Lured Into Sin By The Wicked Earl (Steamy Historical Regency Romance)

by Olivia Bennet

  From where he sat, he could see her slim figure. A flash of desire settled into his stomach causing his skin to heat. He was glad that she wasn’t looking at him or she would have seen his desire etched across his face. In his dream, he had seen her violin-shaped curves glowing in the firelight. The fact that they were hidden from him now made her all the more tantalizing.

  She turned, and he realized that he was staring. He watched as her cheeks turned pink. His mind was still filled with thoughts of her from his dream and he had the feeling that she had caught the look of desire on his face.

  “Is there something wrong, My Lord?” she inquired.

  “Do you dust all of these every day?”

  “Yes, My Lord.”

  He lifted the paper again. He knew that he should leave her be. And yet, his eyes were drawn to her. From where he sat, he could see that her hair was falling out of her bun again. As though it refused to be tamed.

  He saw the way that she bit her lip as she focused on her work. Her face was turned to the left so he could see her profile, her straight nose, her high cheekbones. She was lovelier than any lady of the ton. He recalled his dream, how clearly he’d seen her then. He recalled the way that she had looked naked in the firelight, her hair falling around her shoulders.

  “What did your father do?” he asked. “Before his death?”

  “He was a vicar, My Lord.”

  “Oh. Are you very religious, then?”

  “Not as much as I should be, to tell the truth,” she explained, as she dusted a row of encyclopedias.

  “I see,” he said, setting the paper down in his lap.

  “My father wanted me to marry a religious man like himself,” she said, as she stepped down the ladder. When she reached the floor, she turned toward him. Her arms rested at her sides, the feather duster in her left hand.

  “Did you not agree?” he asked, curious to know more about her. The fact that she had shared this bit of information with him was exciting.

  “It wouldn’t have suited me,” she replied. “I’m not the sort of woman to keep house for a man and never question his intentions.”

  “So, you’d much rather keep house for me,” he mused.

  She colored but didn’t look away. Her gaze was steady on his. “Sorry, My Lord. I meant no offense,” she said. “This is different. I have my wages. I’m providing for myself.”

  “That’s very admirable, Susannah.” He was very impressed. Here was a woman who wanted to stand on her own two feet.

  She smiled, and he could not deny the way that his heart leapt at the sight of it. He crossed his legs, then folded his hands in his lap.

  “What do you use your wages for?” he asked.

  “I’ve started to put some away for later. But I’ve bought several books of poetry.”

  “Ah,” he said. “You like to read?”

  “Very much so, My Lord. Poetry and plays, mostly.”

  “Do you write, yourself?”

  “I’ve never tried,” she admitted. “I don’t know who would read what I wrote. I’m just a simple country girl.”

  “I think you’d be surprised, Susannah,” he said. “When you use your voice, people listen. I think that you’re much more than a simple country girl, and you know it. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have come to London.”

  “You think someone like me could be a writer?”

  “If you wanted to.”

  “Me? A woman?”

  “Why not?” he asked. “If you have the talent, then you should do your best to use it. Women can write just as well as men can.”

  She was smiling, her gaze still on him. She nodded. “I might like that.”

  “Why did you come to London, Susannah?” He loved saying her name. It felt almost precious, falling from his lips.

  “I thought that I could live a more fulfilling life here, My Lord.”

  “And are you?”

  “Yes. I daresay, I am.”

  He was astounded by her confidence and nearly struck dumb at the sight of her smile and the way that it lit up her eyes. She might have been from the countryside, but she was intelligent. And she had opinions that she was comfortable expressing.

  A woman who is both beautiful and intelligent is a deadly combination. It only makes me want to know her more.

  The worst part was, he could never have her.

  * * *

  Standing there, speaking to the Earl, Susannah felt herself blushing. Talking to him was surprisingly easy. She had all of the right answers. She wondered why he was so interested in her. She stared back into his lovely, leonine eyes.

  He had finally abandoned his paper which now sat folded in his lap. He seemed to be thinking. She started to feel twitchy. She wanted to know what he was thinking but didn’t quite feel equal to the task of asking. Not to mention, what would she do, if Mr. Howard came in and found them talking like this?

  I wonder what it would be like to place my hand on his cheek.

  She admired the smoothness of his skin, the way that it seemed to glow with health. She imagined touching him tenderly. It made her heart race. She realized that she was staring at him.

  “I should get back to dusting,” she said, with a start.

  “Yes,” he replied. He stood up from his seat, the leather creaking as he got up. “I should leave you to it. I’ve distracted you for far too long.”

  She curtsied to him and watched him leave the room. As she went about her work, her mind was full of him. She meandered through the library, pausing near the chair where he’d sat.

