I Shall Love the Earl

by Laura A. Barnes

  She traced her thumbs under his eyes to release the pressures of life from his gaze. Rory carried heavy burdens, and Dallis didn’t want to become another burden to him. A wrong he would insist to make a right, if they continued. If he wanted to court her properly, then she would wait for him. She guided his lips to hers where she placed a kiss that relayed her understanding of the demons he fought. Rory pulled his hands away and wrapped her tight, kissing her back. Soft. Sweet. Gentle.

  Rory rolled over and brought Dallis across his body. Her hair splayed across his chest, and he let his fingers stroke the long strands. Her hair was soft against him. He brought a lock to his nose and inhaled the sweet scent of strawberries.

  “You smell like a strawberry.”

  Dallis laughed. “That is because I mix them in my soap.”

  “Mmm, I thought maybe you were a giant strawberry, meant for me to devour.”

  Dallis swatted him. “Giant, huh?”

  Rory ran his palms across her body, enjoying her curves. “No, sorry love, just the right size to bite.” He bit at her neck.

  Dallis giggled. The natural sensation of lying in his arms confirmed they were made for each other. She quieted from his teasing to enjoy the pleasure of his caresses. Dallis yawned, feeling her body drifting to sleep. She fought to keep her eyes open, not wanting to lose what time they had alone. However, her last few sleepless nights took its toll.

  Rory knew the moment she drifted away in slumber. Her body became soft and relaxed curving into his body. Her giggles ceased and her breathing deepened. He continued to touch her, gentle against her soft skin. Dallis’s moans in her sleep kept him from rising. Each moan urged him to continue. If he made her sleep pleasurable, it warmed his heart. However, before long he would need to rise and carry Dallis to her bedroom.

  Along the way he hoped he didn’t encounter her grandmother.

  Chapter Thirteen

  When Dallis awoke the next morning she lay tucked under the covers with her nightgown rebuttoned. Rory must have carried her to bed. The last thing she remembered was feeling secure in his arms as she fell asleep. Dallis closed her eyes, remembering their time in the library. A warm blush spread over her body as the scandalous thoughts flooded her senses. The emotions he drew with his kisses and touch made Dallis wish to experience more. She rose swiftly and dressed for the day. She wanted to be available for Rory when he called. Because she knew today he wouldn’t disappoint her. He wouldn’t have been as intimate, if he didn’t mean to court her.

  As she walked closer to the parlor, she overheard her grandmother talking with a man. Dallis hurried, believing it to be Rory. His presence this early meant only one thing. It warmed her heart that he wished to see her as much as she wished to see him.

  Instead disappointment filled her heart when she found her grandmother entertaining Lord Holdenburg. He was the last man she wanted to visit with, even though she promised him a walk in the park. Perhaps she could persuade him to stay indoors, then she wouldn’t miss the chance of Rory’s visit.

  “There you are, lass. I was explaining to Lord Holdenburg how unusual it was for you to lie in bed so late.”

  “I am sorry for the lateness of my rising. I found it difficult to fall asleep, so I thought if I read it would make me tired.”

  “Yes. Shaw found your full glass of milk this morning.”

  “Another reason to apologize. I am sorry, Nanna, the story absorbed my attention.”

  Holdenburg said, “I like to pass the time with a great novel myself. May I inquire to the title of the book?”

  Dallis’s mind scrambled to think of a title. Of the hundreds of novels she read, she couldn’t recall a single one. All she remembered was the trail of kisses Rory spread across her chest when he lowered her to the floor and loved her. She tried to focus on the new dilemma but all she could do was shrug her shoulders in forgetfulness.

  “I am sorry, I forgot the title. After I finished reading, I slid the book back onto the shelf.”

  He smiled. “No problem, perhaps on our walk you can explain the plot and I can try to place the story.”

  “Yes, our walk. Perhaps instead you can continue to teach me how to play cards? I think I have a knack for card games.”

