Counterfeit Earl

by Anne Herries

move as his hands pawed at her breasts, and his mouth covered hers in a wet kiss that sent a

  shiver of revulsion through her. She pushed at his shoulders, moving her head in a violent protest.

  'No! No, please do not...let me go at once!'

  'I suggest you do as Miss Roade Burton asks!'

  The cold angry voice startled her eager seducer, and he jerked back, his eyes popping in dismay

  as he stared at Captain Denning, who was standing in the doorway.

  'W-what are you doing here?' he mumbled stupidly. 'It was supposed to be my aunt and...' He

  stopped, looking terrified as he saw the dark eyes narrow dangerously. 'I—I mean...'

  'I am well aware of your meaning, and your actions,' Jack said, mouth hard, expression

  thunderous. 'You are a knave and a fool, sir. How dare you behave in such a despicable way? I

  suggest you get out now. Before I forget that you are merely a clumsy youth and decide to teach

  you some manners.'

  'Yes... of course... F-forgive me.'

  Reginald Smythe was suddenly up and running like a startled hare.

  Released, Olivia sat up very straight. Her cheeks were burning and she felt mortified and

  extremely foolish.

  'I have been careless,' she faltered. 'I never expected him to...'

  'You have been subjected to the wiles of a very foolish young man and his scheming aunt,' Jack

  said, walking towards her as she rose uncertainly to her feet. 'Nothing can excuse their behaviour,

  but you have only to take this lesson to heart. Men are not to be trusted, Olivia. Even the best of

  them can act like beasts at times.'

  Olivia was shocked by his haunted expression. What had caused him to look like that? Surely not

  just the clumsy attempt at seduction he had prevented by his timely arrival?

  'He seemed so harmless, but I should have been more careful.' She blushed. 'I did not think...'

  Jack frowned as he saw that the silk roses at her breast had been torn away from her gown in the

  struggle.

  'Damn the young fool,' he muttered, furious suddenly. 'I should have thrashed him. He deserves no

  less!'

  'It does not matter. You were in time to—to...' She blushed again and could not continue.

  'Your gown is torn. Do you have a pin?'

  'Yes, I think so.' Olivia glanced down at herself. 'It is awkward. I am not sure I can manage it...'

  'Allow me.' Jack took the pin, then, seeing the obvious distress she was still suffering, he reached

  out to touch her cheek. 'Forgive me for not coming sooner. I saw you enter this room with Mr

  Smythe when I came in from the garden, but I hesitated to follow, thinking that….'

  'Surely not that I wanted to be alone with him?' Olivia gazed up into his troubled eyes. 'He trod on

  the hem of my gown and tore it, then offered to help me...a plot to be alone with me, I see it now,

  but then I thought him too shy. I was wrong, but you cannot believe I provoked that scene just

  now? That I wanted him to make love to me?'

  'No, of course not.' Jack seemed unsure. 'Yet some men will take a flirtatious glance to mean more

  than a lady may intend. Especially young whelps with no manners!'

  'I did not flirt with him. You must believe me,' Olivia said earnestly. 'I do not care for anyone

  but...' She stopped and blushed furiously as she realized what she had almost said.

  Jack frowned. His eyes looked deep into hers as though searching for something, then, without

  conscious thought of what he did, he bent his head to kiss her lips. At first it was a sweet, gentle

  caress, but Olivia's instant response drew a fierce reaction from him. His arms went around her

  and he drew her to him, holding her close but with such a gentle care that she felt her head

  swooning from the delicious sensations he was arousing in her. Now his kiss deepened hungrily,

  his tongue plundering the fresh sweetness of her mouth, his lips demanding and yet giving so

  sweetly that she felt no fear of his embrace, only an answering need within herself.

