An Earl To Remember

by Jasmine Ashford

  Ada swallowed hard. He was one of the first – the only – men in her circle who had ever seen her intelligence in an attractive light.

  Thank you,” she said quietly.

  “Thank me?” He blinked. “Why? My lady, your mind is formidable, and you should be proud of it.”

  Ada laughed. “You are a breath of fresh air, Lord Liam,” she said gently. “I would more men thought as you do.”

  “Really?”

  “Really?” she echoed his words. “Of course! Your mind, too, is formidable. I would indeed that more men were as you are.”

  Lord Liam looked down at his hands.

  “Forgive me,” he said, voice thick with feeling. You must think me very odd, but... your words stir things in me that I had long forgotten. It has been many years since I felt worthy of regard.”

  “No need for forgiveness,” Ada said gently. She rested her hand on his arm. His gaze drifted down to her fingers and back up to her face. His eyes were wistful, with a depth of longing in them that set her blood pounding in her ears.

  He glanced at the open door and inclined his head. Ada stared into his eyes – an answer to his unspoken question. He stepped back a little, and she followed him, out into the silence and privacy of the terrace, alone under the stars.

  “My lady,” he said simply.

  “My lord.”

  They kissed there, under the stars on the terrace. His hand cupped her cheek, his other arm wrapped around her, drawing her close.

  His lips were soft and sweetened with the honey from mulled wine. He took her in his arms and the kiss deepened, her lips parting to his tongue. She stiffened with surprise, and he drew back, as if he had caused offense. His eyes were huge, and his breath was ragged.

  “My lord...” she whispered, as he moved back. Her own breath was unsteady, her whole body warm as if she were on fire.

  “I...” he stammered. “I hope I have not offended you...”

  “Offended me?” Ada laughed, a breathless huff of laughter. “My lord! How could you ask such a thing?”

  She went to him where he stood at a wrought-iron pillar, staring into the night. He reached out to her again, his hands resting on her shoulders. He looked down into her eyes, his own eyes reflecting the starlight liquidly.

  As Ada stood there beside him, she felt relief and wonder overwhelm her. Not only was he not angry, but he had come here, to this ball! And he had kissed her. She sniffed, and felt a tear roll down her cheek.

  “My lady!” Liam said, alarmed. “You are crying! I did not upset you?”

  “No,” Ada said at once. “I am happy. I thought you would never speak to me again,” she explained shyly.

  “Why?” Liam stared at her.

  “I thought that you thought...” She trailed off. “Oscar Ridlington...” she heaved in a trembling breath.

  “You thought I believed you were courting?” Liam asked, and she nodded silently. “I did,” he added, after a long moment. “But then I talked to people, and I found out another story. And when I saw you with him tonight... how he looked at you, spoke to you.... My lady, he is an unpleasant man. I would warn you about him.”

  “I have noticed he is... unusual,” Ada said noncommittally. “I do not like him,” she added strongly. “He scares me.”

  “He has no right to scare you,” Liam said quietly. “Please, keep away from him.”

  “I will,” Ada said quietly. She leaned against him. “I feel safe, knowing you know of him,” she added. “I feel safe with you.”

  Liam swallowed. Ada, standing beside him, heard his breath shift, becoming ragged. “You are an angel,” he said quietly.

  “I?” Ada was baffled. She looked up at his face, but he was looking away. His jaw worked, as if he was trying not to cry. At length, he turned to face her.

  “I hope you know, my lady,” he said in a raw voice, “that you have brought me back from a place of darkness I thought was infinite.”

  Ada stared up at him, her heart singing. “There is nothing I can say to that, my lord,” she said softly. “Except to be sorry you were ever in that darkness.”

  Toby sighed. He wrapped his arms around her and they stood in the shadow, looking out into the night.

  “You are priceless,” he whispered into her hair, kissing the crown of her head. His words spiraled down to her, carried on the warmth of his breath. “I swear to you that no harm will come to you while I live.”

