A Rogue's Surrender: Regency Novellas

by Lauren Smith

  Killian almost felt sorry for his friend. His sister was determined to have him as her husband, and what Odessa wanted she always got. As much as he hated to admit it—Gavin’s days as an unmarried gentleman were numbered.

  “You fancy being a countess that much?”

  She picked up a vase and threw it. Killian ducked in time for it to hit the wall behind him, shattering into several pieces. He turned toward her. “Do I need to remind you we have an injured person in here?”

  She nibbled on her bottom lip. “I’m sorry—I wasn’t thinking.”

  A moan filled the room. Killian’s attention once again turned toward the woman he’d brought home. He couldn’t wait for her to wake so he could question her. What had she been doing on his land? Where had she come from? He had a myriad of questions for her and they grew with each passing moment.

  “Do you know who she is?” Odessa asked.

  He shook his head. “No. You don’t recognize her?” The lass was closer to Odessa’s age than his. Not many years separated them. Less than four years after he was born, his sister entered the world. She was bordering on becoming an old maid, but she had her heart set on Gavin. So she waited…

  “I’ve never seen her before. I wonder who she is.”

  As did he… There was something about her. It was more than her beauty—it was almost as if some part of her called to him. He couldn’t explain exactly what it was. All he could determine with a certainty was he had to help her. She needed him, and he had never been able to resist a damsel in distress.

  “We’ll find out soon enough, I expect.”

  Odessa stared down at the woman lying on the bed. She walked over to her and pulled a blanket over the lass’s body. The woman sighed and curled into it, clutching it closer to her.

  “She was shivering,” Odessa said almost apologetically. “Did you not notice.”

  He had, but Odessa reacted to it faster than he had. “Aye,” he agreed. “The doctor should arrive soon.”

  Killian hoped she wasn’t badly injured. He hated the idea someone had hurt her. He’d investigate and ask his people. Maybe they had an idea who she was and what may have befallen her.

  “Do you think it was wise to put her in this chamber?”

  Killian made himself look at Odessa. He wanted to keep vigil over the lass on the bed, but realized that wouldn’t be a good idea. Too much interest would give his family ideas. They all wanted to see him settled. Odessa wasn’t any different, but for the most part, she respected his wishes. His mother was a different story altogether. She claimed he had royal blood, and it was his duty to marry and have children. He couldn’t care less about any of it.

  “It was the only one available. Where else would you have had me put her?”

  Yes, the chamber was directly next to his, and attached through a set of doors, but that didn’t mean he wanted to marry her. If, one day, he chose to wed, this particular set of rooms would belong to his wife. As he had no intention of falling into that particular trap, he saw no reason why the injured lass couldn’t use it.

  “You’re right,” Odessa said. “The servants would have had to prepare another one. I suppose we should be glad mother insists this one is kept clean.”

  A large part of the castle wasn’t used. The servants dusted and cleaned the unused portion every other week. This happened to be the off week, and the rooms were sure to be a tad dusty.

  “Aye,” he agreed dryly. “We’re fortunate mother has unrealistic dreams of me wedding and giving her grandbabies to spoil. She’s better off waiting for you to make Gavin accede to your wishes.”

  A soft knock on the door gained both their attentions. They turned to find a small man with white hair in the entrance. “I’m told you have a need of me.”

  Killian nodded at the local doctor and gestured to the lass on the bed. “I found her in the valley. I’m not sure what is wrong with her.”

  “I’ll have a look,” he said. “But you’ll both need to leave the room to give the girl the privacy she deserves.”

  “Of course,” Killian agreed. “Please come to my study after you finish your examination.”

  The doctor inclined his head. “As soon as I’m finished, I’ll find you.”

  Killian glanced at his sister, lifting a brow. “Odessa?”

  His sister was staring at the lass with a puzzled expression on her face. He couldn’t be certain what she was trying to figure out and wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to either. In some ways, his sibling could be as meddling as their mother. The sooner they helped the injured woman and sent her home, the better he’d feel.

