Improperly Enticed By The Rascal Earl (Steamy Historical Regency Romance)

by Olivia Bennet

  “So, you have not been acquainted long?” Lord Burrows appeared pleased by that fact.

  “No, we have not,” Edwin admitted through clenched teeth.

  “But we so look forward to all becoming friends,” Habtage said in an overly cheery voice. He reached across their chairs and gripped Edwin’s shoulder. To everyone around him it would have seemed a friendly gesture, but he applied enough pressure to be painful. It was a clear threat to get himself under control.

  Edwin knew Habtage was right to try and warn him to mind his temper, but he could not help himself. With little effort, Lord Burrows was provoking Edwin’s anger like no one else had ever been capable.

  “Lord Burrows is a regular visitor to our home,” the Baron said with a pointed look toward Edwin.

  “Is that so?” Habtage replied, shaking Edwin’s shoulder slightly.

  “Yes, Lord Burrows has become a good friend,” Miss Unity said with a smile. She stressed the last word, and Edwin felt some of the tension leave his shoulders.

  He glanced toward Miss Walters. Her rosy cheeks were burning as she tried to hide behind her tipped teacup. She was avoiding everyone’s eye, and guilt slammed through him.

  This is making her uncomfortable. Why am I acting this way?

  Taking a deep breath in through his nostrils, he forced down his temper and tried to focus back in on the reason he was here in the first place. He wanted to show Miss Walters that he was not the arrogant flirt she believed him to be. He was not off to a good start, he knew that.

  “Well, that is good to hear,” Edwin said, using all his strength to make his tone civil, which was the best he could do under the circumstances. Friendly would have taken more willpower than he possessed.

  Miss Walters looked at him with a curious gaze and slowly lowered her teacup. She did not speak, but she did not look nearly as distressed.

  He caught Miss Unity and Miss Sophia exchange a glance and small smiles. That appeared a good sign.

  Habtage lowered his hand, releasing Edwin from his hold.

  “Lord Narnwood, how are your business ventures fairing?” Habtage asked, redirecting the conversation away from Lord Burrows. “You own a shipping company, as I recall?”

  “Indeed, that is correct,” the Baron nodded with a grin. If he was affected by the tension that had blossomed between Edwin and Lord Burrows, he gave no indication. “A rather lucrative enterprise at present, in truth.”

  “As I have heard,” Habtage replied. “What can you tell me of the clothe trade in India? I am most interested…”

  Edwin stopped listening to the conversation and pretended to be focused on his cup of tea. In reality, he was intensely aware of Miss Walters sitting across from him. He was dying to know what was going through her head.

  What does she really think of Lord Burrows?

  Was she interested in him in any way? Was that why he was a regular guest in this home? If that was so, however, why did it appear the Baron did not care for him?

  It had not escaped Edwin’s notice how cold the Baron’s greeting to Lord Burrows had been compared to his welcome to himself and Habtage. Did he tolerate the gentleman’s presence because his daughter enjoyed his company?

  He snuck a glance toward the lady who would not cease haunting his mind. Her expression was strained, and her lips were pinched together. She did not look as though she were enjoying this visit. His guilt intensified, knowing they were all here in part because he had forced her hand in extending the invitation.

  This was not how he wished to win her affections. He did not want to coerce her or trap her into spending time with him. He wished for her to be with him willingly. With a sigh, he worried he had ruined things between them before they had even begun because of his stubbornness.

  He let his gaze linger on her a moment longer than was likely appropriate. As he watched her, her eyes turned to him and locked with his. She appeared startled to find him staring at her, but she did not turn away from him, and he could not find the strength to look away from her. They remain locked together, and his heart beat a strong, steady rhythm, counting the seconds that passed between them.

  He watched her gulp, as though she were nervous. Her eyes sparkled with an intoxicating mix of curiosity and confusion, however. She was such a mystery. A delicious contradiction. He wanted to unravel all her secrets, almost as much as he wanted to strip her to her bare skin and find out which spots on her body made her squirm when he touched them.

  All of a sudden, Lord Burrows entered his line of sight, jerking him from his musings about what Miss Walters would look like spread out across his bed. The gentleman was moving to the end of the couch the ladies sat on, his movements quick, his expression eager as he drew closer to them.

  “Miss Walters, have you read anything of interest as of late?” Lord Burrows asked, breaking the thread that held Edwin and Miss Walters together.

  She blinked, looking as if she were coming out of a trance. Her lips parted on a small gasp and she tore her gaze from Edwin’s to look up at Lord Burrows. Edwin hated that she did that, and it reignited his temper toward the other gentleman.

  She turns to him so easily, but can only look at me with derision in her gaze.

  “As a matter of fact, I have, My Lord,” she replied with a slight curl of her lips. “I have just finished Miss Austen’s latest…”

  “Oh, Madam, no, you misunderstand me,” Lord Burrows interrupted her with a disparaging grin and a shake of his head. “I know you are an avid lover of such fanciful fare as the works of Miss Austen, but I am curious if you have partaken in anything of substance?”

