An Earl to Enchant (16 page)

“She is,” he said without hesitation.

“Perhaps I should start by asking you what I failed to ask Blake concerning Henrietta. Do you have designs on her, Morgan?”

Without faltering, he said, “I am not in the market for a wife, and she doesn’t qualify for anything else.”

Constance nodded. “I understand.”

Morgan was sure she did. He suddenly felt restless, so he rose, took Constance’s glass, and walked back over to the decanter to refill their glasses.

“With Miss Sweet’s beauty and appeal, I’m sure she would have no trouble finding a husband of considerable means, if she wanted to. I, of course, have no idea if marriage might be in her immediate future. She has indicated to me only that when she gets to London, she has to do some work her father left unfinished for the Royal Academy of Apothecary Herbs and Spices, or some ridiculous name like that.”

“That sounds extremely boring.”

“I’m sure it is,” he answered and splashed more wine into their glasses.

“What are her means?”

“She says that her father left her well set, and I have no reason to doubt her. I haven’t talked extensively with her about this, you understand, but you should feel free to question her as to her resources and let me know if you think she needs assistance in that area.”

“I will. And if she has the means, I agree that she needs to employ a companion to keep the gossips at bay, especially if she plans to enter Society. She certainly doesn’t need to live alone with her maid.”

He handed the glass back to Constance and then retook his seat. “My thoughts were that you might put her in touch with the right person to find her a suitable place to live.”

Constance’s eyes suddenly widened. “Oh, Morgan, I think I might have the perfect place for her.”

“Really?”

“Of course, I can’t say for sure, but there’s a possibility she can assume the lease on Susannah’s house. Her mother has been living there but is returning to Chapel Gate in Blooming as we speak. I’m quite certain Susannah doesn’t want to keep the place now that she’s married to Race. I believe Susannah would agree to Miss Sweet taking over her lease, since you say the lady is somewhat distantly related to Lady Elder by marriage. Should I mention this possibility to Susannah?”

“Of course. Her house would be perfect for Miss Sweet.”

Morgan couldn’t help but note that Susannah’s place was only a five-minute carriage ride from his house.

“Good. I’ll send a letter to her first thing tomorrow morning, asking her to hold it for Miss Sweet until we can get to London.”

“And perhaps you can help guide her with seeking a suitable companion?”

“That is personal taste, Morgan, but I do know of a couple of older ladies who might be available. The Countess of Leesberth has a cousin who is looking for employment as a companion. I’ve never met the relative, but I do like the Countess.”

“Yes, the Countess seems a sensible woman, so one would hope the cousin would be as well.”

“And there’s the Dowager Duchess of Elliston. She constantly grumbles and complains. Companions don’t seem to stay with her for very long at the time. There is a Miss Gilberta, who recently left her and is not yet employed, and there might be others. I’m sure any lady would readily accept a position with Miss Sweet if there were a recommendation from you.”

“That goes without saying, Constance.” Morgan sipped his wine and then continued. “There is one other thing I would like to discuss with you.”

“What’s that?”

“I think Miss Sweet might need help with her clothing.”

“You said she’s twenty-seven, Morgan. Surely she knows the proper way to dress.”

“One would think, but remember, she’s been in India for ten years. And while I’m certain, or maybe I should say, from what little I know, her father tried to keep the influence of her British heritage, as her maid is British. But keep in mind her clothing has been made with the fabrics and trimmings of India, and the styles may…” He suddenly searched for the right word.

“Never mind. You needn’t say more. I understand. I will suggest she see my modiste as soon as she gets settled in London. You might not know it, Morgan, but there are many ladies in the ton who meet every ship that comes from India so they can have first choice of the fabrics, spices, and herbs.”

“Really?”

Constance nodded and then relaxed against the back of the settee and sipped her wine. “While India has some of the most beautiful and finest fabrics in the world, I agree that some of them, and certain styles of the country, are not suitable for our climate or culture.”

He cleared his throat and said, “I’ll leave fashion to those who know more than I do.”

“That’s probably best.”

“On another subject,” he said, “tell me, have you seen Viscount Brentwoood’s twin brothers?”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Yes, several times. They are at all the parties.”

“What did you think about them?”

“You mean other than the fact that they look exactly like a much younger Sir Randolph Gibson?”

Morgan sighed thoughtfully. “So you think they resemble him, too?”

“I believe everyone in London does.”

That’s not what Morgan wanted to hear. He had subconsciously been holding out hope that his cousins had been wrong.

“How did you hear about the twins?”

“Blake and Race were here a couple of days ago.”

She smiled. “I should have guessed. I learned a long time ago that what one of you knows, you all three know.”

