Earl of Carlyle (The Rogue Gentlemen Series Book 2)

by Angela Conrad

  “Yes, we have both heard such sad stories,” Sara agreed nodding. “What women in love will accept.”

  “It’s frightening, really,” Audrey added. “They give away their integrity, their own desires, and wills, the things that they cherish the most for gentlemen who don’t care a whit about them.”

  “Remember when we visited that poor Grassley girl, Bethany who was abandoned by her lover, ridiculed by her family, and neighbors, left with a small child and no income,” Sara asked wiping a tear from her eye.

  “How could I forget, you gave her your pearl choker,” Audrey smiled.

  “Well, she had to eat,” Sara said, “I wish I had given her more. I wonder whatever became of her.”

  “I hate to imagine it. And I remember thinking if either of us is ever that gullible to believe such lines, then the other must grab her silly sister and pour a bucket of cold water over her head.” Then Audrey smiled and said, “I will recite them so they are fresh in our minds. Then if either of these two gentlemen says such things, we must put up our guard. I remember almost all of them.”

  Sara giggled, “I do too for poor little Bethany recited them to us on every visit. She never stopped defending the scoundrel or believing that he would come back for her. You start.”

  Audrey folded her hands, stared up to the sky and said,

  “You know I care about you, don’t you?”

  “The day I met you was the best day of my life.”

  “It was the best night I ever remember having.”

  “Think about the good times we shared and just know there’s more to come.”

  “Will you do me a favor?”

  Sara took over and grinned as she recited the gentleman’s lines as she remembered them.

  “Can I ask a question? Would you do anything for me?”

  “You can’t think of me as much as I think about you.”

  “I hope to prove it to you soon.”

  “Just remember one thing. I care more about you than you will ever know.”

  “It’s just as hard on me I promise you that.”

  “I have no right to ask.”

  “I’m so lost but I will find my way back.”

  Sara took a breath and sighed as Audrey said, “We must remember them all, we made a pledge. I know they are sad but it’s important for us to know the code phrases of a true rogue. We promised each other we would learn them and never forget Bethany’s sad tale. So here are the rest of them, the rogue’s lies.”

  “I will explain everything tomorrow.”

  “I love that sweet voice of yours.”

  “You are so tenderhearted.”

  “The more I see you the prettier you get.”

  “Just make sure you read the note. I’m not much on writing but you will understand what I’m saying.”

  “I’m very serious, I’m being serious.”

  When Audrey stopped and nodded as if she’d finished, Sara added the last few words.

  “Please don’t say that.”

  “When I get back I’ll be a different person. A changed man.”

  “I hope you missed me as much as I missed you.”

  “I don’t ever want to lose you.”

  “I’m trying to sew my heart back together it’s badly broken.”

  “You know you can ask me anything.”

  “My word!” Audrey giggled, “You remembered more than me. What woman could believe such empty lies?”

  “A woman in love, dear. Be careful with that magnanimous heart of yours, Audrey. These gentlemen waiting for us don’t know us, like us, love us, or probably don’t even want us. You must just be yourself but don’t fall into any traps by hearing such false endearments. Gentlemen flatter like apple trees bloom. It’s in their nature. They don’t mean anything by it. It is just a method of getting their own way.”

  “Yes,” Audrey nodded sadly. “It’s good that we remembered little Bethany and her unhappy life. And those false words as well. Look, we are turning!”

  The carriage circled off the turnpike road, followed a secondary road down a gentle slope, over a stone bridge, and around a sharp bend. When the estate of Riverside appeared resting high on a thickly wooded hillside both sisters gasp as if the beauty of the magnificent Georgian mansion had pulled the very air from their lungs.

  “Sara,” Audrey whispered. “Look at it.”

  “It’s magical,” Sara replied.

  “It’s like a dream. The two of us invited here for a fortnight, no one in Briar Way would believe such wealth,” Audrey sighed.

