Page 143

Lady Elsbeth relaxed and smiled in turn. "No, but I’ll own I feel it healthy for you to be thrown off stride a bit. One can become too complacent.”

“With Aunt Serena and Sir Helmsdon arriving, complacent is the last thing I could be!” she said, laughing, her eyes warming at last.

“Miss Grantley, it is welcome to see you recovered from your unfortunate accident,” drawled the Earl of Royce from the open parlor doorway.

Jane looked up, emotion draining from her features and leaving two bright spots of color in its wake. Royce was dressed in riding attire, his hat and crop tucked under one arm.

“My Lord Royce,” she murmured, dipping slightly while extending her hand.

"You do me an unexpected honor.” Her lashes descended over her eyes, masking the irritation reflected in those twin green pools of light.

"Please come in and sit down. May we offer you anything in the way of refreshments?” She gracefully swept past him and sank onto one of the settees.

She indicated an invitation to be seated with a brief wave of her hand.

“No, thank you anyway. I do not intend to stay long. I only came by to determine if you or Bertram have lingering complications due to your unfortunate contretemps of yesterday.” Taking up a position by the fireplace, he remained standing.

“So kind of you.” It rattled her that he stood, looming over them. He was so damned casual and at ease. He wasn’t even appropriately dressed for visiting!

He laughed shortly. "You’re mistaken. I’m told I’m never kind. Merely curious, meddlesome, and presumptuous. A respite from boredom,” he drawled.

One of Jane’s eyebrows lifted as she absorbed his enigmatic speech. She rose from her seat and moved about the room, restlessly pacing. An odd tingling irritation prickled at her nerves. She must regain control. She mustn’t let this man affect her!

“And in my meddlesome, presumptuous, and bored way,” he continued, “I am curious as to what you decided regarding punishment for Bertram."

“Why?”

He shrugged. "I like the lad.”

Jane’s lips twitched, but she refused to give in to humor. "I must confess, not knowing what my sister and her husband would say, I let the matter drop.”

The earl laughed. "And so the Ice Witch melts.”

"Hardly, sir,” she said repressively to cover confusion.

“Lord Royce,” interrupted Lady Elsbeth. She glanced askance at Jane then continued, her full attention upon the earl. "We are expecting guests in a few days and will be devising entertainments for their enjoyment. May we count upon you to help make up our numbers?”

“Guests?” He frowned a moment. "I did not think you had the notion of entertaining at Penwick.”

“Actually, we don’t,” Lady Elsbeth candidly confided. "But my sister has autocratically decided otherwise,” she continued with a laugh. "She writes that she and some friends will be in the neighborhood for a few days on their way to Brighton."

Out of the corner of his eye, Royce saw a slight frown mar the cold perfection of Miss Grantley’s studied, formal expression. So the upcoming visit did not find favor with the Ice Witch, he thought. Interesting. He wondered why.

“I should be delighted; however, I am expecting company of my own within the next few days,” he said, his hands spreading open in apology.

Jane turned swiftly to face him, her skirts swishing at the sudden movement.

Red flags flew on her cheeks. She stood rigidly, her hands clasped tightly before her as she stared up at him.

"Must you display your prurient interest in the country? Isn’t the city a more apropos setting for that kind of indulgence? ” she inquired coldly.

“Jane!” Lady Elsbeth gasped at both the indelicate suggestion and the tone in which it was proposed.

The ice underlying Jane’s words would have given a lesser man pause. The Earl of Royce merely laughed.

She flushed, gnashing her teeth together while the earl gave himself over to unrestrained mirth.

Despite her anger and chagrin, Jane could not help but note how relaxed and approachable Royce looked in the throes of laughter.

Hardly a devil’s disciple. Laughter even lent his hard, craggy features a certain handsomeness usually missing with his habitual sardonic expression.

These observations did not please her. Royce was not a man to like, let alone call a friend.

And, she told herself, she pitied any woman who called him lover.

“My dear Miss Grantley, you undoubtedly have listened to society’s tales and have allowed your imagination to play upon them. I’m flattered to have come so into your thoughts. But I’m afraid I should disappoint you. My guest is altogether male.”

