The Games the Earl Plays

by Eleanor Meyers

  “Justin wishes that I remain far from him,” Alex said on their way back to the sitting room. “He is starting to think that perhaps it was Avon who attacked me last year.”

  Rose recalled the attack that had come right outside of Christmas’ front door. A man wielding a gun had come after Alex.

  Rose stopped. “But I thought Justin believed that if Avon wanted you dead, you would be.” And whoever had shot at Alex had missed.

  Alex shrugged. “Perhaps his goal wasn’t to kill me. After all, what he really wanted was for Justin to remain part of his party, and he did remain so until Justin could find a replacement.”

  Rose thought about that for a moment and decided it all made sense. Avon enjoyed power. Killing Alex would have probably made Justin more resistant to Avon’s control. It was better to keep her alive.

  What a hideous thought. “So you’re saying Avon wanted to frighten you?”

  “And Justin.” Then Alex shrugged and started walking again. “But it’s just a theory. As you know, we never gained proof of anything, and Justin grows more worried about me every day. I do carry his child after all.” She shook her head and smiled as she changed the subject. “I see you and Gerard have settled your differences.” Alex led the way around a hall.

  Rose smiled. “My feelings for him may never change, but friendship can be enough, I suppose.” Though when she pictured him with Miss Louisa, she admitted feeling angrier than she wanted to admit.

  “He’s blind if he can’t see the truth,” Alex told her. “He loves you.”

  “He does not.”

  Alex stopped her with a hand and forced their eyes to meet. “When a man looks at you as though you are the only person in the world, it is love, Rose.”

  Rose shook her head and told her heart not to believe a word. “No.”

  Her friend’s hold tightened. “Does he ever… touch you?”

  Rose’s cheeks stung, and she debated with herself on whether she should lie. In the end, she couldn’t. “Sometimes…” She could still feel the stroke of his hand as they’d locked fingers the other day.

  And then the pressure of something against her mouth in the cave. Had it been wishful thinking?

  “Is it with gentleness?” Alex asked as she loosened her hold. “When he touches you, do you feel treasured? Adored?”

  Rose closed her eyes. “Gerard is a natural charmer. He flirts with everyone.”

  “Not in that way,” Alex told her, which was true. Gerard didn’t touch other ladies. “And he’s barely looked at anyone else since the party began, though that was the case even before we left London.”

  “What?” Rose frowned. “Not true. Gerard and I were always careful to keep our friendship hidden. Besides, if you’d thought anything of our relationship before, I’m sure you’d have said something before we came to Avon Park.”

  Alex smiled. “I admit, I didn’t see it, but Justin did.”

  Rose stilled. “He did?” She wondered what Justin had seen. “What did he say?”

  Alex smiled. “Mind you, it may be just another one of Justin’s theories, but… Once when we were at a party, he commented that he thought Gerard was in love with you. I told him that it wasn’t true, but he swore that something was going on between you two. I dismissed it, knowing that if there was, you’d have told me.”

  Rose nodded. “Justin was wrong. I’d not have kept such a secret from you.”

  Alex laughed and started down the hall again. “I know, but it doesn’t change the fact that Justin was right in one regard. Gerard watches you. He always has. He loves—”

  Justin and Gerard surprised them by coming around the corner.

  “We’re going to bed,” Justin told his wife. “In your condition, I believe it best to avoid the duke as much as possible.”

  Alex shook her head but smiled. “Very well.” She took her husband’s arm and allowed him to take her away.

  Rose turned to Gerard, but he spoke before she could. “Rose, I am terribly sorry for the way my father has treated you.” He frowned. “I’m of a mind to end the party entirely.”

  Rose moved close to him and, for the first time ever, touched him first. She grabbed his hand. “Don’t. I’m enjoying my time with you.”

  His fingers tightened on hers, and he smiled as he moved closer. “I’m enjoying my time with you as well.” But his smile slowly fell once more. “But it can’t be the same so long as he is here. He’d never allow it. He’d hurt you if he knew how close we’ve grown.” He touched her cheek. “I don’t want you hurt… and I don’t want to return to the shadows.”

  Neither did she, and she was glad he felt the same, but what other choice did they have? “Your father can’t hurt me.” Only you can, her heart whispered. “I’ve dealt with people like him before.”

  They broke apart as a footman rushed down the hall.

  Gerard took her hand and led her into the study. He closed the door behind him before he spoke. “He wants me, Lord Grant, and Miss Louisa to join him for a private dinner. Hours before the ball.” There was to be a ball at one of the city’s assembly rooms tomorrow night. He shook his head. “With the way he reacted in the sitting room, I’m beginning to believe that this was always his plan.”

  Rose struggled to breathe even though she already knew what he meant. “What do you mean?”

  He gave her a hard look. “I mean, my father had more than one reason for wishing me here for the lectures. He clearly approves of a match between me and Miss Louisa.”

  Rose looked around the room and moved toward a chair. She sat heavily. “Will you marry her?”

  “Of course not!” He moved to the chair at her side and took her hand. “I could never marry anyone who mistreated you, Rose. Whomever I marry has to love you just as much as I do.”

