She was so inestimably lovely he could feel himself on the brink again, proud that he pleasured her so thoroughly, and eager to do so once more.
He had thought he loved Clarissa. But nothing in his feverish imagination had prepared him for a woman like Isolde. Love with a tender, compassionate woman, instead of an ice queen, had proven to be sweeter than he had ever imagined, in more ways than one. She was a balm to his benighted soul, and woe betide any man who tried to take her away now.
Suddenly young Mr. Drake, tall, gangly and with a shock of alarmingly red hair, slammed into the room.
"What on earth is going on!" he demanded in a high-pitched voice which showed Randall that the young chap had only just begun to attain full manhood.
"Hopkins! For Heaven's sake!" Randall protested, covering Isolde quickly and desisting in his lovemaking at last.
"I'm sorry, sir. I told him you were not available but he did insist--"
Isolde at last became aware of the intruder behind her, and leapt out of Randall's lap amid a flurry of fabric and a flash of flesh. "Stephen, for pity's sake, what are you doing here?" She cowered behind the chair, trying to re-fasten her frock whilst Randall closed his dressing gown in an attempt to protect his manhood from the young cub's towering rage.
"How dare you, sir! Treating my sister Isolde like a whore!" her brother thundered.
"It wasn't his fault. It was my mistake, all my doing," she said, cringing physically as she tried to cover her bareness, but rising to the occasion spiritedly nonetheless. "I'll come home right now and we can all forget this ever happened--"
"No we won't!" both men barked simultaneously.
Randall glared at her, and Stephen at Randall.
"You're mine. I'm not giving you up, Isolde."
"I'm not backing down from a duel with the blackguard who tampered with my sister!" the lad kissed.
"Will you both please stop for a moment with all this masculine outrage?" she urged. "This is my life, my future. And now that you've got involved, Stephen's as well. The whole family's. Both our families', for I'm aware, Randall, of some of the conflict which sprang up between our fathers toward the end of their lives."
"That was politics," he said, knotting his belt firmly. "I'm talking about family matters, love, passion."
"And my sister is already engaged. My father wished her to-"
"I'm sorry, lad," she said, shaking her head. "Howell threw me over as soon as our fortune vanished into thin air. And he barged in last night and saw, well-" She gestured. "Pretty much what you saw. So there isn't going to be any marriage. Even if last night hadn't happened, he's already moved on to greener pastures. He and Fanny Clarence have an understanding-"
He looked as though he were about to burst into tears. "That's impossible! She's never said. Why-"
She stared at him in dismay, her heart sinking at how she had just injured Stephen. Isolde realized with a jolt that her poor baby brother had become smitten by the dowdy and bookish little heiress with mouse-brown hair and buck teeth.
Still, her fortune was enough to attract any man. The idea of Howell marrying Fanny, and expecting Isolde to be his mistress, was just too disgusting to even contemplate.
"I'm sorry, lad, but it's true."
Randall began to relax now as the belligerent boy wilted like a defeated rooster.
"Sit down, son. You've had a shock. I'll serve us all some tea," he said, gesturing Hopkins forward now, as he and a maid who had just arrived with the tray peered in the door.
Sitting carefully on the edge of an ornate gilt-edged chair whilst she re-fastened her gown securely, she told her brother everything that had transpired between she and Howell from the time their father had died until he had left the Earl's house being hotly pursued by the vengeful prostitute the previous night.
"So you see, lad, Howell orchestrated the whole thing," she concluded, "or just about. He thought to ruin me simply by having me come here unchaperoned.
"But I, well, the truth is I ruined myself. It wasn't Randall's fault. I wanted him, I took all he had to offer. Anything rather than give myself to a selfish lover, or be a withered up old virgin angry at the world because I didn't dare act upon my passions when I had the chance."
Randall could not imagine her ever old or withered, but he refrained from interrupting her and just reached over to pat her hand.
He looked so young and boyish, not much older than her brother as she did so, that she blinked. "And I suspect, " she said, a new light of understanding in her eyes, "that you have been duped as well. Let me guess. One of Howell's friends told you I was here, didn't they?"
Her brother nodded soberly. "Yes, as a matter of fact Parkins did, at the break of dawn this morning. I gathered the little cash we had in the house came up to Town on the first public conveyance I could find."
She exchanged looks with Randall. "So the man who was supposed to be his duelling second scurried back to Surrey to fetch you. He now wants you to fight for my honour in a duel, Stephen, and either kill Randall, or get killed or injured yourself, leaving my whole family without a male protector. It is too despicable for words."
Randall spoke at last. "Well, now you shall have two male protectors, my dear Isolde. I have already asked you to marry me, and I meant every word of it."
