I Shall Love the Earl

by Laura A. Barnes

  “How priceless. The big brute has fallen,” Sheffield said.

  “For shame, Sheffield. Magnus and Brutus ambushed him. The man has enough troubles. How will you explain this to his wife?” asked Belle.

  “I won’t. Rory put himself in this mess and he will be the one to clean it up. We each had to grovel for our wife’s hand for forgiveness before we married. At least he already has the ring on Dallis’s finger and doesn’t run the risk of her not forgiving him.”

  “You are heartless, my friend,” Wilde muttered.

  “But correct. Am I not?”

  “Correct as always,” Wilde agreed.

  “Well, at least clean him up before you dump him off at home,” Belle ordered.

  “Thank you, Belle. Dallis is most worried about him. I made her a promise that I would bring him home once I found him.”

  “I have sent out a warning on the street about the two brutes who beat him. They are no longer welcome in my establishment. If you can spread the word, I would greatly appreciate it.”

  “Consider it done.”

  “Grab his legs, Sheffield,” Wilde said, lifting Rory’s arms.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Rory attempted to awaken only for his body to reject the very idea. Every bone in his body ached. His stomach wanted to revolt and his head throbbed from the mother of all hangovers. Not only that, he couldn’t peel his eyes open. When he lifted his hand to his face, the stickiness of blood coated his fingers. His mouth was dry and when he tried to lick his lips, Rory winced in pain from them being split wide open. His tongue ran over the cuts, tasting dried blood. What the hell happened to him? Rory tried to recall the previous evening, but could only remember watching Dallis sleep after their fight. Then he'd headed to Belle’s, where he drank a full bottle of whiskey. It was a goodbye gift from Belle for bringing her in a small fortune during his last few months of fighting. Rory remembered her understanding why he needed to cease the bouts. He pulled his eyes open and swiftly closed them. The sun shone brightly, making his head ache even more. Then he remembered. Brutus and Magnus struck their revenge. They beat him to a bloody pulp before the guards dragged them away.

  “This is becoming a bad habit of yours, Beckwith,” stated Sheffield.

  “But then, that happens when you get twisted inside by a good woman,” Wilde said.

  “Where the hell am I?” Rory groaned.

  “We have managed to sneak you inside your home. It is early yet and nobody is awake,” answered Wilde.

  “Well, then shove off.”

  “Not until we discuss your recent behavior,” said Sheffield

  “Why the hell should I listen to you?”

  “Because you’re walking around with your head up your arse.”

  “Rory, please hear us out. Then we will leave you to plead for your wife’s forgiveness.” Wilde tried to be more diplomatic than Sheffield.

  Rory nodded, unable to do much other than roll over and hurl. Perhaps he should—on Sheffield.

  “When a man falls in love, he acts like a fool. You, my friend, are a fool of all fools. I can tell you this because not long ago I was in your shoes. We both were.” Wilde indicated Sheffield.

  “But we saw reason and now you must do the same,” Sheffield said.

  “I already understand the errors of my way. It was why I drank last night. I have listed the house for sale. I plan to grovel at Dallis’s feet this morning and ask for her forgiveness yet again.”

  “Don’t be so quick to sell. My ship docked yesterday and you will have your blunt soon.”

  Rory sighed in relief. The news that he had been waiting for had finally arrived. But not soon enough, not before he made a fool of himself. But still, all the same, it was news he welcomed that would help ease his financial burdens. Not completely, but enough to start.

  “Thank you, Sheffield.”

  Rory saw them to the door and climbed the stairs to his bedroom. When he opened the door, it was to find his wife the same way he left her, asleep in their bed. It appeared she'd had a restless night. The covers were all messed and tangled around her body. Even in her sleep, Dallis suffered anguish. A frown marred her beauty and this was due to—as Sheffield put it—his foolishness. When she spoke the words yesterday, Rory knew them to be correct. They were a family and family did for one another unselfishly.