  “How happy the marquis must be to have this as one of his residences,” Sara said with a soft smile. “I would work as one of the gardener’s helpers to stay at such a place.”

  “You hate gardening,” Audrey laughed leaning against the window closer so she could see the horses in the back fields.

  “But I would learn to like it if I could do it in these gardens,” Sara said and then remembering why they were here she added, “Audrey, straighten your bonnet, pinch your cheeks, we must make a good impression.”

  “I shall fly down the carriage steps light like a firefly and make them all smile. I shall gush into their handsome faces, curtsey very low, and speak in that husky voice I use with my stallion.”

  “Oh lord, you will have them dropping to their knees then,” Sara laughed.

  “Yes, that’s my goal. I shall fall them like the blow from a cannon at close range. Watch out great marquis, earl, and lords, the Winston ladies have arrived.”

  Two Gorgeous Creatures

  II

  The Earl of Carlyle was pacing in his father’s study while glancing out the front estate drive through the large expanse of northern glass. He was itching to get this silly business over with and go back to his merry life in London. He owned one of the largest townhouses right off Hyde Park on a fashionable street. He had grand furnishings, expensive details, imported carpets, rich mahogany tables for cards, plush chairs by the marble fireplaces, and a staff who saw to his every whim. He’d never wanted for anything. The death of his glorious mother hit him hard, shaped his personality, but his close connection with his father, his wealth and position made him a contented man.

  He missed that contentment.

  Now, he was stranded in Riverside with a meddlesome aunt, Lady Whistle who fell asleep at meals, snored in her armchair in the morning room, and often went outside chasing her small tan pug in ever-growing circles.

  Then there were those horrible cousins, Bristol and Darlington. Their boisterous voices ringing down the hallways like children during the holiday season. When they weren’t making jests, they were arguing over old grudges or slights. Often their voices would rise only to break into pearls of high laughter like hyenas at dusk. How any two naive girls could help shape those two gentlemen into decent men was a mystery to the Earl of Carlyle. It was a strange idea his father would not give up and so Carlyle was near the window when he noticed the sound of horses’ hooves in the drive and looked up to see his father’s black carriage returning to Riverside.

  The cousins heard it too and ran up the stairs to change their already perfect double waistcoats, tight tailcoats, and breeches with their newest Hessians gleaming on their feet as they ran.

  Lady Whistle rushed out from around a hedge, her hair flying loose around her face, and her pug tugging on her gown’s hem. She shrieked when she saw the Sandshire carriage and turning, raced back to the other side of the house, through the back doorway, intent on changing her gown and improving her appearance.

  The marquis joined his son near the window and smiled, “I didn’t know my old aunt could still run that fast. Followed by those two young bucks who race up the stairs like hounds. That pup dog dodging in between their lanky legs. Who raised my relatives, wolves?”

  “I believe so with the help of a band of gypsies and a wrestling master from a boxing mill,” Carlyle said stopping to move closer to the window. “Should we rush out there on the steps to greet them?
”

  “Let’s just walk, my right leg is acting up again,” Sandshire said, “And Carlyle remember, they might be delicate shy creatures, be kind.”

  As Sandshire and Carlyle walked outside into the bright sunshine, the carriage stopped and the fine horses shook their massive heads as if glad to be back home.

  Carlyle sighed and leaned towards his father, both tall men wearing black tailcoats, they looked like a single dark column of power there on the front stairs. They had the same features, handsome almost like Roman statues in the Forum. The son with his mother’s intriguing green eyes, dark brown hair and the father with dark blue eyes, near black hair, and twenty-two more years lightly lining his face.

  Lady Whistle appeared, her hair pulled tightly back to rest on her neck, her afternoon gown decorated by a fichu crossed over the bodice, her sleeves slightly uneven, her slippers untied. Her flushed face grinned as she glanced at the marquis and she whispered, “I shall make sure everything goes according to plan, Sandshire. Nothing will get past me.”

  From behind, they heard the trampling of heavy boots and the three of them turned to see Bristol and Darlington pushing each other to clear the doorway and join the marquis and his family on the front steps.

