Page 19 of Dare to Tempt an Earl This Spring (Wedding Fever #1)

Two days later

T homas enjoyed the late afternoon sun that cast a golden hue over his estate as he and Sebastian walked side by side, leading their horses back to the stables. “Something is wrong.”

“What do you mean?” Sebastian asked, shooting him a quick glance.

“Lady Ashley is avoiding me,” Thomas confessed, an edge of frustration creeping into his voice.

Sebastian arched a brow. “I haven’t noticed anything. She’s been her outspoken self at all the meals.”

“At all the meals, yes, but she’s been fleeing to her chamber afterward,” Thomas said, absently patting his horse’s neck as they approached the stable entrance. His steps slowed, the familiar environment feeling suddenly foreign.

“We’ve been training Lady Maude for two days, so don’t read into things that might not be there,” Sebastian reassured him.

Thomas frowned and shook his head. “No, she’s definitely avoiding me.” He handed the reins of his horse to a stable hand who had come to meet them. “On the outside, she’s still all teasing grins and flirty words, but the moment we’re alone, she makes an excuse and flees. It’s as if…as if she’s afraid to be alone with me.” The memory of their shared moment beneath the tree played in his mind. Had he been too hasty?

Sebastian, having handed off his own horse, turned to face him fully, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. “Afraid? Of you?” he asked, skepticism lacing his words. “I find that hard to believe.”

Thomas groaned, running a hand through his hair. “It’s been like this since that afternoon. I was perhaps a touch too…” His voice trailed off as he leaned against the stable door, staring off into the distance.

“Are you not a bit too quick to imagine the worst? I still believe you’re seeing something that isn’t there.” Sebastian crossed his arms, leaning casually against the stable wall.

Thomas let out a frustrated sigh.

“You’ve known her for a week,” Sebastian pointed out.

“It’s more than that,” Thomas insisted.

Sebastian arched an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Thomas muttered.

“Maybe she’s just playing a game,” Sebastian suggested with a shrug, his tone light. “Women enjoy keeping us on our toes, after all.”

“A game?” Thomas echoed, his brow furrowing in confusion. “What kind of game?”

Sebastian smirked, pushing off the wall and taking a step closer. “Oh, you know, the kind where they test your patience, make you question everything you thought you knew about them. It’s all part of their charm, really.”

Thomas rolled his eyes, though a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “The thrill of uncertainty? You sound like a bad poet. Lady Ashley is not like that.”

“All women are like that.”

“You don’t know many women, do you, old friend?”

“And you do?” Sebastian shot back, a challenge in his tone.

“More than you, apparently.”

Sebastian grinned, clapping Thomas on the shoulder. “Perhaps you do, but it doesn’t make me any less right. Lady Ashley seems to be a force to be reckoned with. If she’s pulling away, it might not be because of anything you’ve done—it might be because she wants you to notice. She wants you to wonder, to question, to—”

“To drive me mad?” Thomas cut in, feeling exasperated. She’d been doing that from the very start.

“Precisely,” Sebastian replied, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “And from the looks of it, she’s succeeding admirably.”

Thomas let out a heavy sigh, some of the tension in his shoulders finally starting to ease. But a strange feeling still churned in his gut. He was a man accustomed to action, to solving problems with a directness that had served him well dealing with matters of business. But this—this was a different kind of matter altogether, one that left him feeling utterly powerless. “You’re enjoying this far too much,” he muttered, though there was no real heat in his voice.

“Of course I am,” Sebastian admitted with a broad grin. “It’s not every day I get to see the great Earl of Linsey, renowned for his cool head and steady hand, brought to his knees by a mere slip of a woman.”

“Careful, Seb,” Thomas warned. “Lest I remind you of the time you were rendered speechless by that French duchess.”

Sebastian winced, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Touché. But in all seriousness, Thomas, if you’re truly concerned, then talk to her. Confront her—gently, of course. Find out what’s on her mind.”