  Rory crawled on the bed and stared at her sleeping. His hand reached out to wipe the frown away. Dallis’s eyes fluttered open at his soft touch. When she took full notice of him, her frown turned to a look of horror. Damn, he'd forgotten about the beating. He watched her panic turning to sympathy.

  Dallis awoke to the sight of Rory lying in bed next to her. At least she thought the man was her husband. There wasn’t one part of his face not covered in bruises. She gently touched his sores. He closed his eyes at her caress, then turned his head and placed a kiss on her palm.

  “I am sorry, love, for everything I have ever said or done to you—to not make you feel as the gentle, caring lass you are.”

  “Rory, what happened to your beautiful face?”

  “Ah, a couple of blokes I know used me for a punching bag last night.”

  “Did you not fight back?”

  “Well ...”

  “Well what?”

  “I might have been a little drunk.”

  “A little?”

  “Well, I finished a bottle of whiskey, then Belle told me that I needed to leave.”

  “Belle? You were with another woman?”

  Tears trickled from her eyes in confusion to his whereabouts. But then Dallis held no clue on who Belle would be and about her establishment. Secrets. He had kept enough from her to last a lifetime. Not anymore. He would explain everything to Dallis and hope she understood his actions. If not, he would fight for her.

  “No, love. There is no other woman, only you. Belle owns a brothel.”

  “A brothel?” Dallis’s tears flowed harder, and her cries grew louder.

  Damn, he was blowing this explanation all to hell.

  “She also owns a gambling hall where she has a fighting ring set up. She arranges fights for men to bet on.”

  “And why were you there, Rory?” His sweet wife took a quick turn from crying to anger.

  “I have spent the last few months at her establishment fighting.”

  “Is that the reason your hands are rough?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  Rory sighed. This was the part he didn’t want to explain but had to in order to save his marriage. He rose from the bed and discarded his bloody clothes. Then he washed himself with the small basin of water. After he drew on clean clothes, he sat in his old chair.

  “I know I have no right to ask, but will you join me?” he asked, crooking his finger.

  Dallis sat watching Rory as he washed. She should refuse, but it wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted Rory to hold her in his arms. Dallis could tell he wished to make amends and divulge his secrets. She too wanted to share her secret with him.

  Last night was the longest of her life. She woke several times to see he still hadn’t come home. Each time she cried herself back to sleep. The final time she awoke, he had come home. Beaten, bloody, and bruised. But home, nonetheless.

  So Dallis decided to join him. Part of being married was meeting halfway, no matter who was wrong. It opened them up to forgiveness and acceptance. Dallis walked over to where Rory now held out his hand. She slid her palm into his and sat on his lap.

  Rory’s heart quit beating when he asked her to join him, and didn’t start again until Dallis came to his side. When she slid her palm into his with trust, he wrapped her in his embrace. Holding her tightly, he conveyed his love to her. Rory needed to tell Dallis of his love before explaining the rest of his sordid story. Then and only then was he being completely honest.

  “I love you, Dallis,” he whispered, placing a kiss on top of her head.

  “Rory ...” she began.

 
“Hush, I need to be honest with you. Then if you care the same, you can tell me. I would not blame you, if you change your mind.”

  “I won’t though.”

  “You might, and I could not bear it, if you do. My heart is already broken from the way I behaved toward you yesterday. All along you have deserved better, but my selfishness to make you my wife has brought you nothing but trouble.”

  “Rory ...” she tried again.

  He tipped her head to his and placed a gentle kiss on her mouth, wanting to savor her taste to give him courage. When she responded lightly, mindful of his split lip, his love grew stronger.

  “I do not know where to begin. I guess I will start with a few years ago before you had even arrived in London. My father passed away. Not only did he die, but he left the family’s coffers dry with debt owed to half the shopkeepers in London.”

  “He gambled.”

