‘That at least I can believe!’ she said bitterly.
A fresh burst of noisy laughter and cheering echoed from the coffee room.
‘Do you really want to go back in there?’ said Darrington quietly.
Honesty compelled Beth to shake her head.
‘I have a suite of rooms above stairs, including a private sitting room and a chamber for yourself and your maid,’ he said. ‘I would be honoured if you would allow me to escort you to town, madam—I give you my word that you will be treated with nothing but respect while you are in my care.’
Beth clasped her hands together. The thought of spending the night in the little room allocated to her was quite daunting. She would have Tilly with her, but there was no lock on the door; after her recent experiences she did not think she would sleep at all. She glanced at her companion—she might not be able to sleep, knowing the earl was in the next bedchamber, but at least that would not be as a result of fear.
‘Very well,’ she said slowly. ‘I will accept your escort, my lord, for myself and my maid. But I must have your assurance that you will not try to f-flirt with me.’ Her cheeks reddened, but the earl merely bowed.
‘I shall treat you as I should treat my sister,’ he said gravely. ‘Allow me to escort you upstairs, madam. I shall send Fitton to fetch your maid and bring your luggage to your new room.’
He escorted her up the narrow stairs and through a labyrinth of passages to a suite of rooms. She was a little nervous as she entered and found the earl’s valet waiting for them in the cosy dining parlour, but his manner was very civil and he went off immediately in search of Tilly, leaving her alone once more with the earl. She moved towards the fire to warm her hands.
‘This is much more comfortable than the public dining room,’ she said to break the silence. ‘Will we be able to reach London tomorrow, do you think?’
‘Of course, but it will be a long day.’
‘I am not afraid of that.’ She turned to find him regarding her, a faint smile curving his lips.
‘No, I thought as much.’
The light-headed, breathless feeling swept over her again. Her knees seemed to have turned to jelly and she sank down on a chair, folding her hands in her lap.
‘I would like to make one thing clear, my lord. I will accept your escort to town, and thank you for it, but once there I will take my leave. I do not intend to impose upon you further.’
‘It is no imposition—’
‘Once we reach Cheapside—’
‘Cheapside!’
She raised her brows. ‘Yes,’ she said coldly. ‘My lawyer has offices there. I shall place myself in his hands to find accommodation.’
‘You would be better to let me help you.’
He had walked across the room and was towering over her, menacing her peace of mind. She rose and walked across to the window.
‘I may be forced to accept your hospitality for the journey, sir, but you know I do not want your help in this matter.’
‘That is not the impression I had,’ he flashed back at her. ‘That night at the Priory you were only too keen to buy my silence.’
She swung round to find he had followed her across the room. His eyes were blazing with a dangerous mixture of heat and desire.
‘That was to protect Simon,’ she said unsteadily. ‘No other consideration would have made me approach you!’
‘I am well aware of that. And yet…’ He reached out and ran his fingers down her arm. His touch burned through her sleeve. ‘I had the distinct impression you were enjoying it.’
‘No!’ She put her hands to her cheeks.
The earl stepped closer. ‘Then one of us is mistaken,’ he said softly. ‘Perhaps we should try that kiss again, to find out which of us is right.’
He reached for her, but her body was already moving towards him of its own accord, drawn by myriad invisible silken threads. She put out her hands and held him off, but her fingers merely slid up his jacket, moving from his chest to his shoulder. His face was just inches away, her own lifted invitingly, lips parted, every nerve end screaming for contact with him. Her heightened senses breathed in the very essence of him, the hint of spices on his skin, the scented starch in his snowy-white linen neckcloth. The curling flame of desire moved lower. Her thighs ached, her knees grew weak and she clutched at his jacket. His mouth hovered over hers; they were sharing a breath, anticipating the explosion that would occur when their lips met. Beth’s head went back, her eyelids were fluttering to close when she heard the thud of heavy footsteps in the passage, recalling her to her situation. She opened her eyes and pushed her hands against his chest.
