The Elusive Earl

by Maddison Michaels

  “He was,” the Prince confirmed. “We must make arrangements to rectify this situation immediately. You are a Bartelli, and you must be recognized as such, with your true place in the palace taken.”

  Alessandro shook his head. “No. You are our prince. You are the ruler of our kingdom. I have no intention of usurping you, my liege.”

  “It is your birthright, Alessandro.” The Prince’s voice was pleading. “It would appear that if these papers were with my father’s things, then he knew of your father’s true birthright and robbed him of it. A great injustice has been done, which I fully intend to rectify.”

  “I am not usurping you,” Alessandro declared once again, a dark scowl pressing across his brow.

  “I command it,” the Prince was forceful in his decree.

  “Perhaps I can make a suggestion?” Daniel said, his voice breaking the tense atmosphere. “Prince Alberto, clearly the Captain needs time to adjust to this news. Might I suggest you continue to rule Cosenza as you have been doing for all of these years, but you name the Captain as your rightful heir in the line of succession after you?”

  “What an excellent idea,” Bree said.

  The Prince’s eyes found her own. “You are not displeased, my granddaughter, that you are not the heir?”

  A ready smile found Bree’s lips. “Good gracious no. Being a Principessa is all new to me, and I am infinitely pleased that I shall not have the added burden of learning how to be a ruler.” It was definitely a role she was very glad to have been relieved of.

  There was pride in her grandfather’s gaze. “You too, my granddaughter, are a true Bartelli.”

  “And a Penderley, too,” her aunt added.

  Their words sent a wonderful feeling of happiness through Bree. She was indeed both a Bartelli and a Penderley. And she belonged to both families.

  “Well, you are also a Thornton,” Milly interjected.

  Bree found herself looking over to Daniel, who was regarding her with an expression she had never seen before. It appeared almost as if he was confused or uncertain, but neither were qualities he had ever previously displayed. He turned to her grandfather and Alessandro and cleared his throat.

  “We need to get back to the palace before nightfall,” he announced.

  The happiness that had been coursing through her disappeared. That was all he could say? But what had she expected, a declaration that yes, she was a Thornton and would stay a Thornton? A declaration of love? But then again, perhaps he didn’t want to say anything in front of everyone. Or perhaps she was drawing at straws? Because after she’d thought he’d been killed, she’d realized quite desperately how much she loved him.

  And regardless of how he felt, she knew she had to tell him, or she would forever regret it.

  A part of her was also hoping that he loved her, too.

  The way he looked at her. The way he touched her. The way he kissed her. Surely those were signs of his love? Bree knew that he’d professed on many occasions that he wouldn’t marry someone as impulsive as she was, but she was hoping their near brush with death might have made him see sense. For, as much as he protested they didn’t suit, she knew they did, and that they could be so happy together, if only he’d let them be.

  For the entire two-hour trek back to the castle, the thought consumed Bree. If she could just get him alone and tell him how she felt, everything would be all right. Because, perhaps, he just needed to know that she loved him.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Bree sank onto the chaise longue in her bedchamber within the palace walls and immediately removed her boots. She wiggled her stocking clad feet in delight. “I don’t think my poor feet have ever walked so much. I do believe I could soak in a hot bath all night.”

  Daniel strode over to the balcony doors and glanced at her briefly before twisting his head to stare into the night. He’d barely said two words to her on the entire trip back, appearing highly preoccupied with his thoughts. Bree had hoped that would change once they were alone, but now that everyone had retired to their rooms to freshen up before dinner, it did not appear to be the case.

  “You nearly died today,” he said, his tone devoid of any emotion, as he continued to stare out of the glass.

  “You were the one to nearly die.” Bree jumped up and strode over to him, the plush rug beneath her stockings a soft balm against the blisters on the soles of her feet.

  He slowly shook his head but still did not turn to look at her. “No. I nearly lost you today, and it would have been my fault. I shouldn’t have indulged you. I should have left you here, where you would be out of harm’s way.”