“She’s not a shy fawn. She’s a lady.”

“Show her your respect then. While you are at it, give the chit a jewel. Perhaps a ring.”

Right. A ring .

He’d forgotten about it again.

But only because he’d been dwelling on her avoidance.

And it’s not like he hadn’t approached her with the intention of probing her mind. However, whenever they did converse, his thoughts tended to drift toward other matters, like her lips, and she wasn’t much help either. Was it even possible to have a serious conversation when she set her mind to teasing him? Or flashed that impish smile of hers?

He felt utterly powerless in the face of that smile. But he had to at least try, or he would be endlessly plagued with worry.

“Tomorrow, maybe,” he said to Sebastian. Tonight, he wanted to spend time in the stables. He wasn’t going to get any sleep anyway. And one of the mares was about to give birth at any moment. If he were to speak to her, he would have to do it when he was clearer of mind.

Lady Ashley was unlike any woman he had ever known—fierce, independent, and utterly unpredictable. And it was precisely these qualities that made her so captivating…and so impossible to read. Which was why he had decided to name this foal after her.

Lady Ash.

That would be his surprise.

Whatever her reasons for avoiding him, he had to get to the bottom of it. He had to.

As he contemplated his next steps, a stable hand hurried toward him, waving a letter. “This just arrived, my lord.”

Thomas frowned, taking the note, his heart sinking as he recognized the crest on the bright red seal. “It’s from Paisley.”

Sebastian leaned in, curiosity sparking in his gaze. “What does it say?”

Thomas broke the seal and unfolded the note, his hand tightening around the paper as he read the arrogant scrawl. “It’s not what he says,” he murmured, his voice tense as he glanced up, expression grave. “It’s what he asks.”

Sebastian’s brow furrowed, his head tilting.

“What does he ask?” Thomas’s grip tightened further.

At the upcoming Ascot’s, I shall be accompanied by an esteemed acquaintance, one well-versed in the finer points of thoroughbreds. Our meeting will undoubtedly lead to the discussion of the fine horses that are destined to become my own as my companion possesses some rather enlightening insights regarding Lady Ashley Chaswick—insights that will surely tilt the scales of fortune in my favor concerning our little wager. Rest assured, this revelation will secure my triumph.

Regards,

Richard Ballard, the Duke of Paisley

“Who’s this companion?” Thomas grimaced. “Is he attached?”

“Paisley attached? To his mirror image perhaps. A man without a heart can’t give it. Also can’t let a woman break it.”

“How very Shakespeare of you, Seb. But better to love and l—” yet he couldn’t get himself to say the words. “It has something to do with the wager, not women.”

“What if it’s not one or the other?” Sebastian asked. “I have started to ask some questions about Lady Ashley.”

“Seb, this is awfully kind of you, but I trust her.”

“You do perhaps. I, however, am your friend and it is my duty to look out for you.”

“She’s not a threat, Seb. She’s wonderful.”

“Wonderfully cunning if she knows and wonderfully naive if she doesn’t.”

Thomas didn’t appreciate the insinuation. “Tread carefully when you speak about my future wife.”

Sebastian cocked his head. “I’m just saying that there are some dark secrets in her family. Be careful.”

“Just tell me what you know and let me decide what to do with it.”

“All right. Sit.” Sebastian started. “How well do you know your fiancée?”

*

My heart is all yours.

Those five words haunted her every waking hour.

At the start, she’d wanted him to lose everything he cherished, which at the time had been the horses he had held dear. But now, because of those five words, she didn’t need to go that far. Couldn’t bear to go that far.

So, why haven’t you walked away yet?

No matter how tempting it might be to forget all that had happened between them, to let herself be swept up in the dangerous game they were playing, she wouldn’t falter.

Not yet.

Not until she had what she came for.

And yet.

Thomas.

His name echoed in her mind like a lament.

