Lord and Master (25 page)

She must begin distancing herself from him. She would begin tomorrow. If only she had not agreed to stay another day.

* * * *

The next morning Daphne ate a hurried breakfast brought to her room on a tray. Her willow-green muslin gown had been cleaned and pressed while she slept, and she scrambled into it with Sadie’s help.

When she was ready, and without even stopping at Miss Shelby’s door to say good morning to that lady, Daphne went down to the kitchen. She begged the startled cook for some bread and cheese, for she planned on spending the day outdoors. Avoiding the earl might be cowardly, but Daphne felt quite desperate. She could not endure another cozy meal with the gentleman she loved while the specter of his engagement to another hung over her head.

A few minutes later she was armed with a basket that contained enough food to keep her from starvation for several days. Daphne stepped outside into the sunshine and began walking to the far side of the estate.

Having spent a restless morning in bed, Anthony felt well enough to dress by mid-afternoon. However, struggling into an acorn-brown coat and leather breeches, even with the aid of a footman, the earl felt drained of energy.

He no sooner sat down in a high-backed chair by the fire resting when Mrs. Tinkham bustled in. “Master Anthony, what have you done?”

“Merely gotten dressed, Tinky, nothing worthy of your censure,” Lord Ravenswood teased.

Little Mrs. Tinkham stood before him with her hands on her hips. “I shan’t allow pretty Miss Kendall to visit you today if you don’t take care of yourself properly.”

Anthony raised a brow at her. “How do you propose to keep me from her?”

Since this was exactly the direction Mrs. Tinkham wished the conversation to take, she sat down in the chair opposite him. “I am glad to hear you are adamant about seeing her.”

Realizing his foolishness, the earl heaved a sigh. “Begad! I suppose it is too late now to claim I am in a devilish bad condition after all, and must be left in total quiet.”

“What you are suffering from most is a want of sense, Master Anthony, and that’s plain enough,” Mrs. Tinkham said. She folded her hands in her lap. “Now, tell me why you are prepared to offer for Miss Blenkinsop when you really want Miss Kendall.”

Anthony looked mulish, then remembered how long Tinky had been at Raven’s Hall. “Miss Blenkinsop is, well, not particularly strong-minded. She will be a compliant wife.”

Mrs. Tinkham’s mouth fell open. “Is that what she has to offer?”

“Well, yes. But she is from good family and has a large dowry as well,” Anthony said, feeling very much on the defensive. “We do not wish for another Isabella here, do we?”

Mrs. Tinkham was much struck by this statement. She remained silent for a moment, then leaned forward in her chair. “Master Anthony, Miss Kendall is nothing at all like Isabella.”

“She is intelligent, Tinky, just like my stepmother. Clever women are dangerous.” Even as he said the oft repeated words, the theory rang hollow in his own ears.

“Stuff!” the housekeeper said roundly. “’Tis a lady’s character that you must look to in order to judge whether she is capable of the kind of behavior Isabella displayed. From what I have seen, Miss Kendall is a lady; she is kind to all, and caring. Look how concerned she was for that heathen manservant of yours! Besides which, you love her, do you not?”

Lord Ravenswood made as if to protest, but found he could not. It was true. He loved Daphne Kendall. Good God. He raised a hand and rubbed it across his forehead. “You have figured out a lot in a short period of time, Tinky.”

Mrs. Tinkham seized the advantage. “Well, I’ve known you all your life, haven’t I? And even though I don’t know Miss Kendall very well, I know a girl in love when I see one.”

Lord Ravenswood snapped to attention at these words. He remembered how Daphne had responded to his kiss at the Pelhams’ ball. She was not the type to respond to his passion unless her affections were engaged. Why, now that he thought about it, the sort of grasping he most feared was as foreign to her nature as caviar to pigs!

He rose to stand firmly on his feet. “Where is Miss Kendall

“Cook says she has gone outdoors. Now, Master Anthony, just because you have finally come to your senses does not mean you should wander the estate looking for her in your condition!”

Lord Ravenswood flashed her a boyish grin, just before closing the door behind him.

* * * *

It was easy enough for Eugene and Miss Shelby to slip away from Raven’s Hall without anyone being the wiser. They hired a vehicle and reached London late that afternoon.