  Neither of them was aware of the door opening behind them until a woman's startled cry made

  them break away guiltily. As they both looked towards the doorway, it was to see Lady Clements's

  surprise turn to annoyance. Just behind her stood Lord Ravensden, a severe frown making him

  look unusually stern. Olivia was very conscious of the torn roses at her breast, and of how the

  condition of her gown must appear—as if it had been ripped in a passionate embrace between

  them! What must Lady Clements and Lord Ravensden be thinking of her?

  For a moment there was cold anger in Harry's eyes, then he was suddenly smiling, but it was not

  his usual friendly smile that he directed at Jack. His eyes had the quality of ice, his manner

  distinctly threatening as he said, 'I take it I am to wish you happy, Denning?' His words had the

  thrust of cold steel, leaving the other gentleman in no doubt of his meaning. If the answer were not

  to his liking, there might be blood spilled that night.

  Jack's hesitation was momentary before he inclined his head. He did not fear to meet Ravensden in

  a duel, but would be loath to take life needlessly. Besides, the answer was suddenly so simple.

  'I am in that fortunate position, Lord Ravensden. As you know, we spoke earlier of the matter. I am

  happy to inform you that Olivia has done me the honour of accepting my offer of marriage.'

  Harry nodded, his expression altering not one whit as he glanced at Olivia's shocked face: 'I

  congratulate you, Denning. You have made a wise choice. Olivia my dear, I should like to wish

  you happy.'

  'Perhaps you would care to announce our engagement this evening?' Jack asked. 'Olivia had a little

  accident with her gown. We shall return to the ballroom together once she has had time to make

  the repair.'

  'Well, really!' Lady Clements exclaimed. She was quite unable to hide her annoyance at finding

  Captain Denning apparently seducing Olivia instead of her nephew, and the news of their

  engagement brought a sour expression to her thin face. 'I thought...but it seems I was wrong. Pray

  excuse me.' She walked away, her back stiff.

  Harry frowned as she closed the door behind her sharply. 'Lady Clements insisted I accompany

  her here. She insinuated that Olivia was in trouble, and I felt obliged to come. I imagine I was

  supposed to force you into marriage with her nephew, Olivia,' he said. 'I apologise for allowing

  my better judgement to be swayed, but I hoped to contain the damage. However, once she had seen

  you together in that way, I fear there was no help for it. It is a damned coil!'

  'You mistake the matter,' Jack said, and his tone was icy with pride. 'Your arrival made no

  difference, Ravensden. Olivia had that moment accepted my offer and it was only a matter of time

  before we came in search of you and Lady Ravensden.'

  'Is that so, Olivia?' Harry asked. 'Do you truly consent of your own free will to this marriage?'

  She lifted her head proudly. 'Captain Denning rescued me from an attempt by Lady Clements's

  nephew to seduce me. I struggled and my gown was torn. Mr Smythe's behaviour distressed me,

  and Captain Denning comforted me. We found ourselves overwhelmed by our feelings for one

  another.'

  Harry's expression lightened. 'In that case I must offer you both my sincere good wishes for your

  future happiness. I am delighted for you both, and I apologise for misjudging you, Denning. If you

  will excuse me, I shall find Beatrice and tell her the
good news.

  I know she will be pleased that it is settled between you.'

  A short silence fell between Olivia and Jack as he went out, leaving them together. Then Olivia

  gazed up at Jack, her eyes bright with the tears she refused to shed.

  'You do not have to marry me,' she said bravely. 'We could wait for a while and then break off our

  engagement...'

  'Is that what you would prefer, Olivia?'

  She continued to gaze into his eyes for a moment, then shook her head. 'No, it is not—but you were

  obliged to speak as you did. I am offering you the chance to withdraw, if not now then at a later

  time.'

  Jack reached for her hand. He carried it to his lips, turning it to place a kiss within the soft palm.

  'I do not wish to withdraw,' he said softly. 'I am not worthy of you, but I should be honoured if you

  would in truth consent to be my wife, Miss Olivia.'

  'I am both grateful for and honoured by your offer, sir,' Olivia replied, making him a little curtsey.

