Ensnaring Lord Starsen

by Jenn Langston

  He made a disapproving sound. “That is not how this works. It’s a give-and-take sort of thing.”

  The knowledge that he wanted to know more about her made her insides tingle. “Why, my lord, I had no idea you thought so fondly of me.”

  Immediately, he looked away, removing her hope of reading his thoughts. He shrugged. “Learning about one’s neighbors is never a bad thing.”

  Her shoulders sagged. “Oh. I suppose you’re right.”

  Silence stretched between them and Isabella debated taking her leave. Although she had many questions for him, simply blurting them out would not do. The man she now sat with was exactly who she’d previously believed him to be. The boring earl was back. A sigh escaped her lips. Perhaps the few sparks she’d seen in him had been an uncharacteristic fluke.

  “Aren’t you going to answer me?” he asked at last.

  Meeting his amused gaze, she blinked. Had he asked her something? “What was the question?”

  He laughed, the sound a beautiful melody she was unaccustomed to hearing from a man. “What I would give to understand what moves through your mind. Anyway, I wondered how you managed to escape Raymond’s clutches this evening.”

  “That, my lord, is a question for another day.” She stood and felt guilty as he struggled to his feet beside her. “Thank you for the interesting evening. I should be on my way.”

  Before she could turn to go, he caught her hand and drew it to his lips. Her heart pounded at the feel of his mouth on her skin.

  “Until next time, Lady Isabella.”

  The timbre of his voice and warmth of his lips followed her all the way home. She’d been right in sneaking away to spend the evening with him. After all, it was worth the punishment she would receive when Henry found out.

  ~ ~ ~

  Marcus pulled up a blade of grass and twirled it between his fingers. The cool breeze blew across his face, bringing a welcome reprieve from the heat of the sun.

  “So,” Christopher began. “I believe I won the bet. Now you must join me for my mother’s gathering.”

  A grin spread across Marcus’s lips at the idea his friend needed to use him as a shield. “I never default on a bet. However, I don’t think my presence will deter your mother on her quest to see you wed.”

  “Of course, it will. Giving her the opportunity to torture you about your unmarried state will grab her attention. After all, she doesn’t get to see you as often as she sees me.”

  Shaking his head, Marcus tossed the grass aside and leaned back against the tree, stretching his legs out. The painful sensation from keeping his knees bent was a constant reminder of his circumstances. At least Christopher didn’t have to refrain from activities that would bring him a wife.

  “I don’t see why you are so against marriage.”

  His friend snorted. “Just as I don’t see why you are so in favor of it. I can’t imagine being forced to spend all my time with one woman. My taste varies from day to day. What if I marry a brunette and have a craving for a blonde?”

  “I suppose you shall have to simply choose a brunette that was good enough to make you forget about blondes altogether.”

  Christopher scoffed. “A brunette better than a blonde? I can’t see it.”

  “Then, perhaps a black-haired beauty.” An image of Lady Isabella filled his mind. “Petite with expressive, green eyes.”

  “From the sound of it, she’s already been claimed.”

  Marcus blinked away his vision and met Christopher’s knowing glance. He silently cursed. The woman couldn’t even give him a minute of peace in his own mind. This would never do.

  “She would be if you could find her. After all, the combination would produce a striking female.”

  The suspicion didn’t leave his friend’s face. “You can’t tell me that description is not of one particular girl. Have you actually met a woman who has turned your head?”

  “Of course not. If I had, don’t you think I would have married her already? You know I’m ready to have this blasted thing over with.”

  “Yes, at twenty-four, you are practically in your doting years. Whereas, I am in my prime.”

  Glancing away, Marcus tried not to dwell on the fact that his friend was right. Although at the same age, his life lacked the adventure and wildness that Christopher’s had. In addition, there had never been a line of women leaving his bed, nor would there be.