  She stilled and soaked in the fact that Gerard had proclaimed his love for her all the while planning to marry someone else. The words lost their effectiveness. Indeed, they only made her feel worse. Her journal would never hear the end of this.

  “Have you asked him about Henry yet?” She didn’t want to think about anything else at the moment.

  Gerard shook his head. “Not yet. I’ll have to choose the right time, but who knows when that will be. My father seemed more tired than I’ve ever seen him before. He’ll likely be indisposed for a few days as he tries to regain his strength.”

  Was it evil that pumped through the old duke’s veins to keep him alive?

  “Rose.” He touched her chin and lifted her face toward his. “Tell me what you want me to do.”

  She held his gold eyes and had to force herself not to beg for a kiss. “Go to your dinner with your father… and then come to the ball. I’ll save my first dance for you.” They would not return to the shadows.

  She’d tell him everything then. No more secrets.

  He smiled. “Very well.”

  “How different would our relationship be if I were a lady?” she asked, needing to know his thoughts.

  He stroked her cheek and whispered, “You’d not be my Rose if you were anyone else.”

  When he touches you, do you feel treasured? Adored?

  She did, and she also thought that when he looked at her, they were the only people in the world.

  Were Alex and Justin right? Was this love?

  I don’t want you.

  Gerard’s words always came back with a forceful blow as though he’d just uttered them for the first time. He didn’t want her, though part of him obviously did in his own way. Perhaps Alex and Justin were right. Perhaps there was more than what she was hearing.

  And she supposed that his comment was true. Her name and possibly her personality would have been vastly different were she raised under any other circumstance. Would he have loved her nonetheless? Would she have loved him? One look into her eyes and she swore that had they been from completely different worlds, her heart would always call to him.

  His gaze moved to her lips, and she pulled in a breath, waitin
g.

  He let her go and stood. “I better go see that my father is made comfortable. I’ll see you at the ball.”

  She stood and smiled. “The ball then.”

  He touched his nose and slipped from the room. Rose waited ten seconds in the silence and then followed.

  * * *

  23

  CHAPTER

  TWENTY-THREE

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  “I’m still alive.”

  Gerard placed his coffee on the table and stared across the room as his father sat himself up and leaned against the pillows. “Why are you really here?” he asked once he was sure his father had caught his breath. The sun had risen hours ago but was hidden behind the trees, leaving only a glimmer of orange and pale blue light to strike the room from the window. Yet even in the shadows, he could see how pale his father seemed since last they met. It had been three days since his father’s arrival, and Gerard had been told by his valet that the duke had slept for most of it, taking his meals alone while the guests whispered about him as though he were a ghost that now haunted the halls.

  The ride from London had undoubtedly left him weaker, pushing him closer to death. Why Gerard cared that Death had him in his grasp, he didn’t know, especially when Gerard had the urge to strangle the man himself when recalling the words his father had said to Rose three nights ago, the heat in his veins fresh with the need to shed blood.

  If Gerard had the urge to let his anger out, unleash the fire that burned in his stomach, he suspected that the Grim Reaper would have been more merciful.

  His father lifted a brow. “You’re angry.”

  “Yes.”

  His father smiled. “And what do you plan to do with that anger?”

  Gerard balled his hands into fists so tight that he felt the painful pressure of his nails against his skin. The pain brought him back to himself and cooled him considerably. No matter what, Gerard would never be like his father, never cause pain to others in anger. If he could avoid it, he’d never cause anyone any amount of pain at all.

  “I plan to be nothing like you,” he said, knowing it would irritate his father.

  His strategy worked. The smile fled. “Where’s my tea?”

  Gerard went to the bell pull and rung for a servant.

  For a moment, he thought it a good idea to bring up the mysterious Henry but then decided against doing so. He wanted his father completely alert when the time came. Alert and on edge. It was the only way to get the truth from him. “You’ve not answered my question.”

  “I believe I did so the other night.”

  Gerard turned back to look at his father. “You always have more than one reason for doing what you do. Why are you here?”

  “To remind you why you are here.” His father closed his eyes and leaned his head back.

  “It is the final week of lectures. I’ll make sure I report my findings.” Though in reality, his plan had been to abandon the lectures altogether and spend every moment he could with Rose before the party’s end. For the last few days, they’d met in secret, but wanting to show her just how much she meant to him, he’d presented her with a gift this afternoon.

  A few weeks ago, someone had presented Rose with the gift of Emma. That it hadn’t been gifted by Gerard bothered him. So he’d found a gift that was even better. It had also been quite expensive, but he’d do it again for the joy it brought Rose.

  Rose’s reaction had been tears with a kiss to his cheek, which had caught him by surprise, but not as much as the urge to grab her close and kiss her lips with the hunger he felt for her.

  The duke sighed. “I was not talking about the lectures. I am here to remind you of your birthright and what needs to be done before I die.”

  Gerard knew where this was going and had expected it. “I’ll not marry Miss Louisa.”

