Intentions of the Earl (11 page)

“Perhaps this time it’s different. Mayhap she
has stronger feelings for this one,” John said, concern filling his
voice.

Chapter 8

Andrew wondered when his life had turned into
a giant game. The worst part was he didn’t know what piece in the
game he was playing: the pawn or the master manipulator. It all
depended on which other players were present at the time. For now,
he was going to play the manipulator, again.

Andrew had been searching for his friend Alex
Banks for more than an hour before he finally found him at his
club, sitting at a table and reading a newspaper.

“Alex,” Andrew called to his friend, catching
his attention.

“Ho there, old chap,” Alex countered.

Alex really was a good sort, even if he did
talk, and act, like a simpleton at times. He was highly
intelligent, but he often missed the obvious, especially when it
was staring him in the face.

They’d vaguely known each other at Eton. But
Andrew’s friendship with Benjamin at the time came at a cost:
Benjamin selected his friends for him.

At Cambridge things changed. By that time he
no longer felt obligated to be friends with Benjamin (who didn’t
even attend University), Andrew made his own friends, one of which
was Alex.

After school, they'd continued to be friends.
They traveled together for a while at first, then came back to
London and stepped into their roles, Andrew as an earl and Alex a
mere mister who was the heir to his father’s barony.

Andrew took a seat at the table where Alex
was reading his newspaper. “I heard your father is throwing a house
party.” No point in beating around the bush.

Alex didn’t even bat an eyelash at Andrew’s
obvious angling for an invitation. “You heard right. Are you
looking for an invitation, Andrew?” At Andrew’s nod Alex remarked,
“This is a respectable party, Andrew, there will be no skirt
chasing, clear?”

Andrew swallowed hard before nodding
again.

“I knew I didn’t have to worry about you. You
have never been a despoiler of innocents, but I do have some
cousins that will be there so I just had to make sure you
understood.”

Andrew felt those words like a punch to the
gut. He now realized that he was going to lose even more than he
initially thought when this was all over. The few friends he had
now would also be gone forever, Alex included. Alex was not likely
to forgive a man who deliberately hurt a member of his family,
particularly ruining an innocent young lady.

“No worries there,” Andrew said roughly. “I’m
just looking for something to do for a while. If I meet a woman
that I want to make my countess, well, it will just be good luck on
my part,” he added jovially.

Alex eyed him skeptically, then snorted. “You
had me going there for a minute, you finding a countess, that’s
rich.”

Andrew stiffened. “What does that mean?”

“Oh, don’t get all worked up. It meant
nothing really. It’s just that you are a bachelor. Always have
been, always will be,” Alex said with a shrug.

It wouldn’t do for Andrew to contradict this.
If Alex thought he was a lifelong bachelor then he wouldn’t be
concerned overmuch with Andrew being in Brooke’s company.

“You’re right, I am not the marrying kind,”
Andrew agreed. “I had better be off.”

Andrew picked up his hat and departed.
Walking home he couldn’t help but think about how well things were
going for him. Pieces were moving into place better than he would
have imagined. If only he could get past his guilt, then everything
would be perfect.

***

Benjamin Collins, Duke of Gateway, stared at
his guest. It wasn’t usual for her to visit, but he typically
welcomed it all the same. “What brings you here today, Lizzie?” he
asked, his voice lacking any emotion.

He was glad to see her. She’d once been the
closest person in the world to him, but when she ended things, for
reasons he didn’t understand at the time, he had taken steps to
hurt her and the only other person in the world she loved, her
son.

Though their separation hadn’t lasted long,
he’d always been careful not to become too close again.

One reason he’d kept his distance was he
didn’t want to accidentally mention that he was the cause of the
pain for her and her son. Occasionally, he’d feel a little guilt
about it when she spoke of her son and had that distant look in her
eyes, but he’d never actually been able to openly admit neither his
part nor his guilt about it. At the time, he felt his actions were
justified because of the pain she’d caused him.

At one point he’d even tried to fix
everything in a way that would not expose his part. But that
eventually led to more problems, so he washed his hands of it and
felt no guilt because at least he’d tried.