  “I confess, Lady Dallis, I hoped we could take a stroll through the park. It has been miserable being stuck indoors through the latest rainfall. I promise on my next visit, I can teach you more.”

  “Go for a walk, Dallis. You look pale this morning. A walk will brighten your cheeks with some sun. Only do not forget your bonnet. Your mother will have my head if you get any more freckles.”

  Dallis blushed. “Yes, Nanna.”

  “I ADMIRE YOUR DELIGHTFUL freckles,” Lord Holdenburg murmured as they strolled along the pathway in the park.

  Dallis blushed and decided not to comment on his compliment. She was in no mood to flirt with Holdenburg after his behavior the evening before. To encourage him would only cause difficulties later with Rory. She discovered through Kathleen that Rory and Holdenburg were lifelong friends who always had healthy competitions on everything. Kathleen explained that lately her brother had distanced himself from Holdenburg due to family obligations, but Dallis wondered if this wasn't for other reasons. She didn’t want to pit the two gentlemen against each other for her affections. There was only one she desired to gift her affections to, and that man was Rory. After the glances she'd witnessed Lord Holdenburg direct toward Kathleen, she had no doubt where his affections lay.

  Their walk ended near the Serpentine. Even though the rain stopped, it didn’t take away the gusts of wind. The day was warmer, but the breeze still sent the water into white caps, causing the boats secured to the docks to bash against each other. Dallis watched the destruction, waiting for Lord Holdenburg to explain himself. However, he stayed silent. When she glanced his way, she noticed him staring across the river toward a couple chasing after a girl’s bonnet. It wasn’t any girl, but Kathleen. Her companion grabbed the ribbons and rescued the hat before it floated away in the water. Dallis watched the delight that spread across Kathleen’s face, then turned to observe Lord Holdenburg’s reaction. He frowned before, trudging back up the hill to settle on a bench. The look of disappointment on his face relieved any anger she felt toward the lord.

  She said, “So, I was correct in my assumption?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then why have you entered into a courtship with me? Why do you not court Lady Kathleen?”

  “It is a long story, Dallis.”

  She laughed. “I love long stories.” She nudged him with her shoulder.

  He barked out a laugh. “Well, for starters, she despises me.”

  “Nonsense.”

  “You saw for yourself how she reacts toward me.”

  “Then change her mind.”

  “Oh, if it were only that simple, my dear.”

  “Everything is simple, if you want it badly enough.”

  “How is that going for you? Have you recently brought Rory to heel?”

  “Yes, I believe so.”

  “Mmm ...”

  Dallis frowned. “You do not believe he has stopped letting his responsibilities stand in his way?”

  “It is more than responsibilities, Dallis dear.”

  “How so?”

  “It is a manner of pride.”

  “I do not understand.”

  “Dallis, it is not my place to explain to you Rory’s private affairs. Rory must explain his problems to you. However, I can say, he would not be the only man to suffer from pride if they wanted to make you their bride.”

  “We are a sorry lot are we not, Lord Holdenburg?”

  “Yes, I believe we are.”

  “You want the sister and I want the brother. But yet here we are together.”

  “We could not be any worse off. Perhaps we ought to set our feelings to the side regarding them and focus on each other?”

  “You know as well as I, we would only grow to resent one another
.”

  Lord Holdenburg sighed. “Correct as usual. Then what do you suggest?”

  “I suggest we pursue the ones we most desire until we reach the outcome meant for us.”

  “For me to achieve that, I must sink to the lowest depths of a scoundrel.”

  “Lowest depths, huh? I never figured your character to be dramatic, but considering where your heart lies it could work out perfectly. Lady Kathleen is drawn to the theater. You could be the dastardly villain who the heroine tames into the hero of her dreams.”

  They each fell into a fit of laughter at the vivid description of his behavior he needed to portray.

  “And you, Dallis, how will you bring Rory around?”

  “I already have. In fact, I would not be surprised if he is waiting for me at Nanna’s right this instance.”

  “Then by all means, let us return you to his regard.”

  Dallis laughed again when Lord Holdenburg tugged her to her feet and they returned to her grandparent’s townhome.

