Dread of The Earl (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book)

by Deborah Wilson

  Lady Teresa curtsied. “My lord.” She was the woman Colby had told him he was in love with but didn’t think he could have because he wasn’t titled.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Teresa. Please, meet my wife, Lady Ganden.”

  Colby gasped and turned his head to Lucy, as though seeing her for the first time. Then he looked up at Kent. “A wife? You’re married? Congratulations. I’m happy for you.”

  Teresa stared at Lucy with wide eyes. Something passed in her features, but then she smiled pleasantly.

  “Lady Ganden.” Colby moved close and took her hand. “Thank you for making my brother a happy man.”

  Lucy laughed. Tightly. “It is wonderful to meet you, Mr. Harris.”

  “Mr. Harris?” Colby frowned. “No, I am Colby to you. What is your name?”

  The tightness left Lucy’s face. “Lucy.”

  “Wonderful.” Colby said.

  “Colby?” a woman called from down the hall. “Who’s arrived?”

  Kent watched his mother move through the crowd. She was a dazzling woman. Both Colby and Kent had inherited her green eyes and dark hair. She emphasized her own coloring by wearing mainly violets, which made her skin glow.

  “Mama.” Colby said. “Kent is married!”

  “Married?” The dowager made a face that was the very definition of surprise and disgust, but she switched into a smile so quickly that Kent was certain he’d been the only one to see it. “Married, Ganden? Whatever were you thinking? Your brother is getting married. How unkind of you steal the stage by pulling this off.” The words were said in a teasing light, but he knew she was serious.

  The darkness that had taken root in his spirit decades ago began to bloom.

  His mother turned to Lucy. “My, aren’t you stunning? However did Ganden trick you into becoming his bride?”

  Lucy laughed, still in a good mood from both Colby and Teresa’s kindness. “I have no idea. It all just…happened.”

  The dowager glanced at Lady Teresa and then at Lucy again before her smile widened. “Come. I must introduce the woman around who has made me a dowager.”

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  2 6

  * * *

  Lucy knew before she even arrived that she’d be stepping into something. Meeting her husband’s family had made her nervous for all the usual reasons, but now…there was something wrong. Something not right in the air.

  She could feel it, but she didn’t know what it was.

  She liked Colby immediately and though she was angry with Ganden, she liked Colby even more for the way he treated his brother as though Ganden could do no wrong. Ganden was clearly a hero in his younger brother’s eyes, and she wanted the story behind that.

  Or perhaps, it was simply sibling love. Lucy had loved Jessica just the same no matter what she did. The greatest disagreement they’d had was Jessica’s obsession with Lord Maltsby.

  “I’ve never seen you before, Lady Lucy.” the dowager said as they started down the hall. “Where are you from? Who are your parents?”

  Lucy smiled. “My father was the Earl of Hattingdon.”

  “Really?” The dowager seemed surprised. “And where did you meet...my son?” Had there been hesitation in her claiming Ganden?

  “Oh…” She should have expected this question. Why hadn’t she and Ganden created a story? She pulled in quick breath at the horrible thought that he might tell them the truth. That she’d been a servant for Mr. Goody and had aided in his captivity. “We met…at a party given by Lord Denhallow.” It had been Denhallow’s first party in years.

  “Oh, that was only a few weeks ago.” The dowager stopped and looked at Lucy. “You mean, you met and fell in love that easily?”

  Lucy swallowed.

  The dowager narrowed her eyes. “Lucy, you must tell me what my son has done. If I am capable of it, I will help you, get you out of this trouble.” She touched her own chest. “Think of me as your ally, my dear. No woman in her right mind would look at my boy and see love. He’s a beast and a wild one at that.”

  Lucy looked around just to make sure no one else in the hall was listening.

  The dowager touched her shoulder to regain her attention. “Tell me now. Did he threaten you?”

  Yes.

  “Beat you?” the dowager went on. “Are you hiding scars underneath that dreadful gown?”