  'I would be very happy to become your wife.'

  'Then the matter is settled,' Jack said. 'Would you wish to be married in town—or from your

  home?'

  'I—I have not thought.' Olivia was suddenly a little shy of him. It had all happened so swiftly that

  she had hardly had time to catch her breath. 'Perhaps we should discuss the details with my

  sister?'

  'Yes, of course. I shall call tomorrow morning at noon. I am sure Lady Ravensden will know what

  is best,' Jack agreed. 'And now—if you will allow me? I should pin your gown.'

  Olivia nodded. She stood without moving, hardly daring to breathe as he pinned the roses into

  place, his fingers just brushing against the delicate hollow between her breasts. Her heart was

  racing wildly. She wondered if he guessed how much the intimate act had affected her, but as she

  glanced up into his eyes, his expression sent a chill down her spine. He seemed so serious!

  'Captain Denning...'

  'Jack,' he corrected and smiled at her. 'Do not be nervous, Olivia. I shall never hurt you or abuse

  you. I promise you that faithfully. Indeed, I shall do my best to make you happy, my dear.'

  Olivia nodded, her gown was now perfectly respectable. She took his arm and they went out

  together, back to the ballroom to join their friends.

  'If you will permit me, I should like to give you a special wedding,' Beatrice said to her sister

  later. They were alone in Olivia's bedroom, and it was past two o'clock in the morning. 'We could

  hold it at Camberwell, and Papa and Nan can stay with us. The house is large enough for you to

  invite as many of your friends as you wish, dearest.'

  'You are so good to me!' Olivia moved to embrace Beatrice. 'I am grateful for your offer, and so

  glad that we are close to one another—but I do not wish for a big wedding. Just my family and a

  few good friends;'

  'Captain Denning ought really to speak to Papa,' Beatrice went on after she had returned her

  embrace. 'But I shall write to him, and you must too, Olivia. Papa can give his consent in writing,

  and the wedding can be planned for...when? Perhaps in a month's time? Is that too soon? You must

  tell me what you want, dearest. Do you need more time to get to know Captain Denning?'

  'For myself I would marry him tomorrow!' Olivia declared. 'But Jack is coming to discuss the

  details later this morning.' Olivia laughed as she glanced at the mantel clock. 'If we do not go to

  bed at once, we shall be sleeping when he calls!'

  The sisters smiled at each other in perfect accord.

  'I am so happy for you, dearest,' Beatrice said. 'Goodnight then. I wish you sweet dreams, Olivia.'

  After her sister had gone, Olivia went to bed and blew out her candle. She closed her eyes as she

  snuggled down into the feather mattress, but sleep did not come immediately.

  Would Jack have proposed to her if they had not been caught in a passionate embrace? Perhaps

  not quite so soon, but one day surely?

  Olivia was aware of a tiny doubt that nibbled at her feeling of happiness. She knew that her

  reputation would have been severely damaged if Jack had not made it immediately clear that they

  were engaged. Lady Clements would have seen to that!

  Yet surely Jack would not have kissed her in such a way if he did not feel as she did? Olivia

  understood that gentlemen were not always in love with the ladies they made love to. She knew

  that Lord Burton had a mistress, and that Lady Burton seemed to accept it as quite normal. But that

  was another matter, was it not? Their marriage had never been a love match, and they had lived

  almost separate lives for some years.

  Jack must be marrying her because he cared for her. Please God that was so!

  She knew that Beatrice and Harry were very much in love, and she was sure that Harry no longer

  kept a mistress. Beatrice would not have accepted such a situation. Nor would Olivia.

  She wanted the kind of marriage her sister had, where the love between them was so strong it

  could be seen and felt.

  Dismissing her foolish doubts, Olivia settled more comfortably in her bed. It was true that Jack

  had been pushed into making his proposal, but after that kiss he would most likely have done so

  anyway.

  Smiling at her thoughts, Olivia fell asleep.