  “I’m coming,” his sister said and followed him out.

  The lass was in good hands. There wasn’t anything else, at that point, Killian could do for her. He’d go to his study and work. When the doctor was finished, he’d get a full report and decide what to do from there. He hoped the lass was all right, but sadly, a part of him also wished for a reason to keep her there. If she was healthy, what reason would he have? What kind of man did that make him? Perhaps he was becoming a bit deranged in his advanced age.

  He’d not stress over any of it until he had to. There would be answers soon enough, and he’d have to make a decision. Until then, he’d try his best to remove the ethereal beauty from his mind. Somehow, he didn’t think that would ever be possible though…

  Chapter Two

  A cold breeze blew over Aubriella, making her teeth chatter. She reached blindly for a blanket, finding nothing near. She cursed and opened her eyes to search for one. Bright sunlight streaming through the window momentarily blinded her. She blinked several times, trying to focus on the room. Where the hell was she? Nothing was recognizable to her.

  “How are you feeling?” a female asked.

  Aubriella glanced up at the woman sitting next to the bed. The lady had a very old book in her hands. She picked up a ribbon, slid it into the book, and closed it before she set it on a nearby table. Her dark hair was pulled back into a braid and twisted into an elaborate knot at the back of her neck. Her beauty made Aubriella feel inferior in comparison.

  “I’m…” Her voice came out hoarsely. She cleared her throat and tried to speak again. “I’m cold.”

  The woman nodded and then stood. She walked across the room and opened a chest. When she came back, she had an olive-green blanket in her hands. She unfolded it and placed it over Aubriella.

  “Is that better?” she asked.

  Aubriella nodded as she pulled the blanket closer. “It is. Thank you.” Why was she helping her? The last thing Aubriella remembered was going through the mirror to assist—she bolted upward. The man, where was he? Had he brought her to this place?

  “Where am I?” Aubriella asked. “Who are you?”

  The woman smiled and patted her arm. “You have no need to worry. You’re under my brother’s protection. No one will harm you here at Kingsbridge Castle.”

  Kingsbridge Castle? Why was that name familiar? She wracked her brain trying to place it. She’d earned her doctorate in history and specialized in both English and Scottish history. There was a fount of information on the battles they’d fought over the centuries. She had always been fascinated with how the United Kingdom had come into being. If her brain wasn’t so muddled, she’d be able to place the castle and its location. Castles, in particular, had always fascinated her.

  “Kingsbridge,” she said more to herself. Saying it aloud helped her to think.

  “Yes,” the lady replied. “What can you tell me of yourself?”

  Aubriella chewed on her lip. “Kingsbridge,” she said again and snapped her fingers. “I’m still in England.” Of all the places for her to end up… Kingsbridge castle had always fascinated her.

  The earls at Kingsbridge had a good relationship with their Scottish neighbors and often sided with them more than the English crown. They were lucky to retain control of the lands in most cases. There was one instance where the king had demanded the earl marry a duke�
�s daughter or he’d strip him of the title and land. When was that?

  “Yes,” the lady patted her again. “Are you afraid of someone? Do you wish to go to Scotland?”

  Aubriella glanced up at her, startled. She’d forgotten the lady was there. Perhaps she could be of use. “What year is it?”

  It was the lady’s turn to be surprised. “How hard did you hit your head?”

  Why did everything have to be done the hard way? It would be much easier if the lady had simply answered her. Now she had to pretend a bit to be addled for her to aid her. Aubriella raised her hand and rubbed the side of her head. It wasn’t difficult to feign injury. Her head did hurt something fierce.

  “I’m not sure,” she said and winced. “Please tell me the date.”

  The lady frowned. “It is August 3, 1819,” she finally answered. “Does that help you?”

  It did, but probably not for the reason the lady thought. It gave her an idea where they were in history. The current earl was probably the man she’d seen in the mirror. He’d hurt a great deal. If her head didn’t pain her, she’d be better able to read the lady at her side. She was working on pure instinct, and so far, it hadn’t gotten her anywhere.