She shot him an irritated look, and rose impatiently. She moved over to the pile of her things Randall had created, and began to don her bonnet anew. "Please, I have had enough japes and men trying to manipulate me for one day. I shall just go with my brother. You understand now, Stephen, the circumstances, and my part in them. The Earl is not to blame for the misunderstanding, nor my wayward desires. There is no reason in the world to fight a duel over my supposed honour, which in this case was quite willingly forfeited. It was most certainly never taken by force in any way. We'll go to our new home in the west, and there's an end-"
The Earl shook his head. "I've already told you, Isolde," Randall said, his voice full of quiet resolve, "I'm not letting you go. Howell for one is a dangerous man, and it is evident that since he and Parkins caught us in the act, that you'll never be able to live this down."
She shrugged, and began to tug on her gloves decisively. "I shall find something in Somerset when I get there which will help support us until the estate can be sorted. We shall live humbly, but at least we will all be together. If my family is restored, that will be well for them. I wish it with all my heart, Stephen, for I want more than anything for you to be happy. But even if that were to happen, I shall not be coming back to London or Surrey, for I don't wish to ruin the girls' chances of decent society and a good match because of what I've done. "
Isolde grasped her cloak and donned it with a flourish as though the matter were at an end. Before Randall could stop her, she picked up her reticule and valise, and took two steps towards the door.
He tried not to panic. Seeing he was getting nowhere with Isolde, he appealed to her brother. "I say, Mr. Drake, Stephen, you're a man of the world. You know I speak the truth. Howell will ensure that Isolde will never be able to hold her head up again. It might even affect adversely the prospects of your younger sisters. Howell may have been your father's choice because of business or other ties. I mean no disrespect to his memory.
"But Howell is a despicable abuser of women, and an inveterate gambler. If you have any influence with the Clarence family, any of you, I beg you to warn poor er, Fanny, is it, that marriage and the begetting of an heir might be the most dangerous thing that poor child ever does."
Stephen was not quite the worldly person his sister was due to her work at the clinic, but he knew enough about the nature of the relations between men and women, and the unhappy nature of many unequal matches made for rank and fortune. He paled at Randall's words, and now blocked his sister's depature route with his own physique.
He considered Randall carefully for a moment, and decided that despite all the circumstances, he rather liked and trusted him. Much more so than he ever had Howe
ll.
At length Stephen nodded. "I could have Mother speak to them, or introduce you. I say, I should be most grateful. Fanny is my dearest friend. We grew up together, all of us. I think no matter how bad it is, Mr. Clarence would want to hear the truth about the man that has been angling to marry her. From such a man as yourself, I feel sure we can avert the disasters you speak of."
"Stephen, I do sympathise, but really, we can do that once we are back in Surrey. We need to go now."
But Randall had already moved over to the small desk on the far side of the fireplace. "Here's pen and paper, then. Please, ask you family to come up to Town to see me, and the Clarences as well. I shall have my servants go down with two of my carriages to fetch them all. My servants will show you to a room and prepare several for the guests. Just ask for anything you need and it shall be yours. And if you want a bit of sound advice from a much older man, if you love Fanny, ask for her hand right now, before it's too late."
Stephen shook his head. "With everything so unsettled, and me not able to touch my inheritance until I come of age? Even assuming the solicitors can make any sense out of things with Father dying intestate? How could I?"
"I will help," Randall promised immediately. "Help you all. As your brother-in-law, I give you my word that you will not have to give up your home, or worry about money or schooling. Private tutors, university, whatever you desire, shall be yours. You have only to say. And for your younger sisters as well if they are so inclined. I'm more than wealthy enough, and it would please me to assist you in whatever way possible."
Isolde gazed at him, wide-eyed. What a remarkable offer. Educating her sisters as well, when most men didn't even believe women had brains? As she gazed at him, she really began to think he was actually serious!
Stephen protested mildly, "But my father's estate may not be-"
"I know. I know. It is a risk I am fully prepared to take. I know what a devastating blow it was losing such a good man," he said, swallowing the bitter pang as he said it, thinking of his own father. "It was a dreadful thing to lose him so suddenly, without the financial issues also causing you to lose both your homes, as Isolde has explained.
"There is probably not much you can do about the London house at present, and you may not wish to if it is bringing in a good income from the people renting. But something perhaps can be done to stop you breaking up your happy home in Surrey and vanishing west into who knows what circumstances."
Isilde bit her lip and sighed. He certainly had a point.
Stephen nodded slightly.
"So please, let me help, before it's too late."
"But the scandal," she protested. "How can you-"
"I can because I am an earl, and all of you are blameless in this. I refuse to see your whole family suffer because of the machinations of Howell trying to have his cake and eat it too. And to embroil yet another innocent girl in his vile plots, this time for her money. True love ought to be permitted to find a way, Stephen, even if I never believed in it before now. Your lovely sister has convinced me that it does exist. And that it should be grabbed with both hands."
He smiled over at Isolde, who stared back at him as though he had sprouted three heads.
She dropped her reticule and valise once more and began to pace the floor in front of the hearth, rubbing her arms against the sudden chill coursing though her. "But you can't! Help us all in that manner, I mean. We can't take such charity!"