‘Oh, pray, my lord, let me go! My maid…’
‘Damnation! Beth, I—’
With a shake of her head she pushed him away as Fitton struggled in with Beth’s portmanteau in one hand and her jacket and cloak draped over his other arm, her bonnet dangling by its strings from his fingers. Tilly followed close behind with her own small bag. She bobbed a curtsy as she followed the valet across the room.
‘I’m sorry we took so long, ma’am, my lord—I had unpacked the bag and had to collect everything up again.’
Beth could only nod wordlessly. The earl had turned away and was staring down into the fire. For a few moments Beth was filled with an almost unbearable, aching longing for what might have been, but this was quickly replaced by a feeling of relief. Her hands, a moment ago clutching at his fine wool jacket, now slid over her stomach. Dizzy and confused, she muttered her excuses and followed Tilly to her bedchamber, determined not to come out again until the morning.
Chapter Eleven
Guy leaned his arm along the mantelshelf and rested his head against it, his lips moving with a silent flow of curses. By heaven, what was it about the woman that beguiled him so? Was it the flame-red hair that attracted him like some hapless moth? She undermined his control, but he would swear it was unwittingly done and he was ashamed of his reactions. He was no better than the oaf he had seen off earlier that evening. It was pure lust, of course, and perfectly understandable; she was a very beautiful woman, with her glorious hair and those dark, liquid eyes that melted his soul. Desire stirred at the very thought of her standing before him. With something like a growl he lounged across to the side table and picked up the decanter. He would have a couple of glasses of brandy and go to bed, although heaven knew how he would sleep, knowing that she was lying just feet away from him in the next room.
When Beth awoke the next morning it took her a few moments to remember just where she was, but once memory returned she dressed hurriedly and made her way to the dining room, where she found the earl already breaking his fast. He stood as she came in and greeted her politely. She responded in kind and took her seat at the table.
‘Fitton and your maid have gone below for their meal,’ he told her, handing her a cup of coffee. ‘They would not be comfortable eating with us.’
‘No, of course not.’ She wondered if she, too, might be more comfortable downstairs. However, the earl said nothing untoward and she began to relax.
She was finishing her small meal when shouts and calls from the roadside informed them that the mail was about to depart. Beth went over to the window to watch it pull away. She could even smile a little when she looked at the outside passengers and saw the lanky man pull out his hipflask. He had obviously found time to refill it.
‘I hope you are not regretting your decision to come with me.’
She came back to the table. ‘No,’ she said carefully. ‘As long as you remember your promise to treat me like your sister.’
He grinned at that and she quickly raised a hand to her kerchief, almost expecting to feel her heart had escaped and was caught like a fluttering bird in its folds.
‘If that is the case, I must snap and growl at you and tell you that if you are not ready on time I shall leave without you.’
Beth relaxed and warmed to the amusement in his voice. ‘Goodness, if that is the case
I had best go and pack up immediately!’
‘No, no, there is not such a rush,’ he said, laughing. ‘Stay and take another cup of coffee with me.’
They remained at the table in perfect harmony. Beth could not remember what they discussed, but she was aware of a faint disappointment when Fitton and Tilly returned and the earl said it was time they were leaving. She accompanied him out to the carriage and allowed him to tuck a rug around her knees.
‘I am glad it is a fine day,’ she said, as he climbed in beside her. ‘I do not like to think of poor Tilly and your valet sitting up behind, exposed to all weathers.’
‘Is that why you bought your maid a seat inside on the mail?’ he asked.
‘In part. I was also glad to have her beside me for company.’
‘Well, now you have me. Tell me how I may entertain you, Mrs Forrester?’
She disclaimed, flustered, ‘You must not think I am in constant need of amusement, my lord.’
‘Of course not. Perhaps, then, you would tell me something of yourself.’