  “Yes, he not only gambled, but collected many mistresses through the years, women that he supported. My mother was kept in the dark to his activities. We all were. He covered his tracks. At home, he was a loving father. A mentor to me, he spoiled Kathleen, and to mother he was a thoughtful and caring husband who treated her as if she was the most precious gem on earth.”

  “Perhaps you are mistaken about his mistresses?”

  “He died in the company of one in her bed.”

  “Oh.”

  “For the past few years, I have been selling assets to keep our family afloat. Still the shopkeepers keep arriving. One by one, as they did yesterday. After university, I worked for Sidney’s father, Lord Hartridge. I aided him with his research projects. He knew of my family’s situation and paid me for my help. During my time working for Lord Hartridge, I became acquainted with Sheffield, who was a frequent visitor at Lord Hartridge’s weekly discussions.

  "A year ago I found a way to earn some extra blunt. You see, I have always had a temper and whenever I got into a fight, I always won. So when Sheffield mentioned Belle’s establishment, I stopped by one evening to discover what it was all about. I had heard of Belle’s place, for that is where my father lost his final card game. So it went against everything I believed in to frequent the joint. But Mama and Kathleen needed to eat, and new clothes for the season. So I fought once, and then again. Then it became a normal routine to fight on a weekly basis. Soon, money came in to pay off the debt. Then my father’s mistress stopped by one day when Mama was out and threatened to blackmail our family. I agreed to pay her off with one final stipend. That dipped in our pockets more than I thought.

  "With the few hours I worked for Lord Hartridge, assisting on his projects, it wasn’t enough. Then Sheffield approached me with a business venture and fronted me the startup fee. He only did this out of my friendship to Sophia. I never got along with Sheffield. After I beat him up for treating Sophia with the same callus regard I treated you, he did not have to help me. But we put aside our differences. My dire situation was the reason I would not court you. I tried to stay away from you. I did not want to come to you as an impoverished man, but as a man who could provide for you with the finest you are accustomed to.”

  “None of that matters to me, Rory.”

  “Shh, let me finish, love.”

  “Each time I was near you, I only craved more of you. Your smile, your kisses, everything about you seeped deep into my soul. I promise I never meant to ruin you. After I made the deal with Sheffield, I started to see how I could offer you more. Then his ship became lost at sea, and one thing led to another. The next thing I knew I was the luckiest bastard in the world to have you for a wife. I have let my pride stand in the way of what matters. I realized that after I left yesterday. The heartache in your eyes, when I shouted at you, haunted me. A look that I hope I never give you a reason to give me again.”

  Dallis turned and placed her palms on his cheeks as gently as she could and kissed his eyes. Then softly traced his lips before placing a kiss upon them. She pulled back and rested her forehead against his, staring deep into his eyes.

  “I love you, Rory Beckwith. Every bit of you. The man who you were, the man you have become, and the man I will grow old with. Even the prideful, quick-temper scoundrel who seduced his way into my heart. And the same man who holds my heart as I hold his.”

  “Ahh, Dallis, I do not deserve your love.”

  “I know, but we will work on that.”

  Rory threw his head back with laughter. Even through their deep discussion, only his Dallis could make a quip as she did. Their life would be full of laughter. And when they weren’t laughing, they would be loving each other.

  “Rory, I hope I can broach this subject with you now that you have spilled your secrets. My father gifted me with a small trust fund when we got married. I want to use the money to fix the house and hire a few more servants. I want to give your mama and sister a break. Please allow me to ease this burden for you. For us.”

  “Dallis, there is no need. Sheffield’s ship has arrived and he will have my blunt for me in a few days. If I invest it again, within a year our life will be more secure. We will put your money in a trust for our future children.”

  Dallis scowled. “Rory?”

  “What?”

  “Have you not listened to a word you have spoken this morning? How are we to be a true married couple, if you will not let me help carry your burdens? You are still as pig-headed as you were yesterday.” She tried to climb off his lap only for him to tighten his grip and pull Dallis back against his chest.

  She was correct, he still let his pride stand in the way.

