Earl of Shefford: Noble Hearts Series: Book Three (Wicked Earls Book 28)

by St. Claire, Anna

  The servants left the room and checking her hat and pelisse in the room’s mirror, Nora picked up her reticule before walking to the front door. As she was about to open it, there was a knock. The pulse in her throat pounded as she peered through the small peephole. She was momentarily relieved it was a familiar face and opened the door. A completely different tension overtook her—one she was thoroughly unaccustomed to. With a start, she realized was attracted to this man. That only complicated her pique.

  Lord Shefford removed his hat and gave an elegant bow. “I believe there may be a few details to discuss, Miss Mason. I apologize for arriving unannounced. You were just leaving.” He said the last as he observed her apparel.

  “Lord Shefford, good morning. I was leaving to visit my grandmother. To what do I owe the pleasure?” she said, smiling tightly and trying to regain the composure this last hour had taken from her.

  “I think it is important that we talk now,” he said coolly, arching a brow. “May I?” He pushed past her and nodded towards the parlor. Without waiting for a reply, he opened the door and walked into the room.

  Chapter 9

  Colin immediately noticed Miss Mason’s crossness, but it did not signify. He had much more important matters on his mind. He sought to have this pact over with soon so his life would return to normal, and that meant without a wife. Bergen was right. Countess Whitton had bested him in the bargain. It would give him great pleasure when he could return to the calculating Countess and collect the debt her son owed him—unencumbered by a wife.

  For now, he would do as she asked.

  “May we talk?” Colin asked, ignoring the huff of impatience the woman expelled behind his back.

  “As you seem to believe we are about to discuss something, I will attempt to give you my full measure of attention,” she remarked in a severe tone.

  He fought not to smile. It was too easy to rile Miss Mason. Sparring with her was enjoyable. Who knew? Perhaps there could be some redemption in this two-week interlude, he thought, catching himself gazing into very expressive, chocolate brown eyes.

  “I recognize the distraught manner of your appearance. May I be of assistance?”

  “I appreciate your keenness. I will be well enough, sir. However, I wonder at the urgency you must feel, having rushed past me,” she said acerbically.

  He narrowed his eyes. “I see that I have not made a good impression on you. I would like the opportunity to correct that. Might we start again?”

  “No, thank you,” she snapped. “I expect ours to be a perfunctory connection, Lord Shefford, and therefore I feel no need to begin again, as you request. You arrived, unannounced, to tell me you had won my orphanage in a bet and all but made me feel I should immediately pack my bags and those of the children. Before I can even verify that to my satisfaction, here you are again.” She narrowed her eyes and took a cleansing breath. “Pray, tell me at once your most urgent need to meet with me which keeps me from my business.”

  He deserved that, Colin admitted to himself. His civility with her had been the bare minimum to non-existent, recalling that he just barged past her—a poor display of behavior which had not been his intention. Still, she could be the most infuriating of women. How had winning one game drawn him into such a predicament? He reminded himself that he needed to rub along with her for two weeks. “While sparring with you gives me much amusement, Miss Mason, I would seek a better level of understanding. I have a proposal for you.”

  “A proposal?” she tittered. “What kind of proposal? I understood it was a foregone conclusion that the orphanage would be displaced because of my uncle’s loose morals.”

  “That was my first thought, I will admit. However, I see that you are especially attached to this place.” He looked around the room. “I have done some research, and it seems this was a very popular orphanage in years past. Many of the children that lived here have gone on to make sizeable contributions to society.” He considered the meeting with the Countess as research, he reflected with some slight malice.

  A smile formed on her face then, Colin noticed, despite her best efforts to suppress it. I hope she does not call me on this. He was on thin ice, unsure why he had fabricated such a tale, except that it seemed important to give her one rubber at least.

  “What do you expect to achieve with this, Lord Shefford?” she questioned, remarkably with less hostility in her voice than before.