  “I hope you can forgive my behavior from the previous evening.”

  “You are forgiven. Please, do not be a stranger, Lord Holdenburg. I wish to aide you in your dilemma whenever you have the need.”

  He bowed and lifted her hand for a kiss. “Thank you, my lady. Now hurry, your prince awaits your arrival.

  But he didn’t. Nor did he arrive at all throughout the day. Dallis waited in anticipation for Rory with every knock on the door. After every countless visitor Shaw announced, her heart broke a little more. As usual, Rory betrayed her confidence in him. When she readied for bed, Dallis continued to wait for any sign: a letter, a gift, or a word from his mother or sister. But nothing. Dallis wiped the tears trailing along her cheeks as the hurt returned. Why? Why did he give her hope and then snatch it away?

  RORY SLUMPED IN THE chair behind his desk. He lifted the glass and drank the spirits in one swallow. Still it didn’t numb the feeling in his gut. After a couple of more drinks, he began to see the light behind his troubles. They'd started near dawn and only just ended. He handled them all but one. The one that tore at his gut all day because he never got to call on Dallis. He'd failed her once more. Every time he settled a crisis and meant to sneak away for a few minutes to Dallis, another problem would blow up in his face. Damn his father for still causing them trouble from the grave.

  Rory knew that by not calling on Dallis today or sending word, he hurt her deeply. His gesture tomorrow would have to be so grand for any hope of forgiveness. All day, he thought of her sweet nature as he held her while she slept. Rory had a special gift that he would hand over personally. He wanted to give Dallis the best of everything, but because of his late father he couldn’t. The simple gesture would bring her delight, and the treasure only cost his family from enjoying a special treat. Rory had convinced cook to let him have the strawberries she wanted to make into a jam. Agnes thought him peculiar when he put them in a jar with a simple cover. He wrote a note and attached it to the jar. The gift rested on his desk waiting to be delivered. A job he would see to himself in the morning. Rory decided no further interruptions would prevent him from capturing Dallis’s smile and holding it close.

  He moved the chair closer to the desk, pouring over the ledgers one more time. His glance kept straying to the jar of strawberries. Rory would smile and get lost in his memories, only to have to refocus again. He would make things right and court Dallis starting tomorrow. Sheffield sent word to him that his investment had already doubled, and Rory would have a payout soon. Then his father’s debt would shrink and he would be able to spoil his mother and sister more. In a matter of time, he could propose to Dallis. In the meantime, Rory would court her as she deserved, dance with her at balls, and let every gentleman of the ton know she was his. He wouldn’t tolerate for any slander against her name. Rory also realized he had one more matter to take care of tomorrow.

  After that, no gentleman’s name would be attached to Dallis but his own.

  Chapter Fourteen

  When Rory arrived at Lady Ratcliff’s townhome, Shaw delivered him to a private chamber in the back of the house. He stood near the doors leading out into the gardens, waiting for Dallis. Lady Ratcliff entered the room instead. She gave him a stern look, settling into the chair behind her small writing desk. A sense of foreboding filled the air as she regarded him. Dallis’s grandmother didn’t make him wait long before she spoke.

  “I thought over time you would appreciate the special gift of Dallis. She is a treasure to be handled with care. Yet, you break her time and time again. I first thought you were a fortune hunter after her inheritance. Then I met your mother and realized you were too proud to be that kind of man. I began to see how deeply you cared for Dallis. Now I sit here and ponder, perhaps he does not care for her at all? Was he only trying to toy with her emotions, so that she would lower her guard for his pleasure?”

  “You are mistaken.”

  “Am I? I may be old, but I remember what transpires when a gentleman lures you into a darkened corner. But when said gentleman does not call on my granddaughter the next day, I doubt his intentions. Every time you are alone with Dallis, you lead her down a path of indiscretions and then do not call to court her.”

