Clean Regency Romance: The Earl's Temptation (The Pure Heart Triumphs Series Book 1)

by Pearl Goodfellow

  “Who do you think could have committed such a reprehensible act, Sir?” Monsieur Lupine asked. As much as Anna knew that she didn't like Robert Lupine, his concern for her sister seemed altogether genuine and heartfelt, and Anna found that it touched her deeply.

  “I really have no idea,” her father answered sadly. But, crazy or not, Anna had begun forming an idea of her own.

  “What about the wolves?” she blurted, stepping out from behind the wall where she had been hiding to listen to their conversation. In the excitement, she had forgotten that she was supposed to be hiding. And now that she was exposed, and with such a ludicrous idea, and such a ridiculous appearance, she felt altogether silly. But Monsieur Lupine seemed to take her suggestion completely seriously.

  “Wolves? What wolves?” He asked, turning towards her quickly, his eyes wide and alert, as if she had just notified him of some horrible impending danger.

  But her father interrupted to discount her theory. “Wolves don't take people, Anna,” he said, admonishing her silliness like he did when she was a small child, “Wolves eat chickens and kill house cats. What interest would they have in Beth?

  His questions made Anna feel tiny and small. She knew that it was a longshot before the words even escaped her mouth, but any idea was better than no idea wasn't it? To her surprise, Robert Lupine came to her defense.

  “It’s possible,” he told her father, “There are things in this world that I cannot begin to explain to you right now.” He turned back to the doorway, Where Anna still stood looking and feeling ridiculous. “What did the wolves look like, Anna?”

  “I didn't actually see them,” Anna answered sheepishly. She bowed her head, kicking herself for coming up with such a silly idea in the first place. But Monsieur Lupine was not deterred.

  “How do you know they were wolves?” he asked.

  “I heard them,” Anna answered, “last night, after you left. They were so loud it seemed as though the must be in the next yard. I ran around the house locking windows, afraid that they might get in.”

  She watched the man nod. He was really taking her seriously! He turned back to Mr. Cartwright and said, “I might know where she is. If you’ll permit me.”

  Her father agreed with the man’s proposal. After all, he had nothing to lose. He had already lost his daughter.

  Anna didn't know why she let these next words escape her lips, but once they had been uttered, she could not reign them back in again. ”I'm coming with you!” She blurted. After all, what was the point of staying here at the house? Just waiting around with the old man waiting for someone who is not likely to return on her own? No. Anna needed to do something real--something that would help her sister.

  “I don't think that's the best idea,” said Robert.

  But Anna was indignant and would not be deterred. “Why not?” She asked in the most confident voice she could muster.

  “It might be dangerous,” the man explained. He seemed eager for her to stay home and brew tea as a lady should. Anna would have none of it.

  “I can handle danger,” she said, growing angry, “ She's my sister, Monsieur Lupine!”, she added cooly.

  Monsieur Lupine looked toward Anna's father for some help or relief, but he found none there. The old man was shrugging his shoulders as if to say, “What do you expect me to do with her?”

  Resigned, Robert looked back at Anna and sighed. Her stomach began doing flip-flops. It was easy to pretend to be strong, but the real thing was more difficult than it looked in storybooks. Anna had the strange sensation of having won some important contest of wills, but at the same time, knowing that she had gotten herself in over her head. She immediately ran to her bedchamber in order to get into clothes that would be appropriate for the day’s adventure. It wasn't until she got into her room, that she realized that she was still carrying the bloody teapot in her hand. Luckily, it had cooled somewhat, and she could set it down easily on her dressing table without being afraid that it might mark the wood. She dressed quickly, skipping all of the silly, girly details that she’d never appreciated in the first place. Then she ran down the stairs, and almost bumped directly into Monsieur Lupine himself, looking completely perplexed and forlorn.

  “Are you absolutely certain that you want to come with me?” He asked quietly so that her father couldn't overhear. Anna examined his face, studied every line of it in earnest, and decided that in this moment she trusted him. He would find her sister. She was almost as sure of that as she had been of anything in her entire life. She nodded to him in response to his question, and they were off, climbing into Robert Lupine’s opulent carriage before she could even be sure of what she had agreed to.

  She sat opposite him, not wanting to get too close for fear that he might get the wrong idea about this little excursion of theirs. They rode along in silence for what seemed like an eternity, before pulling into the circle drive of a humongous palatial estate. This could not be Robert’s. Hadn’t he said he lived in the south of France? They were definitely still in the English countryside.

  “Where are we?” Anna asked. She tried to hide the astonishment in her voice, but it was no use; she was sure that it was obvious that she was impressed with the house, regardless of who it belonged to. Her mouth was open wide, and her eyes hadn't blinked in several seconds.

  “A friend of mine lives here,” Robert said casually. Then, he climbed out of the carriage, and held out his hand to help Anna down. She was astonished by this too, though she didn't know why she should have been. Truthfully, Robert Lupine seemed like a man who conducted himself as a gentleman at all times. Why should this moment be any different? Anna took his hand and let him help her down--a decision that she was fully aware she would not have likely made any other time. But now, with her sister’s life on the line, and this man here to help, She didn't want to slight him or snub him, or let him think for a moment that she had anything but completely cordial feelings toward him.

