Captivating the Earl (Lords and Ladies in Love)

by Hutton, Callie

  “No. I believe whoever is trying to kill her is the other person who had been working with Lord Loverly.”

  Mannerly frowned. “I thought the theory was a woman was Loverly’s assistant?”

  “Yes, that is the current thought, which is why I am under orders to bring Lady Elizabeth to London to be questioned.”

  “They think her ladyship is that woman?”

  “She has been questioned before, which was what had precipitated her absconding to the country. It is certain they want to ask her for information. I have questioned her thoroughly myself and am of the opinion she knows nothing that would put someone in danger of being discovered.”

  Mannerly straightened his shoulders. “I shall do whatever it is you want me to do, my lord. The poor girl must be terrified.”

  “Thank you. What I want you to do is find out as much as you can about Lord Loverly’s townhouse in London. Lady Elizabeth tells me that was where her father spent the last years of his life before he left for America, which is the time when he was engaging in his treasonous acts. Once he was declared a traitor, the Crown took possession of the townhouse. I don’t know if they searched the premises, or not. I’m assuming if they had, they didn’t find anything, or they would not still have their focus on Lady Elizabeth.”

  “Shall I travel to London to do this, my lord?”

  “Yes. That would be best. What I want to know is how well the townhouse is guarded. If it is watched, when is the best time to enter the premises unseen? Without raising suspicion, see if you can check records and uncover the layout of the place.”

  “My lord?”

  “Since Lady Elizabeth remembers nothing telling, it’s my theory that there are papers somewhere among Loverly’s belongings that tie his partner to the selling of Crown secrets during the Napoleonic Wars. If we can obtain those papers, it would clear Lady Elizabeth and put the true culprit behind bars.”

  “Then I assume it is your intention to break into the townhouse?”

  Hawk hesitated for only a moment. “It is. Lady Elizabeth and I will perform the deed.”

  …

  “Break into Father’s townhouse? Are you addlebrained?” Lizzie regarded him with shock when he told her of his plan for them both to travel to London and search Loverly Townhouse to retrieve she knew not what.

  Hawk reached out and took her hand in his. “Listen to me. Someone wants you dead. I think after the saddle incident, and the attack at the inn, we can agree on that. Since you cannot remember anything that incriminates anyone else, there must be papers, notes, even a journal, perhaps, that belonged to your father that this person thinks you either have in your possession or have access to. We have to find it, and Loverly Townhouse is the only place it would be, since Bedford told the authorities he had done a search of his residence in America and there were no incriminating papers there.”

  She chewed on her lip and watched him the entire time he spoke. This had to be the worst idea, ever. Trying to prove her innocence by breaking the law was not the best way to go about it. Supposed they were caught? She would be in even deeper trouble.

  “Did you not tell me that the last years of your father’s life, before he left for America, he resided in London? That he did not spend any time at his estate?”

  She nodded.

  “Then London is where the incriminating evidence is.”

  “What if there isn’t any? What if this person just believes I know him?”

  Hawk ran his hand down his face. “There is that possibility. However, the easiest step is to search the townhouse and see if we can come up with a name.”

  It was after dinner, and they sat side by side on a settee in the library. Lady Hawkins and Lady Honora had a dinner engagement elsewhere, so she and Hawk were alone. Since Lizzie had taken a nap after the light luncheon they’d had, she’d missed speaking with Hawk’s mother and sister, as they had left for the party before she’d come down for dinner.

  Lizzie stood, wrapped her arms around her middle, and walked to the window. “Frankly, I am afraid to go to London.” She turned back and looked at Hawk. “The Home Office is looking for me. Why would I go right to their front steps?”

  Hawk joined her and placed his hands on her shoulders, then bent his head so he could look her in the eyes. “I swore to you I would protect you and keep you safe. That includes not handing you over to the Home Office while I believe someone in there wants you dead.”

  “You said we were coming here to Hawkins Manor to protect me. Now you want me to travel to London.” She moved away from him and turned her back. “No. I don’t want to do that. I feel safe here.”

