Page 19 of Falling for the Earl (Improper Ladies #2)

A s Lucy leaned against Hugh’s powerful body, she longed for when they could be together alone as husband and wife. Hugh was determined to undertake the journey in one day. Lucy had hoped to spend another night at an inn with him. Then perhaps… She put her fingers to her lips, surprised at how bold she’d become.

Hugh’s face looked thoughtful in the shadow of his beaver hat. She would have liked to ask him if he’d enjoyed what they had shared. But with Mrs. Bromley’s disapproving silence behind her, she couldn’t.

The horses responded well to his hands on the reins. He seemed so calm and confident in everything he did. She wanted to lean against him, for some of his warmth and strength to seep into her tired bones, but apart from her thinking it too presumptuous, she feared she’d fall asleep.

As if reading her mind, Hugh’s strong arm settled her against him. “Rest, sweetheart,” he said, his deep voice rumbling in his chest where she lay her head.

A glance behind her told her Mrs. Bromley had fallen asleep, her knitting on her lap, her bonnet pushed down over her eyes.

Lucy had never felt so safe. She closed her heavy lids, and at the soporific effect caused by the pounding rhythm of the thoroughbreds, she too, slept.

She woke to darkness when they reached London, and the gas lamps lit up the darkness in Pall Mall.

When Hugh helped her down outside her aunt’s house, Lucy hurried inside with him, eager to tell her aunt about Anabel. The thought went immediately out of her head when Aunt Mary, in sad disarray, her shawl askew and wearing only one earring, which was so unlike her, almost stumbled across the drawing room carpet to fling herself into Lucy’s arms, with a burst of loud sobbing. “I thought I’d lost you. How could I ever tell your father?” she wailed.

Lucy felt a little guilty. Somehow, Rattray had faded from her mind, banished by Hugh’s kisses. She hoped what had happened between them wasn’t evident on her face. “I am perfectly well, Aunt, really. When Rattray tried to shoot Lord Dorchester, the earl shot and killed him.”

Her aunt drew in a sharp breath. “The villain! Lord Dorchester, how can I ever thank you?” She croaked, swiveling to Hugh. She dabbed her eyes with a sodden handkerchief.

“It’s entirely unnecessary, Mrs. Grayswood. My reward is to bring Miss Kershaw home safe.”

Aunt Mary stared at him for a moment, then turned back to Lucy, whose arm she still held as if Lucy might vanish into thin air. “I am so sorry, my dear. What a fool I was to be taken in by Rattray.”

“He deceived a lot of people,” Hugh said.

“Where are my manners? Please sit, my lord. Allow me to order you a libation. You must be parched.”

“Thank you, I must go. Miss Kershaw’s chaperone, Mrs. Bromley, is in the carriage. I’m to take her to her sister’s house in Cheapside. And I mustn’t leave my tired horses standing.”

“Oh, yes, of course. You’ve had a long journey.”

Hugh smiled. “No need to see me out.” He turned to Lucy. “I’ll call in a day or so, Miss Kershaw.”

After Lucy returned to the drawing room, Aunt Mary drew her over to the sofa. “Your face is bruised! Did that scoundrel Rattray hurt you?” Her anxious gaze roamed Lucy’s face. “I was so afraid he would—”

The thought of Rattray forcing himself on her made Lucy’s stomach lurch. “No. He didn’t. The horrid man intended to take me to Scotland and marry me there. Lord Dorchester and Mr. Beaufort arrived in time to stop him from driving away with me in his carriage.”

“Wed you? In Scotland?” Aunt Mary cried, looking horrified. “What a duplicitous rogue!” She shook her head. “What a fool I was… I had thought…”

“He gave you good reason to believe it, Aunt Mary. He was very cunning.”

“Indeed, he was. But you saw through him, didn’t you, Lucy?”

“I didn’t like him, that’s true. But I certainly never suspected him capable of such evil.”

Lucy still trembled, thinking about how Rattray had planned to hurt her father. But that was at an end, she reminded herself. The man was dead. She shivered and shoved away the grim image of his body lying, bleeding, at her feet. “He planned for us to marry because he knew, if the marquess and his sons died, Papa would inherit the title and estate.”

Her aunt looked startled. “That’s what I wished to tell you. News has reached London from Carlisle. Berwick’s two sons have died, poisoned, it’s said. But the marquess still clings to life.”