  Marcus only needed one. Someone suitable and calm. An asset to his life that would seamlessly blend into his routine. Certainly, not a lady who never tempered her tongue. Or, one who had a habit of sneaking from the house. And, absolutely not one who swam in the river in nothing but her shift. His body stirred at the memory.

  The decision to get to know Lady Isabella had been a good one. The sooner he saw the true nature of her recklessness, the sooner the image of her could leave his mind. Anticipation snaked up his chest. He couldn’t wait to get started.

  Chapter 3

  Isabella slid a bit of lace into Lady Burman’s hand. “And, this one appears to be a simple pattern, but when you rub over the texture, the intricacies of the design begin to take shape.”

  “I can feel it,” the blind woman said, a smile curving her lips. “I wish I could see the pattern. What color is it? I can simply imagine a stunning cream gown with a draping of the lace in the lightest of pinks.”

  The dreamy look on the viscountess’s face made Isabella swallow as she looked down at the green lace. “How right you are, my lady. It’s a perfect pink. A baby’s first blush, if you will.”

  “I knew it.” Happiness spread across the lady’s face. “A woman just knows these things. Sometimes, I feel as though I can truly see again.”

  Holding her emotions at bay proved to be a difficult feat. Ever since Lady Burman lost her sight in the accident that took her husband’s life, Isabella had decided to be the kind woman’s eyes for her. Although Isabella wasn’t privy to all the details, she understood the viscountess had suffered a great deal.

  “Well, that isn’t going to happen, Mother,” Viscount Burman said from the doorway. “Instead, I’m forced to deal with your condition.”

  Red climbed up Lady Burman’s cheeks. “I know, my dear boy. And, you know how grateful I am.”

  “Of course.”

  The lady reached her hands out to her son. The viscount slowly moved to his mother, rolling his eyes. When Lady Burman clasped his hands, she brought one to her cheek.

  “Lady Isabella, I would have you know what a wonderful son I have here. Just this morning, he has agreed to allow me to take my tea outside at least once a week.”

  Isabella barely stopped her mouth from falling open. “You are only allowed to go outside once a week?”

  The viscount cleared his throat. “Yes. Although it will be a bother for the servants, it will help save the carpets every once in a while. As you see, I am put through such a hassle for this small bit of freedom, but how can I deny my dear mother?”

  Anger wormed its way through Isabella’s mind at the display. Here Lady Burman was training her unseeing eyes upon her son as if he were a savior, when in reality, he was a monster.

  “Such a good boy.” Lady Burman patted his hand that she still held between hers.

  “Mother, I came to inform you that I will be going out. If you would have had the decency to inform me we were receiving a guest, I could have made other arrangements.” He leered at Isabella from the top of her head to the toe of her slippers, licking his lips.

  The urge to retch overwhelmed her, but she clenched down on her teeth and glared instead. That was precisely why she hadn’t told Lady Burman of her intention to visit today. Well, that and the uncertainty of her situation. After all, it had cost her a week’s punishment after having joined Lord Starsen and the countess for dinner.

  Thoughts of the earl made her hasten to finish her visit once Lord Burman had left them. Although Henry had ridden into town today, she had no idea when her half-brother would return. She
wanted to see the earl before Henry made his way back home.

  After exiting the manor house, Isabella made her way to the edge of the woods where she had tied off her mare. Leaving Buttercup at the stables would have been much easier and more pleasant, but unfortunately, it would have been the first place Raymond would have searched to locate her.

  Turning her horse toward Avange Manor, she tried to come up with a way to locate Lord Starsen. After all, a lone lady didn’t simply knock on a door and demand to see the lord of the manor. Perhaps she would have to ask for the countess again. She cringed.

  As she neared the estate, she noticed a few of the stable boys gathered around the horse corral. In the center, stood the earl himself with the great beast of a horse aptly named Tornado. As she understood from Annalise, the stallion had been obtained by the earl as an abused, unbroken animal. She wondered what drove the man to select such a wild creature.

