Page 9 of Surrender to the Earl (Brides of Redemption #2)

A lthough Robert was not in the mood to hunt, he could not risk alienating another member of the Collins family, so he walked the woods with Mr. Collins, even as the beaters ran before them to chase out the birds, rabbits, and foxes.

He received cautious congratulations from the other young men, and he knew they considered him eccentric or just plain crazy.

None of them understood that there was more to marriage than being able to look upon the average debutante for the rest of your life.

The surface things faded, especially appearance.

He’d seen war damage so many people, yet often, if they were lucky, they were still the same inside.

He shook his head, bemused at his thoughts. He should take his own advice when it was time to find a real bride. What kind of woman would that be? He had no idea, but he should give himself at least a Season to figure it out.

He certainly hadn’t gone without women all these years. British Society flourished in India, and although he’d stayed away from the eligible misses, there had always been an eager widow who appreciated his companionship when he was in Bombay.

When the hunting was finished, he had his horse saddled and rode into the village to the blacksmith’s shop, where Mr. Collins had suggested he look for a carriage.

One would be available on the morrow, so he resigned himself to another night under Lord Collins’s roof.

Robert hoped his subtle threats had been enough to dissuade the baron from trying anything to stop their departure.

Audrey’s room was a disaster, with clothes sorted into piles everywhere. Molly rushed about gleefully, escorting the footmen as they brought the trunks, talking nonstop until Audrey’s head spun.

Molly had taken the news of the engagement with shock and then excitement.

After all, Audrey was marrying a handsome earl.

It was a fairy tale as far as the staff was concerned, and she had received several offers of congratulations from below the stairs as the morning went on.

The housekeeper had actually dabbed at her wet eyes and whispered that it was time Audrey had her own household.

Audrey had agreed, and gradually stopped worrying about what her father might do.

Molly had happily decided to accompany Audrey, to “see the world,” she kept repeating, even though Buckinghamshire was only the next county.

But Audrey felt the same way. She might not be able to “see” it like everyone else, but she had Molly to describe things, and she could experience the world her own way.

After all, there were new sounds and smells, things that were very important to her.

And she had Molly, for without her … Audrey hadn’t even considered what she would do if her faithful friend didn’t want to go.

By midmorning, the first trunk was packed, and they were sorting through the “maybe” pile for her last trunk.

Molly stopped speaking in mid-sentence, then said uncertainly, “Good morning, Miss Collins.”

Surprised, Audrey turned, wishing she could read her sister’s expression.

“What can I do for you, Blythe? Isn’t it strange that we’re both packing for a trip?

” Oh, now she was babbling. Of course it was strange—Audrey was never allowed to go anywhere.

And she certainly hadn’t intended to sound sarcastic.

She smelled her sister’s jasmine perfume as the woman drew closer.

“I think you’re making a terrible mistake.” Blythe’s voice trembled.

Molly said, “I’ll just leave you two?—”

“No,” Blythe interrupted. “This won’t take long, and Molly, even you must agree with me. Audrey doesn’t know him. If she won’t listen to me, can’t you talk sense into her?”

Molly didn’t answer, and Audrey thought it unfair to put her maid in the middle. “Blythe, I haven’t married him yet. I have time to change my mind.”

“But he’s a stranger!”

“Every person at dinner last night either knew who he was, or had heard of him. He’s not an unknown stranger, anyway.

It’s not as if he could take me off somewhere.

People know what’s happening between us.

” Which was why Lord Knightsbridge had been right, that he couldn’t just escort her away.

It would have caused not only talk, but alarm.

Blythe still sounded tight with disappointment and anger, but was there also a touch of concern there? Audrey wanted to hope so, but she’d been disappointed so many times before.

“Blythe, I wish …” Her words faded for a moment. “I wish this didn’t hurt you.”

Blythe didn’t even attempt to deny it. “Well, it does. It’s just not fair.”

“I know,” she whispered. For just a moment, she wished she could confide the truth in her sister, that she wasn’t marrying the earl, but if that knowledge got to their father … she’d be trapped there forever.

“How do you make these men feel sorry for you?” Blythe asked in a bewildered voice.

Audrey heard Molly inhale swiftly, and she herself felt defensive. Calmly, she said, “Blythe, do you remember that I was lied to by Mr. Blake? He never felt sorry for me. He used me and betrayed me.”