  Ada turned and stared up at him, her heart thudding a slow, deep rhythm. “My lord,” she said gently. “That is... a vow too great and precious to make.”

  “I make it to you,” Liam said intensely. “I can impose no more of myself on you besides to be your devoted servant, but that I shall be.”

  “No,” Ada said firmly, a frown wrinkling the fine skin of her brow. “You are not an imposition. Why do you think that? You, too, light my darkest nights.”

  Liam turned away.

  “I am... tainted,” he whispered. “Scarred. I could not shackle you to this... ruined creature.”

  Ada stared at him, disbelieving. He thinks he’s tainted? Ruined? How can he?

  “Lord Liam,” she said with a firmness she did not know she could muster, “you are not tainted. You have more goodness and beauty in your fingertips than most men have in their whole selves! If you could only see yourself, as I see you... you would know uncorrupted beauty.”

  Liam made a noise that sounded like a moan.

  “I cannot believe you. You are... so good. An angel without taint. You see only goodness. If you but knew what I am, what I have done...”

  “What men do is not their fault, always,” Ada said carefully, knowing that she walked on unsteady ground. “Many men have been led to do... things they would not wish to, in pursuit of what they see as duty. My own father did things of which he was not proud. We all do. We do the best we can.”

  Liam stared at her. “You have said something no one else has ever said. You understand, and yet I cannot believe it! Why should you have such insight, when you do not know me, and know nothing of blood and suffering?”

  “It is because I know nothing of those things that I can see you clearly,” Ada responded at once. “I can see the true you. You do not see yourself correctly: The vision you see is through a veil of blood and torment.”

  Liam was very silent for a while, and then, hand trembling, he reached for her. He held her fiercely to his chest, his arms around her.

  “You are precious,” he said quietly. “You are dearer to me than life.”

  Ada wrapped her arms around him, feeling as if she was flying. Her heart thudded and her soul was soaring, her body afire in his arms. Nothing could break the beauty of that moment, there below the star-studded sky, the scent of jasmine light on the breeze.

  At that moment, a thin voice broke the silence.

  “My lord?”

  Ada froze. Liam stared at the figure of Lady Winthrope, who had appeared in the doorway.

  “Yes, my lady?” he said levelly.

  Ada released him and whirled around guiltily. The woman in the doorway, hair whitened with powder and wearing a magnificent gown of a slightly dated style, saw them both and smiled evenly as if nothing had happened.

  “Your uncle was asking for you, Lord Liam,” she said calmly. She smiled at Ada, almost in apology for interrupting them.

  “If you could ask him to find me here?” Liam said, bowing to the dowager lady, who nodded smoothly back, including Ada in her bland but approving glance.

  “Of course,” she said regally, and withdrew, back straight, to the hallway.

  “I should go,” Ada stammered. She did not want to. The very last place she wanted to be was in the ballroom and the only place she wanted to be was here: here with him was better than anywhere in the world.

  “I suppose you should,” Liam said gently.

  “I shall see you tomorrow?” Ada asked, looking up at him wide-eyed. Now that she had found him, being away was like a torment,
and she had to summon all her strength to walk across the terrace to the door.

  “Mayhap,” he said, giving her that sad and sweet smile. “I hope so. You like parks? I believe there is a concert in Green Park tomorrow. You would be interested in it?”

  “Yes,” she whispered and turned to walk back into the hall. She crossed through the door and into the warmth and flow of talk, the candles in their crystal holders glowing high above the party.

  “Yes,” she said quietly. She thought her heart might burst.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  VISIT TO THE PARK

  VISIT TO THE PARK

  The apartment in town was quiet, and Toby leaned back on the chair in the drawing room, overlooking the busy street below. He was tired after the ball and relished the thought of a quiet evening at home. The drawing-room afforded a beautiful view of the dusk-soft sky, the street outside filled with genteel folk walking from coffeehouse to tea shop to tailor and back.