His last word hung heavy in the air like some unspoken threat or impending thunderstorm. Lady Elsbeth shivered at his tone. She glanced at her niece and noted that Jane blanched as she absorbed his meaning.

Jane bit her lip lightly, silently calling down epithets upon her own head for her unruly tongue.

She could not let him see the extent of her discomfiture.

Her best defense was to take his words in stride without reading further into them.

She tossed her head up and unflinchingly met the earl’s amusement.

"My apologies, my lord. Your guest is, of course, welcome as well, should he be inclined, and you gentlemen need a respite from bachelor fare.” The smile she bestowed on him was brilliant in its calculation, and her eyes glittered with gemlike clarity.

He inclined his head, his lips twitching slightly. "We would be honored. And now ladies, if you will permit me, I should like to take Bertram and Edward riding.”

“Riding!” Jane’s formal cloak slipped away. She struggled, stammering, to capture its comforting folds. "W—why? I mean, they would like nothing better, to be sure. That is very kind of you?—”

“Ah, careful. Remember, I am never kind.”

“Then we are all the more at sea,” interjected Lady Elsbeth, staring at him with a considering expression in her soft hazel eyes.

“Curiosity, my dear Lady Elsbeth. I find myself curious as to how they fare, so surrounded by women.”

“But why?” reiterated Jane. "Why this interest and curiosity for a couple of children? They are no relation to you.”

“That is plain-speaking, is it not?” He sighed and leaned an elbow on the mantelpiece.

"I have asked myself the same question. The only answer I offer is boredom.” He straightened, his expression grave.

He stuck his thumbs into his waistcoat pockets.

"Contrary to popular opinion, I do not mean the children harm, if that is what you fear. I found I like the lads and, as I admitted, I am bored. And while boredom may be fashionable in London, I’m heartily sick of it. ”

“Then why stay here?”

“Because I’ve made a commitment. A commitment to my solicitor, my bankers, my estate agent, and to myself.

” He paced before the hearth. "Six months ago, I was approached with an offer to purchase Royceland Hall, as the property is unentailed. I thought the offer ridiculously low. I laughed it away. My solicitor—ever so humbly and regretfully—advised me it was a good offer and that I’d not get a better one, for the estate had degenerated in the intervening years.

His words were like a bucket of cold water in the face after a night of drinking blue ruin.

I was shocked, angry, and suddenly wide awake.

I could not let Royceland Hall go for a song.

I could not let it be worth so little. So I returned to England and threw myself into the task of consolidating and rebuilding my affairs.

And I will succeed,” he finished firmly.

Then he shook his head in self-disgust and ran his fingers through his hair.

“Diversion is what I desire. From what I have seen of Bertram and Edward, they would make an interesting—and perhaps mildly amusing—diversion. A respite from ledgers and numbers. So you see, I am not kind, I’m selfish. Now, will you allow the boys to accompany me, or not?”

Jane glanced at her Aunt Elsbeth, who nodded. She looked back at the earl, her posture still rigid. "Very well. Please be seated while I ring for a servant to collect the boys.”

She was strangely gratified to see him finally sit. He set his hat and crop next to him and leaned back, his hands lying relaxed along his muscular thighs.

Jeremy so promptly answered her summons that again Jane wondered if the man had been listening at the keyhole.

She would have to break him of that habit or be forced to tell her brother-in-law and possibly see him fired.

It was a pity, for the young footman was efficient.

She swiftly gave him instructions to fetch the boys.

Owing to Jeremy’s penchant for eavesdropping she was confident they would arrive dressed for riding.

While they waited for the children, Royce asked after their expected guests.

When hearing Sir Garth Helmsdon was one of the company, he raised an amused eyebrow.

"Is Helmsdon still loose? Egad, what did he do, marry a wealthy cit’s daughter?

He was bound for either exile to escape his duns or to land in the Fleet ten years ago! ”

Jane’s lips twitched slightly. "I believe he came into a small bequest, which satisfied his creditors for a time.”

“Am I to understand they are beginning to hammer at our erstwhile friend’s door again?”

“Rather assiduously, I believe. It is well known he is hanging out for a rich wife, though I do not believe his case is desperate yet. He has not yet reached the state of being unconcerned as to his intended’s appearance or antecedents.”