The Exception of an Earl

by Deborah Wilson

  Morgana couldn’t do this for him. Only she could.

  “Lord Sencio could introduce you to the duke. He knows him better than I do. I only met the duke once.”

  Her father pointed his gaze at Will and then looked at Camilla. “Luke says he’s taken with you.”

  Camilla had to still her eyes from rolling. “I think Luke is more taken with his own ideas than actual reality. He thinks an earl would suit me.”

  “And he isn’t wrong.” There was a touch of pride in his voice. “It’s why I allow him to act on my behalf where you are concerned. I knew I’d left you in good hands.”

  His words pierced her heart.

  But he wasn’t looking at her anymore. He was looking at Luke and Will. He couldn’t see the pain his words caused. As though she should be content with her brother’s protection while her father went to raise his other daughter.

  Her anger grew to the point that she wanted to break things and tear her dress into rags just to get his attention.

  Her mother had done it in the privacy of their home. Camilla’s father had done nothing more than watch in mute irritation before sweeping from the house.

  Her belly burned, but her mind cleared of her destructive thoughts just as her father turned to her. She smiled, but it was empty. She felt empty and content.

  “I’m going to ask Lord Sencio to join me in my box… you may come as well.”

  Camilla hadn’t sat in her father’s box in years, not since Julia had taken her mother’s place. And even as the woman currently lay in bed, the thought of being anywhere near where the other woman had been sickened her.

  She stepped back from her father. “Actually, I like the seats Luke has purchased.”

  Her father frowned. “You wish to sit amongst the commoners?”

  “There will be other ladies there,” she said. “It’s close to the front.”

  Luke appeared. Emily and Will were with him.

  Her brother said, “We’re sitting in Father’s box.”

  Camilla knew what he meant. He was telling her that they all would be sitting in the box, but Camilla smiled and pretended he’d only meant him, Emily, and Will. “Well, I hope you enjoy the view. I shall be returning to my seat in the box you purchased. It’s nearly time for curtain opening. We should get inside.”

  ∫ ∫ ∫

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  * * *

  Camilla started away and was surprised when no one stopped her. While her father’s box was upstairs, her own seats were close to the lower gallery. She could see the action in the pit, had been distracted more than once by a group of rowdy gentlemen who kept moving and calling for wine, but she could see the play just fine.

  It wasn’t ‘with’ the commoners, but it was close. The side view allowed her to see everything… including her father and brother in his box across and above.

  Lord Hornstein looked at her, and she looked away.

  Emily sat beside her. “I don’t care for that particular box either,” her sister-in-law said.

  Camilla reached for her hand and Emily gave her a squeeze. “Thank you for your support, but I don’t wish to take you away from Luke.”

  Emily wrinkled her nose. “This isn’t about Luke. Miss Walker’s presence lingers up there.”

  Camilla squeezed her hand again. She absolutely loved Emily. Her brother didn’t always get everything right, but he’d been fortunate to catch and hold onto Emily’s heart.

  There was movement in the corner of her eye as Will sat down on her other side. “Your brother thought it best I look after you both. Theatre occupants have been known to grow violent.” That was the truth. If the play was bad, the audience let the stage players know and with the amount of wine flowing through the room, a fight wasn’t unheard of.

  Emily leaned forward to speak to him. “How fortunate we are to have a war hero and queen’s guard for protection. We will do our best to make your job an easy one, Lord Sencio.”

  He smiled his dimples at her. “I thank you, my lady.”

  Emily leaned away, and Will’s eyes moved to Camilla.

  Her thoughts went to the last time he’d been someone’s bodyguard. “Please, don’t hurt anyone on my behalf.”

  He didn’t lean closer, yet even with the others around them, she knew his whisper managed to reach her ears alone. “If it’s a choice between you and someone else, I won’t hesitate.”

  She looked away just as the theatre staff began to lower the lights.

  The curtains drew back and the stage was filled by musicians.

  Tonight’s show would go on for hours. Not only was there a play, but other acts would take place. Singing. A pantomime. The crowds would come and go, but Camilla would not.

  She was searching for further inspiration. She needed something to distract her from her current thoughts, like her father’s betrayal. He’d been on her mind all day. Only during her hour with Will at Van Dero’s had her thoughts quieted enough for her to write.

  And write she did. She’d actually written quite a bit once she’d return home as well.

  But then her father, with Morgana prancing around, had crept in her mind. A ribbon had been in the girl’s hands and she danced around their father, tying him up and making him her captive. Then she’d used that same ribbon to strangle Camilla.

  Her father didn’t want her. He’d left her in Luke’s care.

  She closed her eyes when she felt tears begin to burn in them.

  “Do you find this piece that moving?” Will asked. “Because I find the actress’s performance leaves much to be desired.”

  Camilla popped her eyes open to look at the stage. The actress was terrible, but with her pretty face and a great amount of cleavage on display, she doubted the men here noticed.

  In the shadows, she couldn’t see Will’s eyes well, but he had his head pointed at her and away from the stage. “What’s this pantomime about?”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t been watching.”

  She swallowed and wondered if his words meant he’d been watching her.