  Toby leaned back and opened the book that lay on his knee. It was a work of Descartes, and he was looking forward to reading it. He reached for a glass of brandy and sighed appreciatively. It was good to have a rest.

  “Toby!”

  Toby shut the book he was reading and looked up, surprised. It was Liam, and he sounded full of life.

  “Yes?”

  “Get your coat! We're going out!” His voice was joyful, and he shoved his friend playfully in the shoulder to jostle him from the chair.

  “And may I ask where?” Toby asked, already heading to the hallway.

  “Green Park!” Liam said, smiling. He was pulling on his heavy overcoat, noting through the windows that it was fine outside.

  “What's happening out there?” Toby asked mildly, as Liam reached for his top hat.

  “A concert!” Liam said happily. “And she's likely going to attend.”

  Toby did not ask who “she” might be, a fact for which Liam was grateful. He walked briskly to the street outside, hailing a cab. As they piled in to the coach and the driver pulled away, Liam explained to Toby where they were headed.

  “There is a concert in the park,” he explained as they rolled along the cobbled street. “I spoke with Lady Ada yesterday, and she expressed an interest in joining me there.”

  “You invited her?” Toby said, incredulously.

  Liam hid a smile. He could forgive Toby his disbelief: In all the years since that time on the battlefield, he had never invited anyone anywhere. He never made social arrangements himself, and spent most of the time declining any sent to him. It was a complete reversal of his self-imposed isolation, and he was not surprised that Toby noted it.

  “I... discussed it with her,” Liam said, looking out of the window.

  “Well,” Toby smiled, “I think she will be as eager as you are. She loves music at least as well as you.”

  “You think so?” Liam asked. “You have discussed it with her?”

  “Not exactly, no,” Toby admitted. “But she seems to like dancing, so I am sure she does.”

  “Yes.” Liam smiled, looking back into memory. “She is an exquisite dancer.”

  As the carriage rolled along, Liam watched the streets drawing away behind them, all paved and genteel, ladies and gentlemen walking about to take the evening air. He saw a couple cross the street, the lady in a long cloak, leaning on the gentleman's arm. He felt a wistful longing and was grateful that his friend could not read his mind wonder what it would be like to be able to freely express such tender care?

  “What is playing?” Toby asked, looking at Liam's pensive face as he watched the scenes outside.

  “Schubert, mainly,” Liam replied. “It is a chamber orchestra, playing at the bandstand.”

  “It is the perfect evening for it,” Toby mused. The sky outside was a delicate lilac, stretching out over the wide lawns as they approached the park from the side.

  “It is,” Liam added. His voice was taut, and he felt for all the world as he imagined a pointer dog would feel before the hunt: tense and waiting. looked like a pointer-dog just before the hunt, tense and waiting.

  “Here we are,” Toby commented after a moment, as they drew up before the tall gates to the park. “And only six of the clock. What time does the concert start?”

  “Seven,” Liam said absently. He was still looking out of the window, as if searching the park for someone.

  Toby hid a smile.

  “We have an hour then,” Toby said lightly. “Perhaps we could take a turn past Lisle's Coffeehouse, and find light repast. I am feeling somewhat hungry.”

  “Good idea,” Liam said absently. He had barely thought of anything to eat, but was glad Toby remembered such niceties – now that he thought about it, he was starving.

  Together, Liam and Toby alighted from the carriage, joining the other people who were already following the pathways through tranquil greenness.

  “A good evening to promenade,” Toby commented, passing by two young ladies, resplendent in white muslin day-gowns, parasols of lace looped around their wrists. They caught his appreciative glance, and curtseyed prettily. Toby smiled.

  “Keep your eyes to yourself, you rascal.” Liam grinned at him pleasantly. “Or leastways, they may rove anywhere they like, save one woman.”

  “I would not dream of ogling anyone else,” Toby said airily.

  Liam grinned.

  “She is beautiful, is she not?” Again, Toby did not need to ask to whom he referred.

  “She is,” he agreed. “But I can assure you, I am purely appreciative. Nothing more.”

