The Earl’s Dangerous Passion (Historical Regency Romance)

by Ella Edon

  It took everything in Derby’s control not to chase after her.

  * * *

  Sarah pulled her horse to a stop as they reached the end of the field, turning to face her brother as Derby joined her. She was laughing, her hair loose from its confined pins.

  “I win again!”

  Derby grumbled, patting his horse’s neck.

  “I think my horse is going lame.”

  Sarah laughed and slapped his shoulder.

  “Stop making excuses! I beat you, fair and square.”

  Derby couldn’t bring himself to grumble further. He had agreed to come out for a ride in the countryside with his sister, Sarah declaring she needed some fresh air that you couldn’t get in London, not with the various factories and tanneries popping up everywhere, she had been unwell recently, and Derby had been concerned. But now the Marquess of Merseyside was looking fresher, happier than before. The color in her cheeks had returned.

  And, if Derby was honest, he was feeling better as well. This had been needed for him, as well.

  “Sarah?” Derby indicated his sister’s head. “You do realize that your hair is loose now.”

  “I know. The pins never stay in.” Sarah made a face at the field they had just charged across. “I’m not going back to look for them. Besides, if I’m with my brother, what trouble could I get into?”

  Derby laughed.

  “You’ve clearly forgotten what trouble we got into as children.” He urged his horse into a slow walk, Sarah’s horse fell into step beside him. “But you do need to be careful. You’re getting a bit wilder with your riding.”

  “It’s just today.” Sarah protested. “I’m not going to be allowed to ride for a few months after today. Merseyside is refusing to let me near a horse until…”

  Then Derby realized that Sarah was pressing her hand to her belly. She had been doing that quite a bit in the last week. Because she had been unwell, Derby had passed it off as an upset stomach, but now realization dawned. He stared at her.

  “You’re with child?”

  Sarah’s smile widened.

  “I had the doctor confirm this morning. I’m about three to four months along now. Merseyside and I are keeping it quiet for now until I’m a little further along, but I wanted to tell you.” She squeezed Derby’s hand. “I wouldn’t hide this from my brother.”

  Derby beamed. He leaned over and hugged his sister, trying not to fall off his horse. He kissed her cheek and sat back.

  “Congratulations! Wait, hang on…” He mentally did the numbers. “Does this mean you were…?”

  Sarah giggled. Her eyes twinkled.

  “I’m not saying anything. But let’s just say my husband and I wanted to practice for our wedding night.”

  “All right, enough. I don’t want to know any further.”

  Sarah laughed.

  “The baby’s going to be born in wedlock, so you don’t need to know anything further than that. By the way, speaking of details, how are things with Amy now? Are you two talking again?”

  Derby paused. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the night when he and Amy were together the week before. Nothing had happened beyond Amy kissing him, but Derby kept going over different scenarios, wishing he could have taken her into his arms. Scandal was far from his mind now. Amy’s subtle words about marrying who she chose were fresh in his mind.

  It was getting very uncomfortable sitting in the saddle. Derby shifted, but that just made the discomfort worse.

  “We haven’t spoken much,” he admitted. “She’s monitored closely when she leaves the house. Lady Hartley’s maid follows her wherever she goes and reports back to her mistress.”

  “She is meant to have a chaperone.”

  “Not like Victoria.” Derby made a face. “She’s not exactly the friendliest of people. Lord Hartley has instructed her to make sure Amy doesn’t associate with anyone he considers undesirable.”

  “You’re calling yourself undesirable?”

  “Hartley is. He’s told me that Amy’s engaged, but Amy has said she isn’t. It’s just her father’s way of making sure she’s off the marriage market.”

  Sarah’s eyes were round as she stared at her brother.

  “He went through that to make sure you kept away? Amy wouldn’t stand for that. I’m surprised she hasn’t fought back.”

  “She has, but you know what Society prefers. Women have no say in anything. They’re lucky if they get to choose what they can wear for the day.” Derby shook his head. “Women are men’s property, and that’s the end of it. Hartley is in control of his daughter’s future until she marries, and then she becomes her husband’s property. From what I can gather, he’s looking for a man who’s similar to him who can take charge of Amy the same way he has.”

  Sarah gasped.

  “He can’t do that to her, surely?”

  “I’m afraid he can.”

  “Amy would rather die than let that happen to her.”

  Derby knew that, and it pained him. Amy was a precious treasure, one that needed careful handling. In his eyes, she needed to be treated like a queen. He had often seen past her shyness and her anxiety of being in a crowd and knew the real Amy Hartley. She was stronger than she made herself out to be, which was why she pushed back at her father’s machinations. But the wrong man could crush that out of her.

  Derby wouldn’t let anyone put their hands on Amy.

  “Daniel?”

  “Huh?” Derby came back to reality quickly and remembered where he was. He cleared his throat and concentrated on Sarah. “Forgive me; I was miles away.”

