The Danger in Tempting an Earl

by Sophie Barnes

  “May I join you?” Katherine asked.

  Mathilda nodded with enthusiasm. “Of course! I’m sure her ladyship would be delighted to play with her mama.”

  Katherine chuckled as she settled down on the floor beside her daughter and offered her one of her fingers. The little imp latched onto it quickly enough, chortling in response to her success while offering Katherine a necessary distraction. Her nerves were still on edge after Lady Trapleigh’s interview, as she continued to fear for her own safety, as well as for Sophia’s. It would be impossible for her mind to find peace until Donovan was stopped.

  Picking up Sophia, she walked across to the window and looked out, singing softly as she did so. She couldn’t see it from where she was standing, but she knew that Roxberry Hall sat solidly beyond the farthest hill, just right off the forest that bordered both properties. “Do you have a small bell, by any chance?” she asked Mathilda as she turned away from the window.

  “Yes, my lady. Sophia finds it very amusing to listen to.”

  “In that case, please fetch it and we will offer her some entertainment.”

  The sound of footsteps caught Katherine’s attention a while later. Turning her head, she found Carter standing in the doorway. “Lord Roxberry has returned,” he said. “I’ve taken the liberty of showing him into the parlor.”

  “Thank you,” Katherine told him, unable to believe how quickly her time with Sophia had flown. “I’ll be down in just a moment.”

  The calm she’d felt while playing with her daughter ebbed away at the thought of Lucien. They had a serious concern to deal with—­a threat that had to be removed—­in addition to the fact that she’d almost been killed. That ought to have been enough to keep her growing feelings for Lucien at a distance, but for some reason she could not explain, it wasn’t. Least of all when he was under her roof and would soon be in her presence. Dear God, she’d felt it the night of the ball when he’d held her in his arms, then during the days since, both at the lake and at the ruin. Today it had been overpowering—­a growing desire for him to want her the way she’d begun wanting him.

  Never before had she considered him in such a way, yet now . . . good heavens if he hadn’t returned to her life more handsomely rugged than ever. He’d filled out in his absence, and there was now an edge of resolve to his masculinity that appealed to her feminine side—­so much so that she found herself in a constant state of want whenever he was near. She knew she ought not think such things and that she especially ought not feel them toward Lucien. Why, he’d known her his whole life. Whatever would he think of her if he discovered that she longed for him to kiss her with abandon?

  She dared not imagine, fearing that he too would look at her with disapproval . . . that he would reject her just as easily as Charles had done. She never would have thought that anything could hurt her more than the way in which her husband had spurned her, but she realized now that this was untrue. If Lucien discovered her unexpected yearning for him and failed to reciprocate, she knew she’d never survive the heartache that was bound to follow.

  Nothing about him suggested that he had developed a tendre for her. If anything, he’d seemed a bit standoffish—­more serious than he’d been four years ago, but that was to be expected, all things considered. Additionally, he’d been showing a keen interest in Lady Julie, even if their brief acquaintance had proven fruitless.

  The point was that he’d made his choice in a potential wife known. What did it matter if Lady Julie’s interests lay elsewhere, when it was she, not Katherine, who’d captured Lucien’s attention? Katherine shook her head. No, Lucien Marvaine had given her no reason at all to believe he considered her anything more than a dear friend. Except perhaps one . . . the way in which he’d paused most inappropriately with his lips upon her hand. Yes, it had been brief and subtle, but it had happened nonetheless, and she in turn had felt like a girl thrust into the midst of a turbulent storm, her knees more wobbly than ever.

  Katherine sighed as she made her way down the stairs. She’d sworn she’d never again allow a man to hurt her, that she simply wouldn’t allow any man to get close enough. The problem was that Lucien had already been close and her reaction to him had snuck up on her with such stealth that she’d been caught completely off guard.

  Confused, Katherine paused when she reached the bottom of the stairs. Clearly she was overthinking the whole situation and driving herself mad in the process.