  He leaned forward just an inch. “Where has your mind gone?”

  A gentleman behind them made a shushing sound at them.

  So Will leaned closer. “What’s got you in so much pain?”

  Camilla tried to straighten her face. She forced her brows to relax. “How do you know I’m in pain?”

  They were shushed again.

  Will placed a hand on the back of her chair and turned around to stare at the man.

  The gentleman cleared his throat but said nothing more.

  Will bent forward and said quietly, “Tell me the truth. Would you rather I leave?”

  She was caught off guard by his words and the fact that he believed his presence bothered her that much. She shook her head.

  “Are you sure? If I make you uncomfortable…”

  “You don’t.” She leaned in, because she didn’t wish to disturb the man behind her. Her body might have touched his if there wasn’t a chair arm between them.

  But he tipped his head and her lip brushed his ear by accident. “You don’t make me uncomfortable.”

  He stiffened.

  She pulled away. “Sorry.” She tried to see his eyes but couldn’t.

  Yet his body remained still as stone and she thought she saw his jaw harden.

  Then he lifted his finger and crooked it at her.

  Camilla found herself falling toward him once again. She pulled in a shaky breath and her face heated. This close, she was certain he could feel her heavy breathing against his cheek just as she could feel his rustling the curl by her neck and hot against her throat.

  He spoke with the darkness tangled in his words. “Cammie…”

  Every hair she possessed on her body stood at attention. She trembled even as her blood seemed to come awake, as if called from a great slumber by the man before her.

  She closed her eyes again and drowned herself in his masculine fragrance and the heat of his strong body, just an
inch away from her own.

  She heard him inhale and then felt him release a shaky breath against her throat again. “What do you want from me?”

  “I don’t know.” Yet her mind felt relaxed. She could think clearly. Even her vision seemed sharper. She could see the stage around him. The action couldn’t hold her attention though.

  “Why me?” he asked. “Why not someone else?”

  She closed her eyes and moved her mouth back to his ear. This time, when she brushed it, it was not on accident. “I don’t know.”

  He locked his hand around her throat and squeezed lightly.

  She gasped as her body exploded with great heat between her legs. She grabbed his knee and clung to him using her nails, begging him to kiss her, to take her mouth in his.

  She nearly said the words.

  Then in a blink, he let go and pulled away.

  It all happened so quickly.

  The heat left her. Her body cooled. Her pulse kept his steady rhythm, but eventually, that calmed as well.

  “I’ll help you finish your book.” He faced her for long moments after that, but then finally turned to the stage.

  Camilla said nothing as she turned to the stage as well.

  Emily grabbed her hand and squeezed. Camilla squeezed her back.

  “Later.” She hoped her touch communicated that to her friend.

  She’d tell her what happened later but not now. Camilla wasn’t even sure what had just taken place.

  But at least her heart was no longer full of sorrow and she had Will to thank for that.

  ∫ ∫ ∫

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  * * *

  “And you’re sure he didn’t kiss you?” Camilla’s brother asked the next morning. “Lord Craig sat behind you and said your position looked intimate for a time.”

  Camilla sat in the drawing room as she waited for Emily. “Lord Sencio didn’t kiss me.”

  ‘You’re sure?” Her brother looked disappointed.

  Camilla rolled her eyes. “His mouth didn’t touch me.”

  Luke’s mouth fell open. “Camilla, mind your words.”

  She laughed. “Luke, I know what a kiss is. He didn’t kiss me. I don’t know what else you want me to say.” But she did know what her brother wanted her to say. He wanted her to lie so he could call the man out and force them into marriage.

  “How do you know what a kiss is?”

  Camilla kept her mouth closed and stood when Emily came in.

  Emily looked brighter than ever. “Sorry I kept you waiting. I’m ready.”

  Camilla remained where she stood and looked between Luke and Emily. H

  er brother’s color had risen a shade, but he refused to look at his wife.

  Emily, on the other hand, couldn’t seem to keep her eyes off Luke. “Luke.”

  “Hm?” He glanced at her.

  “I shall see you later.” His wife grinned, her expression nearly seductive.

  Luke cleared his throat and crossed his arms. “Well, of course, you will. You live here, Emily.”

  She laughed and turned to Camilla. “Let’s be on our way.”

  Luke walked them to the door, which was unnecessary. He helped Emily wrap a shawl around her shoulders, which was unnecessary. His

  fingers lingered on Emily’s arm before he let her go.

  Camilla covered her mouth and suppressed a laugh. “I’ll meet you in the carriage.”

  Emily joined her sometime later looking flushed and bright-eyed. “I’m sure you’re excited about finishing the book.”

  “What’s going on between you and Luke?”

  “Hm?” Emily blinked. “What do you mean?” Even as the words left her lips, her cheeks turned as red as tomatoes. “I…” She giggled. “I don’t know. We’re just… happy is all.”

  “Why?” Camilla gasped. “Are you with child?”

  Emily’s eyes widened. “No, I don’t think so. Maybe.” She sighed. “No, Camilla, we just… we’re just… happy this morning.”

  Camilla wanted to press for details just as much as she didn’t. Emily was married to her brother, after all, and some things Camilla didn’t need to hear.

