The Earl's Bargain (Historical Regency Romance)

by Cheryl Bolen

  For the past half hour Miss Sinclair had expounded on the finer points of Jeremy Bentham's series of talks. Glad of it he was. For in her retelling, he thought he actually understood what the deuced man had been saying. Not that he really cared, but he might be called upon to discuss it with Miss Sinclair, and he really did not like to sound like a bloody moron.

  She stopped talking, and things got quiet. Too quiet by far. He had grown accustomed to Miss Sinclair's prattling. Finally, she started up again. "I was wondering, Mr. Coke. . ."

  "Yes?"

  "Well, I was wondering if you would like to share the bed tonight." Before he could respond, she explained herself. "You have proven yourself as a true gentleman, and I am sure it must be difficult for you to ride all day when your body must ache from sleeping on a floor the night before."

  His mind streaked ahead to tonight. Unfortunately, he responded below the waist. It really would not do to share a bed with Miss Sinclair. After all, she unbound those breasts at night. . .and one morning when he woke before her he saw that she slept in a thin linen lawn under which he clearly saw the outline of her nipples.

  He was not a strong enough man to resist such a temptation. And, besides, he had no desire to nurse for the rest of the journey the black eye Miss Sinclair was sure to deliver him. "I don't mind the floor at all," he lied. His debauching ways would be the end of him yet.

  "Oh," she said meekly. She almost sounded disappointed.

  They rode for another great while with her saying no more to him. He excessively disliked a quiet Miss Sinclair. And he also feared he had upset her.

  Therefore it was with relief he heard her call him. "Mr. Coke?"

  "Yes," he said, smiling because she did not appear to sound angry.

  "You must tell me of your other brave deeds."

  "Other?"

  "Racing through the whole of West England in singlehanded pursuit of evil-doers is a most brave thing, to be sure."

  "Now, Miss Sinclair, we do not know that your sister and Harry have come upon evil-doers."

  "But if they have, you are bravely prepared to deal with them."

  He stuck out his chest with self importance "That I am most assuredly, Miss Sinclair."

  They rode but a short distance more when she asked, "Have you ever fought a duel, Mr. Coke?"

  How he wished he could tell her an elaborate tale about dueling with swords on Primrose Hill over a lady's honor, but, alas, he could not lie to Miss Sinclair. "I have not had that pleasure," he said sadly. That did not come out at all as he had wanted it to.

  "See what I mean! You are so brave that to you a duel is a pleasure."

  She really was an awfully clever girl. "Rest assured," he said, "that I am well prepared if a duel should present itself."

  "You are trained in swords?"

  No nodded cockily. "And with pistols."

  Filled with wonder, her face lifted to his. Quite a taking thing she was, too.

  Enough talk about him. The girl would take him for a braggart, and he couldn't have that.

  He looked at the sky and saw the sun had dropped lower. They would be lucky to reach Falwell before dark.

  * * *

  Taken completely by surprise, the armed guard crashed to the ground. Harry quickly relieved the man of his weapon, put his boot on the fallen man's stomach, and probed his chest with the sword's tip. In the meantime, the man carrying the food had dropped it in his haste to draw his weapon, but Louisa had been too fast for him. She quickly drew his sword from its sheath and held it to his chin.

  She was not at all sure if the food-bearer's look of complete surprise was due to the dangerous situation he found himself in or to the discovery that the lad had breasts. For the man could not remove his eyes from the humps beneath her boy's shirt.

  "Back him into a corner, my love," Harry ordered. Waving the sword swiftly at him, the man, his eyes huge and his arms raised, backed up until his shoulder bumped into the cold stone. At the same time, Harry backed up his man until the two guards were shoulder-to-shoulder against the wall.

  "Pray that you do not learn of my legendary skill with a sword," Harry said to the men. "Louisa, my dear, find your bindings, if you will, and tie the men's hands behind their backs."

  She did as instructed and still had more strips of cloth left. For good measure, she thoroughly gagged each man.

  "Good job, my love," Harry commended.

