The Earl's Dangerous Assignment

by Ginny Hartman

  “Godly? What is ungodly about an engagement of a decent length?”

  His pallid face colored a bit as he stammered, “I have been without a wife for too long.”

  Not picking up on his deeper meaning, Sophia blurted, “Yes, so what will another few months matter?”

  “Sophia, don't be impertinent. There is no need to postpone the wedding for any length of time,” her mother scolded. “It will be a small affair with only your father and myself, as well as the Reverend's children in attendance.”

  Grasping at straws, Sophia asked desperately, “But what of my wedding dress? It can't possibly be made on such short notice.”

  Her mother actually laughed. “Dear, you have plenty of fine dresses that will work. Your station as the wife of a Reverend will not require you to be clothed in London's latest fashions.”

  Appalled, Sophia could do nothing more than hang her mouth open in horror. The words her mother was speaking sounded foreign to her ears. Had Gilbert's scandal truly reduced her to this?

  “Now, that is settled. What other matters do we need to discuss?” her mother asked Reverend Balfour, pretending to be oblivious to Sophia's reaction.

  “No, Mother,” she interjected. “It's not settled. Please allow me more time before I must wed him.” She couldn't even bring herself to look at the Reverend or say his name.

  With a stern scowl on her face, her mother said icily, “Sophia, if you continue to protest, I will insist the wedding take place within a sennight, and we will forgo the house party altogether.”

  Sophia felt as if her mother had slapped her. She knew her parents had the power to do whatever they wished in that regards. Her shoulders slumped lower than Reverend Balfour's as she realized just how little control she had over her life.

  “Very well,” she whispered dejectedly. “The wedding will take place after we return from Tisdale Manor.”

  The sagging corners of Reverend Balfour's mouth turned upward instantaneously. “Very good. The children will be delighted to hear they will be getting a new mother soon. Will you come with me to the parish house to tell them?” he asked hopefully.

  “No, I must decline. I feel as if that honor should belong solely to you,” Sophia said smoothly, though her teeth were clenched tightly together.

  “As you wish. Now, if you don't mind, I must be on my way. I promised to stop by the Williamson's on my way home. Barney has taken ill, I fear.”

  Sophia knew he was referring to some of their tenants, but couldn't put a face with the name, all she cared about was the fact that he'd soon be leaving. As soon as he stood, Sophia stood too and noticed for the first time that she was taller than the man. She shut her eyes and unbidden, an image of Lord Coldwell flashed in her mind. His tall stature and broad shoulders had always made her feel feminine though she was quite tall compared to most women of her acquaintance, and even some men.

  Reverend Balfour bid them goodbye, and as soon as he disappeared, Sophia did too. She was in no mood to hear what her mother had to say. In her opinion, too much had been said already.

  Sophia rushed to her room and quickly scribbled out a second letter to Aunt Caroline:

  Aunt Caroline,

  I know I just sent you a letter this afternoon, but something urgent has come up. I need you to reply as swiftly as possible. Make sure you send any future correspondence to Tisdale Manor, as I will be residing there for a fortnight. I pray that I will hear from you in time. If not, I'll have to come up with another plan to preserve my life.

  Sophia

  With great anxiousness, Sophia sealed the letter. She pulled the heavy drapes covering her window back and groaned as she noticed it was still raining. She'd not be able to make another trip to the village without risking catching a chill, but she knew she couldn't wait even an extra day to have the missive sent.

  Donning her still damp pelisse, she rushed to the stables. The cold rain pelted her face, and she vowed she would indulge in a warm bath just as soon as she saw to her task.

  In the far stall, she found a stable boy saddling up one of the horses. “Excuse me, are you about to embark on an errand?” she asked as the boy looked up at her, startled.

  A red tint spread across the bridge of his freckled nose. Averting his eyes, he muttered, “'Tis my day off, milady.”

  “Splendid. Are you heading to the village, then?”