“Dear heavens!” Lucy put her hands to her mouth as her chest tightened, robbing her of breath. “Rattray was a murderer of children!” she gasped out. “He confessed to me that he was responsible for their deaths.”

Aunt Mary looked confused. “But how could he be, when he was here with us?”

“He paid a servant to poison the house’s water.” Lucy rubbed her eyes. She wanted to sleep for a week. “When I’ve rested, Aunt, I’ll tell you all of it.”

“Yes, of course.” Aunt Mary jumped up. She chewed her lip and fretted, as if eager to forget what Lucy had just said. “You’re exhausted, my dear. After you’ve had your supper, you shall go straight to bed.”

Lucy stretched. “I would love a bath.” She wanted to wash away all traces of Rattray’s hands on her.

Her aunt rose. “Of course. I’ll order Maisie to bring up the hip bath and hot water to your bedchamber.”

“Oh, Aunt, I must tell you! Lord Dorchester believes he has discovered where Anabel has gone.”

“His lordship knows where she is?” Her aunt shook her head, as though she struggled to believe it. “How? Where is she?”

“It’s not certain, but Mr. Connor has family in Killarney. Hugh believes that’s where he would have taken Anabel.”

“Then I must undertake the journey to Ireland to find her.” Aunt Mary straightened her back. At the door, she turned to Lucy. “You called the earl ‘Hugh.’” She frowned. “Lucy, I know you are grateful to him, but he is a betrothed man.”

“I shouldn’t, I know,” Lucy said, feeling she couldn’t tell her aunt more until Hugh returned. “But I have grown so fond of him.” But she wanted an end to secrecy and lies. And once they were married, she was determined to be a proper lady.

“Oh, my dear, of course you have.” She patted Lucy’s hand. “We are both very grateful to him. And I suppose for him to go all that way to rescue you, one must think he cares for your welfare. But don’t expect too much, Lucy.” She went to ring the bell. “Now for your bath and your supper.” Lucy smiled and hugged her secret to herself for just a little longer, before it became known. What would the ton make of it?

Relaxed after her supper and the bath, Lucy settled down in bed. She went over everything that had happened in her mind. She wriggled with pleasure at what had occurred between Hugh and her in the inn bedchamber. Hugh’s kisses… He was muscular and strong and yet his hands were gentle. She loved his masculine smell. How silky his dark hair had felt sliding through her fingers.

Lucy sighed and thumped her pillow. Lucy would never tell a soul about Miss Ashton. It meant such a lot to her that Hugh desired her instead, and trusted her with his secrets. How he looked at her! The soft light of love in his eyes made her sink back and sigh. She groaned. She wished that this hadn’t come to mind. Now she would never be able to rest. But, surprisingly, as soon as she closed her eyes, Morpheus, the god of sleep, claimed her.

*

As soon as Hugh walked into the house, Sarah ran to meet him. “You didn’t tell Mama or me where you were going,” she accused him.

He took his mail from the silver salver in the entry hall. “Must I tell you everything?” He eyed her, suddenly worried. “Is Mama ill again?”

“ Au contraire , she’s dressing to go to a dinner party. She will be pleased to see you.”

“That’s good news. She must be feeling better. It’s just you and I for this evening, then. How about a game of chess?”

Sarah grinned. “Yes, please.” As he walked to the library for a brandy, she called him back. “I thought I’d ask Lucy to ride with me tomorrow. I’m sure Mr. Beaufort will join us if you come too.”

“Leave it for a few days, will you, Sarah? I’m a little weary.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You can be out until dawn and are never too tired to ride. I don’t believe you, but there’s no point in me attempting to find out where you’ve been.”

“How do you know when I’m out until dawn? You are worse than the Spanish Inquisition.” Hugh laughed. “But I’m pleased you’ve come to accept that you can’t pry too much into a fellow’s activities, Sarah. Or you’ll make a most annoying wife for someone.”

“Was Mr. Beaufort with you?”

Amused, he raised a casual eyebrow. “Why do you ask?”

“He canceled our engagement. He was to accompany me to Hyde Park to see the Great Fair to celebrate the Allied sovereigns’ visit to England. There are stalls and shows, and the Battle of Trafalgar is to be reenacted on the Serpentine. I was very disappointed, and I found his excuse rather vague. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he’d lost interest in me.”