  Heavens, what a muddle!

  And yet . . . if there was any chance at all that he might reciprocate her feelings, then she was prepared to dive in headfirst and grasp with both hands whatever he had to offer, no matter how much it terrified her to do so. Because if there was one thing Katherine longed for above all else, it was to be loved, and she was willing to face her greatest fear if there was but the slightest chance she might achieve that.

  Heart pounding in her chest, she crossed the floor to the parlor door. Rejection—­the humiliation of it and the pain it had wrought—­still clung to her like a wet cloak, impossible to shake off. If Lucien would only give her some indication, something more than a lingering kiss on her hand to suggest that he wanted more from her than friendship. She slowed her pace as stark realization dawned. If Lucien had even the slightest interest in her, he would not have offered Lady Julie his attention instead. Once the matter with Lady Trapleigh was settled and Katherine no longer required his help, Lucien would probably find another eligible young lady to pursue. Her stomach churned as the unwelcome thought of him sharing his future with another woman ran through her mind. Sharp awareness stabbed at her heart. It would be unbearable for her to watch.

  Shaking off her misgivings, Katherine reached for the handle, aware now of what she had to do. She had to reach for the moon and the stars or risk drowning in despair; she had to ignore the anxiety that shackled her; she had to do everything in her power to discover if Lucien might want her too. Propriety and fear be damned, she was going to cast herself into the abyss that yawned before her and do the unthinkable—­she would seduce the Earl of Roxberry.

  “Kate,” Lucien said, rising the moment she made her appearance. “Mr. Dawson has already set out. He ought to be back by this time tomorrow with the necessary information. In the meantime, I will remain here, with you.”

  Although the idea of keeping Lucien close was tempting, Katherine couldn’t help but rebel. “You cannot possibly,” she said. “Whatever will ­people say if it becomes known that you spent the night here?”

  “I suppose they’ll assume that you and I have become lovers,” he said somewhat blandly.

  “And scandal will rain down upon both Sophia and me as a result.”

  “It is only for one night, Kate, and to be blunt, I would rather take such a risk than allow another assassin the opportunity of attacking you.”

  “After last night’s incident, I’m sure I can depend on the footmen to see to my safety.”

  “Perhaps,” he acquiesced, “but I’d rather see to the matter myself. Allow me to keep watch in front of your bedchamber with one of the footmen.”

  Katherine hesitated. “Servants talk, Lucien. Even the ones that I trust can be tempted to gossip.” She paused, unsure of what to do. Was safety of greater importance than her reputation? Absolutely—­especially when Sophia was to be considered. “I will ask my lady’s maid to sleep in my room with me, then. If anyone says a word afterward, she will vouch for both of us.”

  A smile dimpled Lucien’s cheeks. “It’s settled then. In the meantime, you ought to prepare your valise in case we do travel to London tomorrow, and once that is done, I believe we ought to enjoy each other’s company for the remainder of the day.” A spark lit in the depths of his dark brown eyes. “Indeed, I cannot tell you how pleased I am to share your company for such an extensive period, my only regret being the circumstances.”

  Katherine’s legs felt wobbly. “I couldn’t
agree more,” she said. A heavy pause hung between them until she found herself saying, “I suppose I ought to go and pack then?”

  He took a step toward her. “Yes, you should.”

  “Right.” She then turned sharply about and exited the room, her nerves completely frayed and her stomach all jittery. Blast it all, how was she supposed to seduce the man when she could barely think straight whenever he was near? Not to mention that she had never even considered attempting something so bold before. In all likelihood, she would achieve nothing more than making a fool of herself in the process.

  “Shall we take our tea in the library?” Katherine asked after lunch. “I’ve recently acquired the fifth edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica and would love to show it to you.”

  “A wonderful idea,” Lucien said. “I have the fourth edition myself, you know.”

  “Do you? Then I doubt you’ll be very impressed, as there’s very little difference between them.”

