Enticing the Earl (14 page)

“Very well. I shall also make sure I am armed if I leave the house.”

Tanner departed, leaving Simon alone with his thoughts. Lambert just didn’t seem the type to hold a grudge for so long. Besides, he got what he wanted—Daphne. The only part of this that made sense was Lambert needed money and somehow he’d discovered what Mia had found. Simon rubbed his eyes. Even that was bordering on the absurd. Why would the son of a viscount be looking for buried treasure?

Simon swore softly. If he hadn’t seen Davies that day, he might wonder if this story was just Mia’s imagination. The more he thought about things, the more his frustration grew. Mia had agreed to marry him before she’d seen the books and realized just how little money he had. Today when he mentioned getting the license, her response had been lukewarm. He could tell Tanner still didn’t believe Mia wasn’t involved in some manner.

And as much as he didn’t want to admit it, Simon had a tingling of doubt too.

M
ia and her mother walked back to the house after a long afternoon chat. While she had never felt particularly close to her mother, she did give sound counsel. She had told Mia to speak with Simon about her concerns. Unfortunately, she had many.

She and Simon had not been honest with each other about many things. That was no way to start a marriage. They needed to talk about what they had been keeping from each other. Mia had no idea what secrets he held, but she was certain he did. She had told him everything but he held back his thoughts.

The gravel crunched under their feet as they walked up the drive. Mia looked up at the cloudy sky. “It looks like rain. Would you like a carriage to take you back? I’m sure Hart wouldn’t mind.”

“No, Mia. I don’t believe it will rain but even if it does, I can manage. Now remember what I said,” her mother commented as they reached the door of the house.

“I will.”

“I meant about the bedroom.”

Mia felt heat cross her cheeks as she nodded. Her mother’s conversation regarding the marriage bed had been blunt. Mia supposed twenty-five years of marriage gave her a bit more knowledge than Mia had. And her parents’ marriage had always seemed quite happy.

“And about your ribs. You may have the earl teach you some basic safety measures but nothing too extreme.”

“Yes, Mother.” She would not be up to that for a few days. Mia kissed her mother’s cheek. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you to Mrs. Lanston’s cottage? I haven’t visited with any of the tenants in nearly a fortnight.”

“I want you to stay here and be safe.”

“Of course.” Mia nodded but her frustration was growing. The lack of freedom and inability to speak with anyone but her mother, Simon, and the servants frustrated her. She missed her conversations with the tenants when she visited them.

She entered the house and Harris breathed a sigh of relief. “What is wrong?”

“I thought the earl was going to let Robert go for allowing you to stay with your mother unguarded.”

“I will speak with him. Is he in his study?”

Harris nodded. “He was just getting ready to go out and look for you. And he is in a foul mood.”

“Thank you for the warning,” she said as she walked down the marble hall. The heels of her boots echoed through the corridor.

Heavy footsteps sounded from the room ahead of her. Simon strode into the hall and stared at her. Mia stopped and stared at him. His short brown hair appeared disheveled as if he’d been raking his hands through it. The worried look in his eyes said it all. “Where have you been?”

“I was with my mother.”

He clasped her arm and forcibly led her into the study before slamming the door. “Why didn’t you tell me where you were going?” he all but shouted at her.

“You were waiting for Mr. Tanner. I saw no need. Robert accompanied me and then my mother told him to go back to Hartsfield Park. I was perfectly safe with my mother. She accompanied me back to the house.”

“You are not safe anywhere, except in the house.” He paced the room with heavy footfalls.

“Simon, sit down and talk to me,” she demanded.

He paced the room. “I cannot sit. This situation is driving me mad.”

“What did Mr. Tanner say?”

After a few more paces, he stopped and sank into a chair across from her. He told her about Lambert possibly being involved for vengeance.

Mia shook her head. “Do you think his wife is involved in this?”

“I doubt it. Tanner said she is already calling herself a widow.”

“How horrible!” But none of this explained his frustration. Once again, he was keeping things from her. “What else did Tanner say?”

“Nothing of importance.”

“Simon, if we are to marry, you must tell me everything. We cannot keep secrets from each other.”