  Bree wasn’t certain how to respond. A part of her was overjoyed that he obviously cared about her safety, but another part didn’t like the grim determination in his eyes. It felt as if he was pulling himself away from her, even though he moved not an inch. Her heart began to beat rapidly, and her palms become moist. She knew she had to tell him how she felt before he withdrew completely; otherwise, she would forever regret not saying anything.

  “You needed me there,” she said, knowing that the fact that they’d outnumbered Mondesta had been instrumental in defeating him. She’d distracted him, giving Daniel the opportunity to surprise him and deliver that last blow that had sent Mondesta seeking the poisoned elixir. “You need me. If what happened in the caves taught me anything, it’s that. And I needed you. I need you.” Fear gripped her heart when he didn’t respond, when his beautiful face assumed that too-familiar, stony look of his, but she pushed on. “I love you, Daniel. Please don’t be afraid to love me back.” The words felt so natural, yet so foreign, too.

  His expression became shuttered, and his body stiff. A hot, uncomfortable flush traveled up her face. “Do you not see how my feelings for you clouded my good sense?”

  “You have feelings for me?” Hope began to blossom in her chest.

  He went to say something but then stopped and took a deliberate step away from her. “I do care for you. But I never should have allowed you to leave the palace. I knew that then, but still, I let my fondness for you sway me. It was a mistake to do so, and one I will not repeat.” There was a cold finality in his voice.

  She hadn’t known exactly what to expect when she said she loved him, but after what they’d just been through, she definitely hadn’t expected him to react with such indifference. “What does that even mean?” Confusion rolled in her stomach at his words. “If you care for me, then surely we can make this work?”

  “We are too different. Surely you see that?” His voice was hollow. “My parents were complete opposites, too. Their natures were not suited for a life together, yet they still married, and in the end, it destroyed them both. I will not let it destroy us. I respect and like you too much to wish for us to grow to hate each other. ”

  She reached over and laid her hand on his. “We are not our parents. You are honorable and trustworthy. Certainly nothing like your father.” She gently squeezed his palm. “And I am not like your mother. No disrespect to her, but I would shoot you, rather than take my own life, if you betrayed me by having an affair.”

  The ghost of a smile flickered across his lips, but then just as quickly, they compressed into a hard line. He shook her hand from him. “I am sorry, Brianna. Can you not see, though, that you would grow to hate me for trying to keep you safe? That my need for a calm and stable home life would clash with your thirst for adventure? That in the end we would fight and bicker constantly…? A relationship together would not work. Deep down, I think we both know that.”

  “Why on earth not?” She hated the sound of desperation in her voice. “If you care for me, then surely you can learn to love me?”

  “Is that really what you want? A man who could learn to love you?” He sighed. “A long time ago, I made a choice to marry using my head and not my heart. And though I do care for you, you deserve more than that. You deserve more than I could ever give you.”

  Her throat tightened, and she herself took a
step away from him. He was right of course. She would never be content to love a man who had locked his heart away and could only ever just care for her. It would eat away at her every moment of every day, and she would grow to resent him.

  A crushing weight settled heavily on her heart at the realization.

  She felt the sting of tears prick at the back of her eyes, but she refused to succumb to them in front of him. She would not let him see how much his words, or lack thereof, were devastating her. She straightened up her shoulders and raised her chin. “You are right, of course. And I shall never burden you with talk of love again. In fact, I think it best if you leave now.”

  He nodded. “I shall go and stay at the inn tonight.”

  Bree shook her head. “No, Daniel. I meant you should leave Cosenza.”

  “You want me to return to England?”

  “Yes,” she confirmed, even though it was the very last thing she wanted. But she couldn’t have him stay here for a minute longer without making a complete fool of herself and begging him to stay. “I want you to leave Italy. My grandfather can organize an annulment in due course.”

  Daniel was silent for a minute. “It will be for the best.”