  “You will,” his father said. “Her father comes with many connections. Her grandfather is a duke.”

  “Her father is a third son,” Gerard countered. “Surely, I thought you’d have wanted me to marry the daughter of a titled gentleman.” Though he couldn’t think of a single lady in his acquaintance—and he knew nearly every one of marriageable age—he wished to marry.

  “Her father may be a third son,” his father went on, “but he’s been a professor at Cambridge for many years and has held influence on some of the greatest and most powerful minds in England.” His father tilted his chin. “Power is power, Gerard. Have I taught you nothing?”

  That Gerard had missed that logic proved that he was not as corrupt as his father.

  A knock sounded on the door, and Gerard opened it to find a maid with a tea tray. The house staff had obviously anticipated his request. Tea was served and the maid left.

  “You’re still alive,” Gerard said as he took his seat. “And unwed. Why don’t you marry Miss Louisa?” He grinned wickedly as he thought about the two of them together.

  Diabolical.

  His father smiled. “You’re right. She’d probably have me if only for my title and wealth.”

  Gerard waved a hand and stood. “There you have it. I’m sure she’ll accept.” It didn’t matter that his father was old enough to be hers three times over, to be duchess to the most powerful man in London was a great feat. And in reality, Gerard had no desire to wield the same power his father currently possessed once he was gone. He would be a completely different duke.

  He started for the door but stopped at his father’s cold voice.

  “You’ll not get away that easily… My servants tell me that you’ve been growing very close to Miss Rose. You do know that if you tempt me, I will ruin her?”

  Gerard looked at him and decided not to lie. There was no point. “I would never even think of marrying Rose. I know you better than most.”

  His father nodded. “I’ll not be proposing to Miss Louisa, and you’ll not be proposing to Rose. Ever.”

  “Father—”

  “It amazes me just how much trouble these women from that orphanage continue to give me. That place raises annoyances that are no better than rats. It would seem to me that Society would be better suited if the place simply burned to the ground.”

  Gerard gripped the door. He wanted to dare the man, challenge him, reason with him, but the look in his father’s eyes told him that the devil would be inclined to show greater mercy than he.

  His father’s threat was not enough to get him thrown in prison, especially with the way he’d phrased the words. So in the end, there was nothing left for Gerard to do but leave.

  So, he left.

  He’d known it would come. The duke would not touch Rose herself, but her world would crumble around her enough that she’d contemplate taking her own life in order to end the tragedies that surrounded her.

  He was downstairs in the foyer when the front door opened and the last man he’d expected to enter his home did. He walked to the front door and only then noticed the worry on the marquess’ face.

  Lord Stonewhire bowed. “Lord Obenshire, I apologize for intruding on your party without an invitation, but I need to speak to Miss Rose at once.”

  Gerard frowned and met the lord’s eyes. At the mention of Rose, he recalled the conversation they’d had about who Rose dreamed to be her father. Lord Stonewhire was a handsome man, and Gerard had been told that in his younger days, the marquess had been a rake.

  And even with a cane in hand, rumor said not much had changed.

  Gerard narrowed his eyes. “If you don’t mind my asking, what is your business with my guest?”

  Stonewhire was caught off guard by the question. He’d obviously expected Gerard to do as he wished; after all, he outranked him. The worry left the marquess’ face and was replaced with one slightly hubris. “My business with Rose has nothing to do with you.”

  “Anything that concerns Rose is my business.”

  This seemed to surprise the marquess onc
e more, and he looked Gerard over before he spoke again. “I believe she’ll want to see me. If you prefer it, I can wait outside your property and wait to see her once she leaves, but then you will be faced with the consequences.”

  “Is that a threat?” Gerard asked.

  Stonewhire smiled. “It is, but not regarding what I would do to you, but of her reaction to the fact that you’ve kept her away from me.”

  That hit Gerard in the chest. Stonewhire was right. Rose would be furious if he kept them apart. She adored the marquess, wanting him to be her father. Gerard had little choice but to let them see one another. However… “I would advise you not to upset her.”

  Stonewhire was shocked again. “Is that a threat?”

  “Yes, and make no mistake, I may be nothing like my father, but that doesn’t mean I’m incapable.” And he’d willingly become the monster of monsters if it meant destroying anyone who brought Rose harm.

  Stonewhire held his eyes and nodded. “Your threat has been noted. Now, take me to Rose.”

  * * *

  24

  CHAPTER

  TWENTY-FOUR

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  Rose sat on the edge of her seat and listened in awe as Jane Austen read a chapter from her latest novel, pausing every now and again to clear her throat. She was slightly ill, but the woman refused to accept it. Rose was captured by her every word and imagined that had the room been full of others, they’d have all been just as impressed.

  When Gerard had shown Rose into the family’s private sitting room that morning, she’d thought it had simply been to get her alone. She’d nearly doubled over at meeting Miss Austen, who Gerard—after hunting her publisher down and probably spending much more money than he should have—had found to be the anonymous author that Rose loved. The kiss she’d given Gerard in gratitude had been impulsive, and she’d quickly looked away so she wouldn't see his reaction.