Sleeping Lord Beattie
Page 15
He looked at the man lying supine in the grass. What had he done? He had never lost his temper in such a manner before. Then he turned to find all the villagers watching him, astonishment on their faces.
“Where are the pistols?” There had been three.
“I have them.” It was Leishman, his steward. Gideon nodded. At least they were in safe hands. He then turned towards the house, stumbling around the corner at the back of the large mansion only to be stopped by Emily.
“Gideon.”
“God dammit, Emily, what is it?”
She did not flinch, nor did she back away when he rounded on her. She lifted her hand and cupped his jaw and smiled oh so sweetly at him. She had seen him behave like a wild animal but still she had a tender smile for him.
“You have to go back and explain your plans for the food and the vicar to hand it out. You explained it to me in the carriage, but I cannot do it.”
He waved a hand. “Tell the vicar my plans then and he can explain it.”
“No Gideon.” He had moved to turn and leave but her tone arrested him. “No. You have to go back and do this. They will only listen to you.”
She gave a mirthless chuckle. “Not after that display of brutality.”
“He deserved it.”
“I was an animal.”
“You were defending your wife. They will all understand that. Gideon, I thought… I th… Gideon, I thought I was going to die.” A tear slid down her cheek and she raised a trembling hand to wipe it away. He pulled her into his embrace. “It was my own fault. You told me to stay in the carriage. Even though I was a ninny and disobeyed you, you saved me.”
“Actually, Jack and Gerald saved you.”
“All three of you saved me. B-b-but you knew he wouldn’t go through w-w-w ith it. Thank you.”
“Shh. All is well.”
“No Gideon.” She pulled out of his embrace and swiped at her eyes. “Your people need you. This happened because the food is scarce and they need you to guide them and tell them how you plan to rectify the situation.”
Dash it all but she was correct. He needed to do this.
“I have been telling you since I woke up that you are clever and wonderful and I have been proved correct. I love you, Lady Beattie.”
With that, he turned back to the crowd at the side of Beattie Hall to explain his plans. The vicar would give out the grain to the needy according to the size of their family and how poor they were. He would also organise for the opportunity for all with excess food to donate it at the church every day. While going through this difficult spell they would work more as a community than they ever had. The Beattie estate would also give all excess food to the church to distribute among the poor. He explained that he would be sending coaches back to Cumbria and asked for volunteers to guard the coaches there and back against highwaymen. He had a few good men willing to give their time.
The three men who had caused today’s furore would each serve a month in prison, with Davy Matthews serving two months. They would do hard labour in the fields in that time, working on drainage in the hope that the fields in and around Beattie estate would still manage some kind of harvest. They would be fed and their families would be cared for from the food supplies.
When all questions had been answered and the crowd of people started to head back towards the village, the prisoners in the care of people whom Gideon trusted to be handed over to the prison keeper. Gideon knew they had been given a very light sentence for their misdeeds but he had known these men all his life and it was indeed trying times. He would not think twice about handing down a much harsher sentence if any of them came up against him again for anything more than a drunken brawl.
He turned to find his wife and the two heroes of the hour, Jack and Gerald standing beside Mrs Barrington.
“Well, Mrs Barrington, I understand it has been a trying day.”
“It has, my lord, but we have food all prepared.”
“Do you now? Well, might I suggest that we find some food for these two young men and beds for them to sleep in? Tomorrow, I intend to take them to the schoolhouse and enrol them, then I should like to find some work for them to do around the estate.”
“I can do that, my lord. When would you like dinner served.”
He looked at Emily who looked all wide-eyed innocence but there was a gleam in her eye.
“Oh, I think my wife needs a short nap before dinner. Shall we say in two hours?”
“As you wish, my lord.”
He was sure he saw mirth in the older woman’s features. He supposed they were not fooling anyone.
He drew Emily’s hand through his arm and led her around to the front door.
“I believe that while the drama unfolded here in our own version of Drury Lane, the staff were unloading our valises, unpacking our things and preparing our rooms. I think it wise for you to have your nap in my bed, Lady Beattie, do you not?
“My dear Lord Beattie, I do have the most wonderful memories of your bedchamber. It was where I had my first kiss.”
“But alas, my love, you only woke a viscount, not a prince.”
“I may not have fallen in love with a prince though. You did not get a princess, just the clumsy, outspoken sister of an earl who asks impertinent questions about Byron.”
“You know what happens when you mention Byron, my love.”
“Why do you think I mention him?”
They were nearly at his bedchamber. He looked about him but no one was around. He bent and lifted her over his shoulder giving her a swift smack on the bottom as he did so.
“Gideon!” she giggled.