Ashley peered out her window to where Thomas trained his horses with Sebastian. His jacket was draped carelessly over a fence post, his sleeves rolled up to reveal arms that, even from this distance, looked well-defined and powerful. She had a perfect vantage point from her chamber, shielded behind lace curtains that veiled her from the world outside. The sun was beginning its descent, casting a warm glow over the fields, though Thomas looked anything but relaxed.

Handsome.

No. No, no, no!

She couldn’t think of him as handsome. But neither could she deny it. Handsome was hardly a strong enough word; the man was breathtaking. Truly dashing. Anyone who claimed otherwise was simply lying—to the world or to themselves. Fine, so he was perfect. But did he have to look so unbearably handsome while training a horse? He should have been a sweaty mess, but instead, he took her breath away.

Ashley sighed, pressing a hand to her chest. She’d been avoiding him for the past two days, struggling to clear her mind. She had to decide what to do next. A familiar carriage caught her eye as it rolled up the drive.

Her heart skipped—she recognized it instantly.

A wide grin broke across Ashley’s face. Without a second thought, she dashed from her chamber, her skirts fluttering as she hurried down the stairs. By the time she reached the foyer, the footman had just opened the door, and her two friends were stepping down from the carriage that had halted before the castle.

“Charlene! Sera!”

“Ashley!” Charlene replied with a bright smile, sweeping forward with Sera by her side. She laughed as they gathered each other into a spirited group hug.

Ashley pulled back, surprised but delighted. “I didn’t think you’d arrive so quickly after I sent the note!”

“Yes, well, we’ve been waiting on pins and needles ever since you left,” Sera said, a knowing smile lighting her face.

Ashley could hardly contain her happiness. She hadn’t seen her friends in ages! Well, not so long ago, perhaps, but it certainly felt like ages upon ages. So much had happened since they last had tea together the day—Ashley swallowed hard—Thomas proposed.

Sera suddenly laughed. “I believe we’ve rendered our friend speechless, Char!”

Quite right. So much had happened that Ashley wasn’t sure whether to blurt it all out at once or order tea and reveal it bit by bit.

“Speechless, indeed! And here I was thinking you might have forgotten us altogether. Did you know that we had to find out about your engagement from The Times ?”

“You did not.” Ashley tilted her head.

“But your mother did, and she was seething. Told mine all about it,” Charlene said over her shoulder.

“I’m afraid she will pay your betrothed her respects,” Sera said with the look a doctor had when delivering the news of a fatal diagnosis. “You should insist your father accompany her.”

“He hasn’t been able to control her in a long time.” Never actually. But Ashley didn’t have time to worry about her parents now.

Charlene’s gaze swept over the estate grounds. “So, where is your betrothed?”

“You mean my foe ,” Ashley muttered, unsure how best to refer to the earl in front of her friends.

Charlene and Sera exchanged a knowing look, and Sera remarked, “That is not the look one gives one’s foe.”

No, of course not. It was the look one gave to a foe turned—well, not quite a lover, but something else that couldn’t yet be explained.

Ashley sighed. “It’s hard to explain.”

“Do not tell me you’ve fallen for the earl’s charm?” Sera asked, amusement dancing in her eyes.

Charlene looked back with astonishment. “The earl has charm?”

Ashley crossed her arms, feigning indignation. “I haven’t fallen for anything .” Just everything.

“Ashley!” Sera’s tone was gentle but firm. “You do remember why you approached him, don’t you?”

“As if I could forget.” She could practically feel the weight of it, a cloud looming overhead that refused to blow away, despite the breezes sweeping the estate grounds.

“Then it’s good we arrived when we did.” Charlene raised a brow. “What happened?”

Ashley swallowed and braced herself. “We kissed.”

Both her friends’ eyes widened in shock. “You kissed?” Charlene asked, her voice just above a whisper.

We did more than that, Ashley thought, though she couldn’t bring herself to say it aloud. She felt half miserable about the entire affair since she felt like her heart had become a fickle mess, and she had started to question her heart ever since she met Linsey.

