The Countess Intrigue Read online

  If anyone had asked her, she wouldn’t even be able to explain why she was so unusually bold with the Earl of Heath. Perhaps it was her absolute conviction that she would never make a match with him. Or perhaps it was some sort of rebellion against the way her heart so ridiculously reacted whenever she caught sight of his handsome face. Or a combination of the two. Really how could she be attracted to a man that everyone said killed his wife? She ignored the voice of reason in her head telling her she had no cause to be reacting this way and carried on in her defense. “And earls are not all that important, my lord. If you were a prince, or even a duke, I could understand your arrogance, but surely you realize just how very many earls there are roving about amongst Society. Surely one or two of them must be kept waiting once in a while. I apologize if I inconvenienced you, my lord, but you needn’t have stayed. If you were in a rush to be elsewhere, why did you not just take your leave of my mother and be on your way?”

  “That would have been intolerably rude,” he declared.

  “And reprimanding me for delaying briefly is not?” she asked, raising her eyebrows to emphasize her point. She knew her mother would have apoplexy if she ever found out how she was speaking with Lord Sinclair but at that moment she could not find it within herself to care.

  She was surprised when the earl gave her a brief bow in his seat and accepted her words. “You are completely correct, my lady. I apologize for my words. I do hope I have not torn you away from a terribly urgent matter. I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to accompany me for a drive this afternoon.”

  Elizabeth glared at him while she searched his features in an effort to determine if he was trying to turn her up sweet. To her surprise he actually appeared sincere. She could not find a single trace of guile in his eyes as he returned her gaze, and while he was smiling at her, it did not appear to be with mockery. With a small sigh she let go of the anger that she really had very little cause to be holding on to.

  “Very well, my lord. I accept your apology,” she began before continuing grudgingly, “and if you must know the truth, I did dally in my room longer than necessary as I was struggling with the decision of whether or not to accompany you. And what decided me was the fact that my mother had accepted your invitation on my behalf and I could not then turn you down.”

  “You are a biddable girl, aren’t you?” His gentle smile held both amusement and understanding.

  “Usually,” she answered, unable to prevent the grin that split her face.

  By then they had entered the Park and Elizabeth glanced around in admiration. “It is a lovely day. I really should be more grateful for you coming to take me for a drive. We probably won’t have many more of these mild days where we can enjoy the last of the warm sun. Before we know it the leaves will all be gone and everyone will be heading out of Town for the holidays.”

  “Will you be sorry to leave Town?” he asked, apparently willing to be pleasant although he had not acknowledged her explanation. Of course, she hadn’t really apologized either. She decided to try to be pleasant as well.

  “Not at all. I do not enjoy the Season overmuch. I will acknowledge that there are certain aspects that are diverting. I do love to dance and some of the people I have met have been quite lovely. But I wish I either never had to grow up or I could just skip this part and go straight to being married and settled with my husband on our own estate and get on with my life.”

  “Most debutantes enjoy this part immensely, do they not? Is it not something young ladies long and plan for their entire young lives?”

  “You are probably correct about most young ladies, my lord, but I am just me and that is not how I feel.”

  They sat in companionable silence for a moment as the earl contemplated her words and steered them around a carriage of giggling debutantes who were conversing with some gentlemen on horseback.

  Elizabeth was surprised by the flutter in her belly as she met the earl’s gaze and acknowledged his raised eyebrow. “Yes, you are probably right, it would appear that they are enjoying themselves immensely.” She allowed herself to relax for a moment, but didn’t allow her worries to stray too far from her mind.

  “Do you enjoy the activities of the Season, my lord?”

  “Certain aspects, my lady.” He didn’t go into detail, much to Elizabeth’s frustration. She realized that must have been how he felt over her own uninformative answers.

  With a soft sigh, she smiled and persisted. “Do you care to share which ones?”

  The smile he cast her way could only be described as roguish when he said, “I doubt your mother would consider some of them appropriate for me to discuss with you, but I will tell you that I enjoy the theatre and my club. When I am ensconced on my estate I do miss being able to swing around to White’s and see how the wind blows in certain quarters.”

  “Ah so you’re a Tory then, are you, my lord?” Elizabeth was proud of her small amount of knowledge of the political leanings of the gentlemen’s club.

  “Most of the time.”

  “Are you always so noncommittal?” Elizabeth was wondering if he was trying to annoy her intentionally or if it was just an unlucky happenstance. She was surprised when he laughed in response to her complaint.

  “Not usually,” he replied and then laughed again. “I apologize, my dear lady, I am not trying to be a nuisance. I had every intention of bringing you for a drive and turning you up sweet. It isn’t really working, though, is it?”

  “Why would you want to turn me up sweet?” Elizabeth was puzzled by this man. They had never exchanged words before last night and now here they were driving together in the park. While she would admit that they had exchanged a few glances and smiles over the weeks of the Little Season, she did not think there could be any reason for the earl to be wishing to gain her favour. Her suspicions grew and she did not regret the sharp tone she had used.