Simon closed his eyes and breathed out deeply. “Mr. Tanner impressed upon me that until this man is caught, it is not safe for you or I to leave this house. If you need to leave the house, it is only to be with me. I am to have a pistol with me.”

Mia’s shoulders sagged. “I am so dreadfully tired of feeling like a prisoner,” she admitted softly. “You have a beautiful house but...”

“A prison is a prison no matter how lovely.”

“Yes.”

“I understand.”

Mia stared at him for a long moment. There was more than understanding in his words. He felt the same way, which made no sense. He had never been a prisoner here as she had for the past fortnight.

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Harris entered the room and looked at Mia. “The duchess is here to see you.”

“I will be there presently.” She rose and straightened out her skirts. “I am sorry but I must speak with Selina.”

“Of course. I will be home before dinner.” He rose and bowed to her.

“You just told me it’s not safe for either of us to leave. Where are you going?”

He smiled. “To speak with the bishop. I would like us married as soon as possible now. If something were to happen to me—”

She placed her finger over his lips. “Do not think it, much less say it. Nothing is going to happen to either of us.” She removed her finger and replaced it with her lips. Kissing him softly, she felt him slowly relax and respond to her kiss. She pulled away and stared up at him. “I must go now.”

“Mia,” he started and then stopped. “Enjoy your company.”

“Thank you.” Selina’s visit meant her friend must have gone into the village and talked to the pawnbroker. Mia would be able to give Simon the money after dinner.

Mia entered the salon with a smile for her friend. Seeing Selina had suddenly brightened her day. “Selina, how are you?”

Selina hugged her friend. “It’s so good to see you in better spirits.”

Mia stared at her friend in awe. Only at Selina’s wedding had she seen her friend in such a beautiful dress. Her blue muslin was a far finer quality than anything Mia had seen made here. With her blond hair upswept, Selina looked like the duchess she was. The reality of Simon’s comment about her wardrobe sank in. He would expect her to dress in fine muslins and silks. How could he ever afford such beautiful things?

She sat down on the sofa and waited for Selina to do the same. “Please tell me you have something for me.”

“I do. But you must let me apologize for this taking a few days. Colin needed to go to London and I went with him. That is where I sold the emerald.”

Mia’s eyes widened. “Does the duke know what you were doing?”

“Of course. We do not keep secrets.”

Mia could only imagine Simon’s anger when he found out the duke knew of his financial position.

“Why do you look so concerned?” Selina asked as she grabbed her reticule.

“I’m quite certain Hart will be upset that the duke knows.”

Selina shook her head. “He already knew about Hart’s finances. He had told Colin himself.”

Simon had done his best to hide his monetary woes from everyone, but had told the duke? That seemed very odd indeed.

Selina pulled a bag of coins from her reticule. “Mr. Hertzog told me that this emerald is very old and rare. As such, he could not in good conscience give what you told me to ask.”

“What do you mean? If the emerald was old and rare it should be worth at least what I asked for it.”

“No,” Selina said, spilling out the coins on the sofa. “It should be worth much more than what you asked. And with Colin standing next to me, Mr. Hertzog knew better than to cheat me out of the value.”

Mia stared at the coins in disbelief. It was more than she had received for the other pieces of gold. “I can’t believe it.”

“Nor could I. Mr. Hertzog said the age had to be at least five hundred years. And that was not an emerald from a boy’s hilt.”

“Then from what?”

Selina smiled. “A very wealthy knight’s sword, most likely. It might have been lost during a battle or when it was being cleaned. Mr. Hertzog also said if you find any more pieces be it gold, silver, or gems, he would give you an excellent price.”

“I wonder what happened on that piece of land.” If there had been a battle there, then there should be more items on that land. Perhaps she needed to spread out the area she investigated.

“Colin suggested we go through the earl’s family history. Some men were granted land after an important battle for the king.”

Mia thought about all the old books in Simon’s library. “I shall ask Hart about it tonight at dinner.”

“Excellent. Maybe he shall want to dig up the land there to see if there is any more jewels or gold.”

Mia would insist they do just that. The amount Mr. Hertzog paid her would give him enough money to last a few more months.

“Have you heard anything from Tia?” Selina asked, changing the topic of conversation. “Colin paid a call on Middleton while we were in town but Middleton said he’d not found her yet.”