  “I can’t wait to see her, Sandshire,” Darlington said loudly.

  “I am even more excited to see both of them,” Bristol said even louder.

  Carlyle wanted to growl but he just stood a step away from them and frowned.

  The footmen were racing about, grabbing the horses’ harness, putting down the stair and everyone’s breath held in their chests as a pinch of pink skirt appeared in the carriage doorway.

  Audrey, always good to her word, stepped down the carriage steps light like a firefly and made them all smile. She curtsied very low and spoke in that husky voice she had that made mighty stallions turn and nuzzle her shoulder.

  “Marquis, I am Audrey Winston, we are very happy to be here,” she said looking the four men over as if they were colts she might buy. Then Audrey noticed the older woman pushing her way forward and she smiled and nodded to her sweetly.

  Before anyone could close their mouths or speak, Sara stepped down and curtsied. Looking so much alike, the two sisters seemed to have rendered the gentlemen speechless.

  “Dear Marquis of Sandshire, I am Sara Winston. Thank you for inviting us,” Sara said in a voice less husky but very sweet.

  “Ladies,” the marquis finally replied, “Welcome to Riverside. We have all been looking forward to your visit.”

  The footmen unleashed the two trunks, the horses pawed the earth, and the Earl of Carlyle cursed under his breath. Holy Sweet Heaven, they were gorgeous women.

  So unexpected.

  More attractive than any other female he’d seen in Town for years.

  Perfect proportions.

  Hair like a spider’s spun web of lightest gold.

  Those eyes, large and clear, fringed with golden lashes thick, the sparkle of humor in them so intriguing that Carlyle had to put his hands behind his back to stop from fidgeting with his cuff. A habit he had when overwhelmed by any strong feeling that would rush inside him.

  Carlyle glanced at his father and was surprised to see that he too was fighting to hide his real reaction to the Winston ladies.

  Lady Whistle for once seemed to forget how to vocalize. She took a careful measure of the two lovely young ladies and seemed about to bust with thoughts, reactions, and suppositions.

  Then he glanced at the riotous cousins who seemed to both be fossilized on the steps as if hail had fallen and frozen them there like ice sculptures.

  Darlington blinked.

  Bristol began to shift his prized Hessian boot toe, and then stopped as if not wanting to break the moment of meeting his future wife.

  To imagine these two beauties with Bristol and Darlington gave Carlyle an unexpected lurch in his midsection.

  And then everyone began to bow, speak, and smile at the same time.

  “Come inside, you must be exhausted,” the marquis invited.

  “This is Lord Darlington and Lord Bristol, and my son, Earl of Carlyle,” he added nodding at each one in turn. “And this is my great aunt, Lady Whistle.”

  “Mrs. Black will show you to your rooms to freshen up after such a trying journey,” Carlyle said surprised his voice could sound so calm.

  “A pleasure to meet you both, I mean a real pleasure,” Lord Darlington said too boisterously.

  “Delighted, simply thrilled,” Lord Bristol chimed in sounding both delighted and annoyed.

  “You are like exact reflections in a polished golden glass, how wonderful,” Darlington added as if each word from Bristol must be overlapped by one of his.

  Before the cousins could ramble into a chorus of praises and a long soliloquy on the gifts of the Fates, manna from Heaven, lucky charms from leprechauns, and forked lightning from Zeus, Carlyle stepped near the ladies and was caught in a spell by their scent. Lilacs. Good Lord, his mother’s favorite flower. He just stopped himself from leaning into the nearest sister’s neck and deeply inhaling.

  Fortunately, Mrs. Black the housekeeper arrived with a lady’s maid named Wendy and the two Winston sisters smiled kindly at them and followed the friendly staff up the grand staircase.

  “I shall come too,” Lady Whistle announced to everyone. “I might be of some service. Young ladies, wait for me!”

