Earl Interrupted

by Amanda Forester

  Emma sighed contentedly as her skin warmed to his. Despite being a reserved man, his skin was warm, and she snuggled close. He also seemed to be enjoying the closeness, exploring her body with his hands and mouth. Soon, she wanted more. A throbbing need she had never before experienced took control, and she wanted him in a manner quite carnal.

  “Emma,” he gasped, emerging from his devoted attention to her breasts. “You must tell me what you like and do not like. I wish…I wish to please you as much as you are pleasing me.”

  “Do not stop, for everything that pleases you seems to please me too.”

  “I do love you.” He rolled on top of her, propping himself up on his elbows, his chest skimming across hers in a manner that brought stars to her eyes. “I never thought I would ever say that to anyone, ever. But I love you, Miss…” He smiled and closed his eyes, correcting himself. “Lady Darington.”

  She was a countess? She could not quite believe she was actually married to the Earl of Darington, the man that she loved. She could not stop smiling. “I love you too.” She pulled him closer, wanting him, needing him.

  “With my body, I thee worship,” he said, quoting their marriage vow, and joined with her in a consummation of their love and marriage. There was pain and there was desire as he moved slowly, building up within her a tightening pressure until finally she was tipped over a precipice and waves of pleasure rolled through her as he gasped and shuddered. He collapsed beside her and drew her close.

  “My Emma,” he sighed as he fell asleep beside her.

  His smile never faded.

  Forty-six

  Emma knocked on her own front door with a feeling of dread she could not quite shake. This was the monster she had run from. It was time to face her stepmother and the man she once thought of as a brother, Eustace Ludlow. This time, she was not alone. Next to her stood her husband, the Earl of Darington.

  Emma glanced back at the carriage, where Mr. Stalk stood at the ready. Despite her efforts to repair his hand, it was clear his sailing days were over. So Dare had hired him as a “footman” and instructed Stalk to act as her own personal bodyguard. Stalk gave her a small nod of encouragement and she waved in return.

  The butler opened the door and his white eyebrows shot up. “Miss Emma. It is good to see you.”

  “Actually, I have acquired a new name,” she said sweetly.

  “Lord and Lady Darington to see Mrs. St. James and Mr. Ludlow,” said Dare gravely, handing the butler his card.

  Dare’s expression had taken on the firm, dispassionate disregard that had been his general countenance before his marriage. After spending the past several months with her new husband, first repairing his ship, then sailing back to London, where they reconnected with Wynbrook and Kate, now happily married, Emma knew Dare was quite capable of smiling, and even laughing on occasion.

  “My Lord.” The butler bowed, took their hats and coats, and led them into the drawing room—their best drawing room, Emma noted. “Mrs. St. James and Mr. Ludlow will attend you directly,” he said with another bow.

  They were alone in the house that had been her home. Was still her home. Emma took a breath, allowing memories both good and painful to wash over her. Dare raised an eyebrow at her and she nodded. She was well. She could do this.

  It did not take long for Regina and Eustace to appear at the door. Both held grim looks. Regina was still regal but pale, with a dangerous glint to her eye. Eustace looked positively murderous, his hands balled into fists at his side.

  “Good afternoon, Regina,” Emma greeted. “May I present my husband, Lord Darington. Dear, this is my stepmother, Mrs. St. James, and her son, Mr. Eustace Ludlow.”

  Bows were exchanged, but other than fierce glares, neither man said anything. It was as tense as standing on the deck of the crippled Lady Kate next to the murderer Harcourt.

  “I cannot believe that you ran away from home. That you would treat us with such disregard,” said Regina with an attempt at a sob. “I have always been to you a mother.”

  “No,” said Emma. She would no longer be manipulated. “You have always been a mother to your son. When I was inconvenient to him, I was dispensable to you. But that is not why I am here. I had hoped you would wish me happy and we could forget any unpleasantness of the past.”

  “Not likely,” spat Eustace. “I have heard of your marriage. Highly irregular. Officiant was a captain of disrepute. Occurred on board a ship. No proper bans read. Won’t stand up in court.”

  “Eustace! Do you intend to challenge the marriage?”

  “I do. Invalidate any brats you have breeding too.”

