Lizzie's Earl: Sexy Regency Romance (The heir and a spare Book 3)

by Fiona Miers

  “I believe it is only for a few days, sir.” The butler nodded impassively, but remained standing beside him.

  Lizzie owned a country estate? Why did he not know this? Was it her late husbands? Her parents?

  “Is there anything else, Grimmit?” Rupert asked impatiently, glaring up at the starched man. Why couldn’t he find a butler who actually spoke his mind?

  “The estate is several hours’ drive away, sir. If you wanted to surprise the lady, perhaps, you could go for lunch?”

  Rupert’s nervous belly did a little lurch and a skip. He nodded and smiled up at the man standing above him. So there really was a better use for butlers other than just the general running of the house.

  “Order a bath if you would, Grimmit.”

  The older man’s lips kicked up in a rare smile and he bowed out of the room.

  Rupert leapt out of bed and pulled on some drawers. Stretching out his back, he began pacing restlessly within his room. The servants brought in his bath tub, then left to retrieve more water.

  He walked over to the window and opened the curtains, letting daylight into his usually dark bedroom.

  He couldn’t leave things as they were between he and Lizzie. He needed to tell her the reasons why he was the way he was, and perhaps explain why it would be advantageous for both of them to indulge in a brief affair for their mutual pleasure. She had responded well to his kiss and he knew he could give her so much more pleasure in the bedchamber if she allowed him the time.

  “Today is the day,” he vowed, watching the sun rise over the far hills for the first time since he was a child.

  ****

  Upstairs in her bedroom, Lizzie was having her hair arranged by her ladies’ maid when the housekeeper burst in, all of a flutter.

  “Ma’am you have a visitor!” The elderly woman before her practically bounced as she spoke, unable to contain her obvious excitement. The overly plump lady was flapping her hands like a bird.

  “A visitor?” Lizzie repeated, handing her maid a pin from the dresser and trying to hide her smile as she envisioned her housekeeper as a goose at Christmas luncheon.

  Who would be visiting me? She had only arrived the day before. Surely gossip in this part of the country couldn’t be quite so speedy?

  “Yes. The Honourable Mister Rupert Willoughby has called on you.”

  Lizzie’s heart flipped and she gasped as panic descended. He couldn’t really be here, surely? She swallowed the lump in her throat and turned away from the mirror.

  “Did you say… The Hon. Mister Rupert Willoughby?” Lizzie repeated slowly.

  The housekeeper nodded, her face flushed like a teenage girl’s.

  “Tall… dark, long wavy hair…?” Lizzie began.

  “And bright black eyes.” The housekeeper finished for her. “Pardon me, ma’am.”

  Lizzie sighed, and let the hand that held another pin, drop into her lap. It had to be him. No one would know of their association enough to say it as a joke and no-one else looked like Rupert in any way. He was certainly striking.

  Lizzie stood up on legs that were a little shaky. She had a lot of time to think on her carriage ride to this country estate and the previous night, when she’d barely got any sleep. Something strange was happening to her. All she could think about was that kiss and what it had made her feel.

  She wanted Rupert. She had finally admitted that to herself as the sun rose this morning. Desired him on a physical level that she had never experienced before. She had never believed she could feel such things.

  Perhaps it wouldn’t be such a bad thing if she had a short affair with this gentleman before she remarried? She had no-one else in mind as yet, as no one had caught her attention in any way.

  Perhaps he could teach her about passion and about the pleasure that was to be found in the bedchamber. If such a thing was to be pleasurable at all, then Lizzie was sure that Rupert would know. It may also help her in keeping her future husband happy and secure. Perhaps it wouldn’t, but Lizzie knew she didn’t want to miss out on this very rare opportunity.

  Rupert was not the marrying type and she wasn’t sure that she would even want a man like him as her husband. He was wild and irresponsible and most likely, could barely support himself. There was evidence to the contrary of course, but she didn’t want to think too much on the virtues of the Honourable Rupert Willoughby. She already liked the silly man a little too much. If she happened to fall in love with the rake then she would indeed turn out to be the fool.