  But if it were any indication of how they were acting this morning, Emily and her brother must have had a very good night after the theatre.

  “Why aren’t you this happy every day?” Camilla asked. Now her inquiry had more to do with marriage and love than anything else.

  Emily seemed to understand this and thought about her answer before she gave one. “Sometimes you have good days and sometimes you have bad days. Some days are better than most. This doesn’t change, married or not. We’re still people, Camilla.”

  That made sense to Camilla. Emily and Luke hadn’t stopped being Emily and Luke when they married. Though Luke was rarely angry, he’d always had days that were better than others. Why that would change with marriage, she didn’t know.

  Yet she admitted that she’d believed it to be how it should work.

  How foolish.

  “I like you with my brother,” Camilla said. “You make him happy.”

  Emily smiled. “I try to.” Her eyes glazed over. “Sometimes, I try harder than others…”

  Last night must have been one of those times. Had Emily done something to cause her brother’s strange behavior that morning? What had she done?

  Again, Camilla wanted to know and didn’t want to know.

  If only Emily were married to someone else, but then Camilla wouldn’t have the amazing sister-in-law that she had.

  Emily had two sisters. They were both much older, so much so that Emily said she didn’t spend a great amount of time with them. She’d begun calling Camilla her true sister since her engagement to Luke was announced.

  “Do you believe Luke knew you’d make him this happy when you married?” Camilla asked.

  Emily’s expression changed to one more thoughtful and heavy. “I think the connection to my father and my brothers-in-law was more important than our attraction. But he knew I’d be an agreeable wife.” Then Emily smiled. “Perhaps being happy was a surprise to him.”

  Happiness was the best surprise.

  Camilla smiled as he thought of Will’s nearness the other evening.

  Emily leaned forward. “I have to know. Did Lord Sencio truly not kiss you? I wanted to speak after the play, but Luke grabbed us so quickly and then we were taking you home and there was no time. You looked rather intimate. So much so that…”

  “What?” Camilla asked.

  Emily bit her lip. “I may have… been a little more… enthusiastic last evening once Luke and I got home.”

  Camilla’s mouth fell open. “Emily!”

  Emily laughed and covered her cheeks. “Oh, it’s all your fault. I swear, last evening… after seeing you and Lord Sencio ...” She shook her head. “I don’t know who I was.”

  “And that was just from seeing Will and I whisper?”

  Emily narrowed her eyes. “It looked like so much more than whispering.”

  It had felt like more than whispering, but that was really all it had been. It had been an arousing, steamy session of words spoken in low tones. And it had left her feeling more alive and more breathless than any kiss she’d ever had.

  “Are you sure he didn’t kiss you?” Emily asked.

  “Yes!” But she wished he had.

  Forget being compromised; she’d wanted him. Even if he’d only brushed her ear with his lips as she’d done, Camilla was sure she’d have been content. Instead, he’d strangled her a little… and that had act had been spinning in Camilla’s mind since it happened.

  What had been in his head when he’d done it? Had it been a staying action? Had he been trying to keep her from moving? Or was it something else?

  Maybe he’d been holding onto her to stay upright. Or maybe he’d wanted to feel her pulse underneath his thumb, to touch the heart of her desire. Or maybe it was a combination of everything.

  She would ask.

  For the bo
ok, of course. Because she wanted to know him.

  It took some time to get through the morning traffic, but then they were driving through the secluded road that went through Regent Park. They passed one mansion before arriving at Van Dero’s. The residence was like a country seat set in the middle of the city. It was one of the most coveted locations in London mainly for the vast amount of privacy the trees offered and the land itself.

  Camilla and Emily were escorted into the house and shown to an empty drawing room.

  “Shall I wait with you for Lord Sencio to arrive?” Emily asked. “Milly has offered me the use of the other common rooms during my visit. They have an extraordinary gallery that I’m interested in seeing.”

  Camilla shook her head. “Go. I’ll find you when I’m ready to leave.”

  Emily left, a

  nd it was a half-hour past the time she and Will had decided to meet before the man appeared.

  He was dressed in the same clothes as last evening and Camilla found herself immediately put off by his appearance. He looked to have hardly slept. His suit was wrinkled and his hair was disheveled. His eyes were especially hollow yet he swept into the room as though nothing was wrong. It reminded her of the early years of her father’s deception, when he first began to slip away to see Miss Julia Walker.

  “Sorry I kept you waiting,” he said. “If you could spare a few more minutes, I’ll go ready myself—”

  “No, don’t bother.”

  Why was she angry at this man? He’d done nothing wrong. If he wanted to spend his night with women that was his choice.

  He stiffened. “Should I stay?”

  She looked to the door and set it as her goal. “If you wish, but this is clearly a bad time for you. So, I’ll leave.” She walked out the door and rushed down the stairs. She found a maid in the hall and the woman took her to the gallery where she found Emily. “I’m ready to go.”

  Emily looked surprised. “Already? But it’s hardly been three-quarters of an hour.”

  “I’m ready.”

  Emily took a step toward her but stopped.

  ∫ ∫ ∫

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