  She was surprised to find that he did not let go of her hand as they walked up a neatly manicured walkway toward the front door of the large building. She was more surprised to find that she didn't altogether mind having her tiny hand enveloped by his. His hands were strong and rough, and somehow seemed capable of doing anything that they tried to do. She wasn’t entirely sure whether she liked the idea of them doing anything that they tried to do. While she still was not sure whether she liked Monsieur Lupine or not, she was sure that having her hand in his on this long walk into an unknown place, made her feel protected, and safe.

  That is, until her companion leaned over and whispered so quietly in her ear that no one else--not the driver, nor the people on the street, nor the doorman at the residence--could hear. “You might see or hear strange things in here,” he said like a young child with a secret, “ When we leave, I will answer any questions you have. But do not ask them while we are in this house. Do you understand?”

  Anna nodded, bewildered, and Robert stopped dead in his tracks and looked her directly in the eyes with a serious expression on his face. “This is serious Anna,” he said, admonishing her, “I need to hear the words. I need you to agree.”

  Anna nodded again, this time adding, “Yes. I swear. No questions while we’re inside.”

  This seemed to satisfy Robert because he began moving again, only now, he held her hand even more tightly in his fist, and walked quickly, almost dragging her behind him.

  When he got to the door, he used the brass knocker to knock loudly enough so that anyone in the large house might have heard. It was opened almost immediately by a slight door person who seemed completely surprised at Robert’s unexpected appearance.

  “Monsieur Lupine,” The door person announced grandly as he bowed to his guest, “To what do we owe the honor?”

  “I am here for Garrett,” Robert replied shortly. He didn't seem to like the young man answering the door, but Anna didn't understand why; he was being treated like a truly honored guest.

  “Garrett is
out right now,” the eager door person answered, “Would you like to wait in the --.”

  Robert interrupted the poor man, reminding Anna of why she had been set on not liking him in the first place. He was simply a rude man with no propriety--just vain attempts at it. “When will he be back?” Robert snapped this so aggressively, that it made Anna jump.

  “ I expect him back any moment now,” the man returned. “He has been working all night to prepare for the gala tomorrow.”

  Anna almost interrupted to ask about the party, but thought better of it. After all, her observant silence had been so important to her ill-mannered companion that she decided to take heed of his warnings, and remain mute.

  Instead, she watched as Robert nodded and talked his way inside the house. “I shall wait in his study for his return then?” Monsieur Lupine stated simply, already taking long strides into the grand, marbled entrance hall.

  The doorman seem to be stumbling over himself to please Monsieur Lupine. His response was an incoherent mess of, “Yes, your highness, and “Anything, your highness.”

  Highness? What? Had Anna heard that correctly? She didn't have time to chime in, or ask questions, because before she knew it, Robert was dragging her through the house into the study, presumably, where they would wait. Once inside, Robert thrust Anna, somewhat forcefully into an uncomfortable chair, causing her to cry out--not in pain, exactly, but with shock. Some gentleman he’s turning out to be!

  “What? Why are you--” she began.

  Robert interrupted her questions with a single gentle finger over her lips, and she stopped talking--not because he was telling her to, really, but because the gesture held a definite intimacy that caught her off guard, and she didn’t know what to think of it. The man’s hand felt warmer than ever against her lips, and she found that she liked the smell of him--something warm and musky and wild--a smell that both excited her, and frightened her just a little. She drew her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them in a decidedly childlike pose. She had the overwhelming feeling that she had walked into something that she would have no idea how to get out of, and that left her utterly helpless and dependent on her companion--something she did not enjoy at all.

  Anna breathed a sigh of relief when, after what seemed like several torturous minutes of silence, Robert finally began to speak in a low whisper. His voice was soothing, but something in it let her know that she had every reason to be afraid in this moment. “You’re going to stay here,” he said quickly, “Lock the door. Do not unlock it, regardless of what you hear,” he said.

  Anna could only nod dumbly. Monsieur Lupine was definitely the one in control here, and it maddened her. Her head was full of questions--questions about where they were, about who Garret was. And why did he, Robert, push her so brutishly into the chair? And why on ear h did she have to lock the study door and remain behind the said locked door? And why he was so rude to the doorman… and why did the doorman call him highness? Anna knew that he was wealthy, but he was no king, was he? Or prince? Actually, this was a question that needed to be asked. Anna opened her mouth to speak, but stopped when she realized that her companion was in the process of removing his clothes. He removed first his dark woolen jacket, folding it neatly to lay on the desk across from Anna. Then, he removed his shirts and did the same. When he started for his belt, Anna felt she had no choice but to speak up. “What are you--?” she began.

  “Later!” Robert snapped at her, and she quickly closed her mouth. This was the first time that he’d seemed angry with her, and she had no desire to see what he looked like when he got really worked up. Perhaps it was because he had been so cordial and gentlemanly before, but in this instant, she was genuinely hurt by his shortness, and could feel tears welling in the corners of her eyes. God, don’t let me cry in front of him, she silently pleaded. But it was no use. The tears had already begun to fall.