  “No.” Lucy touched her sleeve. There was no point in pretending the dress wasn’t as dreadful as it was. “Ganden would never hit me.”

  The dowager grunted. “I think him capable of anything. Here, let me help you. I know a few magistrates. If you’re in a hard position, we can get this wedding annulled before anything comes of it.”

  “Comes of it?” Lucy asked.

  “Children.” the dowager said impatiently. “You do not wish to have children with Ganden.”

  She didn’t. Did she? No, of course, she didn’t! He’d blackmailed her into this marriage. And his mother was willing to get her out. But should she trust the dowager? Something had begun to nag in the back of her mind a few minutes ago, but now it was urgent.

  She couldn’t leave Ganden. She needed the earl to protect her nephew. That’s why she’d done this. If she divorced him and went on her own, Mr. Maltsby would likely come after her.

  She had no choice but to remain with the man the dowager had called a beast, because it was his wildness that Lucy needed. And, she had to admit she liked his wildness.

  Lucy straightened her shoulders. “You’ve no reason to worry, my lady. I married Ganden willingly and he has been very good to us.”

  “Us?” The dowager gasped. “Are you already with child? Oh, no.” She touched her cheeks as real panic filled her. Then she grabbed Lucy’s arms and cut her off before she could speak. Leaning close, she said, “You’re in a terrible position, my dear. I can help you. I know a woman. She can make all your troubles go away.”

  Lucy frowned. “A woman?”

  The dowager lifted a brow and whispered, “The baby. She can get rid of it.”

  An ugly and horrible feeling filled Lucy’s blood. It stuck like mud and there was no shaking it off. “My lady, I am not with child. Even if I were, I would never, never get rid of my child. The us I spoke of is my nephew and I. Ganden has treated him very well.”

  The dowager shook her head. “Don’t trust him. It is all a trick, my dear. The moment you turn your head, he will show you his true self.”

  Lucy stared at her and had to hold back a laugh, because nothing about this situation was funny. “Trust me, I have seen Ganden at his worst.” She’d spent two years with him. Two years of healing his wounds, feeding him, seeing him fight his chains and the man who’d put him in them. Over and over again, he’d had the opportunity to hurt her and he hadn’t.

  Even that day when she’d held a chair over his head— with strength she’d never known she possessed— he’d never stopped her. And he could have.

  She’d made herself vulnerable to him over and over again and he’d never attacked her.

  He was angry, yes. There was so much anger in him that if one tried to throw it into the ocean, the waters would likely fill and flood the world. But he was in control of himself and likely had more control than any man she knew. She was not pleased by him at the moment, but Ganden was not her enemy. He pushed her often enough to think so, but then he’d switch in a blink.

  He was the most confusing man she knew. What did he want from her?

  She stared at the dowager. “Have you seen Ganden hit a woman?”

  The dowager seemed startled by the question. “Well, my dear, one doesn’t have to see something to know it’s true.”

  “So, you’ve heard a woman say he struck her?”

  The dowager frowned and pulled away. “Look at him. He’s a brute, and he’s mad. What else would a man like him do?”

  Lucy recalled Ganden’s speaking of defining one’s self before others could do so.

  His mother clearly had the wrong defi
nition of her son. Yes, he was wild, but Lucy didn’t think him mad. Maybe confused. Maybe hurt, because it was clear that the dowager didn’t love Ganden. He’d told her that was the case, and yet Lucy hadn’t believed him until now.

  “Why do you hate the earl?” Lucy had to ask. Was there something she was missing? Had she placed her nephew in a dangerous situation? Or, did the truth have something to do with the secret Lucy had uncovered months ago? The one that was known to very few.

  Ganden was not the true earl.

  Lucy only knew it because she’d opened a letter address to Lord Maltsby a few months ago.

  She’d burned it and every missive from the gentleman after that. Lord Maltsby’s plan had always been to release the lords from their captivity, but first, he’d needed leverage.