  Liam smiled a little sadly. “Thank you, my friend. I would not worry, but you are a handsome devil, and she deserves better than a scarred old rascal like myself. I am aware I am not a pretty sight.”

  Toby laughed. “There's more to life than looks, my friend.”

  Liam snorted. “Thank you, dear friend. You fill me with confidence in my appearance.”

  “You should have enough confidence,” Toby countered. “You are a handsome devil yourself. You're the only one who can't see it.”

  Liam paused in step a moment and stared at his friend. He wanted to ask if he really thought that, if he honestly believed there was a chance that Ada...

  “Look at that carriage!” Toby called out, disrupting his thoughts. Liam looked up, relieved to have the subject changed. They were near another entrance to the park, and it was thronged with ladies and gentlemen and carriages. A lady in a pink dress and tall bonnet stepped down from the landau, taking the hand of a beau in a dark suit. The two walked lightly down the path toward the bandstand.

  “We should hurry, if we wish to take refreshment at Lisle's.”

  “True,” Liam commented, lifting his silver watch to look at the time. “By my reckoning, we have half an hour before we need to return.”

  “More than enough,” Toby said reassuringly. “We shall easily be back here by seven of the clock.”

  “Good,” Liam said quickly. “Well, off we go, then. Sooner out is sooner back.”

  Laughing at the old saying from their Cambridge days, Toby ran to keep up with his long-legged stride through the wrought-iron entranceway.

  It was only as they proceeded up the street that Liam realized he was walking up a crowded street, scar full on display, and didn't even seem to notice the crowds. He felt momentarily stunned. All because of Ada, he thought, shaking his head. Only she could have made this sudden change. It was miraculous, and he prayed she would be there that evening.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  A MEMORABLE CONCERT

  A MEMORABLE CONCERT

  Ada sat up in bed. It was the morning after the ball, and the cool sheets slid under her as she opened her eyelids, feeling the sunshine bathe them.

  With wakefulness came memory. Memories of the previous night dance through her mind, making her smile. She could recall almost every word, every gesture. Each expression that played across Lord Liam's face was lodged within her. And the touch of his lips was soft on
hers in memory.

  I've never been kissed. Well, not until recently.

  She felt wonderful. The thought of that kiss was delicious, and it made her smile. She stretched, letting her toes slide over the satiny cotton of the sheets.

  “Breakfast,” she said to herself, feeling oddly hungry. She sat up in bed, and slid from between the sheets, reaching for her satin bedgown. Slipping it on, she pulled the bell for Priscilla, their resident maid, to bring her breakfast.

  “Morning, milady,” Priscilla said, appearing a few moments later.

  “Morning, Priscilla,” Ada smiled.“Could you fetch breakfast?”

  “Of course, milady. I'll bring it in directly.”Ada smiled at the familiarity of it all. The tray was the same as every day: a china teacup and saucer, patterned with little roses, gold-leaf about the rim, a plate bearing croissants and a small china pot of tea. Henriette, who set the fashions, insisted on croissants and the whole family had gratefully adapted to them.

  “Thank you,” Ada said, and Priscilla left, humming a song under her breath.

  Ada broke a section off the flaky croissant and ate it, pouring her tea. Every sense seemed to be on fire this morning, for she could feel each ridge in the china handle of the pot and the smooth coolness of the saucer on her fingertips. It was the memory of that lovely evening in the party that had done this to her, she reckoned, the delight in her new closeness with Liam, their shared secrets.

  “The blue dress, please, Priscilla,” Ada said decidedly. “And the white silk bonnet, I think? I believe we will go on an outing today, and I want to be warm.” I want to go to the park, just in case Liam is there.

  “Quite so, my lady,” Priscilla agreed soberly. “It's still chilly out there in the mornings, I must say.”

  Ada nodded in agreement and allowed Priscilla to disrobe her, thankful that the coals in the grate of her bedchamber offered warmth against the chill.

  “Do you know which parks are the most popular?” she asked.