“You really are the naughtiest fairytale princess ever, Lady Beattie,” he said as he deposited her on the bed then came down on top of her.
“I think you’ll find, my lord, that in this story, I was the prince.”
He pulled his head away from her neck which he had started to kiss and looked into her blue eyes which sparkled with merriment. “I suppose you are.”
He glanced around his bedchamber where it had all begun. He smiled at the thought that he had a lifetime of mornings when Emily, Lady Beattie would wake him with a kiss.
Epilogue
Gideon did not want to attend this ball and he suspected Emily did not either. The poor thing had been casting up her accounts until early afternoon. Now, however, she was glowing. Possibly a bit too much. Her cheeks were very pink. It was entirely his own fault. Well, he had gone into her room to collect her and the low cut of her gown had taken his breath away. She’d turned, tripped and he’d had to move quickly to stop her crashing into her dressing table.
He’d caught her to him and kissed her. One kiss had turned to two, then three, then he’d pressed kisses to her décolletage and the damned beautiful creature was always trying to get him to tumble her these days. It was worse since she’d missed her courses.
He’d helped her out of her gown so it wouldn’t be rumpled but then he’d just let down the fall of his breeches and removed his coat. It had been fast and furious and oh so satisfying.
Now she definitely looked slightly tumbled, at least to him. She was rosy-cheeked and starry-eyed and like the cat who got the cream. Though he felt like the cat who had got the cream. He was going to be a father.
They were standing in the receiving line waiting to be received into the betrothal ball of the illegitimate son of the Duke of Hartsmere to Miss Kathleen Roberts of Connecticut in America. He had only come to town to see his sister. The last thing he wanted to do was celebrate anything with Cedric Onslow. The man was an ass. He was a dandy who wore inexpressibles which made all the ladies uncomfortable, he tried to affect an air of fashionable ennui but just appeared idiotic. Gideon could only feel sorry for the poor chit who would have to suffer marriage to the dolt.
They had arrived at the Duke of Hartsmere in the receiving line. They were announced and Gideon introduced his wife to the Duke and his s
ister Lady Stanbury. Polite greetings were exchanged and a few words about the ballroom and how lovely the Duke’s home was before they moved on to Mr Onslow and his bride. Cedric, with whom Gideon had a passing acquaintance, smiled politely and introduced his fiancée after Gideon had introduced Emily. That was odd. The man was not nearly as sneering or irritating as he normally was. Wearing perfectly respectable silk evening knee breeches and smiling warmly at his betrothed, Gideon could almost believe… but no. Gabriel had been ill for years and had been kept in the country.
Suddenly the man in front of him became the sneering, arrogant toad whom Gideon knew as Cedric Onslow.
“I should let you meet the rest of your guests. Miss Roberts, it was a pleasure to meet you.”
“If you ever need anything, Miss Roberts, please do not hesitate to call on us at Beattie House on Audley Street.”
“I shall and thank you.”
Gideon steered his wife away.
“She seems lovely,” said Emily once they were out of earshot.
“And him?” It was not like Gideon to be judgemental.
She raised an eyebrow. “Was it me, or did he seem to change from perfectly nice to…” she waved her hand. “Arrogant in the middle of our conversation.”
“If I did not know better I would believe he was his half-brother Gabriel.”
“The Earl of Cindermaine.”
“Yes. You know of him?”
She gave him a scathing look. “I am a young lady of the ton. I know all the eligible bachelors with titles and money, my lord.”
“Hmm, you can stop looking now.”
She held her hand over her flat stomach. “Never. We shall have daughters. I must make sure they are married to nice gentlemen.”
“Let them at least be conceived and born first, my love.”
“Some of the youngest men shall only be thirty-six when our daughter has her come out.”
He grimaced. “Stop plotting your children’s marriages before we are yet sure if you are increasing.”
“Oh, I am sure. When can we go home, Gideon.”
He laughed. “Soon.”
“Can we go yet?” she asked as the waltz music ended.
“Soon.”
“You said that hours ago.”
“You are very demanding.”
“I shall mention that poet again.”
“I have stopped reacting to him. There is Stalwood, let us go and speak to him for a moment. Ah, Stalwood.”
Myles, Viscount Stalwood who had been friends with both him and Gabriel, the Earl of Cindermaine, at Eton had just led Gabriel’s twin from the floor. He looked a little starry-eyed around the young lady. A bit how he felt around his wife.
“Beattie, nice to see you. How goes it?”
“Tough year, old chap. The crops were thin and if it was not for the Earl of Whitsnow and his generosity, I’m not sure we would have made it.”
“Yes, Whitsnow is a brooding chap but he is kind at heart.”
“Oh, my apologies, Viscount Stalwood, my wife, Lady Beattie. Lady Beattie, Lord Stalwood.”
