nora accepted it, placing her fingers lightly on his arm, reveling in the feel of having him there to help her brave her way through the ceremony.

  The small family arrived at St. George’s Chapel in time to see Grandmama and a small convoy from the orphanage arrive. Fourteen children followed her into the church, all outfitted in new suits and dresses. Nora inhaled a deep breath at the sight of all the carriages. She sent up a prayer that she would make it through the ceremony without creating undo attention. Their wedding had become the ton event she had feared. She had given her word. Her mother’s only wish had been to help with her dress. Nora could not be happier with the selection. The pearls looked perfect against her gown.

  As she walked down the aisle, she focused her attention on her betrothed. He stood next to Jonathan, a tall man who bore a striking similarity to Colin except for his blond hair.

  The ceremony was a blur until the Reverend called for them to recite their vows. Colin placed an emerald and diamond ring on her finger. As he slid the ring down her finger, he looked into her eyes.

  “I know this is but a token, but I hope you will accept this ring as a sign of my affection. I love you, Lady Shefford. Marrying you has made me eternally happy.

  Tears clouded her eyes as she looked from her finger to his face. “I love you, Colin. I had never thought to find my prince—until I found you.” She lifted onto her toes and placed her arms around his neck as his lips covered her own.

  As they walked towards the door, he leaned close to her. “There is one more slight surprise, Lady Shefford.”

  “What could that be, Lord Shefford, when everything I need is with me at this moment?”

  “I will tell you when we reach our carriage.” When they arrived at the conveyance, four of the children stood beside it, waiting—Alice, Amy, Becca, and Benjamin. Benjamin stood next to his new ‘uncle’ Jonathan, proudly dressed in a black coat and pantaloons, with a gold Paisley patterned waistcoat.

  “They are all ours, now.” Colin beamed.

  “Mama… .” The smallest of her children smiled up at Nora with her hands arms outstretched.

  “Her first word!” Filled with sudden emotion, Nora picked her up and nuzzled her with kisses. “Oh, Colin, I am so very blessed,” she said through her sudden tears, giving each child a hug and a kiss. “I would never have asked you…”

  “You did not have to. I know that leaving these children behind would have been too much to ask—even for me. I asked them if they would care to live with us and be part of our family and they accepted. We will give them the love every child deserves.”

  “Where will they stay while we are gone on our honeymoon?” A moment of concern assailed her. She could not send them back to the orphanage when they had just found a home.

  “They will stay with me,” her grandmother’s voice declared from behind them as she moved closer. “My dear, you make a beautiful bride.” Grandmama
feathered her fingers across the pearls. “I am so pleased you wore these. I have not seen them in years. They were my grandmother’s too, you know.”

  Nora pushed back tears as she hugged her grandmother close. “Thank you for everything you have done for me… for us,” she said, swiping at her tears and smiling at her suddenly large family. “This has been a perfect day, Grandmama.” She saw her parents and three siblings approach and waved to them. It thrilled her to see them.

  “We will see everyone at my mother’s house. For now, I intend to have a few minutes alone with my new bride.” Colin pulled her close and whispered in her ear, “We should hurry to the wedding breakfast, so we can the sooner disappear…”

  His warm breath elicited a giggle she could not contain.

  Benjamin raced to the carriage and stopped in front of the door. “Allow me to open the door for you, Mother and Father,” he said haltingly as he opened the door. He tried out their unfamiliar names, speaking in the King’s English with only a hint of his accent. He had obviously been practicing hard for the occasion. “Would you mind if I rode with Uncle Jonathan to Grandmother’s house?”

  There could be no better gift from her husband than these four children. Nora reached over and hugged her little gentleman. “I am sure your Uncle Jonathan will take good care of you. Off with you, now!”

  “I will be happy to do so,” Jonathan answered. “Do not take too long.” With a grin, he tapped Benjamin on the shoulder and the two of them walked to his chaise.

  The door to the bridal carriage closed as it lurched forward. “At last, I have you to myself,” Colin said, leaning in to give her neck a soft kiss. “I meant what I said a few minutes ago. The night awaits us, wife.” He cast a sly look at her.

  Nora had never felt so happy in all her life. “My husband, I cannot wait to learn all you have to teach me,” she said coyly. She placed her head on his shoulder and peered up at him, letting herself sag against him. Her body pulsed with an unfamiliar need. She was not hungry for food.

  “Impudent wife.” He cupped her face in his hands. “This will be the shortest wedding breakfast in history… I promise.”

  He leaned closer and his lips gently feathered a trail of warm wet kisses down her neck as she inhaled his delicious bergamot scent. His slow, gentle nibbles to the lobe of her ear sent delightful pulses to her core and prompted a groan of need. As if in answer, Colin slanted his mouth over hers and kissed her in a way that left no doubt Nora had found her prince.

  EARL OF ALNWICK

  By Meara Platt

  CHAPTER ONE

  Alnwick Hall

  Northumberland, England

  September,1821

  Katie Pringle’s scream caught the attention of Niall Jameson, Earl of Alnwick, while he happened to be nakedly bathing in a side pool of the river between the boundary of their estates on this fine autumn day. The sun was shining and a gentle breeze ruffled his hair as he washed off the sweat and grime of a solid day’s work rebuilding the rundown stables at Alnwick Hall. “For the love of...Katie, no!”

  Niall watched in horror as the bane of his childhood existence, the Perfect Miss Pringle, caught her fancy slipper on the hem of her elegant gown, tripped, and tumbled headlong into the deepest part of the river.