"Nay, it would not charity if we are all family."
"We are nothing to each other-"
"We'll all be family as soon as you consent to be my bride," he said in his most reasonable tone.
"But-"
Stephen now nodded. "I say, Sis, I know you can be very willful and independent. But this would solve all of our problems, money and otherwise, and not least the issue of that wretch Howell trying to make you his mistress, and ruin all of our good names now that you've well, done what you've done." He blushed.
She shot her brother a look which would have made a more intelligent man run for the door. "Typical male! You come here to kill Randall, and end up taking his side!" she said tearfully, throwing herself onto one of the blue and gold patterned sofas with a flounce. She winced at its firmness upon her tender flesh after her exertions with Randall.
Randall looked at her sympathetically and said to Stephen, "Why don't you go into the study to write those letters?" he said, taking him by the elbow to lead him to the door and point. "You'll find everything you need in there on the desk. Ring for the servants to bring you something to eat as well. You don't mind do you, lad? Your sister and I will be in here working through our pre-nuptial agreement. You understand."
"Oh, um, certainly." He blinked, and gave a worldly smile, though his blush belied it. "You need to be by yourself. Fifth wheel and all that. I'll get the butler to show me the way."
Isolde exclaimed, "Stephen, now that you're here, you're supposed to act as chaperon!"
He rolled his eyes and grinned cheekily. "A bit like closing the barn door after the horse has bolted, isn't it? Randall Avenel, the Earl of Hazelmere, wants to marry you. Do you really want me to duel him and get killed?"
"No!" she said in horror.
"Do you really want our young sisters to suffer because of you? Mother and myself would not think any the less of you. We want you to be happy, and will be on your side no matter what.
"But you know Howell as well as I do, even more, more's the pity, given everything you've told me today. Howell will blacken you from one end of the country to the other. He's dangerous when thwarted."
Isolde certainly had nothing in reply to that. She had seen for herself just how far he was prepared to go to get what he wanted, but she was not some piece of cheese to be squabbled over by the fox and the crow.
"And I love Fanny, I don't mind admitting it now, now that I'm in such danger of losing her," Stephen confessed now, his eyes glittering with tears. "I had no idea Chauncey was angling for her money in such a shocking way. But how can I marry her if I have no idea when my inheritance will come to me, if ever, and I have no powerful connections to recommend me to her Papa?"
"I know, lad, but, well, I never imagined that I would suddenly be thrust into such a position, and-"
Sensing her gathering head of steam, Stephen begged, "Please Isolde, if not for yourself, think of what marriage to the Earl can do for the whole family. It will be such a good thing for us all, Sis. I can't understand you hesitating."
Randall's lips twitched, but he suppressed the smile. Good boy. He was putting the case to her far better than he ever could given his position.
She gasped, "Why? Because I didn't even know Randall before last night, and now you want me to marry him as though it were the most logical thing in the world! Marriage is such a huge step. You know the vows as well as I do. Til death do you part. It's not a sentiment I take lightly, for all I've fallen at the first sign of temptation."
Stephen crossed his arms in front of his chest and thrust his chin out mulishly. He glared for a moment, then said, "All right, Isolde, if you really don't like him, don't marry him. But I would say if you were willing to let him quiddle his cod with you, you must fancy him well enough to wed him. And should be flattered that a peer like him should even ask. I doubt you'll ever get another chance like it, that's for certain. So think long and hard about what choice you make, because all of our lives are depending on it now that Howell has set his little game in motion.
"But one thing is for sure. I have no intention of getting my brains blown out over your wayward desires, as you called them, and I'm certainly not going to put a bullet in the only man who's offered us a jot of assistance since our fortunes went into decline. And if I lose Fanny to Howell, well, I'll never, ever forgive you. "
With that he stormed out and shut the door behind him, leaving Randall grinning joyfully, and Isolde hiding her face with a groan of dismay.
Chapter Eleven
Randall gave a rich thro
aty laugh. "I like him," he said once her brother Stephen had left them alone in the small drawingroom once more. "What verve and zest. He is right, you know, darling. If you like me enough to have er, well, intimate relations with me, I'm insulted that you would want me for anything other than marriage." He managed to assume a wounded look in the face of her mortification.
"Now you're making it seem as if I seduced you," she accused angrily.
He gave a slow, seductive smile. "Didn't you? The first time with your wonderful sweetness. The second time with all the incredible things you did to me on the settee? All I can say is you're the most amazingly curious and naturally sensual woman I could ever have been fortunate enough to meet."
"Oh, stop!" she said, blushing profusely again, though inwardly she longed for the words to be true.
"I'm completely serious," he reassured her, taking her hand to kiss it tenderly. "I'm sorry you're upset, dearest, about all of this, but what's done is done, and we need to be practical, not waste time wishing things were other than what they are.
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