“I shall start the rumors going about Lord Ravenswood and Miss Kendall. The underbutler next door is the neighborhood gossip.” Eugene told Miss Shelby outside of Daphne’s town house in Clarges Street. “Wait for me here, and I shall call on you later and apprise you of any developments.”

Miss Shelby clung to the sleeve of his white tunic. “Oh, Eugene, I do hope we have done right in leaving them in the country alone.”

“They are hardly alone with that dragon, Mrs. Tinkham,” he said dryly. He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it warmly. “Soon, Leonie, soon, we shall be together. Would you like to see Egypt?”

Miss Shelby smiled, then chuckled outright. “Oh, yes, Eugene. You know I long for travel. Remember Mary Tucker told me I would soon be going on a sea journey.”

“She is knowing, but not like you, my wise lady,” Eugene told her, and then took his leave.

Miss Shelby let herself into the back of the house and was promptly greeted by three exuberant dogs. She patted them each in turn, asking, “How would you like to live with Daphne and Lord Ravenswood in the country?”

* * * *

Lord Ravenswood felt tired and hungry. He had spent two hours riding about the estate, looking for Miss Kendall without success. Coming up to the Palladian-style bridge, which spanned a wide stream, he dismounted. After leaving his horse to graze, he stretched out under a leafy tree at the water’s edge and allowed the gentle sound of the stream to lull him to sleep.

That is how Daphne found him an hour later.

Strolling across the bridge, she saw his supine figure and let out a cry of distress. Thinking he had collapsed, she rushed across the bridge and dropped down to his side on the grass. Her heart jumped in her chest. She reached out a hand and felt of his forehead. Thankfully it was cool.

“My lord, can you hear me? Are you all right?” she asked urgently.

For an answer Lord Ravenswood slowly opened his brown eyes and gazed into her anxious face. Then he leaned forward and swiftly caught her in his arms. He lowered his head and kissed her, his mouth moving over hers and devouring its softness.

Caught off guard, Daphne returned his embrace, giving herself freely to the passion of his kiss.

Then, despite the intensity of desire, Daphne suddenly remembered Lord Ravenswood was engaged to Miss Blenkinsop. She wrenched herself away from him and sprang to her feet.

“How dare you, my lord?” she demanded. Fearing she might at any moment burst into tears, she turned and began a swift march across the bridge.

He caught up with her before she made it halfway across. “Daphne! Please! Wait a moment.”

She continued on her way, so he darted in front of her and grasped her by the shoulders. “Daphne, I beg your pardon. You see, I have been out searching for you all day, and I grew so tired that I had to stop and rest. When I woke and saw your dear face above me, well, I could not restrain myself. I admit you had reason to think me perfectly mad.”

Daphne lowered her gaze in confusion. She had to calm her disordered thoughts and could not do so with him looking at her with that gentle, concerned, loving expression. In her confusion, she found refuge in righteous anger. “Mad, my lord? No, I think playing fast and loose with my affections would be a more accurate description.”

“Whatever can you mean?” he asked at once.

“You are betrothed to Elfleta Blenkinsop! And yet you embrace me, kiss me—”

He gripped her shoulders more tightly. “I am not engaged to Miss Blenkinsop. How could you think—Eugene! I shall strangle him,” he pronounced grimly, his arms falling to his sides.

Daphne wondered if she should feel some guilt for the relief she felt. “You are not betrothed?”

The earl ran a hand impatiently through his dark hair. “No. In truth, I was going to offer for the chit Tuesday morning. Then I received a letter from Eugene—maybe I will not strangle him after all—saying that you were in danger. I rode out to find you instead of going to her house.”

One dark red curl lay across the whiteness of her shoulder. He picked up the tempting spiral and idly drew it between his fingers. “I have been a fool, Daphne.”

“How do you mean, Anthony?” she asked him softly. A bright spot of hope began to grow in her.

His brown eyes sought hers. “When Mihos first came to live with me, every time he stretched out his paw to my chin in a gesture of affection, I thought he was going to rip my nose off. I based this assumption on the way Isabella’s cat, Brutus, had behaved. When I met you and saw how attractive and intelligent you were, I did not want to care for you, fearing you would use those qualities against me, the way Isabella did with my father.”

Daphne laid a hand against his cheek. “What made you realize I would not?”

“You are not at all like Isabella.” The earl swallowed hard. “You care more for people than things, and you are never cruel. And, while my father loved Isabella, she did not return his passion. You do love me, do you not, my heart? For I love you madly.”