  The lecture from Dallis’s grandmother was worse than any Rory ever received from his own mother. Perhaps because Lady Ratcliff spoke the truth. Any explanation he might have had for yesterday did not excuse his earlier behavior. He'd treated Dallis in a most reprehensible way. How could he convince Lady Ratcliff of his intentions when his actions had spoken otherwise? Rory figured he would need to grovel at Dallis’s feet this morning. Instead, he may not be given the opportunity. Still, he needed to try.

  “There was a family matter of grave importance which needed my attention yesterday. The day ended before I had a chance to send Dallis an apology. I never meant not to contact her. That is why I am here today. To begin a proper courtship, with your permission.”

  “No.”

  “Will you at least give me a chance to defend myself? Ask Dallis if she even wants to see me, then decide.”

  “My granddaughter came to breakfast with dark circles underneath her eyes. Do you know why?”

  “She did not sleep?”

  “No, she did not. Dallis cried all night. How is it, that I know this? Because I stood outside her bedroom door and listened to her sorrow. It was then I decided I will not allow you near her again. I will continue to push the courtship with Lord Holdenburg.”

  “No!” Rory’s temper hovered on the edge of exploding.

  “You, young man have no opinion in this matter. Now, you need to take your leave. Shaw will escort you to the door. Please do not press this issue. I do not want to involve your mother. I have taken to her friendship and do not wish to offend her. However, I will if you continue to hurt Dallis with your actions.”

  Rory could do nothing more than honor her request. It didn’t mean he would stop his pursuit of Dallis. It only meant he would retreat and use reinforcements. He'd wanted to pursue this relationship on his own, but it would appear he now needed his friends to help him. On his departure from the Ratcliff home he glanced in each room along the hallway for any sign of Dallis. Rory breathed in the fragrance of strawberries floating in the air. Dallis was near. However, his search was useless, for he didn’t catch a glimpse of her before Shaw showed him out the door.

  “THERE YOU ARE, NANNA. I have searched the house for you. Why are you sitting alone in here?”

  “I needed to write some correspondence. Since you were in the garden reading, I thought to write to your mama.”

  “Please do not tell her, Nanna.”

  “I won’t, my dear. However, I will need to inform her of your progress this season. She will be most impressed to learn that Lord Holdenburg calls on you.”

  “We are only friends.”

  “Yes, but your mama has no knowledge of that, only I.”

  Dallis trusted her grandmother to only tell Mama what she wanted
to hear. Nanna was a grand storyteller in her own right. She would regale Mama with stories to make it appear as if Dallis was the belle of the ton. Which was far from true. Before long, Mama would catch wind of her ruination at the hands of Lord Roderick Beckwith. The rumors always reached Inverness. They took a few weeks, but nonetheless they were heard. For now Dallis was safe from her mother’s wrath, but soon Mother would order her home and force her to wed a local boy. All because Lord Roderick Beckwith found entertainment in trifling with Dallis's emotions.

  Tears came to her eyes as she fought her sadness. Dallis told herself that she would forget Rory and that he no longer held her heart. Try as she might Dallis had found it enormously difficult to erase him from her mind let alone her heart. But as each minute ticked by and he didn’t show, it became easier. Before long Lord Rory Beckwith would be but a faint memory. Dallis sniffed and wiped at the tears, trying to avoid Nanna’s gaze.

  Her eyes landed on a jar of fruit on her grandmother’s desk. A peculiar place for it to be. As Dallis drifted closer, she saw a note tied around the top. Before she could reach for the jar, her grandmother grabbed it and hid it behind her back. Nanna’s actions triggered her curiosity.

  “Nanna, why is there a fruit jar in here?”

  “A gift from an acquaintance.”

  “Which acquaintance?”

  “Nobody I have introduced you to. Can you call Shaw? I need help to my room. The pain of one of my headaches is coming on.”

  Her nanna groaned, closing her eyes in agony. If Dallis didn’t know any better, she would think her grandmother faked her illness. But when she noticed the redness of her cheeks, and the pinch around her lips, Dallis felt poorly of her thoughts. She rushed from the room, calling for Shaw.