  She smiled serenely at him, hoping that he couldn’t see her heart shattering into a million pieces right before him. “I never thought you to lack courage, Daniel Wolcott. But closing your heart off from feeling love is not only cowardly, but a tragedy. Because a life without love is a life not lived.” She picked up the skirt of her gown and walked away from him.

  She focused on holding her head high, as she put one stocking clad foot in front of the other as she left the bedchamber. Bree didn’t dare look back. She didn’t dare bother putting her boots back on. If she stayed another moment in the room with him, she’d make a complete idiot of herself over him and beg him to change his mind.

  …

  Daniel stood at the window of the inn, staring down at the bustling port of Amantea. He’d ridden hard for the town after he’d left Cosenza nearly a week ago, determined to book passage on the first ship sailing to England as soon as possible. That was six days ago.

  Each morning that he had been due to set forth and find passage on a vessel, he’d woken up with a cracking headache, induced, no doubt, from the copious amount of whisky he’d drunk the night before. So, each morning, he’d delayed leaving the hotel, reasoning he would find something the next day.

  Finally, yesterday, he’d dragged himself down to the dock, in his rumpled and unwashed suit, and booked a fare to England, the vessel departing on the morrow.

  He should be ecstatic that he was about to be on his way home and well rid of the impossible woman, but instead, he was miserable. A nagging inner voice kept whispering incessantly that he was a fool to let her go, but his head was telling him it was the sensible choice. The only choice, if he didn’t want to end up with his heart broken.

  Because as much as she might say otherwise, she couldn’t love him. She was the impetuous Miss Penderley, a romantic at heart. Of course, she of all people would think herself in love with him after the time they’d spent alone together in life-threatening situations.

  Anyone would. Even he had come to care for her greatly. His brows knitted. Not that he had succumbed to actual love. No. Often intense emotional experiences created grand feelings, but such emotions never lasted. Brianna’s would fade quickly, too.

  A weight settled on his heart at the thought.

  Damn it! He hated feeling so uncertain. He never felt uncertain. He couldn’t afford to be, either as the earl or in his clandestine dealings on behalf of the Crown.

  He shook his head. He was well rid of the impulsive Miss Penderley. Yes. He definitely was.

  Daniel laughed bitterly. Who was he fooling? He bloody well missed her, and the only reason he’d hightailed it out of Cosenza with such haste was that he couldn’t stand the thought of staying for a moment longer in the same town she was in. It would have been torture staying in the inn, with the palace looming in the distance.

  Particularly after hearing those fours words cross her lips. I love you, Daniel. The exact same words his mother had uttered the last time she saw him before she took her own life. Hearing them whispered from Brianna’s mouth had been pure agony. A part of him had felt elated, while the other part had been terrified.

  But he couldn’t allow his feelings to compromise the cold, hard logic he had lived his life by. Brianna Penderley was impulsive, rash, foolhardy, and constantly getting herself into dangerous situations. She was certainly not the sort of woman he had ever intended on marrying.

  He slammed his fist against the windowsill. God damn it! He knew he couldn’t stay married to her. And after the way he’d treated her following her heartfelt announcement, the woman would never want to see him again. Which was a good thing. It had to be. Because otherwise, he was starting to think he may have tossed aside the best thing to have ever happened to him. The thought was making him ill.

  A knock sounded on the door. For a mad moment, Daniel felt a surge of exhilaration at the thought that it was Brianna, coming to berate him for leaving, even though she’d told him to do that very thing.

  “Daniel?” Sir Walter’s voice boomed aloud from out in the hallway. “Are you in there?”

  Daniel shook his head as he strode over to the door. It really shouldn’t have surprised him that Walter knew exactly where to find him. The man was the head of England’s entire spy network, with agents in practically every country across the globe.

  “Sir Walter,” he acknowledged, opening the door, “I won’t even ask how you knew I was here.”

  Sir Walter’s normally jovial eyes were as hard as ice as he stalked into the room. “Good God, you look dreadful!” His eyes scanned Daniel from head to foot.