“To see you, of course,” she replied
cheerfully.

“To see me? Why would you want to do that?”
Benjamin asked, taking a seat in a chair near her.

Lizzie smiled. “Why, because you are one of
my two favorite people of course. And since you don’t respond to my
correspondence.” She gave a speaking glance over to where some
letters were stacked on the corner of his desk. “I thought I would
come and inquire about your welfare personally.”

Benjamin gave her a thin smile. He’d never
been one for writing letters, and she knew it. At one time he would
have dearly loved to have a letter from her. He had actually longed
for one and would have written her back immediately. But not now,
maybe this was his underhanded way of punishing her for not sending
him one when he craved one so badly.

“I am doing well,” he said flatly. “You?”

“The same as always,” she said with a watery
smile.

They were both quiet for a few minutes.
Benjamin had never been much a conversationalist and Lizzie didn’t
speak much unless she had something to say, or was forced to
talk.

“Are you planning to attend the Watson house
party next week?” Lizzie asked, breaking the silence. Noticing his
scowl, she tried a different approach. “I hear they have some
American relations who are also to be in attendance.” She wagged
her eyebrows suggestively at him.

He chose to ignore Lizzie’s clear attempt at
matchmaking. “I will not be attending,” he said simply as if to end
the discussion.

Lizzie broke into a wide grin. “Why,
Benjamin, I thought you had a
tendre
for the oldest
daughter. I did read your name linked to hers in a scandal sheet no
more than three days ago. What’s wrong,
Benny,
was the waltz
not close enough for you?” she thrilled.

Benjamin grimaced at her words. He knew she
was just having her fun, even if it was at his expense. He wasn’t
going to ruin it for her though. He knew better than anyone that
fun was something Lizzie had very little of in her life. He thought
back to the night she was talking about with a crystal clear
memory. Brooke Banks had made such a fool of him, and worst of all,
he’d let her.

“Maybe I will go to the party after all.
Something interesting always seems to happen at house parties. I
wouldn’t want to miss something. Will you be going?”

“You mean do I plan to willingly surround
myself with a bunch of gossiping old dowagers with fire pokers up
their arses? The answer is no.” Lizzie’s voice was full of
conviction.

Gateway couldn’t help but smile, leave it to
Lizzie to be so blunt. He could always count on her to be
completely blunt and honest with him. It is probably why they had
stayed so close over the years; they both hated society and their
rules and neither of them gave a thought to what others thought of
them for it.

Chapter 9

Brooke always thought she had the perfect
mother. As a child, Brooke remembered her mother taking the girls
on walks or to play in a nearby park. Even with three girls, Mama
had never hired a nanny. Mama had taken care to make sure her
daughters were dressed to the height of fashion. She had
interviewed dozens of tutors to find the most intelligent and
disciplined one to teach her daughters. As her girls got older she
introduced them to social circles, and instructed them on the most
valuable points to finding a good husband, like hers.

But even with all of Mama’s instructions
Brooke still doubted she would truly capture the attentions of such
a lofty man as the earl. And yet, he seemed to be courting her.

In preparation for their outing today she was
reading a tome on British history so not to appear completely
unintelligent in front of the earl at the museum.

Meanwhile, Mama was quietly sitting beside
her on the pink settee. She had no book in her hands. She had no
embroidery in her hands. She had no sewing in her hands. Instead,
she had empty hands and a wistful smile on her face.

“You look like a lovesick debutante,” Brooke
told her mother, looking up from her book.

“Well, I cannot help it that I’m so happy. I
mean how many other women can go around saying their daughter will
soon be a countess?” Mama squealed with delight.

“You do not know that
you
can even go
around saying that. We are not betrothed after all,” Brooke
remarked, taking all the wind out of Mama’s sails.

Mama quickly rebounded though. “Poppycock,
you know the earl has his sights set on you. He basically declared
his love to you in front of all the family at dinner. And,” Mama
added, “his words to Papa seemed to indicate that he is most
serious about you. If that isn’t enough to convince you, he asked
you to accompany him to the museum today. I think that clearly
indicates his interest in you.”