  “All the same,” he murmured as he followed her down the hallway, “I’m sure we’ll enjoy looking at some of the articles.” Frankly, he didn’t care what he was doing to pass the time, just as long as they were doing it together.

  “There’s a really good one about botany,” Katherine was saying.

  Lucien smiled to himself. “I was rather thinking of the one about chemistry.”

  A puzzled expression caressed her features as she swiftly glanced at him over her shoulder. When she didn’t respond, Lucien decided to hold silent as well.

  “Shall I pour us each a cup of tea?” Katherine asked as soon as they arrived in the library, where the tea tray was already waiting on a table between two armchairs.

  “Certainly,” Lucien replied. “I’d love to have some.”

  Seating herself, Katherine tended to the tea while Lucien took the other chair, his eyes riveted upon the graceful curve of her wrist as she poured. His chest tightened as he imagined them spending many more such moments together.

  “Now, stay right there,” she said as soon as she was done, “and I’ll be right back.”

  Agreeing to do as she bid, Lucien leaned back against his chair, picked up his teacup and took a sip while he watched Katherine walk toward a stepping stool on wheels. Bending over, she then began to nudge the piece of furniture forward, along the length of the room. Lucien almost choked on his tea, his pulse quickening at the sight of her delectable derriere sticking up in the air, even if it was covered by layers of fabric. She came to a stop, having no doubt arrived at the part of the bookcase where the book she sought was housed. Lucien expelled a deep breath. He reached for a strawberry tart and was just about to take a bite when Katherine raised her skirts ever so slightly and stepped up onto the stool.

  Lucien’s mouth went instantly dry, for the figure she portrayed as she reached up toward one of the shelves, the fabric of her skirt still clutched between the fingers of her other hand so that her ankles came into view, was not one he could tear his eyes away from. By God, did she have any idea of what she was doing to him? Of the torment she was causing? No, of course not.

  “I’ve got it,” she told him triumphantly as she stepped down onto the ground with a leather-bound volume clasped against her chest. She smiled, and he knew that he was under her spell, held captive and incapable of escape. “Since you are the guest, I thought I’d bring you the volume you suggested—­the one on chemistry.”

  With a cough, Lucien set his tart aside. “How thoughtful of you.”

  She grinned. “Don’t think I don’t have a secret agenda.”

  “Oh?”

  “I’m really just trying to placate you so you won’t complain once we get to the article on botany.”

  “I see,” he drawled. “So what you’re saying is that you wish to indulge my wishes before indulging your own?”

  She looked at him with hesitation. “Quite,” she eventually said.

  “As grateful as I am for such consideration, Kate, I would never put myself before you in any regard.”

  “I know that,” she said. “Please know that I will be eternally grateful to you for everything you’re doing in order to help with this awful situation. It means a lot to me, having you here for support.” Flipping open the book, she handed it to him, her fingers brushing his as she did so.

  Lucien’s heart shuddered. Had the gesture been intentional? He hoped it had been, but there was nothing in her expression or bearing to indicate that this was the case. He blinked, shook his head and bent over the text before him. How the devil would he ever survive the long night ahead? Standing outside her bedchamber door within feet of her bed was going to be hell.

  Seated in the parlor the following afternoon, Katherine busied herself with some embroidery while Lucien helped his driver ready the carriage. After returning from London an hour earlier, Lucien’s valet had informed them that word of Lady Crossby’s business proficiency had recently spread due to questions being asked by some men of dubious repute. Worst of all, however, was Mr. Dawson’s account of an accident that had occurred on Regent Street the previous evening when a fabric shop, La Belle Anglaise, had caught fire. Thankfully nobody had been harmed, but most of the shop’s contents had been ruined. What Lucien and Mr. Dawson hadn’t known until Katherine had mentioned it, however, was that she had sunk a great deal of her own money into that business in her desire to help the proprietress—­a woman Katherine had known since childhood, as she had once been Katherine’s governess.

  “Miss Pinket?” Lucien had asked.

