The Elusive Earl (Saints & Scoundrels)

by Michaels, Maddison

  The night air was crisp, the chill of the evening washing over him, invigorating him as nothing else had since he’d been captured. He was finally free. Never had he appreciated the feeling so greatly as he did right at this moment.

  He looked ahead at the figure that Sabina cut riding astride the stallion. Strands of her russet hair had escaped the bun she wore and streamed out behind her as she rode adeptly through the forest. From his vantage point behind her, he could see the small curve of her waist, the gentle arch of her neck, and the proud manner in which she held herself. She was magnificent.

  Travis hadn’t ever been so simultaneously captivated yet so cautious of a woman before. He had no idea what Sabina’s end game was, or why she was running off to England to seek an audience with his father. But what he did know was that she was dangerous, and almost intuitively, he knew she was particularly so to him.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Traveling down the Fiume Crati River

  Bree flipped over onto her other side, trying to find some measure of comfort on the rock-hard bed nestled in the corner of the cabin inside the hull of the barge. She’d been tossing and turning ever since she and Daniel had retired to the room for the evening, some two hours ago.

  The unfortunate fact of the matter was she simply could not sleep.

  Daniel, on the other hand, did not seem to have had such a difficulty, if his deep, rhythmic breathing was any indication. Though, she doubted he really could be asleep, given how uncomfortable he surely had to be, sprawled out as he was in the rickety chair by the desk.

  Although men, in general, did seem to be able to sleep a great deal easier after a hearty meal. And he had had a rather ample feed earlier when they, along with Alessandro and his men, had dined on a simple but filling fare of cold meats, cheeses, and bread in the small dining galley of the boat.

  The variety of cured meats and cheeses had been particularly delicious, and Bree knew without a shadow of a doubt that when she returned to London, she was going to have a very difficult time not having access to such flavorsome delicacies.

  She turned again, this time fluffing up the feathers of her pillow, too. Alessandro’s words from earlier suddenly returned to her with a haunting sense of finality. Did they all really expect her to stay in Italy? To give up her life and all she held dear in England? Could she bring herself to do such a thing? She didn’t even speak Italian. And who knew what sort of reception would greet her when she met her grandfather…

  “Daniel?” she whispered aloud into the dark space. “Are you awake?”

  He grunted in response.

  Honestly, the man was so prickly lately and had gotten even more so as the days went by. Clearly, their trek through the mountainous terrain was grating on his nerves, too. Bree had had the courtesy to offer him the option to sleep next to her, on top of the covers, of course, but he had gruffly declined. And now, it appeared he was being difficult. “Daniel?” she persisted.

  “What is it, Brianna?” he replied, somewhat belatedly, even though he sounded completely alert.

  “Oh good, you are awake.”

  “Hard to sleep with you tossing and turning about.”

  She sighed. “I cannot sleep.”

  “Yes, I had gathered that,” he said, shifting slightly in his chair. “What’s on your mind, then?”

  She was silent for a moment. “Do you think my grandfather will want me?” she found herself blurting out.

  “What do you mean, want you?”

  “To stay, I mean…” Her voice trailed off, and even she could hear the uncertainty creeping through her words. “I spoke with one of the guards, Marco, tonight at dinner.”

  “I’d noticed.”

  “He was a fount of information regarding the old gossip concerning my mother.”

  “The man was flirting with you, and he wasn’t the only one.” Daniel said, his voice unaccountably gruff.

  “The men were not flirting,” Bree reprimanded. “They were simply being very polite and conversing with me.”

  “I didn’t like it.”

  Bree didn’t know how to respond to such a statement. A part of her delighted at the possessiveness in his voice. But when he’d made it abundantly clear on many previous occasions that they had no future together, she suspected there was really not much to delight in. “Marco knew a great deal about my mother.”

  “How on earth would he?” Daniel scoffed. “I doubt he was even old enough to have been alive at the time of the scandal.”

  Bree heard the sound of the chair scrape as he adjusted himself in its small confines. “Actually, he was. He was a young boy at the time,” she pertly replied. “He said everyone believed my grandfather disowned my mother when she eloped with my father.”

  “So?”

  “Well, if that’s true, then my grandfather probably won’t want me, will he?”

  The sound of a drawn-out exhalation filled the small room. “He sent some of his royal guards to find you and protect you.” Daniel began. “Those actions would suggest he wants you, Bree.”

  She was silent for a minute. “I’d never considered that aspect of it before.”

  “Clearly not,” he murmured. “Now, can I get back to sleep?”

  “But you weren’t actually asleep; you said so yourself.”

  “Brianna Penderley, you would try the patience of a saint,” Daniel grumbled.

  “’Tis lucky you are not one, then.”

  “Please,” he scoffed, “I am due for sainthood after this little adventure with you.”

  She laughed lightly but then fell silent. The more the boat drifted down the river, the closer they got to Cosenza, and that meant some hard decisions would have to be made.

  First and foremost, she had to save her cousin. But could she simply hand over her mother’s journal to such a criminal organization? If she did, she would never have her mother’s final words in her possession again.

  “Daniel?” She turned over and faced where he sat.