  The boy glanced nervously about the stables as he struggled to come up with an answer. Sophia wondered if her presence was unnerving the boy, so she quickly added, “You do not need to divulge your whereabouts to me, I simply wondered if I could ask a favor of you if you were going to the village. You see, I have this letter that needs posted at once. It's a most urgent matter and...”

  Before she could finish, the stable boy reached out and snatched the letter from her hand. “Yes, milady, I can post it for you.”

  A big grin split her face. “Wonderful. I would be much obliged. Tell me your name.”

  “Cornelius Honeyfield the fifth.”

  “What a dignified name, Cornelius.”

  “Most people call me Neil,” he admitted.

  “Well, what do you prefer?”

  He straightened his skinny shoulders and said, “I like Cornelius, milady.”

  “Then Cornelius it will be,” she said with a smile that made him blush once more. “In my haste, I failed to bring any coins with me, though I do wish to compensate you for your trouble. I will return tomorrow and bring you payment.”

  “That won't be necessary, milady.”

  “I disagree, Cornelius. I'll meet you at the stables on the morrow directly after I break my fast.”

  “Very well, milady. Whatever you say.”

  With a parting smile, Lady Sophia turned and dashed back to the house, temporarily forgetting about her dreadful engagement to Reverend Balfour. The only thought filling her mind was that of a warm bath in front of the hearth.

  Having just finished a most invigorating ride across Tisdale Manor's vast estate, Samuel slowed his horse to a saunter and headed back to the stables. The sky was a bleak gray, but fortunately, it refrained from raining long enough for him to enjoy his evening ride.

  Samuel slid from atop his horse then handed the reins over to a stable boy to see to his care. He had just exited the stables when the loud clearing of a throat caused him to startle. Glancing around, he found a young boy peeking his head around the corner of the stables.

  “Lord Coldwell, have you a moment?”

  “A moment for what?” Samuel asked curiously.

  “Come,” the boy gestured with his hand, “and I will tell ye.”

  Feeling certain the scrawny boy offered no threat to his person, Samuel did his bidding. Once they were out of sight of the main house, he asked, “What is this about?”

  “Ellen sent me,” the boy whispered.

  Samuel did not need to question his identity further, he knew exactly what his presence at Tisdale Manor meant. “She's discovered something, hasn't she?”

  The boy's head nodded vigorously, causing a lock of rust-colored hair to fall across his brow. “She said to tell ye that Lady Sophia sent a missive to Cornwall this afternoon, to her Aunt Caroline 'twould seem.”

  “Did she intercept it?” he asked excitedly.

  “Nay, the lady would not allow Ellen to post it for her, said she must do it herself. Walked all the way to the village to post it, in the rain and all.”

  Disappointment filled his breast, mixed with a tinge of anger. “Fiend seize it, I must know what that letter said!”

  “As luck would have it, milord, I do have this.” The boy reached into his pocket and retrieved a crumpled letter and quickly thrust it towards Samuel.

  With a bit of hesitancy, Samuel reached for the missive. “Another letter?”

  “Aye, 'twas just saddling up Sally to deliver word to ye when Lady Sophia barged into the stables. She was insistent this letter be posted at once but knew she couldn't make another trip to the village
so late in the evening. Offered to pay me to do the job and I was much willing to oblige.”

  The boy looked at Samuel with a face-splitting grin, eager for a measure of praise for what he'd done. Samuel did not disappoint. “What is your name?”

  “Cornelius, milord.”

  Reaching out, he ruffled the boy's hair heartily and said, “Good work, lad. I'm very proud of you for bringing the letter to me instead of posting it for your mistress.”

  Cornelius scrunched his nose in confusion. “But why would I do that, milord?”

  “Because I know how convincing Lady Sophia can be. She's also very charming. I've seen lesser men fall under her spell and been quick to do her bidding.”

  Cornelius looked at once both proud and disgusted. “'Twould have been foolish, milord. I've no problem resisting her charms, as you call them.”

  “Yes, it appears so. Good work,” he added once more, sincerely meaning it. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out several coins and handed the generous payment to Cornelius. “I trust you'll keep tonight's meeting a secret?”

