Entangled with the Earl (Tangled Threads Book 1)

by Lisbette Tomas

  It was the work of a few minutes to change into the walking dress and take a seat in front of her mirror as Mary worked on her hair, keeping up a steady stream of observations and commentary. Teresa half-listened, mostly to be able to make appropriate noises when it appeared Mary was waiting for her to say something. The routine was a familiar one, having followed the same steps ever since Mary had learned that Teresa was willing to listen in exchange for help.

  Charlotte preferred silence when preparing for a ball, something Mary found to be a trial. Teresa didn’t mind the noise, even if that made her rather unconventional. Her parents never stood on ceremony with the servants. Even after four years, she hadn’t adjusted to the strict rules her aunt followed when it came to dealing with the servants, although she did her best to conceal that from Charlotte. The last thing she needed was another lecture.

  Charlotte had been relentless last night, questioning her about her dance with Lord Carlington for the entire carriage ride home. Every answer Teresa offered was deemed inadequate, earning more comments about how she would never find a husband and all the money they had invested in her had been wasted.

  Eventually, Teresa had stopped answering, letting her aunt berate her without offering any response. She’d even managed to keep her mouth shut when her aunt suggested that she should have pulled the Earl into an alcove. Charlotte considered anything fair game when it came to gaining a relationship with a titled gentleman. All the more reason for Teresa to keep the news of today’s planned excursion to herself. That way if he didn’t show, she was spared more condescension from her aunt. If he did, it would be a solid first move in her campaign to convince her uncle that she could still catch a suitor.

  “There you go, miss.” Mary finished pinning a last curl into place before reaching over and picking up the bonnet from where it sat on the table. “And just in time too, her ladyship will be up any minute now and needing me.”

  Teresa looked back over her shoulder to meet Mary’s eyes. “Thank you, Mary.”

  Mary flashed her a quick grin and ducked out of the room, heading off to prepare for Charlotte’s emergence after her afternoon nap. Alone again, Teresa took a deep breath.

  After her encounter with the Earl of Carlington the night before, she’d found it impossible to focus on anything else. She kept replaying their conversation in her head, trying to see if there was something she had missed that would explain why the world had suddenly flashed when their eyes had met that first time.

  Her cheeks flushed as she remembered the set-down he had — deservedly — delivered. Her silly expectation that he would have brought her into fashion aside, most of her frustration with him was caused by the undue weight she felt Society placed on his opinion. Even she had to admit that she had never heard anything to suggest he had actively encouraged that reputation and if there was anything she knew for sure, it was how easily Society could lead themselves into an opinion that then became unshakable truth.

  It stung to think she’d fallen into the very same trap she despised in Society, to assume she knew someone because of how people reacted to them, and she was grateful that the Earl hadn’t made more of an issue out of it. He certainly would have been within his rights to do so. Instead, he had offered her an olive branch and conversation had felt remarkably easy after that.

  The relative ease of their conversation was the only explanation she could come up with for why she had said so much. Even with Elizabeth, she was never so blunt about how boring she found the parties and musicales. Lord Carlington had called her cynical.

  Maybe that was why she had challenged him. Challenged him to help her prove the ton wrong, even as her stomach tightened and her heart pounded in her ears. She was mad.

  No. Not mad. Desperate.

  Besides, she hadn’t asked for a favor. She was offering something in return. Surely it couldn’t be that hard to find an eligible and suitable match and point him in her direction. She certainly knew them, even without all her observations for the past two and a half years.

  Hopefully.

  Teresa resisted the urge to bury her head in her hands. This all assumed he even showed up this afternoon. It was always possible he would think better of the whole idea and write her off the same way the rest of Society had — she wouldn’t be surprised, honestly. But he didn’t mention the gossip…

  A knock sounded at the door and Teresa looked up to see Jennings, the butler standing at the door. “There is a gentleman here for you, Miss Teresa. The Earl of Carlington is waiting in the front parlor.”

  The butterflies in her stomach lifted back into flight. “Thank you, Jennings. I’ll be right down.” She picked up the bonnet from where it sat in her lap and stood. I can do this. I will. With that mantra in mind, she followed Jennings down the hall.

  *

  Martin was standing at the window of the front parlor when she entered, rather than sitting on one of the reclining couches her aunt was so proud of. Teresa couldn’t blame him. The couches were a rather awful shade of yellow-green and even less comfortable to sit on than they appeared — something of an accomplishment, in her opinion.

  “I hope you haven’t been waiting long, my lord.” He turned toward her and she felt the impact of his gaze looking her up and down before his eyes met hers.

  “Not at all. If anything, I expected to wait longer to allow you time to change for a ride in my carriage.” He nodded out the window. “It’s a pleasant surprise to find you ready to leave.”

  Teresa chose to take that as a compliment. “I thought you might appreciate the chance to leave the house before my aunt is ready to receive visitors after her afternoon nap.”