  Considering everyone was about, she had no choice but to take Buttercup into the stables. She allowed the groom to help her dismount, then moved toward the corral, hoping not to draw any attention. Her gaze fastened on Lord Starsen who dressed simply in a shirt and breeches. The sweat soaked fabric of his shirt clung to his body as if it were a second skin. The sight of him in such a state combined with his wind-tousled brown hair and sparkling blue eyes, took her breath away. There was no denying the man was handsome.

  “I think that’s enough for today.” The earl accepted his cane and a towel from a nearby groom. “He made a lot of progress, and I believe he is beginning to trust me.”

  “Aye, my lord. I’m thinking so, too. Likely, you won’t be needing another visit from the baron.”

  Lord Starsen laughed. “I certainly hope not. My brother-in-law is expecting his heir, or so he hopes, any day now. I don’t imagine he’ll be willing to travel for some time.” As his eyes moved from the man, they fell on her. “Please, excuse me.”

  As the earl moved toward her, she couldn’t help but notice how pronounced his limp was. Clearly, he had overtaxed himself. She hoped he had someone who could work his muscles as she did for her half-brother.

  “Good afternoon, my lord.” She curtsied.

  “Lady Isabella.” He inclined his head. “I hadn’t expected to see you today. I apologize for my state of dress.”

  Her gaze dipped, but she managed to stop herself before her unintended scrutiny traveled past his stomach. Heat touched her cheeks.

  “You don’t need to apologize. I’m the one who should be sorry for not announcing my arrival.”

  He shrugged. “I understand the difficulty. I have no doubt your bodyguard would have followed you had you made arrangements.”

  Woodenly, she nodded her head in shock. She hadn’t expected his understanding. A typical lord would have been put out at her unannounced appearance. Again, she wasn’t sure what to make of him.

  “If this isn’t a good time, I can—”

  “No. It’s perfect. Please come inside. You may wait in the drawing room while I freshen up.”

  “It might be better for me to wait in the garden. As you said, we should spare your mother my visits.”

  “Not my exact words, but you’re right that we need to leave my mother out of this. Instead, I shall arrange for a maid to join us.”

  “A maid?” She tilted her head to the side to study him. “I don’t think that is necessary.”

  He pinched his lips, as if disappointed. “Of course, it is. You need a chaperone.”

  “What’s wrong, my lord? You don’t trust yourself around me?” She couldn’t help teasing him. In truth, she didn’t want any more witnesses. At present, the stable boys and grooms could assume her visit was to attend the countess. A chaperone, however, was a different story. In addition, Raymond’s uncanny ability to charm information out of women made him more often than not, able to obtain the truth.

  “For your reputation, I refuse to attend you without a proper chaperone.”

  “Very well,” she grumbled, hoping he choose the oldest, most gruff woman on his staff.

  ~ ~ ~

  Marcus strolled through the garden, looking for any sign of Lady Isabella. As he moved along the path, he wondered if the lady had decided to abandon him. Glancing behind him to where the maid kept her distance, he felt heat rush to his cheeks. Would the girl think his request of her as chaperone had been a way to get her out here alone?

  On the verge of telling her to return to the manor, he caught sight of Lady Isabella up ahead. She hadn’t noticed him, so he took the time to study her. Strands of her hair had fallen from her delicate coiffure, and the sight of the loose black locks made him smile.

  “May I join you, my lady?”

  Her startled gaze turned on him, then moved past him to the maid. “Of course.”

  He offered Lady Isabella his arm, but she didn’t take it. He frowned as disappointment settled in his chest. Did she have an aversion to him? If so, then why would she have gone through this trouble? Dropping his arm back to his side, he leaned against his cane.

  “Shall we?” He inclined his head down the path.

  As they moved along, she took care to keep an overly-exaggerated distance between them. Her discomfort with him helped a bit to tamp down the fascination he held for her. Unfortunately, it also intrigued him.