  Good, I have her interest. “My proposal is that I come fairly regularly for a fortnight. I will be a willing participant in the day-to-day operations. My aim is that you prove to me that this orphanage has more chance of success in this building than the business I had in mind.” He noted her face, particularly the irritation flickering in her brown eyes. The hostility had returned.

  “Lord Shefford.” She emphasized his surname with a hint of distaste. “That is a preposterous proposal—and it is a colossal waste of my time, for I am doomed before I begin. You do not have a reputation for charity, and I cannot imagine you deciding anything in my favor. You and your friends seemed both surprised and disgusted to find this building occupied when you arrived the other day.” She drew a slow breath. “Before I decide, I would invite you to meet some children the move would displace.”

  “Certainly. To show you my sincerity, I would be happy to meet a few of your charges.”

  “There are fourteen,” she challenged.

  “Fourteen,” he concurred. “Where are they?”

  “You shall meet one or two of them any moment now, unless I miss my guess.” At her words, Alice and Amy scurried into the room, accompanied by Mary.

  “Miss Mason, Alice has something important to tell you,” Mary blurted out as she came in, giving a quick curtsey. Alice stood very still, squeezing a cloth in one hand and holding tight to Amy’s little hand with the other. She had a thumb in her mouth.

  “What do you have to say, Alice?”

  “I was looking out o’ the window and there were a tall man out on the street. A scary-looking man,” the child said, her voice wavering from fright. “I seen him before. He was near me old house.”

  “Alice…” Nora pulled the child closer against her skirts. “I promise to do everything in my power to keep that man away from you—all of you.”

  “Mary told us you would keep us safe,” she said, sniffling from tears.

  “Who is this man?” Colin asked from behind, pushing down annoyance at having to reassert his presence.

  With an exaggerated sigh, Nora turned to him. “I will have to tell you in a few minutes.”

  Something in her eyes told him she could not speak of it in front of the children.

  “Who are these pretty little girls,” he persisted, crouching down to their level.

  Miss Mason gave him that questioning and exasperated look she seemed to have perfected. Admittedly, she challenged him more than any other female had ever done before, and found it amusing. He also found her intelligence stimulating, and imagined loosening the tight chignon that bound her blonde mane.

  “Lord Shefford, these curly-headed beauties are part of our family. This is Alice,” she said, nodding to the taller one, “and this is Amy.” The smaller child turned and hid her face inside the folds of Miss Mason’s skirt.

  Still crouching, he leaned over and held his hand out to Amy. “My name is Lord Shefford, but you have leave to address me as Uncle Colin,” he said, thus reminding himself he was not on a first name basis with Miss Mason. “It is nice to meet you, Amy, and you, Alice.” He observed that Alice was scrutinizing him closely.

  “You don’t look nasty like that other man,” she offered as she took his hand.

  “Miss Mason…” He looked up at her. “I feel the need to learn more about this man. He has upset the children greatly and that will not do at all.” He turned to Alice. “Where did you say you saw him?” He really wanted to know. He would not have a criminal sort watching these children. There could be a need for more security.

  “I wi
ll show you, my lord,” Miss Mason interrupted brusquely. “First, let me help Mary get these two sweetings off to bed. ‘Tis been a while since they ate. They need a wee nap.”

  He watched Miss Mason pick up Amy and hold her close, cooing to her as she walked the girls away. Alice held her free hand. Suddenly, he realized he had been there almost an hour and still had not struck the bargain that the Countess had asked of him. Annoyed with himself, he determined to do so when Miss Mason returned.

  A few minutes later, she walked back into the room.

  “Your day has varying levels of unpredictability to it,” he offered in solicitous tones, “and yet you do not believe my sincerity.”

  She stared at him. “You are quite right. I wonder at your surprise, sir. After the way we met, and the proposal you have, with such grace and consideration, just proffered, I cannot believe you to care. Nevertheless, I appreciate your kindness to the children.”