‘There is not much to tell,’ she said, shyly. ‘I grew up at the Priory, married, was widowed and returned to Malpass.’
‘Was it an arranged marriage?’
‘Yes. Papa had known Mr Forrester for many years. We married when I was nineteen, but he died within the year. His heart was weak.’
‘I am very sorry. And you returned to the Priory?’
‘Yes. Mr Forrester’s estate was entailed and passed to a distant cousin. I have a small annuity, but I was very happy to return to my old home.’
‘I have never understood how you came to inherit the Priory,’ he remarked, shifting his position so that he could look at her. ‘Should it not have passed to your brother?’
Beth folded her hands in her lap. ‘It should, of course, but Papa changed his will when he heard that Simon was lost at sea.’
‘Surely that was a little premature.’
She sighed as the memories came back to her. ‘I know. When Miles came to Malpass with the news that Simon had been drowned, Papa was so ill I thought he should not be told. It could only distress him. Unfortunately, Miles called while I was out one day and Papa asked to see him. Miles tells me Papa guessed something was amiss and demanded the truth. Once he knew what had occurred, Papa immediately altered his will in my favour. He was afraid that if Simon’s body was never found then there might be…complications in the Priory passing to me, so he changed his will, disinheriting Simon and making everything over to me.’
‘Very convenient for Radworth.’
Her head came up at that. ‘Miles had no idea that Papa would do such a thing!’
‘And did your father know that your brother was accused of murder?’
She shook her head. ‘I made Miles promise that he would not tell him, or Grandmama. She doted on Simon and I wanted to keep her memories of him unsullied. I was determined to clear Simon’s name, if I could, so I wrote to Mr Spalding, our lawyer in London, and asked him to begin enquiries to find the French couple who had been attacked. I discussed that with Miles. He thought it a good scheme.’
‘I know I have asked you this before, but if Radworth knows so much about the family, why have you not told him Simon is alive?’ Beth had been dreading that question. She did not have a satisfactory explanation, even for herself. When she did not answer the earl said slowly, ‘It seems to me, Mrs Forrester, that you trust your fiancé even less than you trust me.’
‘I have no choice but to trust you,’ she retorted. ‘And believe me, Lord Darrington, I like Miles Radworth a great deal more than I like you!’
Beth maintained an icy politeness towards her travelling companion for the remainder of the journey. He was not noticeably dashed and treated her with such courtesy that by the time they stopped at Hatfield for their dinner she was feeling quite guilty and would have been ashamed of her behaviour towards him if she had not reminded herself that she had not asked the earl to convey her to town—in fact, he had almost forced his company upon her. However, she was honest enough to admit, when they sat down to eat in the private dining room with its cheerful fire and a sumptuous array of dishes on the table, that travelling with Lord Darrington was a great deal more agreeable than on a public coach. She therefore made an effort to engage him in civil, if rather inane, conversation while they dined. At the end of the meal the earl took out his watch.
‘It will be dark in an hour,’ he told her. ‘Perhaps you would like to put up here for the night and finish our journey tomorrow?’
Beth shook her head. ‘Thank you, but I do not wish to impose upon your hospitality any longer than is necessary, my lord. If you are agreeable, I would like to press on.’
‘As you wish.’ His polite acquiescence pricked at her conscience and she felt compelled to try to explain.
‘I want to see Mr Spalding as soon as possible. After all, I have no idea how long the de Beaunes will be in England.’ She hesitated. ‘I hope you do not mind pressing on to London tonight?’
She did not add that she was unwilling to spend another night in his company, but from the look he gave her she was sure he had guessed. In fact, she was uncomfortably aware that the earl was far too good at reading her thoughts.
A combination of poor horses and an overturned vegetable cart blocking the road hindered progress on the final leg of their journey and it was gone ten o’clock when they eventually pulled up outside the offices of Spalding, Spalding and Grooch in Cheapside. Unsurprisingly, the building was in darkness and Fitton’s knocking brought no response at all, save for a neighbour throwing up the window and demanding who the devil was making so much noise at that time of night. A civil enquiry from the earl elicited the information that none of the partners lived on the premises and that everyone had gone home a good hour since.