  “Yes,” she replied. “It does.”

  “The date is important?”

  “It is to me,” Aubriella said. It helped ease some of her anxiety. The lady, though, seemed even more stressed. “Please don’t fret over me. I have a hard head and will be fine.” At least she hoped so. She didn’t like having her gift muted. She hadn’t realized how much she’d relied on it until it wasn’t there for her to reach.

  “That may be true,” the lady said, then smiled warmly. “Either way, we’ll help you. Do you feel up to a visit with my brother? He’s been anxiously waiting for word of your condition. The doctor left strict instructions not to wake you.”

  Aubriella wanted to know their names, but didn’t want to be rude and ask her outright. The easiest way to achieve her goal was to be blunt with her own name. “Thank you, my lady.” She lifted her lips into a welcoming smile. “My name is Aubriella Byrne, and I’m in your debt.”

  “More my brother’s than mine, Miss Byrne.” She sat on the bed. “I am Lady Odessa Barrington. My brother is the Earl of Thornbury. You’ll meet him soon.”

  So she had guessed correctly. If she was right, and she usually was, then the current earl was the son of the earl who’d been forced to marry the duke’s daughter. She’d always wondered about that particular story. Why had the king been so insistent? What had the earl done to offend him? Maybe it hadn’t been that at all. The king may have believed he was doing the previous earl a favor. When she found the chance, she’d quietly inquire about it.

  This was the best thing that had ever happened to her. The scholar inside of her wanted to dig deep and take as much information as she could home with her. If she ever did return home… Elizabeth Kendall’s journal hadn’t had a lot of information on traveling through the mirror. Her leap through had been an educated guess from the information she’d had on hand.

  “I’d like to thank him,” Aubriella said after she brushed her thoughts away. There was time to study the time period and all of the ins and outs regarding it later. Now she had to help the man she’d glimpsed in the mirror. He’d been in pain, and she couldn’t resist coming to him. The Earl of Thornbury could be that man. She had to meet him and find out. Maybe her gift would return in time to do some good. “When might I be introduced to him?”

  A soft knock on the door prevented Lady Odessa from answering. “Odess….” The man she’d seen in the mirror filled the doorframe. He’d stopped midsentence when his gaze locked on Aubriella. He was so beautiful, her heart stopped for a moment when she’d stared into his golden eyes. “I see our guest is awake,” he said. “How are you fairing?”

  She smiled at him. Her gift was returning in slow degrees, and this man’s pain stabbed through her. It wasn’t as potent as when she’d glimpsed him in the mirror, but it was enough for her to breathe sharply. He couldn’t know that though. Smiling was her way of combating it and shielding herself from any further overload.

  “I’m fine, my lord,” she replied. “Thank you for helping me.”

  He nodded. “Why were you on my lands?”

  The lord didn’t believe in pulling his punches, did he? He jumped right in and asked the question as boldly as he pleased. A part of her rather liked his no-nonsense attitude. She could get used to that if she chose to stay awhile. “I’m not sure how I came to be here.” Not a lie entirely. She had traveled to find him, so it would make sense the mirror would spit her out on his property; however, she didn’t know how it worked.

  “Were you running from someone?” he asked.

  She shook her head. More like running to someone… “I don’t believe so.”

  He frowned. “What happened to your gown?”

  Aubriella glanced down. She wasn’t wearing her skirt and matching blouse anymore. Now she wore a prudish white nightgown, buttoned to the neck. Ruffles and lace were everywhere. How had she not noticed it before? That’s right—she’d been to focused on the pain in her head and her new surroundings. She’d failed to take in her attire. Could anyone blame her?

  “Killian,” Lady Odessa said. Aubriella silently thanked her for giving her his first name. Killian… She rather liked the sound of it inside her head. She couldn’t wait to say it aloud. Lady Odessa had Aubriella’s back and chastised her brother, “I think that’s enough. Do you really think this is a good time to interrogate Miss Byrne?”

  “Miss Byrne?” He lifted a brow. “You recall your name but nothing else?”

