The Legend of the Earl

by Eleanor Meyers

  Justin needed to leave.

  But then what would he do?

  He still had Brewly’s manuscripts. The man was always finding things for Justin to do. He’d get more than one man to translate, each taking on their own perspective and understanding. Justin felt a small thrill at the prospect of doing so now.

  He’d not felt moved to do anything in months.

  A growl stole his thoughts, and he realized then just how hungry he was. Some of the men had gone to Bellamy’s for dinner, but even if Justin hadn’t been banned from the club, he’d still have rushed home. He wanted to see Alexandra.

  His mind was so intent on her that when the carriage came to a stop in front of his building, he hardly noticed the woman who was standing a few feet from his door, passing in the shadow.

  “Lord Chantenny?” It was hard to place her age with her voice, but he did notice that she spoke with a clarity that almost sounded tutored.

  He tried to make out her features, but it was hard in the dark, and the maid’s bonnet she wore over her head seemed to obscure her features further.

  His footman approached the woman as he was trained to do. “Be gone,” the man told the woman, stepping between them and gesturing for the woman to depart.

  Justin started up his steps.

  “Are you’re looking for Alexandra’s mother?” the woman asked. “I know where she is.”

  That stopped Justin. He turned to her, but now that he was in the light of the lamp outside his door, he could make out little else. More light spilled into the street when the door was opened, and that light touched her.

  She was slight, and her face seemed small, but her head was down as the footman continued to try and lead her way.

  From what he’d learned during his talk to Christmas, he had his doubts about this woman. More than one maid had stepped forward to claim Alexandra as her own, all changing their mind after meeting Chris’ cool wrath and deciding they no longer wished to be a part of the girl’s life they’d so happily abandoned five and twenty years ago.

  Money was what they’d wanted at the end of the day. That and fame. They wanted the papers to write about them and would probably release a book about the exploits of their time with a lord they’d never known. Their lack of Alexandra’s feelings or respect for the dead was what drove Justin to anger.

  He decided he wouldn’t even address the woman.

  “You’ve no business here,” the footman said, though Justin could hardly hear what else was said since the music from inside nearly drowned them out.

  One of the guards from inside came out as well and looked to be moving toward the woman.

  “Stop looking for her,” the woman shouted over the footman. “Leave her be for her own good.” Then the woman turned and started back down the road.

  Justin thought that was rather new and hesitated before turning to the guard. “Bring her through the kitchens and feed her. She doesn’t leave until I speak to her.”

  The woman seemed to have caught his words and hesitated. For a moment, Justin thought she might run, but she didn’t. She followed his staff around back.

  Justin turned to the butler. “Have a man send word to Chris Smith about our guest.”

  “Yes, my lord.” The butler moved to do as he was asked, and Justin went through the front door, following the sounds of the jubilant piano notes to the music room.

  When he arrived, he noticed that what he’d thought to be a small party looked rather large indeed. There were at least forty people present.

  The group that his sisters had selected were all young, with the oldest being only a year or so older than Justin. The gentlemen and ladies were scattered around. Selina was at the piano with a gentleman sitting at her side… much too close for Justin’s liking.

  His eyes roamed until they found Alexandra. She was standing in a corner with Lucy Ann, Emma, and two other ladies that Justin had never met, as well as four handsome gentlemen. A few couples were taking a turn around the room and standing much too close to be called proper, their hands in places that were mildly indecent. Another couple stood next to the curtains by the window. Justin wasn’t certain, but he thought the gentleman looked well ready to compromise her, leading her toward the shadows with him.

  He cursed. This was the exact sort of scandal he wanted to avoid Alexandra becoming attached to.

  He walked over to the piano. Selina looked up at his approach and smiled, never missing a key. “Oh, hello brother.”

  Justin narrowed his eyes. Though Selina hadn’t missed a key, he believed her to be drunk.

  The gentleman at her side scurried from the chair, nearly falling out of it before righting himself. He bowed swiftly as his young cheeks pinked. “Lord Chantenny.”

  The mention of his name drew attention, especially from the couple by the curtain. The gentleman looked mildly guilty as well.

  The woman blinked on unsteady feet and smiled. She, too, seemed quite tipsy.

  The smell of brandy and sweat hit him then. The air was so thick with musk and perfume it had been hard to find the alcohol in all of it.

  Just what sort of party had his sisters started?

  The group where Alex and Lucy Ann stood had yet to notice him, but the dancers had stopped.

  He turned to Selina. “Stop playing.”

  She swiftly lifted her dainty fingers, and the silence that filled the room after so much noise was almost deafening.

  He leaned toward Selina and had to fight not to pull away as the stench of liquor hit him. “What were you thinking?” he hissed. “Why is everyone drunk on my brandy?”

  Her eyes were like glass, but she seemed to hold her spirits well. “It was the only way to get everyone to loosen up a bit at Alexandra and Emma’s presence. Once they were well into their cups, we pulled out the cake and everyone adored Alexandra and didn’t seem to mind about Emma’s past, though she’s probably the only sober person in the room.” She hiccupped and then laughed.