  “I noticed.”

  Sarah was looking at him strangely. Derby shifted. It was like he was a little boy again, and his tutor was scrutinizing him.

  “Could you stop looking at me like that, Sarah? You’re making me nervous.”

  “As I should.” Sarah pursed her lips. “Don’t let anything bad happen to Amy, Daniel. She doesn’t deserve to be hurt.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I can see the look in your eyes. I’ve seen that look many times. You want to do something regarding Amy, and it’s going to have you breaking her heart, I’m sure. Amy doesn’t need that.”

  Derby could have lied. He could have claimed ignorance, but Sarah was one of the few people who knew when he was lying. He sighed.

  “You’ve spoken about my feelings regarding Amy to your husband, haven’t you? So, you can probably guess my intentions.”

  “You what?” Sarah’s eyes widened. “You want to marry Amy? Just to get one over on Lord Hartley?”

  “For goodness sake, what do you take me for? Do you think I would do something that callous?”

  “Yes.”

  Derby snorted. He felt his horse stumble a little and pulled him gently to a stop. If his horse was lame, the extra weight of his master couldn’t have helped. Derby jumped down and checked his animal’s legs, noting that the front left leg was swollen.

  “Looks like I’m walking from here,” he grumbled. Then he shook Sarah’s reins. “I’ll lead them.”

  “I’ll walk with you.”

  “Not in your condition. You stay right where you are.”

  Sarah sighed and released the reins enough for Derby to take hold. He began to walk the two horses along the edge of the field. They were quite a way from their London homes, but there was a tavern nearby that they could rest up in. Derby could send his sister home in a carriage and arrange to ride back with a fresh horse while his horse rested. It was tedious, but it was better than walking miles back to London.

  “And in response to you thinking I’m callous enough to get one up on Lord Hartley by marrying his daughter, you shouldn’t be so ridiculous. You know I would never do that.”

  “We all change, Derby.”

  “I wouldn’t. I greatly admire Amy, and I wouldn’t treat her in that way.”

  Sarah barked out a laugh. It made Derby jump, and he stumbled, almost falling to his knees
.

  “Whoa! Let me know when you’re going to do that.”

  “Forgive me, but that was the silliest thing I had heard in a while.”

  “You really think I would do that.”

  “No, I was laughing about your comment on greatly admiring Amy.” Sarah shook her head, still smiling. “Aside from the fact greatly admiring someone isn’t going to get you anywhere, your feelings towards her are certainly more than admiration.”

  Derby couldn’t argue with that. Sarah was more astute than she made herself out to be.

  “If I really had to choose who I wanted as a wife, Amy would be it. She’s perfect for me.”

  “You’re thinking about my best friend in such a clinical way, Daniel,” Sarah scolded. “That’s not nice.”

  “Since when has life ever been nice?”

  Sarah sighed.

  “You’re a stubborn fool. You’re not going to admit that you love her, are you?”

  “The first time I ever say it, or even admit it, out loud, I want it to be to her, not to my little sister.”

  “Fair enough. I’ll concede that point. But if you know what you want, how are you going to go about it?”

  Derby had been thinking about that for the past week. It was going to take a lot of luck and holding his breath, but it could work. It was going to work.

  It had to work.

  Chapter Ten

  Beatrice grimaced and shifted around awkwardly as the carriage jostled over another bumpy part of the road.

  “I’ll be glad when we get off this thing,” she grumbled. “My seat is sore. Why do we have to travel so far, anyway? We could have stayed in London.”

  Amy bit back a retort and looked out of the window. They had left London earlier that day and had stopped twice on the way up to Swadlincote in Derbyshire, where Derby’s country estate was. Beatrice had complained the whole way, lamenting that she should have stayed behind or gone on to Hartley’s home in Sussex. There, she declared, it would be comfortable.

  “It won’t be long now, dear.” Hartley patted her hand. “We’ll be off soon. I don’t even know why I agreed to this.”

  “Because you wanted to have the pleasure of turning the Earl down while taking advantage of his hospitality.”

  Hartley chuckled.

  “Ah, yes. Of course. I just wish the cad lived a little closer.”

  “Could you stop being so mean about Lord Derby, Father?” Amy asked. “You’ve been incredibly rude about him the whole journey.”

  Her father glared at her.

  “I’ll say what I want about him,” he snapped. “Now you be careful what you say. Whatever happens there, you are not to be left alone with Derby. I forbid it.”

  “He’s the one who allowed Lady Merseyside to extend an invitation to us,” Amy protested. “That means he’s the host. How am I supposed to avoid the man who invited us here?”

  “You’ll find a way.” Hartley sat forward, gripping Amy’s chin in an ice-cold grip. “If you value your place in this family, you will do as I say.”