  Lord Sinclair sighed before turning to her with what could only be described as a very earnest expression upon his face. “I really need to know what you can tell me about Sir Broderick.” He didn’t elaborate at that moment causing Elizabeth to study his face closely. She was hoping for a clue as to his motivation but was frustrated by his impassive expression.

  “What would make you think I know anything about Sir Broderick?” Elizabeth wasn’t ready to tell the handsome nobleman anything. She knew her question was ridiculous after their conversation the previous evening, but she was stalling for time.

  “Well, you did ask me if I was in cahoots with him last night. This does lead me to think you must know something, otherwise you would not have asked such a question.”

  Elizabeth could feel heat rising in her cheeks and cursed her transparent complexion and expressive face. She made an effort to appear as impassive as he did, though she doubted if she was successful as she felt his scrutiny of her features. It flitted across her mind to wonder what he would do if she stuck her tongue out at him. Much to her own shock she suited her actions to her thoughts.

  He howled with laughter at her childish gesture bringing the curious stares of the other passers-by. Elizabeth was mortified and quickly told him to hush. Now it would be bandied about in every drawing room of the ton that she had been “carousing” with the notorious Earl of Heath. For the second time in as many days she wished the ground would open and swallow her.

  Of course, such wishes are never answered so she did the only thing possible — she glanced around at the watching crowd and smiled serenely as though she hadn’t a care in the world.

  “Perhaps the crowds of Hyde Park were not the best idea, my lady. Would you care to go farther afield?” He didn’t wait for her reply but steered his team toward the nearest exit. Elizabeth was startled to see he was heading down Knightsbridge Road.

  “I do not think Chelsea is an ideal destination, my lord. Perhaps you ought to return me home.” She could hear the worry in her own voice and couldn’t prevent the grimace that twisted her lips. He must have seen her expressi
on and misinterpreted it.

  “There is nothing wrong with Chelsea, my lady,” he chided her.

  “It still doesn’t seem to me like you’re trying all that hard to turn me up sweet,” she countered making the earl chuckle again. Elizabeth was relieved that they were well away from the crowds by this point. They drove in silence for a moment as the earl had given his horses their head and they were happy to oblige.

  For a moment Elizabeth allowed herself to enjoy the ride as Town dropped away behind them. In this direction no one had yet decided to build up with townhouses like in busy Mayfair, and one could breathe deeply of the cleaner air. The pleasant sounds of the approaching countryside reached her ears, and she had to smile as she saw a farmer with his animals. I hadn’t realized that farmland reached so close to Town, she thought absently before returning her attention to her companion.

  He still hadn’t spoken since laughing at her last barb. She watched his strong hands handled the reins with expert precision as they took the next curve without slowing. The flutter in her breast, she strongly suspected, was an almost delicious combination of pleasure and panic. If I considered him a friend, this ride would be pure pleasure, she thought with slight desperation, but as her discomfort in his presence continued unabated, she could not enjoy the experience.

  They were quickly getting further away from Elizabeth’s familiar environs and she was starting to get a little more nervous in the man’s silent presence. “I really do think I ought to be heading home, my lord.” She remembered her friend laughingly saying that there would be nothing to fear from the notorious man until one was married to him, but she was beginning to doubt those words.

  She was eyeing the shoulder of the road, wondering how hurt she would get if she were to jump when she felt his firm, warm hand close over her arm. “Don’t do anything foolish, my lady. I have no intention of hurting you, and I apologize once again if I’m making you nervous. I will turn my horses around at the first opportunity and take you home.” Her face must have revealed how dubious she felt over his words as he quickly and softly vowed, “I promise.”

  * * *

  Elizabeth maintained a dignified silence as he brought his powerful horses to a slower pace and then executed a neat turn where the road widened slightly. Within moments they were tooling briskly back toward the familiar safety of Mayfair.

  “Why will you not speak with me?” Lord Sinclair pestered her, his tone revealing his frustration.

  “I have very little to say, my lord. I do not trust you and have no urge to confide anything to you. We have already discussed the fineness of the day and the beauty of your horses. Neither of us had much to add about the joys of the Season. That doesn’t leave much else to discuss. It seems to me as though silence would be preferable.” Elizabeth could not bring herself to look him in the eye as she spoke but then found herself fascinated with the dimple that appeared in his cheek when he smiled over her words.

  “Do you know, my lady, I cannot help liking you despite your refusal to cooperate with me. I wonder why that is.”

  “Because I’m a lovely, likeable lady,” she replied cheekily, amused despite her misgivings about him.

  Justice was enjoying his time with Lady Elizabeth even though he was frustrated with his lack of progress in learning what she knew about Sir Jason Broderick, the bounder. Any time he thought of the rotten scoundrel it turned his mood sour. It boggled his mind that the rotter was accepted in polite society and that the pretty lady at his side was keeping his secrets instead of helping him expose him for the evil weasel that he was.

  Forcing his thoughts away he again tried to engage the young woman in innocuous conversation in order to set her at ease and hopefully gain her cooperation. “When will your family be retiring to your estate for the winter?”