There was a taut silence, and then Blythe suddenly whispered, “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

That was progress, Audrey thought, beginning to feel hopeful.

“And as for Lord Knightsbridge … if I thought for one moment he felt sorry for me, I would send him on his way. But why should he, Blythe? Why should my condition matter to him at all, if he has feelings for me? He doesn’t owe me anything, especially not pity.

I didn’t encourage his interest, but I did not turn him away, either.

And if he didn’t have feelings for me, why would he make a blind woman his countess? ”

“I don’t know!” Blythe cried. “But is it not suspicious?”

Audrey opened her mouth to respond, then closed it.

It would be suspicious, if it had been true.

But Blythe didn’t know that. “I promise I will consider this engagement very carefully. I’ll be in my own home, and he’ll be in his.

I’ll meet people from his village, get to know more about him. Will that satisfy you?”

“I—I suppose so.”

Audrey heard a whirl of her skirts.

“I need to finish packing,” Blythe said.

“Do you have wonderful plans for when you visit Father’s sister in London?” It was what she always asked whenever Blythe went away. Normally, it was like rubbing salt in her own wounds, having to live through her sister’s adventures—or the brief crumbs Blythe told her. But not anymore.

Blythe didn’t answer, and Audrey told herself that perhaps she’d been walking away so fast, she hadn’t heard.

Just before luncheon, a carriage drove below her window.

“Molly?”

A moment later, Molly said, “It’s the family carriage, Miss Audrey. And I saw Miss Blythe as it went by.”

Audrey sighed. “So she left without even saying good-bye.”

“I’m sorry, miss.”

“Don’t be. That conversation might have been one of the best we’ve ever had. I think she was honestly worried about me, beneath her anger. I will write to her when I reach my new home.”

My new home, she repeated in her head. It felt good.

Luncheon was cold meat and sandwiches, so that the men could get back outside.

The afternoon was for fishing, and Robert might have declined so that he could help Mrs. Blake, but he thought his presence in the house would only exacerbate Lord Collins’s fury.

And it had been good to spend time with Mr. Collins, who didn’t seem like a bad chap.

He wanted to get to know Robert, too. His protectiveness of his sister was very late, but welcome just the same.

At dinner, Robert made certain he could sit beside his “fiancée.” More of the men spoke to her, too, as if being a future countess suddenly made her a person in their eyes.

The evening in the drawing room didn’t last long, as everyone would be getting an early start home in the morn. When the room was at last just family and Robert, Lord Collins started to leave. He hadn’t spoken a word to Robert or Mrs. Blake all evening.

“Lord Collins, may I have a word?” Robert called, rising to his feet. He noticed Mrs. Blake stiffen.

Her father came to a stop near the door. “Say it quickly.”

“Will Mrs. Blake be able to take her gelding?”

Mrs. Blake tilted her head toward him but said nothing.

“No, it’s my horse,” the baron said darkly.

“Erebus has been trained to carry me, Father,” Mrs. Blake pointed out. “To train another horse could take years.”

“I’ll purchase it from you,” Robert said flatly, “as my engagement gift to Mrs. Blake.”

“Father,” Mr. Collins began.

“Fine! Take it!” Lord Collins said harshly and stormed out into the hall.

Mr. Collins gave Robert an apologetic glance. “I’ll speak to him.” To Mrs. Blake, he said, “Shall I leave you alone with Lord Knightsbridge?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Mr. Collins eyed Robert speculatively, then closed the door. Robert sat back down on the sofa beside Mrs. Blake.

“Thank you for thinking of my horse, my lord,” she said quietly. “In all the confusion of packing up my room, I never thought of the animal.”

“You deserve to have it, for all the reasons you stated. I want you to be comfortable in your new home.”

“My new home,” she echoed wistfully.

They both heard footsteps in the entrance hall again. Robert had a flash of Mr. Collins’s speculation, and suddenly he realized he had to make this look good. He pulled off his gloves, and then cupped Mrs. Blake’s face in his hands, leaning close.

She gasped and whispered, “What are you doing?”

He felt the warmth of her breath on his mouth and was startled by how distracting such a simple thing was. “Your brother looked suspicious,” he said. “I believe he means to test us.”

“But—”

“Stop talking, or I’ll have to kiss you to keep you quiet.”