  Hell. He wasn’t going to be easy to work with. She’d have to do the one thing she hated doing. Turning on the helpless attitude and sucking him into her thrall. It would be painful, especially with her current weakened state, but it was necessary. She closed her eyes and concentrated, reaching out for him. Aubriella locked onto the emotions pouring out of him and drew them in. Once she had a solid lock on him, she opened her eyes and met his gaze. Every inch of pain running through him now rushed through her instead. Lord Thornbury sucked in a breath and stared. His mouth fell open, and he took several steps toward her.

  “Are you all right?” He reached out, but yanked his hand back. “How did I not notice how fragile you are?”

  Aubriella was good and truly drained, but Killian was where she needed him. After awhile he’d be able to break free of the thrall, but not before she was able to get to the bottom of his pain. When she left him, he’d be a better man, or at the very least, able to move on with his life. He was the reason she’d come to the past.

  “I’m fine, my lord,” she said softly. “You don’t need to worry over me.”

  That was the truth. He shouldn’t concern himself with her. She figured he would though. It was part of her gift. If she needed to, she could appear as a helpless waif and draw people to her. The toughest people broke away the fastest—or those truly in love. Her gift seemed to cause men to react the strongest, but women weren’t immune. She had to work harder to make them see what she wanted them to.

  Lord Thornbury kept his gaze on her, but spoke to Lady Odessa. “Order a tray of food brought up for Miss Byrne. She hasn’t eaten in days and she’ll need substance.”

  Lady Odessa nodded and headed out of the room. Aubriella almost laughed at how fast she exited. Why wasn’t his sister worried about leaving him alone with an unmarried woman? What did she miss? Maybe it was nothing. The lady might have agreed with Lord Thornbury and decided she needed something to eat. On cue, her stomach growled, echoing through the room.

  “You are hungry,” Lord Thornbury said. “Food should arrive shortly. Is there anything I can get for you in the interim?”

  Aubriella shook her head. “I don’t suppose you have something more…” She picked at the lace on her sleeve and considered her words carefully. “I’d like to leave this bed, and my current attire isn’t something I can trave
rse the castle in.”

  He smiled. “I’ve already seen to having a gown altered for your use while you’re here. It’s one of Odessa’s old gowns. She’s considerably taller than you, but her maid believes shortening it will do the trick. She took your measurements while you slept.”

  Not creepy at all… She wouldn’t chastise him for it. The dress would come in handy later, and it didn’t matter how he managed to procure it for her. She was grateful he’d thought ahead, and at least he’d not been the one to poke and prod her while she was unconscious. Awake though—she might invite him to touch her as he pleased.

  “Thank you,” she said for what felt like the hundredth time. “I can never repay you for your kindness.”

  “Think nothing of it,” he replied, then paused. Lord Thornbury tilted his head and studied her before saying, “Though there is one thing I’d like from you.”

  She wasn’t sure if she should give in to anything. Curiosity won out in the end. “What would you like my lord?” Was it wrong a part of her hoped he asked for a kiss? Aubriella longed to feel this man’s lips on hers. He was wildly attractive with his dark hair and golden tiger eyes. He was all male, and she wanted to lick every inch of him. Down girl—jumping the guy isn’t why you’re here…

  “Tell me your full name,” he said.

  That was it? He could’ve easily gotten that from his sister. She must not have the same affect on him as he did her. He almost seemed—unmoved. He was more courteous and careful with her though. That was her gift at play. She blew out a breath. “Aubriella Byrne,” she told him. “But you may call me Brie.”

  Why had she given him permission to use her nickname?

  “Aubriella,” he said. His voice was a deep, rich timbre that rumbled through her. She could get used to this man saying her name. “A lovely name for an even lovelier lass.” He bent down and lifted her chin with his fingers, bringing her chin up so she could meet his gaze. “I think you and I are going to become well acquainted.”

  With those words, he spun on his heels and exited the room. Aubriella’s breathing became ragged and she’d never been so turned on in her life. Well acquainted indeed…