  “Lizzie, that puts us at a stalemate. I cannot turn you over, and I cannot continue to disobey orders. We must find out who your father’s cohort was, and we needs do it fast. Time is running out.”

  “I need some time to think about it.”

  Hawk walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her middle, resting his chin on her shoulder. “I can give you perhaps a day or two. But then we must leave. When the person we are searching for doesn’t hear from the man he sent after you, he will send someone else.”

  “But I am no longer at Wycliff. He won’t know I’m here.”

  He placed his lips on the back of her head and gave her a light kiss. “There aren’t a lot of places you would be. Since the Home Office—and everyone connected to it—knows I’m the one assigned to bring you in, they would assume you are either here or in my London Townhouse.”

  “You see.” She looked at him over her shoulder. “We can’t go to London to your townhouse anyway.”

  “We aren’t going to my townhouse. Lord Campbell is a close friend, and he will be more than happy to put us up.”

  Lizzie whirled around. “The marquess? Please tell me you won’t bring me to a house with two bachelors? Not only will I be ruined, but I will be chased out of Town by the keepers of the virtue gates.”

  He took her hand and walked her back to the settee. “This is the perfect time to once again bring up what you did not want to discuss in the carriage.”

  Marriage.

  “Hawk, I do not want to be someone’s ‘duty.’ And how could you possibly want me for a wife with all of this hanging over my head?”

  He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “That should prove to you that I have absolute faith in your innocence.”

  “Or, your gentlemanly upbringing is causing guilt and you want to assuage it by marrying me.”

  He drew back and something painful in his eyes flickered, but too fast for her to determine what it had been. “Believe me, sweetheart, I know all about guilt. This is not guilt.” He moved away, clearly agitated.

  She certainly did not want to be someone’s penance, but there was no question about the attraction they had for each other. He was handsome, titled, wealthy, and charming. He had a strong sense of honor, and when she was with him she felt protected.

  Before the problem with her father, she would have happily accepted an offer from Lord Hawkins. However, when she had relied on her own resourcefulness, she’d made a nice life for herself with Lord and Lady Wycliff. She was reluctant to place her trust and very life into the care of another man—look at what her father had done! If Hawk had not been Wycliff’s cousin, she might have remained there for many years, happy and content.

  But Hawk was Wycliff’s cousin, he had been summoned by the Home Office to turn her in, and he was her only source of protection now.

  Was the mistake not trusting Hawk or trusting him too much?

  Chapter Twenty

  Hawk held his breath as Lizzie pondered the idea of marriage. He’d always avoided the subject as if it were a fatal disease. But if he were ever to marry, which he would have to do one day anyway, Lady Elizabeth was the perfect choice.

  Despite the problems she currently faced, she was everything a countess should be. Raised as a lady, she’d been well prepared to run a household and supervise staff. She was aware of prop
er protocol, was smart, beautiful, and gracious. Based on what he’d seen so far, her hostess skills would be above par. She loved children, and he hoped to have many. Which, of course, made him laugh, because up until a little over a week ago, he’d found children something to avoid at all costs.

  Wycliff had been right. The idea of one’s own children, especially when one considered who those children’s mother would be, made it all a lot more palatable. Shoving one’s children off to be raised by nurses and governesses, despite what he’d thought earlier, was not the best method of dealing with the little darlings.

  The major plus was, as her husband, he could protect her, even from the Home Office, if necessary.

  Realizing she still hadn’t answered his question, he asked, “Please don’t tell me you are waiting for me to drop to my knees.”

  Her smile was more rewarding than a win at vingt-et-un. “But isn’t that the proper way to request a lady’s hand in marriage, my lord?”

  “You’ve received so many offers, then?” He waved his hand. “Never mind.” He bowed. “I shall do this properly.”

  Once he was on one knee, he took her hand in his. “Lady Elizabeth Munro, would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife and making me the happiest of men in all the kingdom?”