  But the lords had been released before he could find it…and that had given Lord Maltsby new reason to find his leverage. He’d known he’d be finished if the lords ever found out he’d been involved. He’d wanted to blackmail them into remaining with the bank, so he’d sent men out with enough money to get that leverage.

  And every piece that had come, Lucy had burned.

  Ganden had been born of an affair his mother had had with a servant. She’d been pregnant before her wedding. Ganden’s father had told the Duke of Van Dero. Then, years later, Lord Van Dero had been involved with Ganden’s kidnapping.

  If Ganden ever found out about the Duke of Van Dero…it would not be good for anyone.

  She suspected Ganden would murder him, and she couldn’t allow that.

  For now, Lord Van Dero was silent. He believed the matter put to rest and at his advanced age would likely go to the grave with his secret.

  That was Lucy’s hope.

  Lucy almost hoped that the dowager had another reason for hating Ganden as she did, but only because she wanted to find some sort of respect for this woman. Because if she hated Ganden for reasons not his own, then Lucy would never like her.

  The dowager sighed. “He was always a naughty and complaining boy. He was needy and always clinging to me. He was nothing like my sweet Colby.” The woman smiled. “Colby is everything to me.”

  And Ganden was nothing? The reason was clear then. Ganden had been punished for being born. Poor Ganden. Did he even know the truth?

  No. He didn’t. She was sure of it. Because, if he ever found out, it would break him.

  Something cool and strong filled her chest. It was like metal. Unbreakable. She often felt it for George. There were moments she became a warrior and would stop at nothing to protect him.

  On a vastly smaller scale, she felt that for Ganden, but now it grew and became stronger.

  Understanding him and what he’d grown up around helped define her own position in this marriage.

  She was his wife. It was time she started acting like it.

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  2 7

  * * *

  Kent spent the rest of the party avoiding his family. And Lucy. He moved around the groups of people he’d known for years until he could stand it no more. Now, he stood in a corner of the garden, the same place he had as a boy, and watched the guests as he sipped from his glass.

  His family often had parties. Great crowds came to fawn over his mother and father.

  His father had been a military hero in his days of youth and a great man in Parliament. His mother’s beauty alone had had grown her reputation and made her someone you didn’t wish to anger.

  Kent had tried everything he could to please her, but eventually, when it had finally become clear that she would rather him dead…when it had become clear that both his parents would rather him gone, he’d given up.

  Any love he’d had for them had been twisted and turned until it was unrecognizable, becoming something vicious and ugly.

  He gasped and looked down to find his glass had snapped into two. His palm was bleeding. He’d felt the bite of the glass and then nothing right before the pain began to bloom with the blood. Setting his glass aside, he went through the back of the house and entered a door, hoping it would lead to a washroom.

  Colby had invited him a few times to the residence, but Kent had refused his every offer, not wishing to be around his mother for long. The dowager lived with Colby. Kent quickly discovered he should have taken at least one of the invites when he wandered into the wrong room.

  This was no washroom. It was a sitting room and the sight that greeted him forced Kent to blink and make sure he was seeing things correctly. There was Lady Teresa, but the man she was standing by the window with was not Colby. The woman looked over at him with a look that spoke of guilt. Though, he hadn’t actually seen them do anything.

  Teresa’s hands simply gripped the other man’s lapel. A conversation had been going on.

  The other lord had looked far from pleased by what they’d been discussing and when he looked at Kent, that displeasure grew. “This is far from what you think it is, my lord.” Lord St. John said. Kent was familiar with him and his family. He was a tall gentleman with a long face and dark hair and eyes. He was only a few years older than Kent.

  Lady Teresa let St. John go and turned to Kent. “Yes, it is not what you think.”

  “I’m not even sure what you believe I saw.” Kent said.

  St. John relaxed. “It was a discussion. Nothing more.”

  Kent nodded.

  Teresa’s eyes widened as they dropped to his hand. “You’re bleeding. Let me get a servant for you.”

  “I don’t need a servant.” Kent said.

  “Then let me help you.” She moved forward.