  “Aye, milord.”

  “Very good. Now, you best be on your way, the hour is growing late.”

  Samuel watched as Cornelius mounted his horse and took off in a gallop before breaking the seal of the letter and quickly digesting its contents. The letter was frustratingly vague, offering no details as to what the two women were corresponding about, but it was incriminating nonetheless. Why did Lady Sophia feel a dire need to preserve her life?

  Stuffing the letter into his jacket pocket, he headed back to the house, wondering if Lady Sophia's life was in danger due to treasonous activities she'd participated in. He had to admit that the revelation was more than a bit shocking. He'd supposed her to be innocent of any wrongdoing, but perhaps he'd erred in his thinking.

  “She can't be an enemy to The Crown,” he muttered as he waltzed into the house, still preoccupied with his thoughts.

  He remembered very clearly working with her on their last assignment. It had not been an easy task to work so furiously to implicate one's own brother, especially when to do so would bring disastrous consequences to her entire family. But, she had not hesitated to do what was right, regardless of the painful personal ramifications.

  How could someone with that much integrity betray her own country? Samuel wasn't sure it could be done.

  Do not let a pretty face taint your view of the matter at hand.

  Samuel froze in the hall as the warning he'd been given when assigned to the case replayed in his mind. Is that what he was doing, allowing a tempting armful to impair his rational thinking? He'd long ago admitted to himself that he found Lady Sophia very pleasing. There was something about the combination of her statuesque figure, soft, womanly curves, thick, golden locks, and striking blue eyes that appealed to him greatly as a man. But her looks alone were not enough to distract him. No, it was the addition of her brave personality that nearly undid him. She was bold and daring and more than willing to defy convention. He found those traits to be quite alluring.

  His body tensed as he thought of their final carriage ride together back from Scotland. He'd held her the entire trip, pinned in his arms so she wouldn't dare to escape. And, truth be told, he'd enjoyed every single moment of it. He could still recall the subtle smell of rosewater on her skin and the smooth softness of her pale skin.

  Several nights since, he'd lain awake when sleep alluded him, thinking of her glorious body against his, regretting more than anything that he hadn't kissed her that day.

  Drat that woman, she was a nuisance. He cursed inwardly as he quickly made a decision. He'd have to go Goldborne Hall to keep an eye on her until she was safely at Tisdale Manor where he wouldn't allow her out of his sight. If she had any plans to run away or do something else foolish, he'd be there to stop her.

  He jogged the rest of the way to his bedchamber where he quickly packed a small trunk of clothing and other necessities. After making sure he had all that he'd need for the next several days, he glanced at his bed longingly. His body yearned to lay atop the mattress and sink his head into the soft down-filled pillows. The abandoned woodsman's cottage he'd be staying at on the Goldborne property boasted no such niceties. In fact, the only bed it had was a small cot set up at the far end of the room that appeared as if it had been there for ages.

  Without a second thought, he quickly snatched up one of the pillows and shoved it forcefully into the remaining space in the trunk. It was a challenge to get it to fit, but he thought he deserved at least one small luxury while sequestered away.

  After he finished packing, Samuel sat down at his writing desk and quickly penned a letter to Whitehall. He was careful not to insinuate too much since he knew no absolutes beyond the fact that Lady Sophia had sent correspondence to Caroline.

  Once he was finished, he went in search of Martha so she could post the letter to Whitehall discreetly for him. Afterward, he went in search of his parents.

  Just as he predicted, he found his parents in the music room. They usually retired there before dinner so Alexandra could practice her skills on the pianoforte. Samuel entered the room unnoticed and waited for her to finish the simple tune she was plucking out. As soon as she was done, he made his presence known.

  “Alexandra, Father, I came to let you know I will be leaving.”

  Alexandra gasped as she turned on the bench to face him. “Pardon me, did I hear you correctly? We are hosting a house party in less than a se'nnight. Have you forgotten?”