  Beside the chair, his newspaper was folded. She touched the back of the chair, feeling the warmth that he’d left behind. She could feel a rush of anticipation, as though it was Christmas Eve and she was about to get a present that she had wanted a long time.

  She returned her focus to the dusting. The library usually took her about forty- to fifty-minutes, with all of the shelves. It was a vast room and one which seemed to collect dust overnight. When she was done, she met up with Lucy to tidy the Earl’s room.

  * * *

  Adam attempted to go about his day. After all, there was still much to be done in the lab. He had made some progress over the past few days. However, when he sat down to work, he found himself staring off into space.

  Adam’s mind was filled with thoughts of the new maid. He had thought that speaking to her would have turned him off from her. After all, he usually became bored after one conversation with another person. However, Susannah had surprised him.

  He found himself wondering what she was doing, what she was thinking. He needed to find a way to spend time with her without anyone knowing. He knew that if anyone, particularly his parents or Gerard, found out, they would put a stop to it.

  I’m the master of this house. If I want it, then I make it happen. I’m allowed to be happy, am I not?

  He rang the bell for Mr. Howard. His intentions were good. He wanted to help her if he could. Susannah was a bright individual who clearly had hopes and dreams. She would be wasted here in the house, working as a house maid. He could at least give her that much, even if he could never give her anything more.

  The door to his study opened and Mr. Howard entered. “You rang for me, My Lord?”

  “I did, Mr. Howard,” he said, considering how best to go about what he needed. “It’s come to my attention that the lab needs to be cleaned more often. I was wondering if you could spare Susannah for a few hours in the evenings.”

  “Susannah, My Lord?” Mr. Howard was frowning. “I know that she helped you with a spill the other day, but she has not the experience that Lucy does, or Matthew.”

  He smiled, realizing that Susannah had come up with a story to explain her disappearance the other day. She was making things that much easier for him. It already felt as though they were co-conspirators.

  “She seemed to know her way around the lab better than anyone I’ve ever known,” he replied. “I would like her help on a more regular basis. Her knowledge i
s truly impressive.”

  Mr. Howard’s eyes were wide, as he nodded. “Very well, My Lord,” he said. “I suppose we can shuffle the house maids a bit.”

  “Would it be possible to spare her in the evenings, perhaps?” Adam asked. After all, he could spare the distraction after a long day of work.

  “You…want her to work at night?” Mr. Howard asked slowly.

  “When I’m not working,” Adam explained. “Then I won’t be in her way.”

  Mr. Howard sighed. Adam knew that whatever the man thought of his request, he would not deny it. “I will let Mrs. Braithwaite know.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Howard,” Adam said, smiling. From his demeanor, Mr. Howard disapproved. However, Adam was the gentleman. Whatever he wanted, Mr. Howard arranged.

  Mr. Howard bowed, and then left the room. Adam got up, walking over to the window. It overlooked the street in front of the house. At this time, there was a mass of humanity scurrying about.

  Carriages dashed by, rushing to and fro. There were little groups of people making their way along the sidewalks. Adam wondered what their lives were like and what secrets they were keeping.

  It was unfortunate that he was the heir to Wiltshire. If Tom hadn’t died, then Adam would have been left to do as he pleased. His parents would never have bothered with him.

  He meant to stand up for himself, though. He wanted to live a life that he found fulfilling. He owed it to himself, whatever the consequences may be.

  * * *

  “Susannah,” Mrs. Braithwaite called to her. The servants were all heading in for their dinner. Only Mr. Howard and one footman were needed upstairs while the Earl was eating, as he usually ate alone.

  “Yes, Mrs. Braithwaite?” she asked, stepping out of the crowd that was heading into the servants’ dining room.

  “After you eat, you are to go upstairs. It seems that the Earl was impressed by how you handled that spill the other day. You’re to clean the lab for him, every night now.”

  “Of course,” she said, frowning. “He asked for me?” She felt like her emotions were a bubble, glistening and crystalline, rising into the air. Her skin tingled in anticipation.

  “Yes,” Mrs. Braithwaite said. “I wouldn’t take it as a compliment. That lab hasn’t been cleaned since the other week. It took Lucy and Matthew the entire day to set it right because it hadn’t been cleaned in months.”

  “Oh,” she said, realizing just how much work she was expected to do after already working all day. Her feet ached from being on them and she was ready to be among the servants and spend the rest of the evening sitting around the table and gossiping.

  “I presume his lordship will have more specific instructions. There is a lot to be aware of when cleaning a working laboratory.”