  Chapter Six

  'You know I wish you happy,' Anne said to Jack the next morning. They were walking along the

  sea-front and had paused to admire the view. 'I am sad that our relationship is over, but it was

  bound to happen. I am ten years your senior, my dear, and I always knew it would not be a

  permanent arrangement.' She smiled up at him. ' I do hope we shall continue to be friends.'

  'Of course. You know you may always count on me if you need a friend,' Jack said. 'If ever you do

  need me, Anne, I shall do all I can to help you. I am sorry I was not able to tell you of my decision

  to marry before the announcement last evening. It happened rather suddenly.'

  'These things usually do,' she said with a smile. 'Please do not be anxious on my behalf, Jack. I

  have been expecting this to happen. Olivia is a lovely girl, both in appearance and nature, and just

  right for you.'

  'She is far above me,' Jack said and frowned. 'I am not sure that I am the right man for her—she

  deserves better, Anne—but circumstances have thrown us together, and I shall do my best to make

  her happy.'

  Anne gazed up at him. 'She is a fortunate young woman. Why do you doubt yourself so much?

  Surely not just because of what occurred at Badajoz? You were unable to prevent what happened

  that day, Jack, but it was not your fault. You were not to blame because your men ran riot in the

  streets, nor for what they did that day.'

  'They were under my command,' he said, his expression grim. 'I shall never forget that terrible

  moment when I saw her eyes, Anne. She was screaming, begging me to save her—and I failed.'

  'You failed because someone shot you,' Anne said, a spark of anger in her lovely eyes. 'If that ball

  had entered your skull rather than merely creasing your temple, you would have died. You carry

  no blame for what happened, my dear.'

  'No, perhaps not,' he agreed. 'Had I acted sooner I might perhaps have saved her—but it is not just

  that, Anne.'

  He shook his head as her brows rose in enquiry. Not even to Anne had he been able to unburden

  himself of the shadows and fea
rs which had haunted him for years, memories that the incident at

  Badajoz had brought back into sharp focus: memories from his early childhood...of a woman's

  terrified screams. History had repeated itself, except that in the earlier incident, the woman being

  raped and beaten was his own mother, and the man raping her was his father, not a pack of blood-

  maddened soldiers! Badajoz had merely unlocked the nightmare he had banished to a distant

  corner of his mind, letting the painful memories flood back. Once again, he had been forced to

  relive that terrible day when the eyes that begged a helpless child for succour had belonged to the

  mother he adored.

  He had run to one of the footmen begging for help for his mother, but the man had laughed and told

  him the frigid bitch was getting what she deserved. Jack had never forgotten his feelings of

  despair at not being able to help his mother, and even though she had turned away from him after

  that day, he had always cared for her.

  Anne was speaking again. 'Jack clamped down on the memories and gave her his attention.

  'You should not doubt that your wife will be happy,' Anne said, tucking her arm into his and

  smiling up at him. 'You are a gentle, good man, Jack Denning, and have often made me happy.' She

  reached up to kiss his cheek, understanding more than he had ever told her. 'You are not your

  father, Jack. Do not burden yourself with his sins.'

  'How well you understand me.'

  They walked on in a companionable silence, until Jack delivered her safely to her brother's house.

  Neither of them was aware that a man had noticed their actions, a man with jealousy in his eyes

  and malice in his heart.

  'That is settled then,' Beatrice said, smiling at her sister and Jack Denning. 'We shall go ahead

  with the dance we had planned for next week, but now it will be a special celebration of your

  engagement. The wedding invitations will be sent out for the second week of August.'

  'Will that give you enough time to gather your bride clothes?' Jack asked with a lift of his brows

  for Olivia.

  'Yes, I am sure it will,' she replied, her eyes glowing. 'The seamstress has my details. I shall write

  to her at once.'

  'Then it shall be as you choose.'

  'And do you truly need to return to your estates tomorrow?' she asked, an unconscious appeal in