  Daniel roughly caught sight of himself in the hall mirror. His facial hair was now resembling a scraggly beard, rather than just a few days’ growth. His jacket and trousers were wrinkled and still had splatters of mud on them from his travels. And his eyes looked bloodshot and rather wild. Sir Walter was right; he did look dreadful. “I’ve been rather distracted of late.”

  “With alcohol, it would appear.” Sir Walter kicked aside the empty bottles of whisky scattered about the floor with the toe of his boot.

  “It’s been keeping me company.”

  Sir Walter did not look impressed. “You’ve broken my niece’s heart, Thornton. What are you going to do to fix it?”

  Daniel stiffened. He’d never heard Walter so furious before. “I’ve done nothing to her heart.”

  “What a load of nonsense!”

  “She doesn’t actually love me; she just thinks she does,” Daniel tried to remain calm. “I’ve actually saved her from further heartache.” It was true; he had.

  Sir Walter regarded him for a long moment before his anger vanished, and a heartfelt sigh replaced it. He seated himself on the chaise and relaxed against the cushions. “You actually believe that, don’t you?”

  “There is nothing to believe. It is a fact.”

  “What happened, my boy? I hope you’re not letting that wastrel father of yours affect your happiness, even after all of these years since his passing.”

  “With all due respect, Sir Walter, it is none of your business.” Daniel walked over to the side table and poured himself a generous glass of whisky.

  “You’re having no more spirits, my boy!” Sir Walter stood and marched over, deftly plucking the glass from Daniel’s hands. “And of course it’s my business. That girl is my daughter. Perhaps not biologically, but in every way that counts. And you, like a bull in a china shop, have shattered her heart into a million pieces.” He placed the glass on the side table, well away from Daniel. “I should have you horsewhipped for how you’ve handled the situation. No finesse whatsoever. Nothing like how you would usually handle things, Thornton. Very sloppy of you.”

  “You were the one to suggest she and I pretend to be married.”

  “Prete
nd, my boy, was the key word in that sentence of yours.” Sir Walter picked up the confiscated whisky and swallowed a healthy portion of the fluid. “You actually went and got yourself married to her. But that’s not what I’m talking about. Why did you brush her aside, when I can clearly see how you feel about her?”

  Daniel strode over to the window and stared out at the bay. “My feelings are nothing more than seeing her safe and sound.”

  “Oh codswallop!” Sir Walter exclaimed. “You can lie to yourself, but you cannot lie to me. Just look at you. Rumpled, messy, and looking nothing like your usual self. Drunk for clearly days, holed up here in this hotel, and not sailing for England.” He paused and then sighed. “You’re in love with her, Daniel. You have been for years.”

  Daniel felt his heart slam in his chest. “That’s not true.”

  “Why do you think I always sent you out to rescue her?”

  “To test the limits of my patience?”

  A reluctant smile touched Sir Walter’s lips. “Because you two are perfect for each other.”

  Daniel began pacing across the red and green woolen rug. “Perfect for each other?” he spluttered. “She couldn’t stand me. She only thinks she’s in love with me.”

  A wily expression flittered into Sir Walter’s sharp glance. “Her two mistaken fiancés arrived the very next morning after you left.”

  Daniel said nothing to his announcement, though he could feel resentment burning low in his belly.

  “They both asked Brianna if she would forgive them and allow each of them to court her after your annulment was granted. Can you believe the audacity of the young fellows?” Sir Walter exclaimed. “Only in Italy, of course, would such a thing happen. Though I can’t help but admire their fearlessness. Such persistence is sure to wear Brianna down, particularly as she has a broken heart. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  Daniel blinked. “How the hell do they even know Brianna and I were going to get an annulment?”

  “How do you think? As soon as you left, Brianna declared that fact to the whole town.” Sir Walter looked somewhat amused by it. “And word does travel rather quickly, especially considering they have to rely on the rather antiquated semaphore line.”