Sera’s narrow watchful gaze didn’t miss a beat. “And what else happened?” She always had a way of seeing right through her.

Ashley’s cheeks flushed, and she glanced around before saying, “We…may have done a bit more than that, but nothing that would ruin me!” she quickly added, seeing both their expressions turn wider than teacup saucers. Though, that part might not be entirely true. From the moment she met him, Thomas had been unraveling her carefully built defenses. Slowly, persistently, and undeniably.

“You left in a carriage alone with him. That would do the trick of ruination,” Sera said.

Well, the night in the hayloft would, too. But Ashley decided not to dwell on the exact time it had happened. “So what, then I am ruined. It’s a very fragile matter this virtue and all.”

Sera didn’t seem as phased as Charlene, who took a step back as if ruination were contagious.

“What happened to the handsome Mr. Critton? And what about your revenge?” Charlene asked, her voice hushed. “Heaven knows, after all we did to get you introduced!”

“Things are a bit more complicated than they seem.”

“How so?” Sera prompted.

Ashley exhaled, glancing at the grassy path. “I asked him if he’d ever run anyone out of town, and he denied it.”

“And you believe him?” Charlene asked, her brows drawn together.

“Well…I want to. He’s rather honest, in both words and actions.”

“But you can’t know for certain,” Sera said, her tone edged with doubt.

“No, I can’t. Honestly, I don’t know what to do.”

“Break off the engagement,” Sera suggested.

Ashley’s head snapped back. “What?”

“Think about it, Ashley.” Sera’s tone softened as she placed a hand on Ashley’s arm. “The only reason you became engaged to him was because you thought he drove Jordan away. If he didn’t, then you’re engaged to him for nothing.”

“And got ruined for nothing,” Charlene added, her mouth a flat line of resignation.

“Well, not, erm, nothing, ” Ashley muttered under her breath.

“Unless you suddenly want to marry him?” Charlene asked, brow raised. “In which case, I’d have to question your sanity.”

Ashley chuckled dryly. She was questioning it herself already.

“He doesn’t know about Jordan, does he?” Sera asked.

Ashley shook her head. “I have to tell him, though.”

Charlene nodded decisively. “Yes, you do. And I’d suggest being as direct as you were that night at the ball.”

Without warning, Ashley blurted, “He confessed his heart.” She wrung her hands.

Both friends’ eyes widened again. “He did what ?” they exclaimed in unison.

Ashley nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips despite herself.

“What did you do?” Charlene demanded. “Wait—did you use that book? Does it work?” She glanced back toward the carriage. “Where’s the chapter on making men fall in love?”

Ashley shrugged, wrapping her arms around herself. “The book and my charm don’t exactly get along.” And also, she’d forgotten about it. She didn’t even know what she’d done to deserve his heart, which only left her questioning everything between them.

“Well,” Sera said, folding her arms with a grin, “it’s a good thing we are here to help you through this.”

Through love? Ashley didn’t know if anyone but Thomas could help her and yet she couldn’t face him alone.

“We’ll help you with whatever decision you need to make. But it seems clear you should tell him soon,” Sera added. Such a good friend. Innocent and clueless, but so dear.

Ashley tipped her head back, sighing. These days, all her boldness, which she’d had since the moment she’d approached him at that ball, seemed to vanish whenever he was near.

Charlene glanced over her shoulder toward the stables. “And who’s that man I saw at the stables when we passed?” She shaded her eyes. “Handsome, isn’t he?”

Ah, she must be referring to Linsey’s friend Sebastian. Handsome, certainly. And just as annoying, Ashley thought, recalling that overheard conversation when they’d first met. But at least Thomas would have a friend at his side when she told him the truth—just as she now had hers.

She glanced back toward the stables, steadying herself. I should wait for him to return from the stables.

Then she would confess.