  “Did you think I was just being kind for show?” His chest lifted with indignation. Catching himself before he uttered an unforgivable retort, he swiftly composed his features. “I beg your pardon. I truly wish to help. What can you tell me about the man?” Colin realized he was sincere. He was genuinely concerned for this woman and her children.

  “Very well, if you insist,” she sighed. “I received a note earlier from a friend of Amy’s mother. When Amy’s mother died, leaving the child alone, this woman brought her to us. Amy knows her as Aunt Gemma.” She fished in her reticule and withdrew a note, passing it to him. “This note says a man is trying to claim Amy. However, Gemma is certain he is not the child’s father. I believe her. Hearing Alice say she has seen him, confirms it for me.”

  “In the eyes of the law, fathers have rights,” he said calmly. “I would like to have this man investigated. If he means Amy, Alice or any of the other children harm, I will ensure we keep him away from the premises.”

  “How can you stop him?” she asked. “If Gemma and Alice are right, this is a man who could not care a straw for the law. And he has already located Amy. He aims to take her away from me, I know it.” Her voice rose to a high pitch.

  “Your grandmother is a countess and a powerful figure in Society. How can you ask me that?” He could not prevent the jeering tone. “You may recall, I am an earl.”

  “I do not rely on my grandmother, and since I have little or no involvement with the ton, I am not familiar with the power of an earl,” she responded tartly.

  “Does all this mean you need my help?” He found himself becoming irritated with the minx, again! “What is it about my proposal that you find so offensive? Is there any likelihood of our coming to a mutual agreement?”

  “In a word, sir—no. That is not to say I do not welcome your help. However, as far as the proposition goes, I fear that would not be possible, sir. We both know the orphanage is merely your momentary charity. Something new will claim your attention and you will be away!” She waved her hands in a sign of irritated display. “To you, this… my orphanage… is only a building, a trophy for your winnings.” She actually glared at him. “Now, if you will forgive me, I must be on my way. Is there anything else?” She retrieved her hat, which had somehow found its way to the hall tree, placed it on her head without recourse to a mirror and picked up her reticule.

  “That is palpably untrue. I came here in the spirit of friendship in the hope we could work together, for a short period, in order that I might learn more,” he argued.

  “Not that it is any of your business,” she said scathingly, pulling on her gloves, “I am off to visit my grandmother—if you will but allow me to leave.”

  This woman was dismissing him! Up until now, Colin had been doing his utmost to control his temper, but suddenly he had had enough. He had never met a woman so infuriating.

  Without thinking, he snapped, “If I asked you to marry me, would you take that seriously?” Colin stiffened as the words left his lips, his mind absorbing what he had just done.

  The room became quiet; starkly quiet. For a long moment she eyed him curiously. Putting down her reticule, she spoke in a composed voice.

  “I accept.”

  Chapter 10

  I have just accepted a proposal of marriage. The impulsive side of her had responded when she heard the words, his offer something she had never thought to hear from anyone. She was certain he had asked her, although she could not imagine why. Is it real?

  A curious reaction bubbled up inside her. She wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. It would not be a love match, as she had always wanted. The gentleman was very handsome, she admitted, especially when he became flustered. If she was being honest with herself, she felt energized in his presence and enjoyed the interchanges, terse as they were. There was a level of excitement she could not deny—abruptly astonished to realize she had become focused on his lips.

  Nora started to speak, to say she had made a mistake—anything to unbind her from this man—yet she did not. As she thought about it, it was the perfect solution. Marriage to Lord Shefford could be the complete answer. She would have the protection of his name—whatever that meant—and perhaps she would have the financial wherewithal to save these children, if he agreed. She might also be able to create an opportunity for a stream of revenue, through charitable contributions, to support a place for single women to live, as long as they held a paid position. It could work. Still, marriage was a leap in the dark. Nora realized her imagination was doing leaps and bounds of the same magnitude. Nonetheless, she could not deny herself. Marriage, children of her own, a home and a loving husband were all things she had imagined having… just not with a member of the ton.