“Maybe he asked me to go because he felt bad
for me after I was so clearly embarrassed in front of him,” Brooke
parried.

“Stop being silly. The man has a sincere
interest in you. I still don't understand how you could have been
so humiliated by that silly little act. You have never been that
embarrassed about the incident before, so why now?”

“I don’t know. I just felt like they were
doing it to be cruel,” she said with a shrug.

“His lordship, the Earl of Townson,” Turner
announced, opening the door to the drawing room, keeping Mama from
countering Brooke’s remark.

Brooke and Mama stood and curtsied to the
earl and he bowed. Brooke noticed he bowed much lower than
necessary. Maybe he did fancy her after all.

“Are you ladies ready to be off, then?”
Andrew asked cordially.

“Yes, my lord, let me grab my shawl,” Mama
answered as Brooke walked over to the earl.

The trio was almost to the front door when
suddenly the door swung open to reveal a disappointed Madison.

“Why are you not at the sewing circle?” Mama
asked her.

“Mrs. Ingram is ill and our meeting was
cancelled,” Madison said glumly.

Brooke felt genuine sympathy for Madison. She
had no real joy in her life, except sewing. She had fun with her
sisters but her real enjoyment came from helping others, which she
did in the form of sewing for the less fortunate.

“We’re on our way to the British Museum.
Would you like to come along with us?” Andrew asked Madison.

“Are you certain that I won’t be intruding?”
Madison asked shyly.

“No, I’m not certain that you won’t be
intruding, but I’m certain it will be a nice intrusion,” Andrew
replied.

Brooke’s heart skipped a beat. He was being
so nice to Madison and without being prompted to. It would have
been rude for her or Mama to invite her, but he just did it on his
own. Most people easily dismissed Madison. But not Andrew. He'd
been kinder to Madison than she’d seen any man ever be. Brooke
could have kissed him for it.

Mama linked arms with Madison and together
the four of them walked to Andrew’s carriage.

“Thank you,” Brooke said quietly when Andrew
was helping her in the carriage.

“For what?” Andrew asked, perplexed.

“For inviting Madison, you didn’t have
to.”

“I know I didn’t have to, but I wanted to.
She looked rather disappointed that she didn’t get to go sew for
the poor. I thought coming with us might brighten her day. Plus,
maybe she’ll feel compelled to sew me something,” he teased.

Brooke gave him a bright smile then took her
seat in the carriage.

With four people in the earl’s carriage it
felt quite snug, yet comfortable. Andrew took advantage of the
close proximity and his large size by innocently sprawling out,
claiming that he needed more space. Brooke was skeptical, but
didn’t question it; especially when he lightly pressed his thigh
against hers. She knew she should not enjoy such contact, but she
did anyway.

Sitting so close to him, Brooke noticed his
masculine scent. He smelled of the outdoors, like woods and trees
and such. She had not smelled very many gentlemen who naturally
smelled this way. She knew it had to be natural, not an oil mixed
into his shaving water, his skin color and actions virtually
screamed it.

During the half hour ride to the museum from
the townhouse Andrew talked with Mama, who asked him to call her
Carolina, and Madison. They were entertaining him with stories of
America and their friends and family back home. Meanwhile, she was
entertaining herself with thoughts of the earl’s body, which was
boldly pressing against hers again. Even through her gown and his
breeches she could feel the firm muscles in his thigh. She wondered
what they would feel like if she ran her hand over them. She
quickly admonished herself for the thoughts. However, she was
having a hard time tearing her eyes off the object of her
imagination. She looked at his thighs, they were practically
bulging under his buckskin trousers, yet the seams were not ripping
with every move like she thought they might.

She was pulled from her daydream by a light
and well placed tap on her foot. Startled, she looked up, and met
Madison’s knowing eyes. Madison didn’t say a word, but her face
said a thousand. Brooke had just been caught staring at the earl’s
legs by her younger sister! She flushed with embarrassment.