  “Did I say anything?” Darlington asked turning to Bristol once the lady’s skirts turned the stairs and moved out of view. “I swear my tongue was glued to my mouth.”

  “I heard you rambling on and on about being thrilled,” Bristol laughed.

  Oh, contraire, you said thrilled. I said delighted,” Darlington argued.

  “I remember clearly that I said delighted. I recall you standing mute like a goose,” Bristol laughed. “Gads, what wonderful ladies. Sandshire, you’ve done us a great service today. I wasn’t for marriage at all, never considered it. And when Carlyle laid out your plan to us I was quite aggravated.”

  “He was indeed, Sandshire. Most rebellious. I, on the other hand, thought it a superior idea,” Darlington smiled at the marquis with genuine joy.

  “You did not!” Bristol shouted. “You said it was rot.”

  As the bickering continued, the two lords walked down the long polished wooden hallway and into the back salon for a much needed drink.

  Carlyle turned to his father and both men frowned.

  “Viscount Winston was a fine looking-gentleman. Tall, broad-shouldered, exceptional eyes. I’d never seen his viscountess. I had no idea that both daughters would both be Diamonds of the First Water,” the marquis muttered stepping into his massive front library.

  “I suppose it’s a good thing, certainly inspiring. I mean, a man would want to impress, court them properly,” Carlyle stumbled.

  “Yes,” the marquis nodded sitting down and rubbing his throbbing leg. “Those two fools don’t deserve them of course.”

  “No,” Carlyle agreed. “They do not. If you wanted them calmed down, turned into better men…then that pair of beauties should inspire, however.”

  “They smelled of lilacs,” the marquis said softly.

  “I noticed. Mother’s favorite scent.”

  “I detected that about her the first time I met her. Those sparkling green eyes of hers, that heavy mass of dark brown hair…that intriguing scent of lilacs,” the marquis murmured.

  Shaking himself out of his unexplained funk, Carlyle slid into a nearby chair and adjusted his cuff. “We should expect two weddings here very soon.”

  The Marquis of Sandshire studied his son’s nervous habit. Noticed the frown on his handsome lips and said, “You want one of them, don’t you?”

  “Me? Certainly not! They are here for the cousins. I am just surprised. Why?” Carlyle laughed, “Do you want one of them?”

  “Gads yes. I’d take either of them right now if I thought she’d be happier with an old man like me than one of tho
se two wild rogues,” the marquis said frankly.

  “Would you?” Carlyle asked sitting up straighter.

  “Certainly. I might yet. I told you before that I’m not too old to dash after something I want. I will see what their personalities are like. Get to know them better. Then I’ll decide,” the marquis said earnestly.

  “My word, you actually mean it. After just that short glance you know?” Carlyle asked.

  “Yes. The sound of her voice, the way she walks, her sweet smile, the joy in her eyes, the unconscious way she charms without trying.”

  “Gads! Which sister are you speaking of?” The earl asked in wonder for he’d never seen his father react to any woman this way since the marchioness had died.

  The marquis grinned.

  “Tell me, which one?” The son pressed.

  “I will tell you later. Now let’s join those two scoundrels and wait together for the ladies to come down,” the marquis said standing.

  “I’ll need ten whiskeys to survive this night,” Carlyle muttered.

  “Maybe more,” the marquis winked. “I intend to put myself out and be charming.”

  “No! You, extend your magnetic personality for the daughters of a deceased viscount, ladies with no fortune or fame?” Carlyle asked.

  “They will have both fame and fortune, I have decided to see to it,” Sandshire replied with a determined grin.

  “Then, damn, I will help you. I have to see this,” the son said trying to sound lighthearted but failing.

  “Watch me. I haven’t practiced caring about much of anything for years except for you. I shall show you how it’s done.”

  “Lessons in attracting a fine lady from my own father, you think I’ve never charmed a lady before?” Carlyle asked.

  “I’ve yet to see you put yourself out for much of anything in years. It would do my heart good to see you try a little for my sake,” the marquis grinned.