  She looked once in the mirror to check her hair and dress, to see that her appearance was respectable. There was nothing opulent about her attire, but she smoothed the material at her waist and descended the stairs.

  “There is a gentleman waiting to see you in the sitting room, ma’am,” The butler told her with genuine warmth. His old, wrinkled face was lit up with a rare smile.

  Lizzie supressed the need to groan. Why was everyone so happy to see her getting attention?

  “Thank you, Leaves. Mister Willoughby is a mutual friend from London who has travelled up with some news I believe. Would you be so good as to show him to the dining room and make sure there is an extra place for him at luncheon?” She barely succeeded in keeping a straight face as she told the white lie. This butler had known her since she was in the nursery and it was little embarrassing to have to explain to him who Rupert was, despite the innocence of their association.

  “Of course, my lady;” The man bowed, looking a little disappointed at her explanation.

  She tried not to sigh and headed into the dining room. The cook had it set for an army as usual, and Lizzie was excessively grateful to her.

  She sat at the head of the table and folded her hands in her lap, her breath shuddering in between her lips as she struggled to maintain her calm. He was here and they were essentially alone.

  The door opened and her suitor strolled in, his morning clothes pristine despite the travel.

  “Mrs Symmons, please forgive my intrusion,” Rupert bowed to her, then walked around to her end of the table.

  Lizzie let the smile spread across her lips, unable to keep the happiness that his mere presence elicited inside her a moment longer. It was amazing how different she felt here, in her home. It was almost as though London had been stifling her desire for this man. Here, where she was warm and safe and happy, her feelings were blossoming like a rose in spring.

  “Not at all, Mister Willoughby, you are very welcome. Please join me,” Lizzie gestured to the chair opposite hers.

  “It looks as though your cook anticipated more than one person for lunch,” Rupert commented, glancing back down the table as though he expected more guests to arrive.

  Lizzie laughed and watched with amusement as Rupert’s eyes swung back to her.

  “Not at all my lord, my cook enjoys her employment, and I am here so infrequently nowadays that she spoils me when I am here.”

  “Ahh,” Rupert sighed, relaxing obviously as his shoulders dropped and a soft smile replaced the stilted grimace that had been there before.

  “How was your journey?” Lizzie enquired, helping herself to warm chicken and roast potatoes.

  “Oh, it was very pleasant, thank you,” Rupert answered conversationally.

  They chatted about the different ways of travelling over lunch, happily eating and relaxing in each other’s company. It was the worst possible thing for Lizzie’s desire to have a simple affair with this man, as she could see herself doing such a thing every single day.

  “Would you care to go for a ride, my lord? I have a horse in my stables that you may like.” She had to stop herself from imagining him as a husband. He was an aquaintence who found her desirable. Nothing more than that.

  Rupert’s eyebrows shot up rather charmingly. Lizzie chuckled at his surprised expression and waved him towards the door so that she could go upstairs and change.

  “Please go and see the butler and I will meet you out in front of the house within ten minut
es

  ****

  Rupert fought the urge to swing Lizzie up into his arms and charge up the stairs with her. Did she understand the innuendo behind what she had said? Was she offering a ride of the sort he would like? Or did she seriously own a horse that could handle his weight?

  The rather stern looking butler directed him to where he could borrow some riding pants and a shirt. Both articles of clothing were too large, but Rupert couldn’t bring himself to care about his appearance. He would usually be dressed beautifully to ride. He had all the latest styles of riding clothes in his residences, which sculpted his large frame perfectly. None of that mattered with the adrenaline pumping. He was so excited to see what Lizzie had in store for him. She had been noticeably warmer at lunch and he could barely suppress the manic grin that wanted to spread across his face as he headed out towards the stables.

  They were very well maintained, with several staff on hand. Lizzie lived very comfortably indeed.

  “I see you found our stable, Rupert,” Lizzie greeted him with a smile as she walked into the stables.