  She and Harry backed out of the cell. The keys had been left in the lock. They locked the door and took the keys with them.

  It was still dark, so hopefully many in the house would still be sleeping. They would have better luck exiting by the main door at this hour. It was too early for the butler and footmen to be about. At the back door they were sure to run into the scullery maids.

  Under the blanket of darkness, they moved quietly through the castle, going first down the main staircase, then across the great hall, then through the vestibule.

  She worried that the castle's main door, a huge timbered affair hinged with heavy forged iron, would be locked, but it was not. They passed right through it into the castle yard.

  That is when Louisa was most thankful for the dark, for a number of men were about in the castle yard, including the man churning down the drawbridge.

  Harry's arm shot out to stop her progress forward. "We'll wait here in the dark until he finishes and is gone," Harry whispered.

  The bruising hulk of a man soon finished, then strolled across the castle yard away from Harry and Louisa.

  Louisa's glance darted to the drawbridge some fifteen yards away. If no one were around she and Harry could run and easily be off the castle grounds in a matter of seconds. Then they could run like the wind until they reached Falwell.

  They looked in all directions until they were sure no one was near. The need for haste increased, for with every second the sun rose higher and the light grew brighter.

  "Now!" Harry whispered.

  The two of them stole slowly across the bricks between them and the drawbridge, careful to stay close to the building. Once their feet touched the wood of the drawbridge, they took off running, praying that no one saw them.

  They both ran as hard and as fast as they could, peering over their shoulders to assure themselves they were not being followed. Harry, of course, was faster than she, but once they had clear vision of the castle behind them, he stopped and waited for her.

  Arm in arm, the ill-dressed couple walked to the Speckled Goose Inn, where all the guests still slept. The only sounds heard were those coming from the kitchen. They tiptoed up the stairway, entered their bedchamber, and changed into clothing appropriate to their station.

  When he went to the local magistrate, it would be as one peer charging another. "I'm warning you now," he said to Louisa, "our days of sharing a room as Mr. and Mrs. Smith are over. Very soon, we shall share a chamber as Lord and Lady Wycliff – if you'll do me the very great honor of consenting to become my wife."

  "Of course I shall have to become your wife. I am a reformer, and you must own, you do need reforming."

  The magistrate already knew what a nasty piece of work Lord Tremaine was, and Harry brought him a statement of charges that would stand up in a court of their peers – rather what the magistrate had been hoping for.

  Once Harry had given his statement, he told Louisa he wished to be on the road before Tremaine's evil henchman came after them. One quick meal in the private parlor, and they would be off.

  Louisa was disappointed to see two seated men -- or were they boys? -- facing the fire, their backs to them. She was disappointed because she had thought of it as their private parlor since there were no other persons of Quality staying at the inn. Harry led her to the table farthest away from the fire so they could enjoy privacy.

  She and Harry held hands as they waited for the serving maid. Feeling thoroughly content, she smiled up at Harry. "I believe Mrs. Winston may have been a most intelligent observer, after all."

 
He smiled back.

  The serving maid re-entered the room to bring the pair at the front their ale. Louisa could have sworn she heard a familiar voice. "Does not that lad sound much like my sister?"

  Harry cocked his head and listened. "By God, that's Edward! Know his voice anywhere."

  Chapter 26

  Frozen to her seat, Louisa watched as Harry leapt to his feet and crossed the room. "Edward Coke, what are you doing here? You're supposed to be keeping an eye on Miss Sinclair in London."

  First Edward turned around to meet his gaze. Then the boy turned. And he was Ellie!

  Edward stood, kicking his chair back as he did so. "I will have you know I have come here with my future wife."

  Now Ellie stood. "Your what, Mr. Coke?"

  Edward turned to Ellie. "I am not so dishonorable a gentleman to travel all the way to Cornwall with a young lady and not offer marriage."

  "Then you will marry me solely for the sake of propriety?"

  "Told you I was an honorable man, Miss Sinclair."

  Her hands thrust to her hips, Ellie glared it him. "You can forget your noble offer, sir! I would not marry you were you the last man in England."