“No,” Mia replied with a sigh. “It’s been a month and there has been no news at all.” With everything that had happened over the past fortnight, she’d barely thought of her twin sister. That was highly unusual. They had been so close growing up but when she moved to Middleton’s estate, they only saw each other once a week. But Mia had thought of her every day until the incident with Davies. “Did Middleton say if his brother was still in town? Maybe she chased after him again.”

“Middleton told Colin that he hadn’t spoken to his brother yet. Colin doesn’t believe he knows where Mr. Tavers is staying.”

Mia closed her eyes. “Where can she be?”

“Middleton will find her.”

“I can only hope.” A long silence filled the room as Mia continued to think about her errant sister and prayed she was all right. Middleton had promised to find her.

Selina leaned forward slowly. “How are things between you and the earl?” she whispered as if Simon might discover them speaking of him.

“We are to marry by the end of next week. You will stand up with me, won’t you?”

“Of course.” Selina glanced away with a frown. “You are certain this is the right thing to do?”

“Yes,” she said far too quickly. Was it the right thing to do? Marrying a man for his protection was not the best way to start a marriage. Although, the more time she spent with him, the more she sensed her feelings changing for him. She definitely liked and respected him, but doubted what she felt for him was love. There was no denying the attraction between them. If only they could be honest with each other.

“If you are certain, then I shall set aside my worries.”

“Thank you, Selina.” If only Mia could do the same.

 

Simon entered the house hours later and shook off his wet coat. He wanted a hot bath and large snifter of brandy to take the chill off. At least his trip had been successful. He had the license so they could marry on Friday at the parish church. He had contacted a local seamstress about some clothing for Mia. Once they were married, he’d have Madame D’Aramitz put together a wardrobe fitting a countess.

“Good evening, my lord,” Harris said as he took Simon’s coat and hat from him.

“Harris,” he replied with a nod. “I would like a hot bath in my room.”

“Of course, sir. Miss Featherstone is in the library reading. Will you dine with her or in your room?”

As much as he wanted to see her tonight, exhaustion had taken its toll on him. “In my room.”

“As you wish. I will notify Miss Featherstone that she will dine alone.”

Dammit, he couldn’t do that to her after being gone all day. “Never mind, Harris. I shall dine with her but I must bathe first.”

Simon could have sworn he saw Harris’s lips twitch.

“As you wish, my lord. I will speak to the footmen about the bath.” Harris walked down the corridor with Simon’s damp coat over his arm.

Simon walked up to his bedchamber and removed his wet clothes. After wrapping a dressing gown around him, he strolled to the brandy he kept in the salon of his bedchamber. The footmen brought in the tub and steaming water as he sipped his brandy. He’d thought about what Mia said all day. The house was feeling like a prison to both of them. Even just the few hours out of the house had felt wonderful. Tomorrow, weather permitting, they would get out of the house together.

Once the footmen left, he sank into the steaming tub and let the heated water warm his tired body. Not wanting to let Mia wait for too long for him, he quickly washed and dressed. He sipped the last of his brandy and headed for the library.

He could hear the infectious sound of Mia’s laughter as he walked down the hall. He’d not been informed of any visitors. What the devil was making her giggle like a schoolgirl? He stood at the threshold and took in the room.

Mia sat on the sofa, an open book on her lap, across from her Charlie lounged in the chair looking as if he’d been there for hours. Why was his rake of a brother in his library, flirting with his betrothed?

“Simon!” Charlie exclaimed. “About damn time you greeted me.”

“Charlie, what the—Why are you here?”

Charlie rose and greeted his brother with a hug. Simon felt his frustration growing. Charlie rarely visited Hartsfield Park, unless something was wrong. Usually, a great loss at the gaming hells.

“What is wrong?”

Charlie pulled away with a slight frown. “Why does something have to be wrong for me to visit my eldest brother?”

“Because you never come out here unless you need money or Mother insists.

Charlie turned away and grabbed his glass of sherry from the rosewood table. “Well, this time it’s not either of those that brought me here.”

“Miss Featherstone, would you give me and my brother a few moments alone?”

“She doesn’t need to leave,” Charlie said with a laugh. “Although, I would love to know why our wise woman is dining with
you
? And why there is no proper chaperone for her.”