  Edwin frowned. He would not call himself a particular fan of Miss Austen, but he would not go so far as to claim her work was without substance.

  Curious that the gentleman would be so critical of Miss Walter’s favorite author. Seems a folly on his part.

  Turning his gaze to Miss Walters, he saw her gaze flash with irritation and her mouth thin once more, though this time in displeasure. She relaxed her expression the next moment into one of more reserved politeness, but it had been clear that Lord Burrows’s words did not sit well with her.

  “My Lord, I must respectfully disagree with you.” She spoke in a calmer tone than Edwin would have thought possible. He was rather impressed by her poise, given the circumstances. “Miss Austen was a brilliant wordsmith who explored the depths of emotion within her writing. We should all be so lucky to gain her insight into the human condition.”

  Lord Burrows’s brow furrowed for a moment in confusion, but then he chuckled.

  “Miss Walters, you are certainly a devoted admirer. It is of course natural for a member of the fairer sex to be pulled in by the romance and intrigue of Miss Austen’s writings. Such reading could hardly be considered fitting or substantive for a gentleman, however.”

  What does this fool believe he is achieving?

  Edwin could not imagine what it was within Lord Burrows’s mind telling him the words he spoke were acceptable in his present company. Miss Walters was having an increasingly difficult time hiding her temper, and her sisters were beginning to shift uncomfortably in their seats next to her. Miss Unity and Miss Sophia exchanged a worried glance before the elder of the two turned to their sister and rested a gentle hand on her shoulder.

  “Lord Burrows, you enjoy hunting, as I recall?” Miss Unity asked.

  The gentleman, oblivious to the simmering anger engulfing Miss Walters, turned his smile to her sister.

  “Oh, yes, Miss Unity. I very much enjoy hunting.”

  “Have you ever hunted with the Baron?” the lady questioned. Edwin saw her fingers curl into her sister’s shoulder, similar to how Habtage had grasped him to calm him down.

  He studied Miss Walters’s expression carefully. Her lips were pursed and her nostrils flared as she inhaled deeply. She had dropped her gaze to stare at the fireplace at Lord Burrows’s back and avoided looking at the gentleman.

  Perhaps I was mistaken. Perhaps sh
e is not so friendly with him.

  “I have not had the pleasure,” Lord Burrows answered Miss Unity.

  The lady turned to Edwin and asked, “Do you enjoy hunting, My Lord?”

  Edwin blinked, a little surprised that she was including him in the conversation. From his observations, it had seemed her sole motivation was to distract Lord Burrows from her sister.

  Engage with the gentleman and assist with the lady’s efforts!

  Miss Walters may prove grateful for his aid.

  “Why yes, Miss Unity, I do enjoy hunting,” he said with a smile. “Sadly, it has been ages since I have been able to participate in the sport.”

  “Well, you must join my father sometime,” she declared, looking between both gentlemen. “He keeps the grounds well stocked with game, and is always looking for companions to join him.”

  Edwin had noticed upon his and Habtage’s arrival that, though the house itself was modest, the land around it was expansive. He had wondered if the Baron was an outdoorsman, and it appeared, based on Miss Unity’s words, his assertions were correct.

  “Am I being talked about over here?” The Baron’s deep voice turned to them. Edwin glanced toward him and found he was turned away from Habtage and gazing at the four of them with a quizzical eye.

  “Oh, yes, My Lord, we are speaking of you,” Miss Unity nodded. Her hand remained on Miss Walters’s shoulder, but her fingers had loosened their grip. “I was just telling Lords Burrows and Morrington that they should join you in a hunt while they are in Laurelborough.”

  The Baron arched his brow as his eyes bounced between Edwin and Lord Burrows.

  “Indeed, you both should join me,” he agreed, though he did not sound as enthusiastic about the idea as his daughter.

  “I rather enjoy hunting, myself,” Habtage chimed in with a good-natured tone.

  The Baron’s eyes lit up with genuine interest at that. “Well you must also join us then, My Lord. We can make it a whole party.”

  “We could prepare you all a picnic,” Miss Sophia offered in a soft, but eager tone. “Make a proper day of it.”

  Edwin realized they were planning another gathering, which meant he would have another chance to interact with Miss Walters. While he did not relish the prospect of encountering Lord Burrows again, it was a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things.

  “That sounds lovely,” Miss Unity said, nodding toward her younger sister. Turning to her elder sister, she asked, “Does that not sound lovely?”

  Miss Walters finally peeled her eyes away from the fireplace and turned to meet her sister’s gaze. Edwin could not read her expression. She was a blank slate, hiding all her thoughts and feelings from view. It was equal parts frustrating and intriguing how easily she masked herself from those around her.