  He let go abruptly, causing Amy to gasp. She sat back and stared at the floor. When Sarah had spoken to her father and explained that she wanted to spend time with her friend, Hartley had been initially dubious, especially when he realized where they would be. But the more Sarah had talked to him, the more amenable he became. Amy had thought he was coming around to the idea. Much as he wouldn’t admit it, Hartley did like Derby’s ancestral home. He and the last Earl had spent many hours hunting and going on long rides. Anna had told Amy they used to do that when they were younger men.

  That didn’t fit with the man sitting across from Amy at all. All she could see was a mean, cruel man who thought status was everything, and his daughter was someone he could abuse. He had never laid a hand on her when Amy was very small. Then again, Hartley hadn’t laid a hand on his first wife until Amy was about seven. Something had changed, and Hartley had become a different person.

  Amy wished he would go back to his old self. She hated this current incarnation.

  Someone touched her hand, and Amy looked up. Victoria was sitting beside her, giving her a small smile in sympathy. Beatrice had been adamant that Victoria came along to act as a maid for both her and Amy. Victoria was to follow Amy around no matter what she did. Amy had protested, but she had been overruled. At least she and Victoria had started to get used to each other. There was a comfortable level of understanding between them, and the older woman had become a little more relaxed around Amy.

  At least it didn’t feel like everyone was against her. Not that Amy would declare it to her father.

  The carriage turned off the main road and through a stone archway, the path lined with trees stretching up to the sky and overhanging, casting a green glow across the ground. It was cooler, and even over the rattling of the wheels and the cantering of the horses, Amy could hear the birds chirping. She leaned towards the window and looked out. They were well out in the country now. Even with the town of Swadlincote a stone’s throw away, it was as if they were in another world.

  She gasped as the carriage broke out from the trees and up the sweeping driveway towards Derby’s ancestral home. It had been some years since she had been here, but every time Amy couldn’t help but feel awe at the sight. The house itself was grand, cream stones seeming to glow in the sun to make them look like gold. The expanse of green grass spread out in all directions. From Amy’s memory, she would envision in her mind the large gardens out the back, both of the orchard and the flower garden, along with the lake further out. That had been her favorite place as a child. She and Sarah would sit at the water’s edge and escape the noise and bustle of the house. It was quiet, tranquil.

  Amy hoped she would be able to go back to the lake. She needed a place to get away from her father and stepmother.

  The carriage pulled up into the gravel courtyard in front of the steps leading up to the huge, ornate front doors. It stopped, and Hartley jumped out as soon as the carriage stopped rocking. Waving away the footman who had come out of the house and was hurrying towards them, he turned and helped Beatrice out, and then he shut the door abruptly, almost catching Amy’s hand. She jumped back with a shriek, which had Hartley scowling at her. Then he turned away, and Beatrice took his arm, both of them heading towards the doors.

  Amy seethed. She pushed open the door as the footman arrived, the young man giving her a sympathetic look as he helped her out, then turning to help Victoria down. Then Amy saw Derby coming out and found herself staring. She had always been left speechless by his presence. There was a certain aura about him that drew her in. But since Sarah’s revelation, Amy found herself looking at him differently. There was something different about him. Was there a bright light in his eyes? Was his step lighter? Amy couldn’t be sure.

  “Lord Hartley.” Derby reached Hartley and gave him a polite bow, doing the same to his wife. “Lady Hartley.”

  Neither of the couples returned his greeting. Amy inwardly winced at this rudeness. But Derby didn’t appear to have noticed, turning and approaching Amy. Amy’s knees felt weak, and her mouth went dry. His smile warmed, his eyes twinkling. He bowed to her.

  “Miss Hartley.”

  It took Amy a moment to remember her manners. She curtsied and smiled in return, wondering if Derby could see how much she was trembling.

  “Lord Derby,” she whispered.

  Derby’s eyes darkened as he looked over Amy, his gaze pausing on her breasts before moving down. That caused Amy to catch her breath. He had never looked at her like that before, and it made something tighten in her stomach. Amy’s mouth went dry, and she was feeling a lot warmer. From the widening smile, Derby had certainly noticed.

  “Nice place you’ve got, Derby,” Hartley said abruptly. “Good to know you haven’t let things go into ruins.”

  Derby turned away, and the spell was broken. It caused Amy to sway. She had to clutch onto Victoria before her legs buckled. Derby addressed Hartley pleasantly.

/>   “This house has been around since King Henry VIII, and it’s planning on staying.” He sounded cordial enough, but Amy could detect something beneath it. “Now, Lord Hartley, I will have your bags taken to your rooms.”

  “We’ve got separate rooms to our daughter?” Beatrice gasped.

  Amy flinched. Derby’s expression didn’t waver.

  “I’m not sure how you do it at home, Lady Hartley, but your stepdaughter is a grown woman. She will have her own rooms. It will be close by, but she sleeps alone.”