  A small shaft of moonlight filtered in through the port window, and she could see his outline but little more.

  “What?”

  “Do you think it wise to simply hand over the journal to a group of thieves and blackguards? I am certain they would not only destroy precious artifacts in their looting of the chamber, but they would then have the means to spread their evil reach and oppress the people of the region further.”

  “What do you know of such things regarding them?”

  “Marco told me all about them at dinner.”

  “What would you have us do then?” Daniel questioned.

  “I do not know.” She picked at the fabric of her blanket. “Obviously, I cannot put Travis’s life at risk. If I didn’t hand over the journal and something happened to him, I would never forgive myself. But it seems wrong to just give it to them.”

  The chair creaked as Daniel rose and walked over to where she lay. He perched down on the edge of the bed.

  Bree sat up and scooted backwards until she was sitting with her back against the wall. The light from the window was enough to wash a soft glow across Daniel’s face and highlight the stubbled beard that had grown across his jaw and cheeks over the past few days.

  She had a mad impulse to place her hand up against his face and smooth her fingers across the hair on his chin. Would it feel as textured and thick as it appeared or soft? She clenched her hands into fists by her side to avoid acting on the compulsion. As it was, even being in the same room alone with him, let alone stroking his stubble, would be enough to ruin her.

  “It is not your fault that Travis was captured,” Daniel began. “He was the one who went haring off chasing the treasure without even a word to you.”

  Bree had to make a determined effort to return her mind to the conversation, rather than let it linger on the man himself. “I will do all in my power,” he continued, “to stop anything from happening to Travis, but if it does, it is certainly not your fault. You must remember that.
And I will do all I can to keep you safe.”

  In that moment, she knew he would. Daniel had always been there in the background, a somewhat annoying yet comforting presence, much like a safety blanket. And no matter how much of a mess things turned into, she could always count on him. A sense of confidence and optimism filled her. They would rescue Travis, and things would turn out just fine regarding her grandfather.

  Daniel then turned the conversation toward how long he thought it would take to reach Cosenza, and Bree found herself mesmerized by the movement of his lips. She really should be paying better attention to what he was saying, but suddenly, all she wanted was for him to kiss her again. A proper kiss like at the bonfire with the Mountain Clan. Not the brief touch of lips he’d given her on the deck earlier. She’d been wanting a proper kiss for days. And now, they were all alone. On a bed.

  Suddenly, she was very happy that her face was in the shadows, as she imagined that if he could see her expression, his all-too-perceptive eyes would know exactly what she was hoping he would do.

  She really was a wanton. Well, at least with him, it seemed. Instead of focusing upon a plan, her mind was focused on his mouth. But she was filled with optimism and just knew everything would be all right. So, she felt somewhat at ease with letting her mind wander. And wander to him it certainly had.

  What would he do if she simply leaned forward and touched her lips to his? Would he pull back? Would he embrace her? Bree was getting supremely hot and uncomfortable even thinking of it. She had to distract herself.

  “What are we going to do about this pretend marriage of ours?” she blurted out. “I don’t want the first thing I do when I meet my grandfather to be to lie to him. But then again, I don’t particularly want to be forced to marry some duke or his son either.”

  “Do you intend to stay in Cosenza, then?”

  “I do not know.” And she really didn’t; that was the truth. “I have always loved Italy. The array of history and antiquities that can be found here is unparalleled. And my goodness, I would love to be able to stay and find the fabled lost treasure and keep it out of the hands of the Garendetta… Then, of course, I have a grandfather I didn’t know about…”

  “You belong with the Penderleys.” Daniel’s voice held a hint of censure. “You always have. They are your family. They are the ones who have raised you your entire life.”

  “Of course they are my family,” she agreed. “And I love them all greatly, but you don’t know what it’s like to be the odd one out. Don’t misunderstand me; Uncle Walter and Aunt Edith have been simply wonderful. But I’ve always been aware that I am not their child, and to a certain extent, I feel somewhat of a burden to them.”

  She could almost sense the agreement radiating from him, and her heart dropped.

  “Well, you have kept them in a state of worry with your various escapades over the years. I won’t dispute that,” he confirmed. “But it would break their hearts if you stayed here. You know they consider you to be their daughter.”

  The thought of whether it would break his heart if she stayed or not flittered across her mind. But as quickly as it had arisen, she pushed the question away. It was dangerous to think of such things. “You don’t have to remind me. I am well aware that they would be devastated. But I am also mindful that I cannot stay with them forever, and unfortunately, the only way to have my own household in England is to marry, whereas things might be different here.”

  “When you go back to England, word will spread like wildfire that you are a principessa.” Daniel paused for a moment. “Then, more than ever, men will flock to you in bloody droves for the chance to have you as their wife.”

  “Yes, I imagine the idea of ruling a principality in Italy would be a great incentive.”

  He shifted a bit, and even in the dark, she could tell he’d pivoted so he faced slightly away from her. “They flocked well enough before without that carrot,” he said softly.

  Oh my. She hadn’t thought he’d noticed. Or cared.

  “But yes, being the heir to a wealthy principality will provide more of an enticement,” he continued. “Many will wish to sweep you off your feet and marry you.”