‘It seems we are too late,’ remarked the earl, climbing back into the carriage. ‘I am very sorry.’
‘Even had we not been delayed on the road we might not have been in time,’ Beth responded. ‘I must find somewhere to put up for the night, my lord. Perhaps you would advise me.’
The earl hesitated. ‘I do not think I can do that.’
Beth froze. In the gloomy interior of the carriage she could not see his face and was not at all sure that his apologetic tone was sincere.
‘And just why might that be?’ she enquired in arctic tones.
The earl spread his hands. ‘The only hotels I can think of that would be suitable for a respectable lady travelling alone are prohibitively expensive.’ He paused. ‘You have not told me how much you can afford to spend, ma’am, but I would not think your purse…limitless. Neither do I think you would agree to my paying your shot.’
‘You are correct on both points,’ she ground out. She looked out at the darkened street. ‘I do not know yet what it may cost me to prove Simon’s innocence, so I am not prepared to waste money on my comfort. Very well, I must find someone to ask—perhaps the coachman might be able to recommend a suitable hostelry.’
‘If I may make a suggestion…’
‘Will I like it?’ she asked suspiciously.
‘Probably not, but I would like you to consider it. Stay with me at Darrington House.’ He hurried on as she drew a breath to reply. ‘Now before you turn me down flat, madam, perhaps you would lay aside that damned pride of yours and think. My town house is very large. You and your maid could be accommodated comfortably and in perfect safety—we need not even see each other if that is what you wish!—and you would be able to concentrate your efforts on helping your brother.’
‘And what do you intend to do?’
‘I would like to help you,’ he said quietly. ‘I may not visit town often, but I think I am probably much more familiar with London than you are. If you do indeed want to help your brother, I think you should seriously consider my offer.’
Beth bit her lip. At that moment a rowdy group of merrymakers went past, reminding her just how vulnerable she would be if she insist
ed on leaving the earl’s protection. If she was honest, she had spent a great deal of the journey considering just how she would go on in London. She did not doubt for a moment that the earl could be very useful.
‘Very well,’ she said at last. ‘I will accept your offer, for my brother’s sake.’
‘Good.’
The earl leaned out of the window to issue his orders to his driver and the carriage moved off again. Beth leaned her head against the squabs and closed her eyes. She felt tired to her very bones and not a little despondent. She very much wanted to walk away from the earl and show him that she did not require his help, but it had been abundantly clear on the journey south that he could make things so much easier for her and she owed it to Simon to accept whatever help she could to prove his innocence. She must therefore swallow her pride and allow the earl to help, however much it irked her.
‘Here we are.’
She opened her eyes as the carriage drew up outside an imposing double-fronted mansion. The earl jumped out and turned to give her his hand while his valet ran up the steps and banged loudly on the door. There were no lights at any window, but after a few minutes Beth noticed a faint glow through the fanlight and the next moment the door opened.
The butler’s surprise at seeing his master would have made Beth smile if she had not been so exhausted. She allowed the earl to escort her inside, leaving Tilly and Fitton to bring in their bags.
‘There is nothing ready, my lord,’ said the butler, leading them into the morning room and hurriedly lighting the candles. ‘Mrs Burley and I have only Joseph the under-footman and a kitchen boy here at the moment. If only you had told us you were coming…’
‘I did not know myself until yesterday—you may leave the fire, Burley. I will light it while you help Fitton to prepare rooms for me and for my guest. Mrs Forrester and her maid will require a suite of rooms, I think.’
‘Of course, my lord. And what about food? Mrs Burley will send the boy to fetch something as soon as it is light tomorrow, but for tonight I doubt we have anything but bread and cheese…’
The Dangerous Lord Darrington Page 12