  "But. . ." he stammered, throwing a questioning glance at his cousin as Ellie stomped off to sit down with her sister.

  "Oh, Louisa, I am so glad you are unhurt. Has your quest been successful?"

  "How did you know of the quest?"

  "That. . ." Ellie elevated her brows haughtily, "that horrid man told me."

  "Mr. Coke?"

  Ellie nodded. Then the two women turned to see the cousins talking animatedly.

  "You mean you actually had Aunt Isobel's portrait in your hands?" Edward asked.

  "Yes," Harry said, clapping a hand on his cousin's back. "Have you eaten yet?"

  "No, and I could eat an ox."

  "Then we must order two," Harry said, walking toward the table shared by the two women. "Let's all sit together and eat. It's very good to see you, Edward."

  They did not eat two oxen, but they did go through enough food to feed half the village of Falwell. And throughout the dinner, Harry narrated the events of the last two days.

  Most impressed over his cousin's cunning in extricating himself from the turret room, Edward hastened to brag on what good time he had made coming from London, despite being slowed down with a lady.

  "You were not slowed down by me. I wasn't a lady!" Dropping her mouth, Ellie amended her statement. "That is, I behaved as a boy the duration of the journey." Then, pouting, she said, "I mean. . ." then faltered.

  Harry laughed and squeezed Louisa's hand.

  Edward watched smugly, then whispered to Harry. "Knew you'd succeed with the bluestocking."

  "The bluestocking, my dear Edward, is the next Countess of Wycliff."

  Edward had been in the process of swallowing a swig of ale. At this announcement, he spit it out. "The hell you say! You cannot be serious."

  "Never been more serious or more in love in my life."

  "Do you agree to this match?" Ellie asked Louisa.

  Louisa nodded happily. "Oh, yes."

  This time Ellie spit out her ale.

  All was silent the next few minutes, then Ellie spoke, "I beg you will allow me to ride home in your carriage, Lord Wycliff. The thought of returning with the noble Mr. Coke is quite repugnant to me."

  "I am sure you'll be far more comfortable in my carriage than in Edward's curricle."

  Louisa patted Ellie's hand. "Yes, my pet, and you will have to tell me all about Mr. Bentham's talks."

  "Lucky Harry," Edward lamented, rolling his eyes. "Timing your journey so it just happened to coincide with the silly Bentham man's talks. I believe you'd fight wild tigers rather than sit in the room with all those bloody bluestockings."

  Her heart shattered, Louisa looked from Edward to Harry. And with a sickening realization knew that Edward did not speak in jest.

  Harry's face went white as Edward spoke.

  From the look on his cousin's face, Edward knew he had said something wrong. "Why. . .if the two of you are to be married and knowing your feelings about honesty in marriage, I assumed Mrs. Phillips knew your true feelings toward the reformers." Edward swallowed hard. "I can see now that she does not."

  Louisa rose, pulling her sister with her. "Mr. Coke, I beg that you take me back to London. I cannot ride home with your. . .your odious cousin!"

  "And I will ride home with your odious cousin," Ellie asserted. "Riding with a liar is preferable than riding with an insincere snake."

  Edward's shoulders slumped. "I seem to be putting my well shod boots into my mouth rather thoroughly."

  "I beg a word with you, Louisa," Harry implored.

  She turned to him, her eyes hollow, her voice hard. "You can say nothing to me, my lord, for I shall never believe you again."

  "But, Louisa--"

  She turned her back to him and stormed from the parlor. The groom had brought the gig, and Louisa hitched herself up into it without assistance from Edward. He got in on the other side, took up his crop and drove the horse from the inn yard.

  As he had coming, Edward made excellent -- even better -- time returning to London. For the first several hours, Louisa choked back tears. From the beginning, Harry had been lying to her. He possessed none of the qualities she had credited him with. She had only been a pawn in his game of reclaiming the family riches. Had he even meant it when he told her he loved her, or had it been a sham?

  Every tree, every blade of glass they passed reminded her of the journey over this same land with Harry by her side.