  She thought she could see the slightest trace of a grimace pass over his features before his face smoothed back into a polite mask. She couldn’t fault him for that; the thought of dealing with Charlotte made her grimace too. “Very thoughtful of you.”

  Turning, Teresa led him back to the entrance where Jennings stood, holding out her pelisse. Martin waited for her as she shrugged into it before tying on her bonnet, then offered her his arm as they stepped through the doorway.

  Catching a glimpse of the pair hitched to the phaeton sitting in front of the house, Teresa stopped short at the top of the steps. It had been a long time since she’d been out for a drive behind quality horseflesh. True, some of the gentlemen kept their stables to the same high standards that her father had held, but most of the horses she had seen in London had failed to impress. She’d asked her uncle about it shortly after her arrival in London only to find that he was entirely indifferent to the matter.

  Ironically, that had helped ease the sting of not being allowed to ride. Far easier to pretend she didn’t miss the freedom to gallop over the hills when the horses she most often saw looked like they couldn’t manage that pace for more than a mile. Since she rarely went to Hyde Park during the fashionable hour, it had been easy to convince herself that was just what all the horses in London looked like. Not so now. Her father would have been happy to add a pair such as these to his stable. She was surprised by the pang of longing that washed over her at the thought.

  “I take it you approve?” His question was quiet and Teresa turned to look up at him.

  “They’re beautiful.” A pair of matched grays, she almost thought they were aware of the attention they drew and were preening under it, arching their necks to better show off their pale manes and glossy, healthy coats.

  “I usually don’t bring my horses into town for the Season, but I sent for them when it became apparent I was going to have to spend some extra time in town this year.” He nodded to the groom holding at the horses’ heads before offering her his hand to step up into the phaeton.

  Teresa settled in, making sure her skirts were arranged properly as he swung up into the seat next to her and took up the reins. He nodded to the groom, who stepped away from the front of the carriage and moved around to climb up behind them. At a twitch of the reins, the horses leapt forward, easi
ly surging into a smart pace that had the streets rushing by. Teresa was glad she’d tied her bonnet securely as she felt the wind tugging at it.

  The ride passed in silence until they reached the park, Teresa content to let Martin focus on maintaining their pace through the traffic out on the streets. She could feel every small movement he made as he handled the team, even as she tried to pretend otherwise.

  It had been like that as they’d danced too, something she had tried hard to convince herself meant nothing — that she had just been overly anxious about being the center of attention again. It was harder to use that explanation now.

  It’s just because it’s been years since I’ve been out with a gentleman. Stop making more of this than it deserves. She did her best to ignore the little voice that pointed out that she’d never experienced anything like this before, even on previous rides in the park.

  “I’ve given your proposal further consideration, Miss Selkirk, and I have a few questions that we should discuss before we make a final decision.” Martin held the reins easily as he turned slightly to face her. Teresa relaxed a bit even as part of her continued in a state of nervous anticipation. At least he hadn’t outright rejected her proposal. “Of particular concern is your opinion on love matches.”

  Teresa blinked. Of all the questions she expected he might have, that hadn’t been on the list. “I beg your pardon?”

  “I’m told you once stated that you wanted to marry for love. I need to understand how that would influence your recommendations, because I don’t believe love has any place in a Society marriage.”

  The words hit like a blow to the chest, the combined realization that he knew of her past and his repudiation of the foundation of her parents’ marriage leaving her feeling vulnerable and defensive. She couldn’t afford to let that show, though, not now.

  Not ever.

  Taking a deep breath, she drew upon her aunt’s lessons to maintain a calm, poised expression even as her emotions churned in her stomach.

  “Not that I can see how this matters, but I did say that I wanted to marry for love at my debut, that’s true. I was younger then, and dare I say it, somewhat naive.” That was rather understating it, she knew, and yet she couldn’t blame her younger self. “I know how the ton works, my lord. Believe me, I have no illusions in that respect.”

  “So you no longer believe in love matches?”

  Teresa resisted the urge to grit her teeth. “I recognize that in Society circles, love has very little to do with marriage. Indeed, plenty of marriages are decided with no thought to the compatibility of the partners.”

  “Is that how you plan to make your recommendations? For compatibility?” He stressed the last word and Teresa glanced at Martin to see him watching her intently before she looked back down at her gloves, trying to find the words she wanted.

  “I believe that compatibility is important for a happy marriage, but that’s not the same thing as love.” She held up a hand to forestall any comment he might make. “Love matches are rare in the ton, it’s true, and they cannot be forced. In any case, I believe it’s better to have two people who are compatible than to search for something that seems unlikely, especially when time is limited.”

  Like it is for both of us.

  “But how do you determine that? What reassurance do I have that you’re not just looking to convince me that you would be the best option? That would fix the situation you find yourself in.”

  Back stiffening, Teresa jerked her head up. To have her integrity questioned after holding firm against all of Charlotte’s needling comments was too much. She could feel her face heating. “I told you last night that I don’t think we would suit and I meant it. You have a title, my lord, and I have no interest in coming to London every Season while you sit in the House of Lords to play at politics.”