  She’d hoped that her companion wouldn’t notice, but it was too late. He had seen her tears, but he seemed altogether unsure of how to go about comforting her. It was as if he had never seen someone cry before. For several moments he just stared at her as if she were speaking a foreign language that he did not understand. Then, like a light had flickered somewhere in his brain, he snapped to action, coming toward her gently, kneeling in front of the chair where she sat, and lifting her chin, so that she was forced to look him directly in the face. “Anna,” he said to her quietly, “There are many things I cannot tell you right now. We can be heard, and right now it is dangerous to be heard. I promise I will explain later. Do you understand.”

  Anna nodded, and wiped away the salty tears rolling down her cheeks. She didn't understand how they could possibly be heard when there was no one else in the room, but something in the way he said the words made her trust that they he spoke the truth. She also understood that they were in real danger--or at least she was; it was growing apparent that Robert could probably take care of himself. When he stood again, she looked at his naked chest, and tried to remember if she had ever seen a man's chest before. She didn't think she had. His was muscular; she could see deep ridges that delineated one muscle from the next, each toned and strong. It wasn't that she expected his naked body to look just like hers, but she was shocked to see how much hair covered his chest. That was utterly unexpected. However much hair there was, it didn't take away one bit from his strong, well defined contours. Even his arms and shoulders were thick and broad, and examining them now, she was sure that he could easily pick her up and throw her over his shoulder if he needed to. That thought should have terrified her, she was certain. But it didn't. Instead, much like holding his hand, it made her feel safe and protected and secure in knowing that he was on her side whatever the fight.

  Robert removed his belt, and laid it on the desk with the rest of his clothes. But, gratefully, he did not remove his pants. Anna wasn't sure if she was ready for that view. Although a worm of curiosity, suddenly wriggled its way into her head, as soon as she pondered this.

  Just as she was sure he was going to leave the room, Robert turned back, and walked towards her briskly. There was force and purpose in his stride, and before Anna knew what was happening, he was bending down to where she sat, and kissing her full on the lips. His kiss was wild and passionate and more forward than anything she had ever experienced in her entire life. When he kissed her, all of her other thoughts and fears seemed to melt away, and were immediately replaced by thoughts of him. Lost in the moment, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and wove her long, slender fingers into his wavy head of hair, holding him there to make the kiss last longer. Anna felt she might drown in that kiss, and she did not want it to end, but when it did, she became acutely aware that when he left the room, he was stepping into certain danger, and she may never see him again.

  She had no idea what he intended to do on the other side of that door, but when this realization hit her, she knew that she could not let him step out there without experiencing that kiss again. She grabbed him selfishly and forced her lips back upon his, trying desperately to sate the sudden, aching need that he had created within her. She didn't know how she had gone from indifference to desire in so short a time. It was as if he had cast a spell over the whole of her being, and she was helpless to overcome it.

  When their lips finally parted, and Robert could catch his breath, he said to her, “Lock the door as soon as I'm out, and don't let anyone in, except for me.”

  Anna nodded, and said that she understood, but then he said something she did not understand at all. “Make sure that it is me, he said, leaning close to whisper into her ear as quietly as he could, “Tu es mon reve et ma vie.”

  It seemed that he was gone before his words even registered in her brain. She had no time to ask what they meant, but perhaps it didn't matter anyway. She locked the door as she was instructed, and tried to distract herself with the plethora of interesting things that she could find in the room. It was full of books; and how she loved books! But, even choosing
a clever love story from the shelf, she could not distract herself from thoughts of Robert. That kiss. Those kisses. Those lips that felt so warm against her own. A dozen or more emotions flooded into her at once. She hated Robert Lupine, didn’t she? Or, at least, she had before that kiss… and now? Now, he was out there in some unknown danger trying to find her sister because….

  Why? Why was he doing this? For her father? For her? There were so many questions that she needed answers to, and all of them ran through her mind now in a relentless barrage. Was Beth here? In this enormous house? Or was she somewhere else? And if she was here, how did Robert know exactly where to find her? And where, oh where, did he learn to kiss in such a way that turned her brain to mush and made her knees go weak? And, Good lord, how was it that just looking at his bare chest had made her swoon so? But the question that weighed most heavily upon her mind was the question of whether or not he would return, and when. This was the question that led her to pick up the fireplace poker that leaned against the stone mantlepiece in the large study, and head back out into the hallway that Robert had practically dragged her through when they first arrived.

  She looked left and right. There was nothing in the hallway that indicated which way Robert had gone. She knew that left led toward the front of the house, as that was where she had entered from, so she turned right, heading deeper into the house and hoping for the best.

  The rear stairs led both to the second floor and to the cellar, so when she reached them, she had yet another decision to make. If I were a villain, where would I conduct my business? She thought idly to herself, before ultimately taking the stairs down into the chilly cellar. There were flickers of gas lamps along the walls to light her way, which led her to believe she was heading in the right direction, but she gripped the fireplace poker more tightly, keeping her eyes wide and alert, unsure of what she was about to walk into.