  She and Edward had to spend but three nights at inns -- where they secured separate rooms. Sharing a room with a man would only have reminded her of all the nights she and Harry had slept together.

  She should have trusted her original instincts. There was no such thing as a trustworthy man.

  On the second day, she began to ask Edward about his and Ellie's trip.

  "It would have been bloody boring, indeed, miles and miles of bleak scenery, if you ask me. Thank goodness for Miss Sinclair's lively recounting of the Bentham man's talks. First time I ever understood him was through El-- er, I mean, through Miss Sinclair's intelligent comments. You should be proud of your sister. Got a head on those pretty shoulders. Never thought I'd ever be interested in a smart woman, but now I don't think I'd want one who wasn't."

  Pretty shoulders? Could Edward Coke be smitten over Ellie? Was that really why he stepped forth with an offer to marry Ellie?

  "Tell me, Mr. Coke," Louisa began coyly, "was it difficult procuring a room for the lad Ellie pretended to be?"

  He coughed, and she wasn't certain, but she thought he blushed. "Actually, I didn't like to think of her alone in a strange inn. She's such a tiny, helpless little thing, you know. And she wasn't keen on it, either. Never saw a gal with fears as great as hers. A good thing she trusted me. . .then." His face fell.

  "Sir, I believe you are in love with my sister."

  "In love with your sister?" he said incredulously. "I admit we have grown close, and I am truly fond of her, but love?" He whipped at the horse. "Never gave it a thought."

  "A pity because I believe my sister is very fond of you."

  "She told you so?" he asked.

  Louisa would swear there was hope in his question. "Not exactly, but I know my sister quite well."

  "You are, after all, almost a ringer for her."

  She smiled.

  He waited for ten minutes before he decided to continue the conversation. "If it wouldn't be too much trouble for you, I would be obliged if you could. . ."

  "Ask Ellie what her feelings are toward you?"

  He shrugged. "I would hate her to have any hard feelings toward me. After all, we did share a bedchamber together -- quite innocently, I assure you. I slept on the floor."

  "Then I was much kinder to Lord Wycliff."

  He blushed.

  She giggled. "It was all quite chaste. Your cousin wa
s a gentleman. A pity he's a liar. And a pirate."

  "Former pirate. You're the only other person he's ever told about the source of his wealth."

  "A pity I cannot be gratified that he was only partially dishonest to me."

  * * *

  When Louisa reached the Grosvenor Square House, Harry was waiting for her on the pavement. "I have to talk to you, Louisa," he said.

  Refusing to make eye contact with him, she brushed past him as if he were invisible. She walked up the two steps, opened the door herself, then called back to him. "My butler will tell you I am not in, my lord."

  Then she slammed the door on him.

  Ellie ran down the stairs, threw her arms around Louisa's neck, then burst into tears.

  Tears springing to her own eyes, Louisa held her close. "I know. You have fallen in love with Edward Coke, have you not?"

  "Yes I have," Ellie said through sobs. "And it's not at all pleasant as I thought it would be."

  Louisa held Ellie with straightened arms and wiped a tear. "That, my pet, is because you acted very foolish."

  "How?"

  "By getting mad at Mr. Coke when he offered for you."

  "But he didn't offer for me. He only said what he said because he was obliged to!"

  "Come, my pet, he was obliged to offer for someone dressed as a boy?"

  "What are you trying to say?"

  "That whether he was consciously aware of it or not, Edward Coke is in love with you."

  "Did he tell you that?"

  "That is not what matters, pet. Your feelings are all I care about. If you truly love someone, you must put aside foolish pride. Are you willing to do that?"

  Ellie burst out crying again. "He's all I could think of with every churn of Lord Wycliff's carriage wheels. Every village and every rock seemed to bring back memories of our journey together. I've never in my life enjoyed myself so excessively."

  Louisa held her close. "I know, my pet."

  "What should I do?"

  "Mr. Coke made the first move when he offered for you. Since I've always promoted honesty above everything and never believed in feminine coyness, I believe you should make the next move and tell Mr. Coke your true feelings."