“Well, maybe not everything,” he answered.

“Did they meet Miss Sweet?”

Morgan cleared his throat. “Not exactly. They saw her from a distance. In fact, I should have—” Morgan stopped when he heard footfalls in the corridor and humming. It was Arianna. His chest tightened. He rose and turned in time to see her walking past the doorway with several books in her arms.

“Miss Sweet,” he called, and she turned toward the drawing room. She stopped and smiled at him.

His heart tripped like a schoolboy getting his first glimpse of a woman’s bosom. He hoped to God Constance couldn’t tell what he was loathe to admit to himself. He was besotted with Arianna.

Constance rose and stood beside him.

Arianna’s glance swept over to Constance, and she took a tentative step forward. “My lord,” she said.

“I’m glad you happened by. Put the books down and come meet Mrs. Pepperfield. She’s finally arrived.”

Arianna placed the books on a blue velvet bench near the doorway and walked closer. She looked the perfect English lady, with a prim-cut, high-waisted dress of pale robin’s egg blue. Morgan didn’t know how he managed to make the introductions, because all he wanted to do was pull Arianna to him and greet her with a warm kiss on her beautiful lips. He was beginning to believe he would never get the taste of her off his tongue or the scent of her out of his mind.

Constance walked closer to Arianna. “Lord Morgandale told me you have been ill, and I do see some lingering effects of the sickness around your eyes. How are you feeling now?”

She smiled confidently. “Much better, thanks to Lord Morgandale. I’ve had more than a week of rest, and I’m feeling quite strong now. Thank you for asking.”

“Good. The earl was just telling me of your needs for a place to live and a companion. I believe I can help you easily achieve both.”

Arianna’s eyes brightened with surprise and appreciation. “Thank you, it’s very kind of you to travel all this way to assist me.”

“And as we journey back to London, perhaps you can repay the favor and tell me about India.”

“I would be happy to.”

“I’m quite fascinated by the country, the culture, and its people, but I doubt I shall ever travel that far from England.”

“It’s a long and exhausting voyage that should take only forty to fifty days, but sometimes unexpected things happen to make the journey much longer.” Her gaze darted from Constance to Morgan and then back to Constance, and she asked, “When will we leave for London? Will it be tomorrow?”

Morgan didn’t like hearing that Arianna was eager to get to London, even though he’d known since the night she arrived that was her destination.

Constance smiled and then laughed lightly. “Good heavens, no. Not that soon, Miss Sweet. I need at least a day of respite from traveling, myself, but we’ll plan to leave bright and early the day after tomorrow, if that suits you and Lord Morgandale just as well?”

“Yes, of course, whenever you and the earl say will be perfect for me.”

“Good.”

Morgan forced his gaze away from Arianna and turned his attention to Constance. “As for tomorrow, why don’t I arrange for a picnic at the cottage by the coast?”

“A day by the coast? I think that would be lovely,” Constance said.

“Good. I told Miss Sweet that it was very possible her father stayed in the house when he visited here with Sir Walter, and she had mentioned she would like to see it before she leaves.”

“That’s a lovely idea. I haven’t seen the coast in a couple of years,” Constance said. “I think I would enjoy that very much, my lord.”

He glanced at Arianna, who gave him a grateful smile and said, “As would I.”

“It’s settled then.”

Morgan stared at Arianna and returned the smile. A light pink tint had returned to her cheeks and lips. Her green eyes were sparkling. All he could think was, thank God Gibby needed him and he had a reason to go back to London.

Thirteen

My Dear Grandson Lucas,

Think upon these words from my devoted friend Lord Chesterfield: “Your moral character must be not only pure, but, like Caesar’s wife, unsuspected. The least speck or blemish upon it is fatal. There is nothing so delicate as your moral character, and nothing which it is your interest so much to preserve pure.”

Your loving Grandmother,

Lady Elder

Arianna’s eyes popped open. Someone loomed over her. Her heart pounded in her chest. She opened her mouth to scream, but as her gaze focused, hastily swallowed it to a whimper. In the shadowy light of her room, she realized it was Morgan, not the man who had killed her father, who was sitting on the edge of the bed beside her.

Her chest heaved.

Her fear dissolved.

He gently placed two fingers on her lips, bent closer, and said, “Shhh.”

She nodded, still shaking from the fright he’d given her.

“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he whispered, the pads of his fingers outlining her lips as he talked. “Are you all right?”

She nodded again. His light touch sent shivers of awareness shooting through her.

He smiled. “Good.”

She couldn’t imagine why he was in her room. He had done a fine job of avoiding her for the past few days, even opting out of the afternoon picnic up at the cottage with her and Constance yesterday. He had sent Post with them instead.