  Rupert’s breath got caught in his throat and all he could do was nod at her words. Her riding jacket was too tight and curved around her ample breasts like a lovers caress. She looked so delicious he wanted to drop to his knees and eat her up right here in the hay. She was so tiny he could have picked her up and carried her home, but again there was a strength in her that he was determined not to ignore.

  “What horse do you have that you think can handle me, Lizzie?” Rupert asked lightly, trying his best not to put too much innuendo into his question. She was, after all, a true lady and he had no desire at all to offend her if she didn’t mean anything by her offer.

  “This one,” Lizzie announced with the same light tone, opening the door to a stable further down the way.

  Rupert stepped forward and looked behind the wall Lizzies was indicating. Inside the stall was a huge bay stallion. He was restless and pacing, in obvious need of exercise.

  “He’s beautiful.” Rupert stepped close, unable to keep the awe from his voice.

  Lizzie smiled and touched his arm lightly.

  “You couldn’t have surprised me at a better time. This fellow is on loan for breeding purposes, but he almost damaged one of the mares yesterday. The grooms have been saying that he needs a good solid ride to settle him down and yet none of them are game.”

  Lizzie smiled up at him and again Rupert wondered at her words. Did she know what she was inviting when she talked of such things? He could give her a ride that would ruin her for every other man she ever met.

  “Lucky I decided to call on you, then,” Rupert agreed, treading carefully.

  “Yes, it is.” Lizzie agreed, walking over to a stall opposite and signalling to one of the grooms.

  “Please saddle up Thunder for Mister Willoughby and have Rose ready for me.” She pulled on her gloves with practiced ease.

  Rupert smiled at her use of the horse’s names.

  “Rose?” he enquired, envisioning a sweet little mare for his sweet little lady.

  A moment later the two horses were presented to them and Rupert gaped up at them. The mare Lizzie was to ride was almost as big as the stallion they had for Rupert.

  “Lizzie, you can’t possibly ride a horse that large,” Rupert exclaimed, looking down on her dainty head and wondering how on earth she was going to handle such a creature.

  Lizzie thanked the grooms and allowed one of them to hoist her up into the saddle. She swung her leg over so that she could ride astride and gave him a smile that could only be called flirty.

  “I can handle a large animal, sir,” she said. And with that, she turned the huge mare around and broke into a trot.

  Rupert laughed out loud at her feisty word play and swung up onto the massive stallion. He hadn’t ridden in the country for months and was looking forward to a punishing gallop. London had so many rules, he had barely been allowed to canter in town.

  He trotted up next to Lizzie and called out,

  “If this stallion’s in rut, is it safe to have your mare so close to him?”

  Lizzie laughed again, her lovely long hair blowing in the breeze behind her. Rupert shifted in his saddle as his body throbbed and his skin heated. There was no other woman he would rather be with, right at this moment. Her laugh was the most magical sound in the world and gave his very soul pleasure to be around.

  “Rose is his mother. She won’t put up with any nonsense.”

  As though to prove Lizzie’s point, Rose snapped her teeth at her offspring and he slowed down to match her gait.

  Rupert laughed out loud, surprised to be having such a good time. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time he had felt this happy.

  “Ready?” Lizzie asked, turning Rose’s head so that they faced an open and empty paddock.

  Rupert turned Thunder in the same direction, nodding in agreement, despite not knowing exactly what she had in mind. He was ready for anything.

  Lizzie squeezed with her thighs and dug in her heels. Rose surged forward with a grunt and broke into a gallop.

  Rupert gripped the rein and his heart picked up the animal’s beating pace. If she wanted this horse ridden hard, then so be it.

  He flicked the reins, dug in his heels and the powerful body surged forward.

  Lizzie leaned forward and urged Rose to go faster.