  Dare stepped toward Eustace, murder in his eyes. Emma placed a hand on his sleeve to stay him. She had requested to deal with her family in her own way. Dare had faced his demons; this was her dragon to slay.

  Dare had agreed not to say a word but she had forgotten to make him promise not to silently strangle her brother-in-law, which Dare seemed to be currently contemplating. If Eustace had any sense, he would keep his mouth shut.

  Emma took a breath. “Eustace, I do appreciate you speaking plainly. I confess, I feared you might be unpleasant, so Lord Darington and I took the liberty of being married again, this time with a special license in London.”

  “Doesn’t matter,” said Eustace with a sneer. “I have gone to court to have you declared insane. Therefore, you are not competent and your marriage to Lord Darington is invalid. I am your guardian and I forbid the union. You can persist in this marriage if you will, but you will forfeit your inheritance and I will continue to manage the estate.”

  Emma took a sharp inhale of breath. She had not expected that he would go to the courts to have her declared incompetent. “You can certainly contest my marriage and my inheritance, which would no doubt result in a lengthy court battle. However, I would advise against it. I have interceded with Lord Darington on your behalf and he is willing to offer you and Regina a monthly stipend, provided you agree to our terms and cause us no further distress. If you pursue this ill-advised litigation, after we prevail you will be cut out of everything and will receive nothing from us whatsoever. Your name will be denied in all polite society. You will be a pariah.”

  “You cannot do that,” declared Eustace, haughty to the last. “Nobody in society even knows you, and hardly Lord Darington either. The Pirate Earl indeed! You are nothing. The courts have ruled in my favor, and if you try to take back this house, I will see you locked in Bedlam for a madwoman—aaarrrgh!”

  Dare’s fist connected with Eustace’s nose and he went flying across the polished floor.

  “Dare!” chastised Emma, running to Eustace’s side.

  “Sorry,” said Dare without a hint of apology. “Promised not to talk. Never promised not to defend your honor.”

  “Well, thank you,” said Emma, folding Eustace’s handkerchief and shoving it up his right nostril to stanch the bleeding.

  “Get away from me,” grunted Eustace, clawing at the furniture to pull himself up. He faced Emma with disdain, though his attempt at superiority was hindered by the handkerchief sticking out of his nose. “I will contact the magistrate. You will be arrested for assault.”

  “Speaking of my good friends, are we?” Lord Wynbrook walked in before the harried butler, who quickly announced Lord and Lady Wynbrook. The couple swept into the room, Kate looking quite dashing in a gown of scarlet. She carried a parcel of papers under her arm and gave Eustace and Regina a hawkish look.

  Eustace and Regina made their bows, Regina’s expression turning positively ill.

  “I see you found our dear Darington is not quite civilized,” said Wynbrook with the good humor that characterized him. “Well, Mr. Ludlow, quite the trick you tried to pull on our dear Emma. Unfortunately for you, she is not quite as friendless as you supposed. Allow me to make your situation clear. I will ensure that you are never admitted with
in polite society and your attempts to steal the inheritance from a poor maiden, now countess, will be seen for the despicable crime that it is. I can ensure that London becomes quite an inhospitable place for you.” Despite his pleasing looks, his threat was well placed, and Emma knew from the shades of white in her stepmother’s face that his arrow had hit home.

  “You cannot… I won’t let you…” sputtered Eustace.

  “Enough, Eustace,” quelled Regina. She gave the room a calculating look and shook her head in an expression of surrender. “Lord Darington, Lord Wynbrook, please forgive any unpleasantness. Emma, of course we rejoice in your marriage, my dear. I have always admired you, my dear daughter, and I am so pleased that you have made such an advantageous match. I wish every blessing upon you.”

  Regina’s sudden reversal was so sudden it left Emma a bit dizzy. She knew Regina was a cold, shrewd woman, and her words were spoken with no genuine warmth, but Emma was so happy with her new life that she was incapable of responding as harshly as the situation deserved.

  “Thank you, Regina,” said Emma with a smile.

  “I thank you, my dear daughter, for not forgetting the only mother you have ever known, the one who raised you and nurtured you to become the fine lady that you are.”