  Lady Elizabeth sighed making Justice realize that it was not as innocuous a subject as he had hoped. Thankfully the lady did not leave him wondering why for long.

  “My mother will probably keep me here to the very last minute unless I accept an offer. I do believe she considers it an affront on her abilities as a matchmaking mama that I have not become betrothed faster than my older sister did. Maryann accepted Jarvis’ offer, he’s the Viscount of Winhold if you don’t know, during the early weeks of her first Season. Here I am in my second Season without a betrothal. Apparently it is not to be borne.”

  “Well, it’s only the Little Season. One mustn’t have too high of expectations.” Justice was delighted to surprise a gurgle of laughter from the serious young woman.

  “As a matter of fact, coming for the Little Season was my mother’s strategy. She thought there would be fewer ladies to choose from during the fall session.”

  “Why is your mother so anxious to get you married off? The rumour is that you are well dowered so I would not think they would be in need of any marriage settlements that you may acquire.”

  This met with another delightful chuckle. “You are correct, my lord, but it would seem you are not well informed in the workings of a matchmaking mama’s mind. The Countess of Clairhurst managed to marry off every one of her three daughters during their first Season, two of them in the first month. The Viscount of Winhold’s two sisters were each betrothed within the first month of their debut. And my aunt, the Duchess of Milton, matched her daughter within a week of her debut.”

  Justice watched in fascination as she waved her hands around expressively while she continued. “But I don’t think Chelsea’s engagement should count in this list since she had known Chilton most of her life. But there you have it. I am an aberration within my family of connections. Somehow my mother considers it to be a reflection upon her as my chaperone. The longer I remain unattached the more desperate she feels on the matter. It almost makes me ready to join a convent. If only the Church of England had such things. I do believe my mother would take it even harder were I to convert to Catholicism than if I remain single any longer.” Justice was delighted when she turned to him with a grin. “Perhaps I ought to suggest the possibility to her. It might move her to be a little less insistent upon my need to wed at the first possible opportunity.”

  “But I still don’t understand why she feels so strongly about marrying you off. It is not as though you can carry your family’s name. I would think she would be far more concerned about your brother’s unmarried state than yours.”

  “Her sister and best friend do not yet have daughters in law so it is not such an urgent matter.” Justice was charmed as she rolled her eyes but then flushed guiltily at her show of disloyalty. “Do not exert your mind too forcefully on the matter, my lord. It really is incomprehensible, I can assure you.”

  “Are you opposed to marriage in general or just the thought of being hustled into it out of some sort of competition with your mother’s cronies?”

  “How terribly perceptive of you, my lord.” Elizabeth’s compliment caused Justice’s cheeks to heat so he was glad that she continued without seeming to notice. Shrugging a little she seemed perplexed. “I am not at all opposed to marriage, my lord. I do not want to be a burden upon my family and the thought of being the spinster aunt in my brother’s future household makes me shudder in horror. But I cannot bring myself to accept an offer just for the sake of making a match. I want there to be more meaning to it than that. I know it might sound ridiculous, but I have seen what a love match looks like and I do not want to settle for less.”

  “You are a romantic, Lady Elizabeth.” His observation caused his companion to blush rosily but also to lift her chin in defiance.

  “There is nothing wrong with that, my lord. Despite my mother’s manipulations, I refuse to marry someone who cares more for his horses than he does for me. Thankfully my grandmother left me an inheritance that is not encumbered by a requirement to be wed. If I do not find the match I dream of I shall be one of those eccentric women who take their own lodgings and have a dozen cats. It may not be conventional but it does sound comfortable.”

  �
�Obviously you have never been in a room with a dozen cats if you think that sounds comfortable, my dear,” Justice drawled, teasing her before continuing, “but you probably have a few more years before it needs to be of concern.”

  Again his companion sighed. “I do not get those funds until I turn twenty-one which isn’t for another fourteen months. I can only imagine what sort of pressure my mother will bring to bear in the meantime.”

  Justice found her melancholy tone highly diverting but managed not to laugh at her. “Is that why you are finding the Season not quite to your liking?”

  “That is part of it, my lord. Knowing my mother is watching every interaction with such hope and glee makes me nervous to allow her to get expectations. On the other hand, many of the people I have met during the Season are deadly dull. Most of the debutantes are either empty-headed simpletons or jealous cats who would rather spread a nasty rumour about you than speak pleasantly to your face. And many of the gentlemen are not much better.”

  “It would seem you need to widen your circle of acquaintances, my dear. Surely it cannot be that bad.”

  Elizabeth finally met his gaze and Justice was again surprised by the flutter in his chest as she offered him a genuine smile. “Perhaps I am exaggerating slightly for emphasis, but it is nearly that bad. I did make one dear friend which was lovely, but… ” She broke off her words, refusing to meet his eyes and pressing her lips together as though to prevent any more words from escaping.

  Justice burned with curiosity and wondered if this somehow connected with her refusal to discuss Sir Broderick. He aimed for nonchalance as he ignored her obvious discomfort. “It is true that a few close friends can make all the difference in a difficult situation. I am glad that you were able to find at least one kindred spirit.”