“What’s wrong?” she asked quietly, her words whistling through his fingertips.

“Nothing, except that you’ll be leaving in a few hours, and there’s something I want you to see before you go. Are you willing to come with me?”

Willing? Absolutely!

Anticipation rippled through her.

“Yes,” she whispered, knowing she would follow him to the moon if he asked.

“Then there’s no time to talk or to dress. We must hurry. Throw on a cloak and shoes, slip quietly from your room, and meet me by the back door.”

“Are we—?”

“Shh.” He rose from the bed. “Don’t say anything, just quietly follow me.”

Arianna pushed the covers aside, and he walked soundlessly from her room, leaving the door ajar for her easy exit. She looked down at the thin, short-sleeved shift she wore for her night garment and contemplated throwing a dress on over it but, instead, she took Morgan at his word that time was of the essence.

She rushed barefoot to her wardrobe and quietly opened it. With hasty movements, she hunted through her clothing until she found her black velvet cape and a pair of low-heeled slippers. She would wait until she was below to put them on.

Excitement built inside her as she hurried out of her room, carefully closing the door behind her. She rushed down the stairs.

What could he want to show her?

She picked her way through the spacious, dark front hall to avoid stumbling over furniture, and down the wide, dim corridor that lead to the back door of the house. Morgan was there waiting for her. He helped settle the cape on her shoulders as she stepped into her shoes, and as easily as if they’d done it a thousand times, they slipped quietly out the door and into the night.

Morgan took her hand in his, and they made their way down the steps. She had no idea where they were going, and she didn’t care. She was eager to see whatever he wanted to show her.

They continued to walk fast, and Morgan led her away from the house to where he had tethered Redmond, far enough so that no one would hear the horse if he whinnied. Morgan let go of her hand and pulled on gloves he took from his coat pocket.

The leather creaked, and as Morgan climbed on the saddle, Redmond snorted and shifted. Just as Arianna had the last time she’d ridden with him, she turned her back to Morgan, and he placed his hands under her arms, only this time she knew how to hold her cape so that it wouldn’t get twisted under her. On his count of three, she jumped, and he hoisted her sideways onto the saddle in front of him. She felt his powerful warmth at once and sighed contentedly, immediately slipping one arm around the back of his waist and leaning into him.

Morgan kicked Redmond in the flanks, and he took off at a canter. Muggy air blew in her face and whipped her hair around her shoulders. The night was clear, tepid, and a bright hunter’s moon lit the way as the horse kept up a steady pace. After having been to the coast twice, Arianna knew that the smooth gait of the horse beneath them was taking them there.

Anticipation rippled and curled inside her. It thrilled her that Morgan was willing to steal her away in the middle of the night because there was something he wanted her to see before she left Valleydale.

But what could it be?

He had avoided her like the plague since the evening of that debacle with his cousins seeing her dance, and then later when he came to her room. Arianna had not given up hope of seeing the earl glance her way with longing in his eyes or a special smile just for her. But she hadn’t seen a glimmer of the man who had held her and kissed her so thoroughly that she knew she would never be the same. And she would always yearn to once again feel the way he had made her feel when he’d held her so close their bodies seemed to melt into each other.

Arianna tightened her hold on Morgan. It was mere hours before she would have to leave Valleydale with Mrs. Pepperfield and travel to London. But until then, she had this time alone with him, and she intended to enjoy it.

Their journey remained silent. Redmond slowed his pace. As the horse climbed the rise that led to the craggy coast, he had to pick his way around stone and rocks. Within minutes, Morgan pulled the bay to a stop at the edge of a peak.

When Arianna looked out over the calm sea, she gasped. A round, luminous Dorset summer moon shone down from a black, starry night to illuminate the channel with a wide, shimmery streak. The peaceful sound of water rushing to shore cut through the silence of the night. A noiseless, salty breeze shuddered the stillness of the mild air. Lights from a lone ship twinkled in the distance as it made its way across the channel.

“It’s seldom this clear on the coast at night, Arianna,” Morgan said. “And it’s even rarer for it to be this way when the moon is full and there’s not a hint of fog, mist, or chill in the air.”

Arianna was filled with wonder. “It’s the most beautiful night I have ever seen. And I know I have never seen the moon glisten on water like that.”

“Not even when you were on the ship?”

“Beabe and I seldom left my room, and never at night.”

“That was probably best,” he answered.

“It’s so clear and still; it makes me think that I can see forever.”

Morgan chuckled softly. “I’ve thought the same thing at times myself.”

For a moment Arianna found herself wishing she would never have to leave this place. But she knew she must. She had to convince Mr. Warburton to help her recover her father’s formula and get it to the Academy. Besides, Lord Morgandale certainly hadn’t said or done anything to make her think he wanted her to stay with him.

