Page 26 of Surrender to the Earl (Brides of Redemption #2)

T hey were called back inside by the arrival of another guest, and Audrey wouldn’t have been surprised if it was another member of her family. Instead, it was the vicar’s wife awaiting her in the drawing room.

“You already went into the village?” Blythe asked Audrey with surprise evident in her voice as they walked through the house.

“I did. People went out of their way to be kind.” She did not say that it had been Robert’s idea to go so quickly, and he who escorted her.

In the entrance hall, Audrey spoke to Francis about having tea sent in, and then without holding her sister’s arm, entered the drawing room.

“Mrs. Blake,” a woman’s voice intoned in a nasal manner, “it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Audrey could hear the interest the woman didn’t bother to hide. “Mrs. Warton, it is surely my own pleasure. I enjoyed my conversation with your husband several days ago. May I introduce my sister, Miss Blythe Collins?”

“How do you do?” Blythe asked.

“Quite fine, thank you,” said Mrs. Warton.

“A tea tray will be arriving shortly,” Audrey said. “Would you care to sit down?”

“I am already seated, Mrs. Blake,” Mrs. Warton said, sounding almost immediately as if she regretted the words.

And Audrey liked her for it. “You’ll have to excuse me. I make those mistakes often.”

“If you do not mind my saying, my friends in Hedgerley were speaking quite openly of their delight in meeting you,” Mrs. Warton explained.

“People don’t know what to expect of a blind woman,” Audrey admitted. “Isn’t that true, Blythe?”

She knew she caught her sister off guard and felt glad and guilty at the same time. Why should she feel guilty? Blythe was always worried about what people would say if they took Audrey into their own village.

“It is true,” Blythe murmured, adding nothing else.

“Some can be so sheltered,” Mrs. Warton said. “It is good to shake things up a bit.”

Audrey’s smile widened. She already liked this woman.

“Ladies?”

She heard Robert’s voice coming from the doorway. “Lord Knightsbridge, I am so glad you could join us. Allow me to introduce the vicar’s wife, Mrs. Warton.”

“A pleasure, my lord,” the woman breathed, her voice dipping as she most likely sank into a curtsy. She sounded both awed and amazed, as if she hadn’t quite believed that the earl had graced their village.

The tea arrived at that moment, and Audrey took her time serving everyone. She knew she was on display, as she would always be, and didn’t mind the attention.

“Mrs. Warton,” Audrey began, “I mentioned to your husband that I would enjoy becoming involved in philanthropic endeavors in the village. Can you tell me what programs the church hosts?”

Mrs. Warton enlightened them for long minutes about the Female Aid Society and the Soup Distribution Society.

Audrey wondered if Robert was nodding off, although he asked polite questions about the scope of their charities, and Mrs. Warton’s opinion on how best to expand their coverage through other villages near his estate.

There was even a group who knitted for newborn babies, something Audrey could do to give her a purpose in the evenings after she’d ended things with Robert, and she was alone.

As Mrs. Warton departed, she promised to invite Audrey to her next women’s society meeting.

Audrey sat back down, satisfied.

“You will soon be behaving like an old married woman,” Blythe commented dourly.

“Doing works of charity?” Audrey said in surprise. “I’ll enjoy helping my new parish. I wish I could have done more when I still lived at home.”

Blythe ignored that. “I have letters to write before dinner. If you’ll excuse me, Audrey, Lord Knightsbridge.”

And then she was alone with Robert, and that morning’s scandalous suggestion about an affair might as well have been shouted in the room again, for how much it had dwelt on and off in her mind through the day. She felt the sofa sag as he sat down beside her.

“Now don’t get all stiff with me, Audrey,” he said, his tone full of amusement. “ I don’t think you’re behaving like an old married woman.”

She sighed. “I do not care what my sister thinks. She does not have to live here and get to know people. This is the best way.”

“She’s used to Society and balls and dinners.”

“Exactly.”

“Which she left behind to come here.”

“It is curious,” Audrey murmured, then added even more softly, “She might hear us.”

“Then I’ll close the door.”

He left her side so quickly, all she could say was, “But Robert?—”

“Engaged, remember?”

She heard the lock click and regretted the sharp little thrill that danced its way right up through her body. He was going to try to convince her to be his lover again—how would he do it?

But instead of romantic persuasion, he said, “Mr. Drayton stopped by while you were in the garden. I asked him about the missing ledgers, and he swore they were always in your study, and that he hadn’t accidentally taken them.”