A smile of pure joy lit Daphne’s face. “Yes, Anthony, I love you.”

Then she was in his arms. His kiss sent swirling bursts of ecstasy coursing through her. She felt as if she could not get close enough to him, and savored every moment his mouth was on hers.

Several minutes later he reluctantly drew away and asked, “Why did you send Mihos back to me? I thought we had agreed you were to keep him for some time longer?”

Her fingers stroked his hair. “I thought you were going to marry Elfleta.”

He pulled her against him and whispered into her hair. “You are the only lady I shall ever marry, my heart. I love you. Will you have me?”

Daphne looked at him and pretended to consider. “I do not know. Do you think Mihos will get along with Holly, Folly, and Jolly?” Her teasing look was unmistakable.

“God help us,” the earl muttered, before he claimed her lips again.

* * * *

Because of Mihos, Elfleta Blenkinsop never received Lord Ravenswood’s note telling her he had been called out of Town on an urgent matter.

Therefore on this, the second day after the earl was to call, Elfleta sat in her drawing room. She was beside herself with fury. How dare he treat her thus?

Also in the room, Mrs. Blenkinsop had alternately questioned and berated her daughter regarding the entire affair, making Elfleta even angrier.

The knocker sounded and a few minutes later, the butler ushered Lord Guy into the room. He was full of the gossip Eugene had spread all about Lord Ravenswood and Miss Kendall being alone together at the earl’s estate. Lord Guy prayed he would be the first to relate it to the Blenkinsops. He got his wish.

“What’s that you say?” Mrs. Blenkinsop shrieked upon hearing the account.

Elfleta gasped, shaken by the strongest emotion ever felt in her young life.

Lord Guy was all apologies. “Dear me, I thought you ladies would know. His lordship’s behavior is disgraceful, Miss Blenkinsop. Disgraceful! Your goodness has been sorely used.”

Elfleta called up the few brain cells at her command and thought furiously. Despite the fact that the earl had not formally made her an offer, she had been too puffed up with conceit to keep quiet about her expectations. Several members of the
ton
were made privy to the knowledge that she was shortly to announce her engagement.

Elfleta needed a fiancé. Fast.

She turned her hazel eyes toward Lord Guy and allowed a few graceful tears to fall.

Happy for the chance to play at being the gallant, Lord Guy whipped a lace handkerchief from the pocket of his celestial blue coat and handed it to her with a flourish. “Were you mine, I would never treat you thus.”

“You would not?” Elfleta asked him tearfully. She gazed up at him adoringly, her hazel eyes huge in her face.

“Never!” Lord Guy cried, throwing himself into his role for all he was worth. “Only give me a chance to prove myself.”

“Yes, oh, yes, I shall marry you,” Elfleta breathed.

Lord Guy’s eyes popped in his head. Before he could absorb what had happened, Mrs. Blenkinsop was wishing the couple happy and calling her reluctant husband into the room to join in the congratulations.

When Mr. Blenkinsop hinted at the size of his Elf’s dowry, Lord Guy began to relax. The happy thought of all that money soon had him envisioning a new wardrobe full of coats in every shade imaginable. Tailors from Hyde Park to Charing Cross would be begging for his custom.

Lord Guy would not have been so sanguine had he known his future mama-in-law was even now casting a stern eye over his dress. She determined on the spot to educate him as to the proper way a gentleman should present himself to the world.

* * * *

Wedding plans were the last thing on one lady’s mind. Miss Shelby sat in the drawing room of Daphne’s town house and worried about Eugene’s safety. Something told her Mr. Phillips might easily have learned where Eugene lived and would break into Lord Ravenswood’s house. What might happen if he did not find the Bastet statue? Would he lie in wait for Eugene?

As the minutes ticked by, Miss Shelby’s premonition of danger grew stronger. Coming to a decision not to wait for Eugene, she placed a shawl about her shoulders and hurried downstairs. With a footman, Charles, to accompany her, and Folly for extra protection, she ventured out into the dark streets.

Halfway to Upper Brook Street, she encountered Eugene headed in the same direction. Folly barked a greeting.

“Leonie, what are you doing out? It is not safe,” Eugene said.

Miss Shelby wrapped her shawl tighter about her shoulders. “I had a bad feeling.”