Page 14 of Surrender to the Earl (Brides of Redemption #2)

She pretended he had, as she moved from surface to surface, and heard him call out that there was nothing on the floor.

She turned—and ran right into him. She would have fallen had he not grasped her upper arms. Once again, her hands were flat against his chest, and she felt the faint brush of hair, smelled the scent of him, so very different from the perfumes women wore.

“You didn’t don your shirt,” she said between gritted teeth.

“Does it bother you so much?” he murmured. “I did rescue you.”

“And I thank you.” She tried to keep her hands off his hot skin. “Please let me go.”

“We are engaged,” he pointed out, his voice wicked.

When that almost made sense, she knew she was going too far. But he released her, and she ignored her disappointment.

“I think between us, we have everything,” he said.

“Thank you.”

He took Molly’s bag from her, and she knew he must already have her own. She preceded him to the door.

Inside her new room, he said, “I’ve put both bags on the chairs. Can I do anything else for you, ladies?”

“Does Molly look like we should send for a physician?” Audrey suddenly asked, mortified she hadn’t thought of it before.

“Oh no, miss, I’m feeling much better.”

“The color has returned to her face,” Robert said. “I think she is better.”

“Thank you, my lord,” Audrey said, her voice small.

“Good night. And Molly?—”

“I’ll never open the door again!” she said fervently.

“Bolt this, Audrey.”

She did, and heard him say from the corridor, “Good girl.”

She briefly leaned her head against the door, feeling tired and angry and ridiculous. She wasn’t a good girl. A good girl would have been unaffected by his touch—after all, they were not truly engaged. But Molly didn’t know that.

The other woman sighed and said dreamily, “Oh, Miss Audrey, he is such a man. You must feel so very lucky.”

She pasted a smile to her lips before turning around. “Oh, I do.”

“Did you know from the moment you met him?”

“Love at first sight?” Audrey shot back, her smile softening into a real one.

Molly groaned. “Now you’re teasing me. But truly—was it your first conversation when you suspected you might suit each other?”

Audrey hesitated. “Yes, I suppose it was.” Theoretically, that was true—she’d known she had to ask for his help. Maybe she suspected all along that he was trustworthy.

And now he’d saved her life.

“Have you—” Molly broke off, and she sounded most hesitant. “Has he … kissed you?”

“Oh, no, he has been most proper,” Audrey insisted.

“I am sorry for that.”

“I am, too,” Audrey said, trying to play her part.

Molly lowered her voice. “But he wants to kiss you, I can tell.”

Right then, Audrey almost told her the truth, but something held her back. No one must know, not until she was safe. I am playing a part, she told herself again. “How do you know he wants to kiss me?”

“I can just … tell. He doesn’t have to hide his feelings when he looks into your face, like a man would with a sighted woman. And the way he held you—like he didn’t want to let you go.”

“I hope so,” Audrey had to say, even though it wasn’t true. He was playing his part, too.

He’d better be, because Audrey would never allow herself to have more with a man. Not ever again, no matter what he felt like or how he smelled—or how he might kiss.

Not that she was planning to find out.

“Welcome to Hedgerley,” Robert said, late the next morning.

Audrey clapped her hands together. “My new village—my home.”

“Let me describe it to you, miss,” Molly said with excitement.

“Are you sure you’re up to it?”

Molly had been in pain last night, and Audrey knew she hadn’t slept well. She’d dozed the several-hour journey, though, and was sounding better.

“I could describe it,” Robert offered.

Both women hesitated.

“You think I cannot?”

Audrey was starting to think he could do anything he wanted—he’d gotten her away from her father, he’d saved her from a thief, and now he’d brought her to her own home.

“Shall we allow it just this one time, Molly?” she asked.

Molly heaved a dramatic sigh. “Just this once.”

“With that kind of belief,” he began dryly, “I shall commence. I see a village green. And there’s a church on the far side with a pointed steeple.”

“A green and a church,” Audrey said dubiously. “Do not strain your creativity so.”

“The straight facts are important in the army,” he insisted. “But I shall try to go deeper. The church is made of stone, with ivy climbing.”

“Better, milord,” Molly encouraged.