  He cursed as she fell in with a loud splash and was immediately caught up in the swiftly moving current that would certainly pull her down into its cold depths because the irritating girl, his childhood nemesis, did not know how to swim.

  She had never learned.

  For this reason, Niall knew she’d always been afraid of the river and had never dared go near it before.

  So what was she doing here now?

  He pushed off the bank and swam as fast as he ever had in his life toward the irritating girl, desperate to reach her before she sank beneath the surface, never to be seen again.

  As often as he’d dreamed of tossing her into these swirling waters and laughing as she flailed and sputtered, her perfect pigtails and neatly tied bows coming undone, he had never considered actually having her drown.

  His heart was pounding by the time he reached her side. All that remained visible was one lace-gloved hand. He firmly entwined his fingers in hers and hoisted her upward so that her head broke the surface. “Katie, of all the stupid, reckless–”

  She coughed in his face.

  Well, she hadn’t meant to do it. She was obviously terrified and struggling to regain her breath. As he helped her, she spit out water and took in great gulps of air. “Katie, you–”

  “I know. Don’t yell at me.”

  She tearfully threw her arms around his neck and pressed herself to his body, holding him in a death grip while sobbing. “Thank you! I’m so grateful. You saved my life.”

  Yes, he had.

  He was surprised by how good it made him feel. He’d spent most of his life avoiding responsibility, doing all for himself with little care for others. His father and grandfather before him had been cut from the same cloth, which probably explained why the Alnwick holdings were in such a dismal state.

  But now that he was earl, he’d been trying to improve matters.

  Katie suddenly gasped and tried to push away. “Oh, spillikins! It’s you. What are you doing here, Alnwick?”

  He tightened his grip on her body on the chance she was stupid enough to actually let go of him. “Fight me and I vow I shall let you drown, you little peahen. The more important question is what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be in London marrying into one of England’s wealthiest families?”

  Her wedding was supposed to have taken place a week ago. She was marrying the Marquess of Yardsley, an inconsiderate arse who was never going to be faithful to the Perfect Miss Pringle, but why should he care? Katie was an uptight, righteous–

  “I ran away.”

  He burst out laughing. “What? Am I hearing right? You? The paragon of perfection, the obedient, never a hair out of place, never a white glove soiled, soul of propriety and decorum, is a runaway bride? Did you run off before or after the wedding ceremony?”

  “Before.”

  He began to swim her over to the safety of his side of the river, but slowed his strokes so he could pry more information out of her. The sun was shining down on them and there was not a cloud in the sky. He’d finished his daily chores and was in no hurry to get back to an empty home. “What happened?”

  “He...he was...I caught him with my best friend.” He could not tell whether the water now spilling down her cheeks was from her soaked hair or whether she was crying. He hoped she was not crying.

  Then he’d be forced to feel sorry for her.

  “You caught him with Sybil? As in caught talking to her? So what?”

  “They weren’t talking. He was with her.”

  Bollocks.

  He supposed it was too late to simply set her safely on the grassy bank and swim away. He was too incensed by the way she’d been treated by Yardsley, that selfish prig. Nor had he ever liked her supposed best friend. “Sybil was never to be trusted. I warned you about her.”

  She sniffled as she frowned at him. “And she warned me never to trust you.”

  “And you believed that lying witch?” He had a mind to let go of her and watch her flail for a few desperate moments before taking her back in his arms. He would have. He should have. Except her body felt surprisingly good against his and he was not eager to let her go.

  “Why shouldn’t I believe her? You were a terror as a child and an impossible rake as you grew older. You did nothing to improve your reputation. What was I to think?”

  He tried to concentrate on their conversation and ignore the fact that she was no longer a skinny rail but had lovely, soft breasts that were now rubbing against his chest. “Even so, Sybil was no better. She was just sneakier about it.”

  “I learned that lesson the hard way. I caught them together in the clerestory. Yardsley did not even have the decency to wait until after the wedding to be unfaithful.
He and Sybil were...” She inhaled raggedly and released the breath in a sob. “They were...cavorting...in an intimate manner in the church. In the church. Less than an hour before we were to marry.”

  “So you ran off.” Her legs were entwined with his and her thigh was now rubbing against his private parts, although he was trying his best to avoid that contact.

  Not that she realized what she was doing.

  Or that he was naked.

  Katie always was a naive widgeon.

  In truth, it was perhaps the only thing he liked about her. Well, he’d now add her breasts to the short list of things he liked about her.

  In truth, she was a good, sweet girl.

  He’d been the bad one, and too much of an arse to appreciate how nice she was.

  “They laughed at me when I caught them. Yes, I ran off and never looked back. They are welcome to each other for all I care.”

  “Good for you. That took courage. I’m proud of you.”

  Her eyes rounded in surprise. “Why do you say that? I thought you hated me.”

  They were now approaching his side of the river and he knew he’d soon have to release her. “I never hated you. Yes, you rankled me. I disliked your perfect manners and your always perfect behavior. There were often times I wanted to push you into a mud puddle just to knock you down off your pedestal.”

  “You did push me into a mud puddle once.”

  The accusation surprised him. “When? I don’t ever remember doing that.”

  “I was fifteen and you were twenty. You showed up drunk and soaking wet to my birthday party. It had been raining hard earlier in the day so the ground was wet. You were too cobbled to find the front door, so you stumbled around to the back and passed out on a bench in our garden. I ran out to fetch you and bring you inside before you caught a lung infection and died.”

  He hoisted her onto a grassy patch of the bank, briefly wondering when she was going to realize he was naked and start screaming again. “Why did you run out to me? Why didn’t you send a footman?”