By her expression, she was obviously upset. As Luke had spoken of little else but Sarah on their journey north, it was clear that he’d missed her, and his feelings had not changed one iota. Hugh held her shoulders. “That is definitely not the case, Sarah. Luke was away from London. He assisted me when Lucy was kidnapped by her aunt’s friend, Mr. Rattray.”

Sarah gasped. “Poor Lucy! Tell me more, Hugh!”

“Rattray took Lucy to a hut near Epping Forest,” Hugh said. “Luke and I were able to rescue her. I’m not about to explain it all to you. Lucy can if she wishes.”

Sarah put her hands to her face. “But that’s horrible. Is Lucy all right?”

“Yes, she appears to have recovered well from her ordeal.”

Sarah twisted the cameo ring on her finger, her eyes distraught. “I must go and see her.”

“Of course. But not for a few days, Sarah. She is very tired.”

“What did that nasty individual want with her?”

“He had some absurd plan to marry her and benefit financially from her father’s inheritance.” He shrugged. “Completely mad.”

“How terrifying for Lucy.” Sarah gasped. “Oh, I forgot, Hugh. I am sorry.”

Hugh turned back to her again, with a heavy sigh. “For what, Sarah?”

“Tomorrow is Saturday. The day of Miss Ashton’s wedding.”

He smiled. “I hadn’t forgotten. I’ll see you at dinner.”

Hugh entered the library and shut the door. The candles were ablaze, and a small fire had been lit waiting his return. He went to the drinks tray, poured a glass of brandy, and took his favorite wing chair. Stretching his legs out toward the heat, he wondered how Lucy fared after the nightmare Rattray had inflicted on her. She was stronger than she looked, thank God. And after tomorrow, he planned to see the couple off at the docks on Sunday. If they were there. Because the wedding was held in Canterbury, and he’d been advised not to attend it, he had hoped to receive a letter of confirmation from Sir Phillip. If things went as he hoped, he would invite Lucy to join them in Hyde Park at the Great Fair, where they could speak of their wedding and the future. He knew they would be happy together. There had always been something strong between them. It wasn’t merely attraction, or desire he felt, although there was certainly that. Whenever they were together, it felt so right to be with her. Was it foolish to believe she was his soul mate? Yet he believed it so. He needed a lifetime to discover all those things about Lucy he did not yet know. To love her and have the absolute pleasure in making her happy. Once they were betrothed, he would quash any rumors about Lucy before they hurt his mother and sister.

When he sifted through his mail, he found a letter from Isabel. Slightly unnerved, he snatched up the letter opener from his desk. Slitting the paper, he read it while standing.

Isabel wrote that her father had suffered a change of heart. Hugh tensed and read on. Sir Phillip had offered Isabel an alternative. She could go away into the country with her mother until the birth. A good home would be found for the babe. Then she would return and enjoy life as a free woman. Isabel’s tears smudged the page. As if I could part with my baby! But we can’t be married without Papa’s consent , she wrote. Smudged ink spots blotted the page. I am underage, as you know. I remain hopeful Papa will support us. Should Michael and I marry as planned, we will set sail from London docks the following day, Sunday, on the evening tide. If you could come and see us off, we would love to see you.

Hugh groaned, profoundly sorry for Isabel as he sat in the chair, his drink untouched. Might Lady Ashton hold out some hope he and Isabel would still marry in the future? If so, she would be disappointed and should instead allow her daughter to marry the man she loves. As would he. Hugh firmed his jaw. There was no way he’d allow anyone to stand between him and Lucy. He’d go to the docks on Sunday to see if Isabel and Mr. Benson were about to sail. He’d wave them off to their new life with the hope that it would treat Isabel well.

The door opened and his mother peeked in. “Well, here you are at last, Hugh. Where have you been?”

“It’s a long story, Mama.”

She stepped inside and he saw she was dressed in a lavender evening gown with diamonds at her throat. “Tell me tomorrow. I am dining with the Constables.”

He smiled, delighted with how much brighter she seemed. “You look ravishing.”

She laughed. “Every woman should have a son to compliment her.”

The door closed again and left Hugh with his uneasy thoughts.