  What would Mama and Father have to say about it? I suspect Grandmama will be over the moon.

  “Did you say, you accept?” Lord Shefford had paled to the color of whey and looked so dumbfounded Nora was hard put not to laugh.

  “I did indeed. It seemed the most reasonable proposition you have put forth this day,” she acknowledged, pleasantly. “I will admit to being surprised by your offer.”

  “You are not alone,” he muttered, his voice almost too low for her to hear.

  Nora was obliged to bite her tongue to hold her humor at bay.

  “I beg your pardon? I did not quite catch what you said,” she commented in the sweetest of voices as she once more removed her gloves and hat. She could not forsake her betrothed at this most romantic of moments, she thought cynically.

  “I said, I meant it,” he replied.

  His mouth spoke the words; however, his eyes registered what Nora could only determine as shock.

  “Are you quite certain, my lord?” As she offered him a chance to back out, it occurred to her that maybe she was rather giving herself a chance to renege.

  “Quite certain, my dear.” He cleared his throat. “I do not suppose you would stay and discuss one or two matters with me before you leave for your grandmother’s house, would you?”

  He almost sounded as though he were pleading. “I will be happy to, my lord,” she returned. “I am not the girl to accept an offer of marriage and then leave the gentleman in the lurch.” Nora’s brain screamed at her to stop talking. She had locked herself into this betrothal. She glanced at Lord Shefford and noticed he was staring at her with a curious look on his face.

  “Since we are now betrothed, I should dearly like to know what you are thinking…” he started.

  “Indeed? I fear my thoughts are quite jumbled. I have no notion why you asked me to marry you. We barely know each other; in addition, our exchanges have been less than amiable.”

  “We can change that,” he mumbled, moving closer.

  She savored the fresh essence of bergamot that his nearness brought, yet was a little shocked by the curious reaction it caused. Perhaps it was the excitement of this day so far, she mused. Suddenly nervous of what it all meant, she fought against an impulse to swoon and instead, gazed into his face, finding herself transfixed by the movement of his lips.

&n
bsp; “I can admit to my astonishment at having,” he said lazily, “proposed… so quickly. However, I cannot regret it.” He tilted her chin up with his finger.

  Her heart began to pound as strangely familiar pulses of pleasure shot down her neck and across her shoulders the second he touched her face.

  “As we have just become betrothed, I am inclined to seal the proposal with a kiss.” Without waiting for her agreement, he slanted his head and captured her lips with his.

  At first, Nora was speechless. Yet his lips felt so soft and wonderful. He pulled her closer and a strange headiness took over her senses. This kiss! Nora had known nothing like it in her life. She craved more. A sense of need thrilled and overwhelmed her. She relaxed and circled her arms about his shoulders, fingering the dark brown curls at the base of his neck. Nothing she had known had prepared her for this. He nipped gently at her closed lips and she opened them to admit his tongue, which swirled around her own and touched the sides of her mouth seemingly to gain her participation. Nora could not resist the temptation he offered and met his tongue with her own, dipping and swirling together as if in a dance. Their breaths mingled with a ferocity she had never imagined. Everywhere his hands touched, even merely sliding down her arms, sent incredible bolts of sensation to her core. She savored the stir her body was experiencing and wanted to stay in this moment forever, but propriety dictated…she stop.

  Half-heartedly, she pulled back. They both stood there, panting.

  “I apologize…” he said before breaking off.

  “No, please… There is no need to apologize. I… have never been kissed before… of course… and… I-I would not wish such… such a first kiss not to have been meant,” she whispered, obviously shaken.

  “I was not apologizing for kissing you,” he said. “I was merely about to express my regrets for not having kissed you sooner.

  Her heart gave a little flip.

  They stared at each other, neither speaking for some moments.