“Lady Beattie.” He bowed and she curtseyed.
“I believe we have danced a set or two around the ballrooms of Mayfair, my lord.”
“I believe we have too, my lady. A pleasure it has been too.”
Emily laughed. “It is kind of you to say so, but I highly doubt it. I know I was named Lady Clumsy.”
“Not in my hearing, my lady or I would have slapped a glove in the face of the gentleman who said it.”
“You are very charming, I’m sure.”
“Nice to see Gabriel is well and standing in for his half-brother,” said Gideon.
Stalwood whipped his head towards the man who was supposed to be newly betrothed and then back to Gideon.
“I have no idea what you mean. I hear Gabriel is in the country.”
“That man is not Onslow. I have watched him all night. He can affect the air of Onslow for a time then he slips and becomes the friend I knew at Eton.”
Stalwood’s eyes narrowed and he pursed his lips.
“This is complex. I am not entirely sure what has gone on here but I believe apart from family, you and I are the only ones who know, along with Lady Beattie. I cannot divulge any confidences, Beattie, but please say nothing. Can I ask though, would you be able to get Onslow and me into your club?”
“Onslow?”
“Yes. That Onslow.”
“Even though you are a Tory, I shall gain you admittance and then I shall convince you of why change is needed.”
“I understand why change is needed, Beattie. I just think the Whigs are fools for thinking it’s achievable.”
“Ye of little faith.”
“I shall call on you sometime in the next few days if I may.”
“You may,” said Beattie. “Now, my wife is tired. I must get her home.”
“It was a pleasure to meet you.”
Stalwood bowed to them both and took his leave.
“How odd,” said Emily.
“Well, the tale of Lord Cindermaine will be a very interesting story. I am intrigued.”
The End
The Cinder Earl’s Christmas Deception will be available to purchase from
1st December 2017
http://a-fwd.com/asin=B076DK7LGG
About the Author
Em was born and brought up in the Central Belt of Scotland and still lives there. She was told as a child she had an overactive imagination--as if that is a bad thing. She's traded her dreams of owning her own island, just like George in the Famous Five to hoping to meet her own Mr Darcy one day. But her imagination remains the same.
Other Books by
Em Taylor
Regency
The Contrary Fairy Tales
Sleeping Lord Beattie - The Contrary Fairy Tales (1 Nov 2017) - http://a-fwd.com/asin=B075NKLTRS
The Cinder Earl’s Christmas Deception - The Contrary Fairy Tales – (1 Dec 2017) http://a-fwd.com/asin=B076DK7LGG
Lord Rose Reid and the Lost Lady - The Contrary
Fairy Tales – (January 2018)
Lord Whitsnow and the Seven Orphans - The Contrary Fairy Tales – (February 2018)
The Eversley Siblings Series
Saved By a Rake - http://a-fwd.com/asin=B00GTA9WS6
Restoring Lady Anna - http://a-fwd.com/asin=B01FPUO55K
Saved by a Rake/ Restoring Lady Anna (together) - http://a-fwd.com/asin=B013NO6LLG
Individual books
Seven Rogues for Christmas - (Anthology) – (The St Nicholas Day Wager) - http://a-fwd.com/asin=B0753XJ987
The St Nicholas Day Wager - http://a-fwd.com/asin=B00Q8V1VOO
Lady Harriet’s Unusual Reward - http://a-fwd.com/asin=B00TXZYCK2
A Desperate Wager - http://a-fwd.com/asin=B00N29FRR2
A Love Remembered - http://a-fwd.com/asin=B01LWDHVY4
Contemporary
The Stetsons and Kilts Series
An American Cowboy in Scotland - Stetsons and Kilts 1 - http://a-fwd.com/asin=B010GGX2S4
A Cowboy Wedding in Scotland - Stetsons and Kilts 2 - http://a-fwd.com/asin=B01M1H3083
The Kilrigh Heat Series
Highland Fling - Kilrigh Heat 1 - http://a-fwd.com/asin=B01KCPQP74
Highland Haven - Kilrigh Heat 2 - http://a-fwd.com/asin=B06XHKZ619
Highland Hogmanay - Kilrigh Heat 3 - http://a-fwd.com/asin=B07483Q246
Highland Beauty – Kilrigh Heat 4 – December 2017
The Little Sex Shop Around the Corner (Free) - http://a-fwd.com/asin=B017WI4KVC (FREE)
The Tartan Billionaire - http://a-fwd.com/asin=B073VZZW2J
Vampire
Discovered - The Forsaken Blood Series 1 - http://a-fwd.com/asin=B018YQAHJU
k you for reading books on Archive.