  He said, “Only on one condition.”

  Dallis stilled, hope brimming in her heart.

  “That as soon we are on our feet and I have established our money to a better advantage, we return the money to your trust. Then we will transfer it into one for our children.”

  Dallis squealed with joy that he was open to using her money. After all, marriage was about compromise. Rory was a proud man. This way they would ease the burden of life and still allow him to provide for his family.

  “Rory?”

  “Yes, love?”

  “Nothing, just wanted to say your name.”

  Rory smiled, snuggling her closer. His body ached from the pounding he'd taken, but not holding Dallis now would hurt more. As they sat in the chair, they intertwined their fingers, whispering to each other. The longer he held her, the more he wanted to show Dallis how much she meant to him.

  “Dallis?”

  “Yes, love?”

  “I was wondering ...”

  “Yes?”

  “Would you like to moan my name?”

  “Why, Lord Beckwith, I believe I do.”

  “Then turn around, Lady Beckwith, so I can kiss you properly.”

  Dallis turned and straddled Rory’s lap. She smiled mischievously into his eyes. With a quickness she didn’t expect, he pulled her nightdress off. Dallis gasped as Rory made good on his promise, his lips devouring her. One kiss led to another and made her squirm on his lap. With a growl he rose and wrapped her legs around his hips, carrying her to the bed. Dallis clung to him as Rory's lips sought hers and kissed with all the passion in his soul. She matched his kiss with the same need. They were not enough though, each of them desired to become one.

  “Rory,” she moaned.

  “Minx,” he whispered, dropping her on the bed.

  Dallis laughed at his playfulness, but saw it was not to last judging from the look in his eyes. Her husband was a man possessed. Those feelings brought an ache to her core. An ache only he could fulfill. She rose on her knees and helped to peel away his clothes.

  “You know, husband, you should never have gotten dressed in the first place.”

  “I was trying to be a gentleman, wife.”

  “Why start now?”

  Dallis slid back on the mattress and stretched out with her arms above her head. Her breasts rose high and Rory gulped, every gentlemanly thought flying out of his mind to be replaced with
the most carnal images a man could possibly have.

  “You have a very sassy mouth, my dear.”

  “Mmm.” Dallis was distracted by the sight of her husband standing with not a stitch of clothing on.

  Yes, her husband was a fine specimen of a man. His cock already hard for her, she slowly slid her legs apart and ran her hands down between her breasts. Rory moaned at her attentions and laid over her. When his body brushed against her, Dallis moaned her need, opening herself wider. When his hand discovered her wet, he growled his response.

  All sane thoughts left behind, Rory needed her now. Later he would make love slowly and treasure Dallis as a goddess. When Dallis took the initiative and wrapped herself around him, he needed no other encouragement. Rory slid inside her fast and hard. When she moaned and arched her body, he knew he didn’t hurt her, and she was begging him for more. He slowly slid out so he could feel every entire inch of her, then slid back in the same way. Dallis’s nails dug into his back. Over and over he repeated this, building their need into an ache they wanted to keep enduring. Each stroke she met him, claiming more of his soul.

  Dallis clung to Rory, moaning his name over and over. His kisses drugged her with his passion. Each stroke of him entering her body joined their souls. Where one of them started, the other ended. She clung tighter, her body arched, their rhythm building higher and higher. Neither of them releasing, for they never wanted to be apart. Tears slid along her cheeks as Rory made love to her. Powerful emotions devoured Dallis’s soul, making her feel complete.

  When Rory saw her tears he paused, afraid that he hurt her. When he gazed into her eyes and saw the love reflected, he knew they were tears of love. Rory gathered Dallis closer, his kiss gentle as he slid in and out of her slowly so they could feel everything. He pressed into her core, kissing her deeply, putting all his love and heart into his kiss and letting Dallis know she held his heart for eternity. When Dallis kissed him back with the same love, he no longer held back and came alive in her as she released around him.