  “She’s Mrs. Brown now,” Katherine had told him. “I feel terrible for her. Especially if this is indeed Donovan’s doing, for then I am entirely to blame for her loss. Heavens, but she must be devastated, poor woman. I’ll have to find a way to help her through this.”

  Lucien had smiled reassuringly. “I’m sure the insurance will cover most of it.”

  “Yes, you’re probably right,” Katherine had said, happy now that she’d made that a prerequisite for her investment.

  After discussing the matter a bit more, Lucien had finally declared that they should depart for London without further delay. It appeared that Lady Trap­leigh’s story rang true and that Donovan was indeed stirring up trouble. With both Katherine and Lady Trapleigh’s son at stake, Lucien didn’t dare hesitate a moment more. He was determined to find Donovan himself and put an end to the man’s deviousness.

  Straightening her back, Katherine was just getting started on another daisy when Lucien appeared in the doorway. Heavens, he was handsome with his hair all mussed and his cravat in slight disarray.

  “The carriage is ready,” he announced, eyeing the door, which remained ajar. “Do you still wish to come along, or do you think it best for me to go alone? I only ask because now is the time to say so if you have reconsidered. We depart in ten minutes.”

  “Do you prefer to travel alone?”

  “This has nothing to do with my preferences, Kate. I’m only concerned for what is best for you and for Sophia.”

  Warmth enveloped her heart and her worries eased. “Then I shall join you as planned.” She gestured for him to take a seat opposite her own, which he did. Leaning toward him, she lowered her voice to a whisper. “I’m sending Sophia to Bath with her nanny. My parents are there at present, though everyone believes them to be in Scotland. You see, I wasn’t completely honest with you when you asked about my father’s health. He hasn’t been feeling himself lately, and the doctor believes that taking the waters will help.”

  “I’m so sorry, I—­”

  “Mama insists he will be fine, and I believe her. He simply worries a lot about everything—­always has—­and I daresay his concerns have given rise to a slight depression.” Unwilling to discuss the reason behind her father’s concerns, Katherine quickly continued. “The point is that nobody is likely to look for Sophia there. She ought to be perfectly safe, or at least mor
e so than she would be with us as we chase after this Donovan fellow.”

  Lucien frowned. “Kate,” he began, “I must confess that I was taken aback when Lady Trapleigh mentioned Donovan’s reason for targeting you. It never occurred to me that you would be so successful at doing business—­to the point where you would actually be considered a threat to anyone. Forgive me for asking, but how on earth did this come about?”

  “After Charles passed away,” Katherine said, “I continued to support his investments and gradually began making a few of my own during the last year, with the help of Mr. Simmons, my secretary.” She then told him of her struggle to understand the ins and outs of the finance world, how to determine risk, and of Mr. Simmons’s unwavering patience with her.

  When she finished, Lucien just stared at her, dumbfounded. “And are all of these investments of yours doing well?”

  “Remarkably so. The income is enough to sustain Cresthaven, the staff that it employs and whatever necessities I might have.”

  “I’m not sure what to say,” he admitted, for it was the truth—­she had quite literally struck him dumb.

  “You’re surprised?”

  “Well . . . yes, I suppose I am. I’m also terribly impressed, if you must know.” She looked pleased by his praise, so he added, “To think of everything you’ve been through—­losing your husband and having to raise a daughter immediately after, all while taking charge of Crossby’s affairs. I daresay it’s rather remarkable!”

  She was blushing now and looking adorably bashful. “It eased my mind, I think—­having something with which to busy myself when I was not with Sophia. The garden doesn’t offer much diversion during the winter.”

  Lucien nodded. He understood all too well the need for distraction that followed on the heels of loss. “I don’t mean to rush you,” he said, changing the subject, “but considering our time limit, I suggest we make haste and head to London immediately. Are you ready?”

  “Yes,” she said, setting her embroidery aside and rising. He rose as well. “I just need to fetch my pelisse.”