  “But not you.” She didn’t know what had possessed her to say it, but she couldn’t stop herself. She shouldn’t care whether he wished to marry her or not. They couldn’t be anything to each other. They were complete opposites.

  With a creak of the bedsprings, he pushed himself off of the mattress as if he’d been launched from a cannon and walked back over to the cane chair. “I cannot offer you what you need or want.”

  Bree pulled off the light cotton blanket and swung her legs off the bed, glad she was still wearing her day dress, as she’d had no nightclothes to change into. “What do you know of what I need or want?”

  “I know I am not it. You’ve made that clear on more than one occasion.”

  I lied. Bree shook her head, trying to dispel the traitorous thoughts and feelings that would be her undoing if she unleashed them. “You are the one who has made it perfectly clear you would never marry a ‘hoyden’ such as myself.” She took a few steps toward him, as if stalking him.

  He backed toward the window, into a shaft of moonlight, and she could see his chest heaving as if he’d just run the entire length of the Nile River. The pale, silvery light highlighted the strong angles and planes of his beautiful face.

  “And you’re the one who told your uncle you think I’m stuffy and you would never have me,” he finally responded.

  Bree’s mouth opened, but nothing came out in reply. True, she had said that to Uncle Walter on more than one occasion, but only because she knew Daniel would never have her. For some odd reason, her uncle seemed to have thought the two of them would suit. But they would not. He’d made that clear, and she knew she couldn’t be the pliant little creature he wanted. She’d literally die inside if she tried to be.

  “I may have said that.” She walked over to the window as he moved back toward the door, and she looked out into the inky night.

  Silence. And then the sound of his footsteps as he stopped circling away and came toward her. She could feel his heat behind her before he spoke. “Obviously, both of us have previously made clear our positions.” His voice was close to her ear. She clutched the window frame, desperate to get away. Desperate to stay. “But you would be miserable if you remained here and were forced into a marriage with anyone not of your own choosing.”

  She turned and faced him. Too close. He was too close. All she had to do was lean forward, and her body would be against his. She swallowed. He dipped his head, just slightly, as if he was about to— “Surely I couldn’t be forced to marry if I did stay, could I?”

  Coward.

  The moment disappeared. He shook himself slightly, though he didn’t back away more than a step. “I don’t know what the exact laws of your grandfather’s province are.” The softness that had been in his voice was gone. Back to business, as it were. “If they are similar to those in other regions of Italy, then a woman belongs to her father until she is married. In this case, your grandfather would hold dominion, as your father is dead, and thus, your grandfather could indeed force you to marry.”

  “I cannot believe anyone would do such a thing.”

  “We don’t know what sort of man your grandfather is or why your mother fled.” Daniel gently brushed a lock of her hair back behind her ear, the pads of his finger softly sweeping across her cheek as he did so.

  As his touch faded, Bree felt like dragging his hand back and holding on to his warmth. She did not do so, of course. She could not let him see how she was growing to need him. Goodness, she didn’t want to think about the future and the very real prospect of never seeing Daniel Wolcott again.

  “We will have to be careful when we get to Cosenza,” he said.

  “Do you really suspect my grandfather of something nefarious?” Bree asked.

  “I do not know. What I do know, though, is that he has been without
a family for over twenty-two years,” Daniel replied. “I imagine he will be desperate to meet you, particularly as he’s sent a contingent of his men to retrieve you. One can only assume he will want you to stay in Cosenza, at least for a little bit.”

  “He can’t make me stay if I do not want to. You wouldn’t let him.”

  Daniel exhaled softly. Once again, he raised his palm up, this time cupping her cheek, and that tenderness was back in his beautiful green eyes. “The man has an army, Bree, and if he wants to keep you in Cosenza, I will not physically be able to stop him, as much as I would try.”

  “You would have to leave me, then.” While she’d meant to encourage him, she couldn’t help the hint of hurt from sounding in her words.

  “Never.” His thumb slowly started stroking her face, and she leaned into his touch. “I would never leave you, not unless you asked me to.”

  Bree felt her heartbeat quicken as her body seemed to sway in closer to his own. She was only inches away from his chest. She had to distract her wayward thoughts. “Do you not think the marriage certificate will be sufficient?”

  “No.”

  “Well, what are we to do then?”

  His hand dropped from her face. “I will go and fetch the boat’s captain.” He suddenly pivoted around to the door and stalked over toward it.

  Bree felt her whole body ache for him to return. “What on earth do you need to get the captain for?”

  He paused at the door, his shoulders taut, and an air of inflexibility surrounding him, while he looked at her cryptically for a moment. “To marry us.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  “Marry us?” Bree felt her heart slam in her chest. “But we cannot marry. You said it yourself. I’m not the kind of woman you need. Besides, you cannot offer me what I need or want…”

  “If we are to legally marry here in Italy,” he said, a hint of impatience in his tone, “then you cannot be held accountable for your mother’s betrothal promise, and hence, cannot be forced to marry.”

  “But then I would be married to you!” Bree rubbed her temples. “And you don’t even want me for a wife. How is that different from being forced to marry the Duke or his son?”