  Kate snorted. It was all a bit much for her. “Well, if you have had enough of the false pleasantries, let us get down to the contract.” She pulled out the documents Emma had asked her to prepare and placed them on a side table. “I have documents laid out for Mr. Ludlow and Mrs. St. James, which allow for a monthly stipend, providing you agree not to contest the marriage or the inheritance. It also includes specific clauses against defamation of character I recommend you read closely, for any slander will result in the termination of the stipend. Robert, I also have something for you to sign.”

  This caught both Emma and Dare by surprise.

  “For me?” Dare asked.

  “Yes. Mr. Ludlow was correct in one thing: the marriage was an unconventional one and Emma did not have the advantage of marriage settlements. No lady should ever marry without them. I have prepared them, if you are willing, which allows for her care should you die and settles her inheritance on any children you produce.”

  Dare shrugged. “I am willing. Though I have one more condition for Mrs. St. James and this man she claims as her son. You both must leave this house within the hour and never, ever return.”

  “Within the hour? Is that necessary?” asked Emma.

  “Only if Mr. Ludlow would like to live until tomorrow. I can only hold my temper so long.” Dare glared at Eustace. “You will be out in the hour. I will pay for lodging at any suitable inn. But you both must go. Any personal effects will be shipped to the location of your choice.”

  Regina and Eustace, with straight backs and tight lips, signed the papers and left the room to prepare for their sudden departure.

  “Well.” Emma took a shaky breath. “I cannot believe it is over. I have been greatly blessed.”

  “No,” disagreed Dare, “it is I who have received the greater blessing.”

  “I believe this calls for a celebration,” declared Wynbrook.

  The butler anticipated their desire by entering with a bottle of champagne.

  “To Emma,” pronounced Dare, raising a glass.

  “To Emma,” said the company.

  “To you three, my dear friends,” responded Emma. “I do love you, my dear.” She gazed up at her husband.

  “And I you.” Dare pulled her close for a champagne kiss.

  Author’s Note

  One of my favorite classic movies is The African Queen, featuring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn, based on the book by C. S. Forester. Set during WWI, my favorite scene is when Bogart and Hepburn, who have overcome impossible odds only to be captured by the Germans, ask the German ship captain to marry them before they are to be executed. Can anything be more romantic? I won’t give away the ending in case you have not seen the movie, but rest assured Bogart and Hepburn are not hung as spies. Loving this scene as I do, I always wanted to have a similar type of scene, where the enemy captain marries the hero and heroine, and in Earl Interrupted I finally had my chance.

  Unfortunately, as I was researching the well-known fact that sea captains can marry couples on board ships, I found that this was not quite the case. In fact, there is no evidence that sea captains were ever officially given this authority. So was I back to the drawing board? Well, maybe not quite so fast. Although sea captains were never officially given this power, it seems they would occasionally exercise the privilege, officially sanctioned or not. Certainly popular opinion going back hundreds of years believes that ship captains do have this power, so might there be some truth in it?

  For evidence of this, I turned to the nineteenth-century court case of Fisher v. Fisher, in which a couple was married in international waters by the ship’s captain. If nothing else, this case clearly shows that ship captains did occasionally marry people at sea. The marriage was contested but upheld, with the winning argument stating that a consensual marriage conducted by a ship’s captain was to be considered valid. So I decided to go forward with Captain Harcourt marrying Dare and Emma and then had them follow the wedding with a more official ceremony in London off screen.

  I wish you all the best in your romantic adventures and I hope you have enjoyed Earl Interrupted!

  Acknowledgments

  This story has been percolating in my mind since I first thought of writing a book. It was a winding path to finally get it to paper, and I greatly appreciate those who have helped make it possible. Thank you to my agent, Barbara Poelle, and my editor, Deb Werksman, who encourage me to be my best. Thanks to my beta reader, Laurie Maus, who reminds me to describe my hero. I could not do this without the support and encouragement of my husband and kids, who give me the time to do what I love. The next one’s for you.

  About the Author

  Amanda Forester holds a PhD in psychology and worked many years in academia before discovering that writing historical romance was way more fun. Whether in the rugged Highlands of medieval Scotland or the decadent ballrooms of Regency England, her novels offer fast-paced adventures filled with wit, intrigue, and romance. You can visit her at amandaforester.com.

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