  Rupert’s body stirred in response to the sight of Lizzie’s thighs spread and her bottom in the air. He kicked his stallion harder. The powerful body surged and raced ahead. Rupert let the horse have its way. He ran through a thicket of trees and clear across another paddock. The sweat trickled down Rupert’s brow and he wiped it away, pulling the horse back to a trot. The horse, too, was breathing hard, but looked fit and ready for more. Rupert turned the horse and noticed Lizzie standing, leaning against a tree watching him from half a field away.

  He flicked the reins onto the horse’s flank and charged back. He loved the feel of a horse’s body. The warmth, the power and the thrill of the speed. What an animal!

  He crossed the same field again and made his way back to where Lizzie stood. He circled around her a couple of times until she laughed and twirled to keep up with him. That was when he jumped down. Unable to resist, he picked her up, kissed her hard on the lips and set her down again.

  Lizzie’s eyes widened in shock and then she smiled hesitantly.

  “It seems you enjoyed that?”

  “I did, thank you. It has been a long time since I got to ride such a magnificent animal.” Rupert ran his hand over the horse’s neck and lovingly patted its rump.

  The stallion flicked his head once, as though in approval and walked off to join his mother in a feed of grass.

  “Is this your husband’s estate?” Rupert asked, not wanting to be rude but curious all the same. Had she married money?

  “No. my father’s.”

  Rupert heard the words, but chose not to speculate. He didn’t care if she had money or not. It had no bearing whatsoever on their relationship, although it could make her prey to a fortune hunter if it became known in London.

  The thought made him frown and he shook it off. He didn’t want to think about what would happen tomorrow to his widow who was searching for a husband.

  “You seem happier here than in a ballroom in London.” Rupert remarked, taking in her flushed cheeks and the easy way she stood. She looked healthy and happy and unfortunately for him, even more beautiful.

  Lizzie laughed, her eyes shining up at him as he was surrounded by the beautiful music of her laughter.

  “I love it here. If I had a choice, I would rarely visit London.”

  “Really?” Rupert asked, surprised. Most ladies he knew would never leave London if they didn’t have to do so. They would spend the first weeks of the season complaining of how bored they had been and how much shopping they needed to do.

  “Do you really love London so much?” Lizzie asked, averting her eyes.

&n
bsp; “Oh no, not me.” Rupert quickly told her. He loved the diversions of town, but he was always relieved to go back to his family’s country estate come June. Six months in London was quite enough.

  “I haven’t met many ladies who prefer the country to town.”

  Lizzie looked up, cocking her head to one side.

  “Well, sir, perhaps you have not been associating with the right sort of lady.”

  Rupert watched Lizzie shy away and berated himself. It was not well done of him to point out his experiences with other ladies.

  He walked over and pulled her chin up, so that she had to look at him.

  “Perhaps I haven’t,” he agreed, using his other hand to pull her into him.

  Lizzie’s hands came up to his chest on their own accord and she went up onto her toes to meet his lips, half way. Rupert bent his head and captured her sweet mouth, sighing in bliss. It was so good to have his hands on her again. It was not just good, it felt right.

  A rumble of thunder sounded in the distance and Lizzie pulled away from Rupert’s embrace.

  “We’d better get back before it really starts pouring.” She sighed, walked over to the horses, while rearranging her clothing. Rupert let her go and cursed Mother Nature.

  “Jesus Christ!”

  Rupert looked at Lizzie in apology, but instead found her grinning.

  “Race you back to the house,” she said, laughing as she ran over to Rose.

  Rupert put out his hand and effortlessly hoisted her up onto her saddle. Striding back to his own horse, he quickly mounted. He could smell the rain now, it wasn’t far away.

  “Let’s go!” He flicked his head at the house and grinned like the devil himself. She’d better ride first. He couldn’t wait much longer to get his hands on her.

  They rode back at a punishing pace, the drop in temperature and slight sweetness to the air forcing them to move quickly. The heavens opened up as they arrived back at the stables.

  There was only one groom left and he took both horses inside to care for them.

  “We’ll wait in the adjoining stable for the rain to stop if you need us,” Lizzie called out to the groom, ducking out into the rain to run across to another out building.