  After his nonsense, she studied him in a way that looked as though she would still refuse him. Her lips tightened, she inhaled deeply and let out a sigh, glancing away from him. “Yes, my lord. I will accept your offer of marriage.”

  Although she sounded anything but happy and excited, he was nevertheless relieved. No more running away, attempting to disappear, and placing herself in harm’s way. He would straighten out her predicament, and then he would go on with his life.

  As a married man.

  He climbed to his feet and pulled her up, placing a more decorous kiss than he wanted on her lips. But plans needed to be made, and time was running short. “Very well. We shall travel on to London as quickly as possible.”

  She grasped his upper arms and pleaded with him, “I am as anxious as you to see this all come to an end, but I beg you for a day or two to rest before we travel again.”

  The poor girl did look exhausted. She had been through quite a bit. A tumble from a horse, escaping Wycliff Manor, attacked in her room, and then ferried off to his estate. “I agree, my love. We shall have two days of nothing more than eating, sleeping, and perhaps walks in the garden. Will that suffice?”

  “Yes.” She closed her eyes and smiled. “That sounds absolutely wonderful. Thank you.”

  The dark circles under her eyes and lines on her forehead confirmed he’d made the right decision.

  “I would like to meet your mother and sister. I have spent time at various balls that they had attended, but I don’t believe we’ve ever been formally introduced. Shall we wait up?”

  “They will be here in the morning. Now I think a small sherry and then off to bed with you is the best plan.”

  Although she looked as though she intended to argue, she nodded. “Yes. I believe that is a fine idea.”

  He moved to the sidebar and poured them both a drink. Sherry for her, brandy for him. While her problem was fatigue, his had nothing to do with weariness and everything to do with Lizzie sleeping down the corridor from his bedchamber. He wanted her. Plain and simple. She stirred him like no other woman, and having had her once only increased his appetite for her luscious body. However, he would not dishonor his mother by making love to Lizzie while they were under the same roof and not legally married.

  “Since our journey to London will be delayed by two days, I will send a dispatch to Cam and have him obtain the special license for us. Then we can marry as soon as we reach London, so there will be no taint on your reputation.”

  Lizzie took a sip of sherry. “Thank you for that. Although my reputation is sullied anyway, I still do not want to add ruined to my list of transgressions.”

  “Nor do I, since I don’t want any dispersions cast upon my countess.”

  They sat in silence as she sipped her sherry and he did justice to a glass of brandy. When he noticed her head dipping, he took the glass from her hand. “Time for bed.”

  Oh, how he wished he had not used that phrase. Well, ’twas only a matter of days before they would be married, and he could honorably escort her upstairs to his bedchamber and make love to her as many times as he wished.

  Arm in arm, they proceeded upstairs. He escorted her to her bedchamber, and avoiding all temptation, he gave her a quick kiss on her forehead. He opened the door, placed his hand on her back to move her inside, then closed the door. Taking a deep breath, he walked past his own bedchamber door, downstairs for another brandy and a boring book so he could sleep.

  …

  The next morning, Lizzie took one last look in the mirror and then decided there wasn’t much else she could do to improve her appearance. She didn’t have a decent wardrobe after her time as a governess, but at least Lady Honora’s lady’s maid Darla had pressed the gowns that had been crushed in her satchel and worked a plain, yet fashionable hairstyle for her.

  She had delayed descending to the breakfast room as long as she could. It was time to face Lady Hawkins and Lady Honora. Unless they were still abed, although at eleven o’clock there was a good chance they were up.

  Lizzie had been astounded when she’d been awakened by Darla and seen the time. For the last two years as a governess she’d been an early riser. That was how she’d managed to work in a ride each day, one of her greatest pleasures. She truly must be weary to sleep as late as she had. Taking a deep breath, she pinched her cheeks, bit her lips, and left the room.