  He allowed it, but only because he wanted answers from her.

  Lord St. John looked relieved and quickly left the room.

  “What was that about?” Kent asked as he moved over to a water bowl. He poured what was in the pitcher over his hand, clearing his palm so he could see the cut.

  It wasn’t terrible. It wouldn’t require stitching either.

  Teresa handed him a towel. “I…had a favor to ask St. John. He said no. So…it doesn’t matter now.” Her eyes were downcast. Then she looked up at Kent. “Swear that you won’t tell Colby. I wouldn’t want him to worry for no reason.”

  He inclined his head. As he’d said, he’d seen nothing, and St. John hadn’t looked like he’d been ready to pleasure Teresa in any way. “Are you in trouble?”

  She stared at him and smiled. “Don’t trouble yourself with it. Now, if you don’t mind, I must return to Colby. This party is for us, after all.”

  Kent nodded and then gave her his back. He heard her leave.

  Once she was gone, he moved over to the decanter in the corner of the room and picked up the brandy. Taking it to the bowl, he poured a liberal amount over his palm. He cursed at the sting.

  “What are you doing?”

  He spun around and looked at his wife.

  Lucy stared at his hands and then his palm. The table also had the stained towel upon it. “Are you hurt?” She walked over to him.

  “I don’t need help.” he said.

  She took his hand anyway. “You’ve said that to me before. Let me have a look.”

  He had said it to her many times in the beginning of his captivity. He could remember her coming to his room after a day of rebellion against Mr. Goody.

  She used that same familiar care with him now. But it was too much.

  He took his hand away. “How was time with my mother? Charming, isn’t she?” He took out his own handkerchief and wrapped it around his wound.

  She looked up at him. “I don’t think I like her.”

  He tried to understand her words, going over them one by one in his head and then stringing them back together to try and make sense of them. “You don’t like her?”

  Everyone loved his mother. He was the only one who didn’t, but that was because he’d been rejected far too many times to even try anymore.

  “She’s not a nice woman, Ganden.” Lucy reasoned. “She pretends to be nice, but it is
only a game.”

  “Yes!” His eyes widened. Finally, someone else saw that woman for who she was. But then he thought of something else. “Was she unkind to you?” If his mother had made Lucy feel uncomfortable in any way…

  He glared at the door. He’d never shouted at his mother, but he thought he would now. The lady still lived under his care. Their father had left her nothing. Everything she had, Kent paid for. He was even still supporting Colby. Apparently, Colby had put his life on hold to search for Kent. He’d only just begun an apprenticeship in law. It would take some time before he could afford the life he was currently living on his own and Kent saw no issue footing the bill. He wondered if Lady Teresa was aware of that fact.

  But his mother…He’d cut her dry if she dared.

  Lucy’s cupped his chin and turned him to look at her. “You’ll leave your mother be. She doesn’t matter.”

  Kent was nearly thirty and never had he had an ally on his side. Could Lucy be that ally?

  Her fingers brushed his cheek before she pulled them away, but that gentle move struck him hard with heat. And her expression. Warm didn’t begin to describe it. It was completely engulfing.

  “What game do you play?” he asked.

  “What game do you wish me to play?” she asked boldly.

  He cursed and took a step back. He couldn’t be near her right now. He needed what she was offering far too much. “Return to the party before they realize we’re both gone.”

  “And what if they realize we’re gone?” Lucy crossed her arms. “Whatever will they think we’re up to?”

  He sat and shook his head. He shook it at her as much as he tried to shake the lewd thoughts that were starting to present themselves in his mind. “I gave you an order, Lucy. Return to the party.”

  She dropped her arm and he looked away. He didn’t want her to go. Not really. He simply needed her gone. He was used to being alone. He didn’t want more.

  He didn’t trust…

  She cupped his chin again and turned him to look at her. Her eyes were like calamite stone and held a wealth of heat. “I’m done taking orders.” She laid her lips on his, and his entire world lit up like a firework.