  Justin straightened and tried to find his anger once more, but hearing that this had been done on Alexandra’s behalf took some of the wind out of his sails. Had she had a bad night before the brandy had been provided?

  He went over toward their small circle, the guests parting to make a path before him, all of them either curtseying or bowing as he went. He knew all their eyes followed him.

  Emma, who looked to be holding a cup of tea, smiled as he neared. “Oh, Lord Chantenny!”

  Alex looked over and the relief in her gray eyes was starling.

  He quickened his steps to reach her and was surprised how quickly she moved to take his arm. He wanted to hold her but holding her in present company was unacceptable. “How are you?”

  She plastered on a smile. “Fine.”

  She was not fine.

  “Everyone out,” Justin said. He turned to a footman by the door and said, “See that the women get home safely.”

  The crowd moved at the command of the man who outranked everyone present. Only Lucy Ann, Alex, Emma, and Selina remained, and Selina took her time bidding her gentleman goodbye. The boy seemed to blush as he looked at Justin before fleeing.

  He turned to Lucy Ann. “I left you in charge—”

  “Everything was under control,” she said with a smile and lifted her hands—one with a champagne glass that almost toppled over—and motioned to the room. “Look, no one got hurt and the party was a success. Everyone will go home and say so. Come time for the ball, Alex will know a few more people in the room.”

  Justin looked down at Alex for confirmation.

  Alex seemed to hesitate but nodded and said, “Everyone was pleasant enough.” He thought her words true but felt she was holding something back.

  “There, you see?” Lucy Ann said. “You’re very welcome.”

  “Go to bed,” Justin told her without looking at her, his eyes remaining on Alex. “You as well, Selina.”

  “I’m going,” his youngest sister sang before slipping out the door. />
  Justin looked over at Emma and said, “If you wish, you may stay the night. We’ve more than enough rooms.” He knew she had no one to go back home to and, for the first time, understood what it was to be alone, because he himself was no longer alone. His sisters drove him mad, but he felt closer to them than ever before. And he had Alex.

  Emma smiled. “That’s very kind of you, but I couldn’t stay at the home of a bachelor, even with other women present. Not if I wished to hold onto what is becoming my new reputation.”

  Justin understood, though he wished there was a way to help. A part of him had been ready to say that his home was no longer that of a bachelor, but of an engaged man, but he’d yet to ask Alexandra again for her hand, and with a strange woman waiting for him downstairs, tonight would not be the night to discuss it.

  Alex released him and moved over to give Emma a hug. “You’ll come by tomorrow, won’t you? Come breakfast with us.” He noticed then just how fetching her dress was. It was ivory and silk and covered her curvy body very well.

  “I’ll be here,” Emma promised before kissing Alex’s cheek. Then, with a wave, she was gone.

  Justin took Alexandra’s hand and led her out of the music room. Her guards stood just outside the door, and Justin released him from their duties before taking Alexandra upstairs and to her door.

  “How are you really feeling?” he asked.

  He leaned against the wall and took note of how the dress illuminated her skin. She looked like warm milk, and Justin had the strangest desire to lick her exposed shoulder.

  All right, so it actually wasn’t that odd.

  “There were inquires as to my dowry,” she answered. “Apparently, instead of men thinking me beneath them, I had more interest than I knew what to do with.”

  “Of course, you did.” Justin’s eyes were still on her skin, sliding toward her collarbone and up her throat where a string of pearls rested. He recognized them as Lucy Ann’s. “Those boys were second and third sons. They’d never get titles, and you’re beautiful. If your dowry is large enough, they’re practically free to do as they please.”

  “Well, that’s reassuring,” she said sarcastically.

  His eyes moved up to her lips, stayed there for a moment, and then caught her eyes.

  “Are you implying that no titled gentleman will offer for me?” she asked, her gray eyes trying for a blank expression when he could all but sense her nervousness.

  He lifted a brow then lifted his eyes to her hair, noting the lush curls and the lace and ribbons that had been pinned in place. “No man is allowed to offer for you, but me.” He caught her eyes again and found they’d widened. She was breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling.

  His eyes went there.

  “Did the women give you any trouble?” he asked.

  “Not with Lucy Ann here—”

  He looked up. “Excellent. Will you marry me?” There may never be a perfect time. He simply had to make sure she knew that she was his, that any man who sought to inquire after her dowry would live in fear of his wrath.

  Alexandra’s eyes softened, and she stole the breath right out of his lungs. Her cheeks grazed his cheek. “Yes.”

  He’d never heard a better word spoken. He kissed her there and then and only pulled away because of the sounds of footsteps coming up the stairs.

  He looked over just as Reuben appeared. “Chris and Nash are here. We’re ready for you.”

  Justin tried to read his expression to see if the men had already spoken to the little maid who approached his house this night. He sensed from the jump in Reuben’s jaw that they had and wondered what the woman had told them. Was she Alexandra’s mother?

  “What’s happening?” Alex’s hands were still on him. She’d not let him go at her brother’s appearance.

  He turned to her. “I have to go. We have a meeting of sorts.”

  “About?” Her eyes held his, and he could see her trying to read his thoughts.