  “Indeed, sister, that does sound lovely,” she responded in a light voice.

  Edwin could see the strain in her jaw, however.

  I do not believe Miss Walters is so very eager for us all to gather again.

  “Very well, that is settled then,” the Baron boomed, clapping his hands together. “A hunting excursion it is.”

  “How excellent,” Lord Burrows grinned. “I am so looking forward to it.”

  “Indeed, I am as well,” Habtage agreed.

  Edwin did not say a word. He kept his eyes on Miss Walters, but she was once more staring at the fireplace, avoiding everyone’s gaze.

  Chapter 15

  Tabitha stared up at the ceiling of her room, wide awake and restless. Sleep was proving elusive as the events of that day’s awkward tea continued to race through her mind, over and over again.

  Lord Burrows had been insufferable. His presence was annoying enough, but when he had so haughtily dismissed her love of Jane Austen as fanciful, she had nearly lost her head. Luckily, Unity had been there to distract the party from her. She had not wanted to embarrass her papa, nor had she wanted Lord Burrows to see how bothersome she really thought him to be.

  Unity’s tactics had worked, for the most part. The only person who had not seemed completely distracted had been Lord Morrington. She had sensed him watching her, and even peeked several times to confirm her suspicions. While Unity charmed and delighted everyone else in the room, he appeared to only have eyes for her.

  It had startled her, and even now she was not sure how his attention made her feel. Had he seen how upset Lord Burrows had made her? She was not sure she had been successful in masking it, and as closely as Lord Morrington had been studying her, he had to have realized her true feelings.

  If he had noticed her anger, what did he think of her now? That she was short-tempered and dismissive?

  Why do I care what he thinks? I think so little of him it should not matter.

  Yet, she did care, she realized. Very much. She did not want him to judge her solely on that one moment.

  Have I not been doing just that, though? Judging him solely on our first interaction?

  Perhaps she had not been fair to him. He had been pleasant enough during the tea. He had not goaded her in any way, and had even attempted to defend her to Lord Burrows. With a sigh, Tabitha thought that maybe she should give the gentleman another chance to display his true character.

  If he was willing to give her another chance, that was.

  Her body tingled in strange places as she thought of him. Her cheeks heated, and that secret place between her legs pulsed lightly. She clenched her thighs together, hoping to dispel the sensation. It only intensified, however, and she squirmed in discomfort.

  She did not understand why Lord Morrington provoked such strange sensations within her. She felt a yearning in her core, but for what, she could not say.

  Why do I feel so empty when he comes to mind?

  A sudden, gentle knock on her door pulled her from her rattled thoughts.

  Sitting up with a startled frown and a blush, she stammered, “Who…who is it?”

  “Unity,” her sister’s voice softly floated into the room. “May I come in?”

  Curious, Tabitha replied, “Of course.”

  It had been years since Unity had come sneaking into her bed in the middle of the night. When they were girls, they used to stay up together whispering secrets under the covers, but as they had grown, they had given up such practices.

  What could be drawing her to my door tonight?

  The door opened just enough that Unity could slip inside. She carefully closed it so as not to make any noise, then hurried to the bed to slip in next to Tabitha.

  “What is going on?” Tabitha asked in a hushed tone. “What are you doing here?”

  She felt a small spark of that forbidden thrill she had felt as a child whenever Unity and she had stayed up together, knowing they would be in trouble if they were caught. Though she doubted their papa would scold them for whispering under the covers now that they were young ladies, a sense of nostalgia settled over her which brought those old feelings back to the surface of her mind.

  Unity gazed at her with wide eyes. “I could not sleep, and I suspected you could not either.”

  “Why would you suspect that?”

  “Was I incorrect?” Her sister raised a delicate brow.

  Releasing a defeated breath, Tabitha admitted, “No, you were correct. I cannot seem to calm my mind down enough to find rest. What keeps you up?”

  “A similar reason,” Unity answered, though her tone was hesitant.

  Tabitha narrowed her eyes. “And that reason would be…?”

  Unity glanced away and her fingers picked at the blanket they sat under.

  Without looking up at Tabitha, she murmured, “I…I cannot seem to stop thinking about Lord Habtage.”

  Tabitha’s eyebrows rose with her surprise. “Oh? Lord Habtage?”

  She knew the gentleman had caught Unity’s eye, but she had not realized he was so entrenched in her mind.

  Unity nodded. “Yes. I know we have just become acquainted with him and Lord Morrington, but there is something
about the gentleman that I find…captivating.”

  Tabitha giggled. “My, my, Unity! You sound half-way in love already.”

  She was jesting of course, but the look in Unity’s gaze made her realize she may have stumbled upon some truth. With a gasp, she gaped at her sister in disbelief.

  “Unity! You cannot truly think…you have only just met…how could you possibly…?”

  Unity raised her hands and waved them to silence Tabitha’s stumbling speech.