  “Does she serve as chaperone for you often?” Lady Isabella asked, her focus slicing to the girl trailing behind them.

  “Before today, I have never had a need for one.” Irritated that she kept mentioning the girl, he narrowed his eyes at her. “What is it about the maid that bothers you? I would have thought you would feel safer in her presence.”

  Lady Isabella rolled her eyes as she turned to face him. “You make it sound as though being in your presence would be dangerous. But, it is not.”

  “You’d be surprised,” he found himself responding as his focus drifted to her mouth. “Remember, you don’t really know me.”

  Her eyes widened as she sucked in her bottom lip, holding the delicate flesh hostage. She didn’t move away. The small sign of trust confused him. Did she honestly believe him incapable of acting on normal male urges, or was it that she hoped he would?

  Against his will, his breathing increased and his body responded to her proximity. He had to use every ounce of fight in him to keep from leaning forward. The chaperone, he reminded himself. Yes. They definitely needed the girl.

  Closing his eyes, he forced himself to turn away from Lady Isabella.

  “See,” she said, breathlessly. “No need for a chaperone.”

  He shook his head at her naïveté. “How do you know it wasn’t her very presence that saved you this minute?”

  Ignoring his question, she began walking again. “It isn’t the idea of a chaperone that bothers me, merely the difficulty her presence provides. You see, up until the moment you arrived with her, my being here could be unnoticed or passed off as if I planned to join your mother.”

  Realization dawned on him. “And, her attending us appears as though we are courting.”

  A blush crept up her cheeks. “That, or the servant’s gossip could travel back to my brother.”

  “Although we know it to be untrue, wouldn’t he be pleased you have a suitor? Simply because you didn’t have a season in London doesn’t mean you can’t marry.”

  “Honestly, I don’t believe he would have a care either way. Just as long as I have chosen the correct man. You see, there are very few gentlemen that my brother would approve for me.”

  Marcus raised an eyebrow. “And, I am not one of them?”

  “I’m afraid not.”

  Although he held no high regard for Midcliffe, he didn’t like being deemed unworthy by the man. “I can’t fathom why he would feel thusly. He has never turned down an invitation we have sent.”

  “That’s true, and he has made me attend each and every function as well. However, I believe your drop in his estimation occurred more recently.”

  “Is that so? When
do you suppose this happened?”

  “The very night you became more interesting. When we spoke, according to my brother, you had something on your mind that he didn’t approve of.”

  Shock ran through him at the very thought. Never had he been accused of having impure thoughts, and certainly not by an innocent lady who probably had no idea what that meant.

  “I daresay your brother was wrong.”

  She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. We aren’t courting.”

  Nodding, he moved his attention to the flowers surrounding them. He wondered why her dismissal bothered him so much. Regardless of her beauty, he had no desire to even consider her for marriage. He should feel relieved that she hadn’t planned to pursue him. He’d heard of women who were relentless in their efforts.

  “In light of your aversion to being seen together, how do you suppose we meet? Or, can your questions be satisfied in this solitary stroll?”

  Again, she chewed on her lip. “Understanding a person doesn’t come from a few questions.”

  “We could always exchange missives. I have passable penmanship and spend time each day on correspondence.”

  “I can see that about you. Dutifully penning replies.” A smile touched her lips. “However, letters can be intercepted.”

  “Unless you hide them. A spot where only the two of us know of. Then, each of us in turn can check the location for a letter.”

  “You, my lord, are far more devious than I would have thought. I pride myself on coming up with plans, but you have exceeded my expectations.”

  Grinning, his chest expanded at the compliment. “I believe your swimming spot would be an ideal location. I will place a satchel between the stones where we can hide the missives.”

  “Then, I will look forward to receiving your first letter. With that settled, I should be on my way.”

  After bidding Lady Isabella a good day, he retreated to the manor, only to be greeted with frantic activity. Hearing his mother’s loud voice in the other room, he made his way toward her.