  He didn’t want to tell her just yet, didn’t want to disappoint by whatever was said in the kitchen. Since Reuben hadn’t invited her and had always spoken to their guests, he reasoned Alex should remain where she was. “Go to bed. We’ll speak in the morning.”

  “Is this about me?” she asked.

  Of late, nearly everything in Justin’s life was about her. He didn’t mind that at all. He kissed her forehead. “We’ll speak in the morning.”

  She was not a docile woman, so he had no illusions that she would be a docile wife. He saw the battle in her eyes. Then she turned to Reuben and said, “We’re getting married.”

  “Congratulations,” came his grinning reply.

  “I’m going to be a countess,” Alex went on, looking at her brother, a smile pulling at her lips.

  Reuben chuckled. “So it would appear,” he said a bit slower.

  “And then no one will be able to stop me from doing whatever I please.” She gave Justin a very meaningful look. She wanted to go to the meeting.

  He smiled. “You’re not planning to be a very obedient wife, are you?”

  She returned his expression. “Only if it’s in my best interest.”

  He backed away while continuing to hold her eyes then lifted her hand, kissed her knuckles, and departed.

  There was a lightness in his heart. He was getting what he wanted, a woman he’d never deserve but needed with every bit of his being. He’d not confessed his love as of yet, but he planned to, and soon. Besides, she had to know

  “What did the woman say?” Justin asked when they reached the first floor.

  “You’ll have to hear her for yourself,” Reuben said, which didn’t sound very pleasant at all.

  * * *

  28

  CHAPTER

  TWENTY-EIGHT

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  Alexandra truly tried to remain in her room. At least, she did for the first ten minutes after Justin and Reuben left her in the hall. She’d gone into her room and had changed into her night rail and robe, then had braided her hair and sat in front of the small vanity for all of five minutes before departing from the room.

  She’d checked his study first but, finding no one there. She went into the parlor and sitting room. She’d begun to think that everyone had gone to bed and the meeting had been very short before she heard voices coming from down a hall she only used when heading to the kitchen. It was the area used for servants, holding the laundry and storage rooms.

  She saw a light glowing from underneath the door to the kitchen and threw it open.

  The warmth of the fire touched her even through her robes, a welcoming sensation that spread through her flesh. The space was small, and she only had to look straight ahead to see everyone in the room.

  Her brothers were there, standing around the middle counter along with Justin. The servants were gone except for one, and though Alex hadn’t been in Justin’s home for long, she didn’t recognize the maid. She was the only person sitting down, and when she looked at Alex, a strange expression came over the woman’s face.

  In the shadows, Alex could not make out the shade of the woman’s eyes, and the bonnet concealed her hair, but there was something about the woman’s face that Alexandra found unsettling.

  The woman stood, the noise of her stool scraping back the only sound in the otherwise silent room. The maid looked pained and then panicked before starting toward the door.

  Reuben grabbed her before she could retreat.

  Alex looked at her brothers and then at Justin. Their expressions were too masked to read. “What’s going on?”

  Reuben turned the woman back around, but no one said anything.

  She met everyone’s eyes again, including the maid’s, but now the woman wouldn’t meet hers back. A pinching sensation started in her chest. “What’s happening?”

  Justin moved forward and took her into his arms, but it was Chris who spoke. />
  “Nash and I have been busy looking for your mother.” He was leaning against the counter, his fingers turning white as he pressed them into the hard surface. “We searched everywhere, looked in every great house that we could find, spoke with the staff, but never found her.”

  “Or rather, we thought we hadn’t.” Nash crossed his arms and stared at the maid. “She was purposefully hiding from us.”

  Alex’s head was leaning against Justin’s chest and pulling his warmth and strength as she spoke toward the woman who wouldn’t meet her eyes. “Are you my mother?”

  The woman wrapped her arms around her small frame and kept her eyes toward the floor, but Alex saw her jaw work as though she were trying to figure out what to say. “I gave birth to you, but I don’t deserve to be called your mother.”

  Alex tightened her hands on Justin’s shirt, unsure of the emotion that seemed to pound at her. The heat that she’d felt when she'd first stepped into the room seemed to drain from her, and she suddenly shivered.

  Justin locked his arms around her. Alex looked away and closed her eyes. She should have stayed in her room, she now realized, because the woman who’d given birth to her didn’t even want to look at her. Had she never deserved the woman’s love? What was wrong with her? “I want to leave,” she whispered.

  “No, you’re here now. It won’t end like this,” Justin whispered in her hair. Then he turned and spoke to the maid. “You’ll tell her what happened just as you told us.”

  Alex shook her head. “I don’t want to hear it.” She looked up at him, pleading. “I don’t want to know.” She didn’t want to know that her mother didn’t want her, had been glad to get rid of her. She hadn’t even come at the possibility of getting money or fame. That was how much her mother hated her. “Please.” Her voice trembled.

  Justin touched her cheeks and leaned toward her. ”It's not what you think.”

  She didn’t believe him, and she didn’t want to have this conversation in front of her. She pulled her head back and started toward the door, but he caught her around the middle and turned her so that her body faced the maid. His arms went around her and gathered her so that her back pressed into his front, holding her firm without a chance to retreat.