  “Yes, Madam.” She would be willing to stay up all night if it meant spending more time with him. Mrs. Braithwaite was studying her closely. Susannah realized that she was beaming, not the typical reaction of someone who had just been informed that they were going to have to do more work. The smile faded from her face.

  “Go have your dinner. You’ll need sustenance,” Mrs. Braithwaite said at last.

  Susannah curtsied, and then walked for the dining room. Lucy was waiting for her, out in the hallway. Her arms were folded.

  “What did she want?” Lucy asked.

  “I’m to clean the Earl’s lab,” Susannah said, “after I eat.”

  “Oh, I’d watch it, Susannah,” Lucy replied in concern. “You’ve caught his eye.”

  “I’ll be careful,” she assured her friend.

  Lucy nodded, but she had a doubtful look on her face. Susannah wondered if there was something more to Lucy’s concern for her when it came to the Earl. She decided to ask her later. After all, the Earl didn’t seem to be someone who would throw someone over and fire them.

  He was kind, and he seemed interested in her hopes and dreams. Their conversations had been innocent…and yet, there was a part of her that knew that Lucy’s concern was completely well-founded as Susannah considered the desire that she felt toward their employer. In her heart, Susannah knew Lord Malmore. She knew that she could trust him.

  Is that all in my mind, though?

  Chapter 9

  Adam’s heart was racing as he waited in the laboratory for Susannah’s arrival. He rubbed his hands together as he thought about how he was going to explain it all to her. She needed to learn how to clean a laboratory safely. There were a lot of things which couldn’t be mixed together.

  There was also the matter of his feelings. He wasn’t going to hide or pretend. Whenever he thought of her, he felt something that had long lay dormant awaken inside of him. He couldn’t just tell her that, though.

  He was an Earl, and she was his maid; there was a severe difference in power. He was the one who held it all, while she held next to none, and he couldn’t take advantage of that. He wanted it to be her decision. If she wanted the same thing, then it wouldn’t be so awful, but he didn’t want to force himself on her. That wouldn’t be right.

  So, he would go slowly. Make sure that she felt the same way as he did.

  I’m nervous. And I am never nervous.

  He swallowed as he considered the racing of his heart, the way that his whole body was alive with anticipation.

  The door opened, and Susannah stood there holding a bucket filled with water in one hand and a bucket of cleaning supplies in the other. She looked up, her eyes widening in surprise.

  “Oh, My Lord,” she said. “I thought you’d be upstairs.”

  “I wanted to make sure that you knew your way around. I am very particular about my laboratory, you see.” He shrugged. “There are some dangerous chemicals in here. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  She smiled, then nodded. She looked him in the eyes as she spoke. “Thank you, My Lord.” She paused, tilting her head to the side. “If I may be so bold, My Lord, why me?”

  Adam should have known that she would see right through him and realize his true intentions. He wasn’t ready to admit them, though. He wanted to be sure of what he was feeling. He wanted to be sure of her, that she was the woman that she presented herself to be. Lady Cecily had taught him a cruel but important lesson.

  “You have a good head on your shoulders,” he said with a wink. “That means you won’t bungle it up.” He said this second part very sternly.

  She laughed. “I’ll do my best, My Lord.”

  He smiled, rubbing the palms of his hands together. “Excellent. Let me show you the lab, then.” He glanced around. “First rule,” he said, as his eyes fell upon his papers. “Do not change the order of my papers. I have them put there in a specific way. There will be times when the desk is clear, and you can clean it then.”

  “Very good, My Lord,” she said.

  They were already off to a good start. Now, if he could just keep himself from staring at her lips the whole time—

  God, they are so perfectly kissable.

  To think he had never been a very religious gentleman before. A few stolen moments in her company and he already knew that some intelligent being had created her to be his perfect match. He turned his eyes away from her. He knew, too, that that creator was cruel enough to make sure that society would never allow them to be together.

  * * *

  The Earl seemed to come alive when he was discussing his lab. Susannah listened intently as he showed her the different parts of it. He explained everything patiently, warning her about mixing chemicals, particularly when cleaning them.

  “If you clean anything in here with soap, it could cause a chemical reaction,” he explained. “It may create a gas which would kill you.”

  “I see,” she said, her mind absorbing this information. She had never considered chemicals in such a way before. Here, surrounded by them and the fact that they could be used to make something other than what they had originally been, made her feel like the world was filled with possibilities.

  “Make sure that th
e windows are open so that the lab is ventilated. Never mix anything, just in case. Warm water should be enough. If it isn’t, just ask me. I will help you find something safe to use.”

  “Very good, My Lord.”

  He seemed very concerned that she might die while cleaning his lab. However, if she remembered what he said, then she knew she’d be fine. He paused, rubbing his palms together.