“I do believe I see the sign of a tavern, which it seems I will soon need the benefits of.”

Audrey couldn’t help joining Molly in laughter. “You are so easy to tease, Robert. What is the name of the tavern?”

“The Lion and the Hen.”

“Now you are teasing me.”

“Molly, am I?”

“No, miss, in fact the sign shows the hen with its wings raised, as if it’s frightening the lion.”

“A strange village you have here,” Robert mused.

She loved it already. “What else?”

Too soon they left Hedgerley behind. Audrey could barely sit still as Molly talked about an orchard of pear trees, and a flock of sheep in the distance.

They took a turn down a bumpy lane.

“I see your house, Miss Audrey! It is two stories made of stone, cresting the top of a gentle hill, and the parklands slope down away from it—oh, and there’s a stream leading into a pond.”

“Can we swim?” Audrey asked excitedly.

“You swim?” Robert’s tone was incredulous.

“I do—not that you will see me.”

“Your husband cannot see you swim?” he retorted.

She withheld a wince. “Oh … I imagine there is so much for me to get used to.”

“You were not married long the first time,” Molly pointed out. Then, “Oh, so many windows and chimneys. I see a stable in the distance, but not a separate coach house. I imagine there’s room for a carriage in there.”

So many windows, Audrey mused dreamily. Was she a wealthy woman, then—at least where land was concerned? From what she’d been told, the estate supported itself. There were dozens of tenants leasing good farmland. She didn’t care about wealth, as long as the manor and lands were thriving.

It was Molly’s turn to sound dreamy. “It is a pretty place to live.”

“And ours forever,” Audrey said.

“Until you marry,” Molly pointed out. “And then perhaps you’ll live in a castle.”

Audrey smiled stiffly, then turned toward Robert. “Thank you, my lord, for bringing us here.”

“You’re welcome. I hope it is everything you wish.”

There was a thread of … something in his voice, but she would allow nothing to spoil this day she’d dreamed of her whole life long. She was the mistress of her own household.

“We’re pulling up to the entrance, miss. There’s no portico, but a lovely set of wide marble stairs leading up to an impressive door. Oh, it is opening! An older woman is standing there, and I confess, she looks confused.”

“She’s wondering who her visitors are,” Audrey said. “She will be so surprised.” And not too disappointed, she hoped. She’d had no time to send word ahead that this little servant family was finally to have a mistress after several years.

Audrey could barely wait while the coachman opened the door to let down the stairs, and Robert climbed out. She reached out for his hand, knew it would be there, and began to descend.

“Does your pretty home have a name?” he asked softly.

He knows how important this is to me, she realized. She gave him a smile. “Rose Cottage.”

“A little more than a cottage, Audrey, but a lovely name.”

More than a cottage, she thought, almost hugging herself. It could be four rooms or twenty—she didn’t care. It was all hers.

“May I help you, milady?” said an unfamiliar voice. The woman sounded older, but respectful. “Are ye lost?”

“No, I am not lost. I regret I could not inform you in advance, but I’m Mrs. Martin Blake, and I’ve come to take up residence.”

There was a stark silence, and Audrey reminded herself that it was a shock. The woman was probably worrying about the state of the house, with bedrooms not aired and not enough foodstuffs in the pantry.

“Are you Mrs. Sanford?” Audrey asked gently.

The woman cleared her throat. “Aye, ma’am, I am. Do forgive me.”

“May I present the Earl of Knightsbridge,” Audrey said.

“Milord!” the woman said, sounding a bit breathless now.

Had she curtsied? Audrey barely held back a smile, wondering if it had been difficult at her age, or if she was a spry woman. “Fear not, Mrs. Sanford, his lordship will not be a guest, since he lives nearby.”

“He’s her betrothed,” Molly suddenly announced.

There was another silence as the housekeeper took that in. Audrey imagined it changed everything about how the servants might treat her—and she didn’t like it. But she had no choice for now.

“And this is my lady’s maid, Molly,” Audrey said dryly, “she who speaks before thinking.”

“I’m sorry, miss,” Molly said, not sounding sorry at all. “Shall I lead you inside?”

“Of course. Mrs. Sanford, you would soon realize it, but I find it’s only fair to inform you that I’m blind.”