She leaned against his chest and sighed. “This view is something I will never forget, my lord. It will stay with me always. Thank you for showing it to me.”

“I thought you would appreciate its beauty.”

“I do.”

“When we were much younger, my cousins and I would watch and wait for nights such as this.”

“I can understand why. Beauty like this should never be missed.”

Morgan laughed again, and Redmond shifted underneath them. “We didn’t watch and wait for the beauty of the night, Arianna. When it was this warm, clear, and bright, which wasn’t often, we would climb down the cliff to the beach and swim if the water was calm enough. If it was too rough, we would walk along the shore to see what urchins might have been left on the shore. Even with the path we made, it’s much too treacherous to make it down unless it’s a night like this.”

“Can we do that, Morgan?”

“What?”

She turned and looked up at him. “Climb down the cliff right now and walk the shore.”

He stared down into her eyes and smiled. “No, it is much too dangerous for you.”

She moistened her lips and thought for a moment. “Did you and your cousins ever have an accident?”

“No, but remember, we were agile youths and, at the time, we had no fear of anything. You are not capable of such a climb.”

Arianna tried to hide her disappointment by turning her face away from his and looking out over the water again. “Nonsense, Morgan, I am more than capable. I am very agile and light on my feet.” She turned back to him and scrutinized his face. “You can hold my hand. I promise I will be careful going down the cliff.”

“It’s perilous even under such favorable conditions,” he argued. “The rocks can be slippery or shift under your weight. And besides that, you are not properly dressed or shod for climbing down or up a ten-meter cliff.”

Arianna folded her arms across her chest and said, “Perhaps you are the one who is old and not able to make the climb anymore.”

His gaze swept across her face. “Do you really believe that?”

“No, but you do have that injury to your hip. Perhaps that is what is making you reluctant.”

“The bottle you gave me is empty, and there’s no pain in my hip.”

“I’m glad the remedy worked.” Arianna placed her hand on his chest over his heart. “You awakened me in the middle of the night and brought me here. It would be unforgivable of you to make me leave until I have walked on the shore.”

He sighed in agreement before saying, “All right, but you must do exactly as I say.”

Excitement soared inside her. Her lips widened into a heartfelt smile. “I promise.”

Morgan helped her slide down the horse, and then he dismounted. Arianna took off her shoes while Morgan tethered Redmond to a low-lying bush. The ground was cool and scratchy to her feet.

“You must stay right behind me,” Morgan said and sat down on the mossy ground and took off his riding boots and gloves.

“Of course I will. You need not fear, Morgan. I do not want to fall. I will do everything you say.”

He took the time to roll his riding breeches farther up his legs to just below his knees. He then he stood up and shrugged out of his coat and threw it over Redmond’s saddle.

“I’m not sure I believe you about that,” he grumbled good-naturedly. “And something tells me I will probably regret doing this.”

She reached out for his hand. “I will make sure you don’t.”

“Going down can sometimes be harder than coming up. Watch where you put your feet.”

“I will follow you, my lord.”

“The night is dry, so the rocks shouldn’t be slippery, but there’s one other thing. You’d best take off your cape. It drags on the ground and could very easily trip you on the slope. The night is warm enough you shouldn’t get chilled.”

She instantly wondered if he remembered she had on nothing but her nightshift. But she wasn’t going to say anything and let a little thing like modesty keep her from climbing down to the shore and wading in the cool water.

“Oh, yes, I suppose you are right.” She took off the cape without hesitation and handed it to him.

He seemed to take no notice of what she was wearing, and took the cape and threw it over the saddle, too. She supposed most women would be mortified to have a man see them in their plain white night rail, but Morgan had already seen her in far less clothing than what the shift covered.

“Follow me. The path is not too far from here.”

They quietly made their way along the edge of the cliff to the clearing Morgan had mentioned. When he started down, he looked back over his shoulder to Arianna and said, “Stay behind me, and don’t let go of my hand. Step exactly where I have stepped.”

“You are worrying far too much about me, Morgan. I will be fine.”

The narrow path down the rocky hillside was steeper than it looked in the moonlight. She watched Morgan carefully and did as he’d said, putting her foot on the exact spot his vacated. They remained quiet and concentrated until they reached the bottom, and her feet hit the wet, rocky shore. She immediately glanced up to where she’d come from. The craggy cliff stood like a huge chunk of rock jutting out over the shore. She turned around and looked at the dark, crashing water, not far from her, and suddenly shivered, memories of her weeks onboard the pitching ship washing over her. She knew how violent the water could be, but she was no longer threatened by its power.