  “No, I have not. I will return in time to greet the guests as they arrive, I promise you that. However, I have business to attend to that cannot wait. It's of a most urgent matter.”

  His father looked at him with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. “Business? Clearly, it doesn't involve Tisdale Manor, it's tenants or lands. What other business could you be referring to?”

  “It's a personal matter,” he replied stiffly. “I just wanted to inform you of my absence so you wouldn't worry. I'll return in a few days’ time.”

  He turned to leave, but Alexandra called out, “Wait! Samuel, this house party was your idea. You can't just leave a few days before all the guests are supposed to arrive. It's not polite.”

  “I promise I'll be back in time.”

  “Samuel,” Alexandra chided sternly, “if you do not keep your word, I swear I will...”

  “What?” he asked curiously, always amused when she, who was younger than he, treated him as if he were a child. “You'll take me over your knee and administer a spanking?”

  Samuel didn't miss the amused look his father was giving him. It was clear they both found the image quite humorous.

  “I just might,” she said as she stomped one slippered foot angrily.

  “You have my word that I'll be back in time. If for some reason I am not, I will willingly submit to whatever punishment you see fitting to inflict.”

  Without waiting for a response, Samuel turned and exited the room.

  “Has he always been so vexing?” Alexandra asked, turning dark eyes on Aaron. “Has he always been so mysterious?”

  “I confess he's getting odder by the day. One thing I know is he's not concerning him with estate business. He's shown no interest in learning how to run Tisdale Manor since returning from his grand tour.”

  “You let him get away with too much,” she accused.

  Aaron leaned forward, placing his forearms on his thighs as he looked at her. “I don't think it's a matter of allowing him anything. He's a grown man and will do as he wishes.”

  “But you are his father. Can't you exert some control over him?”

  Aaron laughed as he rose to his feet. Taking Alexandra into his arms, he pulled her body flush with his. “Much like I exert control over you, darling?”

  Her scowl began disappearing as a slow, sultry smile formed on her lips instead. “Remind me how that is done,” she urged.

  Dipping his head, he pressed a slow, warm kiss to her lips, nea
rly making her forget about Samuel's disappearance. “You forget, darling, that I wield no control over you. It is I who am helplessly and happily under your influence, you little sorceress.”

  Alexandra grinned at him, pleased. “Yes, I can see that,” she said as she ran her hands up his muscled arms. Perhaps we can forget about my practice and retire to our chamber before dinner.”

  “That's the best suggestion you've made all day.”

  They turned to leave the room when Alexandra suddenly paused. “Do you suppose he has a mistress?”

  Aaron groaned, wondering why they were still talking about Samuel when he had other thoughts on his mind. “He better not.”

  “Then what other business could he be attending to?”

  With a sigh, Aaron confessed, “I don't rightly know. But perhaps you're right; maybe it's time I exert my influence over him and suggest he find a wife. Maybe that will mellow him out a bit and help him take his responsibilities as my heir seriously.”

  Alexandra's eyes lit up as an idea occurred to her. “What about Lady Sophia? Perhaps this house party will be just what he needs to begin seeing her in a different light.”

  Aaron was thoughtful for a moment before admitting, “There's too much scandal attached to her name.”

  Alexandra looked at him with disgust as she reached out and socked him in the shoulder. “Have a heart, Aaron. It's not her fault her brother is such a vile criminal.”

  “That's true,” he admitted as he rubbed at the tender spot on his shoulder. “But I'm not certain it would be wise for you to play matchmaker.”

  “Whyever not?”

  “Lady Sophia had her coming out two years ago, and as far as I know, neither one of them has ever shown interest in the other. It's a tender time for the Whitworth's, and I don't want this party to be a setup for awkwardness.”

  “I would never allow that to happen.”

  “Not intentionally, darling.”

  Crossing her arms over her chest, Alexandra huffed. “Fine, I will let things progress, however they will, naturally.”

  “Good girl,” he said, tweaking her nose. “Now, let's retire to our chamber and let this continue to progress naturally,” he suggested as he placed another scorching kiss on her lips.