“That doesn’t help us,” she said glumly.

“He seemed … reluctant to discuss all of this, which I found unusual.”

“Perhaps because Rose Cottage isn’t yours?”

He chuckled. “I am an earl, Audrey, and engaged to you. Of course he would discuss it with me.”

“Of course,” she answered dryly.

“He went on about several new tenant openings, and the autumn activity on the farms, but … I felt like he was distracting me.”

“How strange,” she said, now thoroughly distracted by the mystery herself.

“I admit, he might have felt defensive, as if I were questioning him, when really, I was simply trying to get to the bottom of this mystery. He showed no hesitation about letting me peruse his copy of the most recent ledger, and I saw nothing to make me suspicious about the last few months. But of course, maybe the real ledger and the copy are a little different.”

“Did he know you suspected that?” she asked.

“No. I have no cause to believe foul of him, and he’s done excellent work these last few years with the estate.”

“I imagine you let him know you quite admired his dedication and service,” she said, hiding a smile.

“It’s always important to praise your men.”

“Your soldiers?” she teased.

“He works for you, hence, he’s quite like a soldier. Praise for a subordinate was not something I saw growing up.”

Smiling, she said, “A subordinate—you mean a servant.”

“Or man of business, but yes. My father believed in authority and dominance, not in praising people for the work they were supposed to do regardless.”

“And you saw that in yourself,” she reminded him, feeling Blythe’s curiosity as her own.

“I did. I am grateful that the army showed me another way.”

The sofa dipped a little more, and then she felt his breath warm against her ear as he softly spoke.

“I could praise your beauty,” he murmured.

She shivered, excitement like a fluttering bird longing to be free. “That is not an accomplishment I can claim as my own, so no need to praise me.”

“I can praise your talents.”

He lifted her hand and slowly removed her glove, each tug making her tremble the harder.

When he had her fingers bare, he kissed each one. “These fingers caress the piano keys lovingly, bringing forth beautiful music.”

She laughed softly. “I have not even had a chance to practice since we came here.”

“And the piano stands quite forlorn. Do not ignore that part of yourself.”

“I must be blushing by now.”

“Pink cheeks, the brilliant shine in your golden eyes, that comes from you.”

He placed a soft kiss on her neck, just beneath her ear, and with a gasp, she bent her head to offer more to him. Her lips had been so sensitive to him—it was amazing that even her neck prickled with sensation at his touch. When he gently bit her earlobe, she shuddered.

He took her face in his hands and tilted her toward him.

She was ready for his mouth this time and enjoyed the masterful way his tongue explored her mouth, then met her own.

She gasped and moaned, then found herself slowly falling backward on the sofa as he leaned over her.

They continued urgent kisses, while his hand moved from her waist and slowly up her bodice, cupping her breast through the corset, such a scandalous thing.

She enjoyed the naughtiness a moment too long, then broke the kiss with a gasp. “It is almost time for dinner. A servant could come looking for us any moment.”

He pressed kisses down her throat, dipping his tongue in the hollow at its base. “I locked the door.”

“But that is so suspicious.”

“We are engaged?—”

“We are not!”

“Then let us be lovers.”

“No, please, I cannot think about such things now.”

He rose away from her, drawing her back upright by both hands.

“My glove?” she asked, feeling for it all around her.

“On the floor.” He put it into her hands. “I have not lost hope that you will change your mind.”

“I cannot tell you what to think,” she said shakily, rising to her feet and then catching the back of the nearby chair to steady herself.

Putting his arm around her waist from behind, he pulled her up against him and whispered into her hair, “Your body wants me.”

“Then thank goodness my mind rules my body.”

He chuckled, then released her. “I will leave you to your sister’s company this evening, as I have an early meeting tomorrow.”

“You will not come?”

“Is that regret I hear?”

“I—I only wish to plan my schedule.”

“Liar,” he whispered, and kissed her cheek. “I will come to you, but I don’t know when.”

“You are busy, Robert. I do not need to be coddled.”

“I have taken Molly’s place, and I will not let you down.”

“I do have letters to write …”

“My tutor used to claim I had excellent penmanship, probably far superior to your sister.”

“I would never ask Blythe to write my letters.” And that seemed so sad to her.

He must have realized it, for he said nothing for a moment.

“Have a good evening, Audrey.”

And then he was gone, and the room seemed so empty without him. She tugged her glove back on, buttoning it at the wrist, trying not to think of his mouth there. Oh, she had to stop this longing.