  Chapter 6

  At that moment, she wasn’t sure if she would marry Lord Carlington even if he was the only option presented to her. She was willing to compromise on her desire for a love match — it was better to be in a marriage where both parties understood that feelings weren’t engaged on either side than to talk herself into believing someone loved her only to find out how wrong she was when it was too late. She was even willing to compromise on coming back to London, if absolutely necessary.

  She was not willing to compromise on having a husband who listened to and respected what she said.

  In the uncomfortable silence between them, she could hear the noise of the horses’ hooves on the gravel as they plodded along the path ringing the park. Finally, he cleared his throat. “I apologize for being so blunt, but for as long as you have been out, you certainly must have heard about some of the traps laid by ambitious young women for titled gentlemen.”

  If the words were meant to mollify her temper, they were the exact wrong thing to say. “My lord, if you had spent any substantial time in Society during the past three years, you would know those rumors to be greatly exaggerated. Gentlemen misinterpret trying to catch their attention for something more. Even if they weren’t, however, you insult my integrity to suggest that I would resort to such a tactic. I have been nothing but honest with you, and you have returned my honesty with insults and insinuations.”

  He held up a hand. “I beg your pardon. It was never my intention to imply that your motives were…”

  “…less than pure?” She finished his sentence for him, her hands shaking with rage. “But that is exactly what you said, my lord. Rather than trust what I said last night, you felt the need to suggest that the real reason I proposed to help you was to trap you into thinking I am the best candidate for marriage. I was honest with you last night about what I hoped to get in return. Apparently my honesty meant nothing to you.”

  She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. “I believe it would be best if you took me home, my lord. It appears we won’t actually be able to help each other.”

  Martin was quiet and Teresa felt the rage begin to drain, leaving behind an empty despair. The thought of trying to explain to her aunt why she had gone for a ride with the Earl of Carlington when she had no expectation that he was interested in her — it was unlikely that she would be able to convince her aunt and uncle that she deserved extra time with that example in front of them.

  She’d known it was a desperate plan, but she hadn’t been able to come up with anything better so she’d gambled on it. With the consequences of that loss staring at her, it was hard to know if it was the right decision.

  “Miss Selkirk, if you truly wish to return to your aunt’s, I will drive you back immediately. But I would ask for a chance to explain and see if we can salvage something of our agreement.”

  Teresa half-shrugged, her rage having dissipated as quickly as it had flared into apathy and depression. There was no chance Charlotte wouldn’t have heard about the Earl’s visit from Jennings. Without a compromise, there was no explanation she could offer Charlotte to explain the Earl’s visit. No need to rush back to the onslaught of questions that would await her.

  “I apologize for upsetting you. The only explanation I can offer is that although it may not have happened recently, there was a gentleman I knew at Oxford who did end up married to a debutante after being caught in a compromising situation with her, and I don’t believe it was his intention for that to happen.”

  Teresa barked out a short laugh. “Oh, I can believe he didn’t intend to get caught.”

  Martin raised an eyebrow but otherwise ignored her comment. “Given that context, however, I was skeptical that a young woman in your situation would be offering to help me find another candidate for marriage, all in exchange for my pretending to court you. You have to admit that it seems somewhat unlikely.”

  Her first instinct was to protest that it made sense to her, but she had already admitted to herself that it had been a desperate plan. Still…

  “Then why agree? Why come take me for a ride in the park?” She motioned at the other carriages on the path, severa
l faces turned in their direction. “The news of this will certainly be spreading around the ton tonight.”

  Martin shrugged, a movement which did little to diminish her awareness of how broad his shoulders were. Even now, knowing what waited for her at her aunt’s house, she couldn’t stop noticing him. The solid warmth beside her. The chiseled planes of his face. The ease and familiarity with which he handled his team.

  The sound of his voice, smooth and in control. “You were correct last night when you guessed that I am looking for a wife. Like you, I find the parties and balls to be a waste of time — time I don’t have to spare. I need a wife by the end of the Season. A condition of my grandfather’s will.”

  Teresa sucked in her breath. “But that’s not even a month from now.”

  “Indeed.” Martin’s mouth tightened into a thin line. “And as you pointed out eloquently last night, you have information that would help me. Information I don’t have any other way to get, because my friends have been out of town for the Season. I don’t have time to waste courting someone who has an informal understanding already.”

  “And yet despite needing my help, you still insulted me.”

  He shifted uncomfortably in the seat, taking care to keep the horses in hand. “I was wrong. I’m asking you to overlook that in favor of the exchange you proposed, something that would benefit both of us.”

  Teresa bit her lower lip. Half of her wanted to walk away right now, regardless of the consequences. Last night, she’d thought Martin had actually seen her as a person. His questions today had destroyed that illusion and it stung, far more than she would have expected.

  And that was before she took into account her disturbing physical reaction towards him. He was titled, arrogant, and entirely focused on his own needs. Exactly the kind of person she had sworn she wanted to avoid.