  Female voices drifted to her ears before she saw them, which led her to the breakfast room. She passed through the doorway and came to an abrupt halt. Lord Hawkins, Lady Hawkins, and Lady Honora all turned toward her. Hawk stood and bowed. “Good morning, my dear.”

  He came to her and drew her to the table. “Allow me to make known to you my mother, Lady Hawkins and my sister, Lady Honora.” They both bowed their heads. “Mother, Honora, may I present my betrothed, Lady Elizabeth Monro.”

  He escorted her to a chair next to him. The place of honor where his mother should be seated. Confused, she took the seat and smiled at the two ladies, Lady Honora next to her, and Lady Hawkins across the way. “Good morning, Lady Hawkins, Lady Honora.”

  “Good morning, dear. Welcome to our home.” Lady Hawkins smiled brightly at her. Lizzie relaxed as relief flooded her body. At least Hawk’s mother didn’t demand she leave the premises.

  “Thank you, my lady.” Lizzie turned to Lady Honora. “It is a pleasure to meet both you and your mother, my lady.”

  Lady Honora’s smile mimicked her mother’s. It was then Lizzie noticed how much alike the two women looked. While Hawk had black-as-night hair and deep chocolate eyes, his sister and mother were fair with blond hair and light brown eyes.

  “Please let us skip the formal address,” Lady Hawkins said. “Since you are to be my daughter sometime soon, there is no need for formality.” She reached over and placed her warm hand on Lizzie’s. “And I am thrilled.”

  Surely the woman could not be thrilled that her son was aligning himself with the daughter of a traitor? “You are, my lady?”

  “When all those nasty rumors were floating about London, I never believed for one moment you were involved with your father’s nefarious doings. Although we had never been formally introduced, I had seen you enough times at various events to form an opinion of your character.”

  “Thank you. I did not want to distress you with my presence.”

  “Nonsense. You are to be my daughter, and I am more than satisfied with my son’s choice of a bride. My deep regret is not being able to plan an appropriate wedding breakfast for the two of you.”

  Lady Honora placed her arm around Lizzie’s shoulders and gave her a hug. “I am so happy we are to be sisters.”

  To say Lizzie was surprised was an understatement. She�
��d been worried that she would be asked to leave the house and go nowhere near Lord Hawkins for the rest of his life. How could these women be so open and happy about this marriage when her father had been a traitor, and she was under investigation herself?

  Lady Hawkins must be quite anxious to see her son wed.

  “You look a bit surprised, my dear.” Lady Hawkins regarded her over her teacup. “Hawk has explained the entire situation to us. I am concerned for your well-being, but I also have faith in my son to keep you safe. Once all this nasty business is settled, we must have a ball to announce your marriage.”

  “Yes, my lady. That would be very nice.”

  “No, dear. No more ‘my lady.’ If you don’t feel you can call me Mother, then please call me Eloise.”

  Lizzie glanced at Hawk to see if he was surprised by his mother’s attitude. He wasn’t even paying any attention, his focus completely on the newspaper in front of him. However, whatever caught his attention had him frowning, and then glancing up at her.

  Immediately, her heart thumped. “What is it?”

  He folded the paper and set it aside. “Nothing of importance. Once you are finished with breakfast, I thought perhaps a walk in the gardens would be pleasant. After all, I promised you two days of rest.” He stood and bowed. “If you will excuse me, I shall be in the library going over some papers.”

  Lady Hawkins turned to one of the footmen. “Please see that Cook sends in some hot food for Lady Elizabeth.”

  “Oh, please don’t bother. I will be happy with this toast and an orange.”

  “No, my dear. My son has left strict instructions that you are to be well fed and well rested before you leave for London.” She gave orders to the footman while Lizzie considered Hawk’s arrogance. He left instructions on how much she was to eat? Well, that was a tad overprotective. She was a woman grown, for heaven’s sake.

  Although, truth be told, she was quite hungry, and the toast and orange would not have been enough. It was his high-handedness that bothered her. She had been on her own for the past two years, and she had no intention of turning over her entire day-to-day existence to Lord Hawkins.