Notorious Deception (10 page)

“Hush now, Gladys,” the innkeeper fretted. “We have guests. Show her ladyship to the room at the top of the hall, and then bring her up fresh water. Hurry up now!”

Gladys frowned at her brother, but followed his orders without further complaint.

Diana gathered up her skirts and followed Gladys up the stairs, where she was directed to a small but clean room. It was a far sight better than the conditions of the ten separate inns she had stopped in on her way to London, and Diana appreciated the neat surroundings.

She removed her cloak and smoothed out the wrinkles of her black gown. She was heartily sick of the garment, having worn it and her one other mourning dress exclusively for the past few weeks because she had been forced to abandon her traveling trunk in Salisbury with her broken-down carriage. Unfortunately Diana had brought no extra funds for purchasing new dresses while in London, so she was reduced to wearing these two garments continually.

Diana felt better after washing her hands and face and brushing out her hair. She deftly rolled her blond locks into a tight chignon, securing it at the nape of her neck. She went back downstairs and stood uncertainly in the taproom until Harry spotted her and rushed over.

The innkeeper nearly tripped over a chair in his haste to reach her, and then he bowed and scraped his way toward the back of the room leading her to the private parlor. Diana brought her hand up to her mouth and coughed loudly to hide her grin. She noticed Harry had tied a freshly laundered white apron around his paunchy middle, no doubt to impress his wealthy guests. Diana decided she liked Harry. He might be a bit obvious in his desire to ingratiate himself, but clearly he was no fool.

As Diana entered the private parlor the earl's back was to her, but apparently he heard her enter because he turned immediately. The innkeeper rushed away quickly to fetch their food.

“Harry is most eager to please. I fear he might fall flat on his face in his enthusiasm to prove his worth,” Diana said with a slight smile.

Then her breath caught in her throat as she took in the full measure of the earl's appearance. He too had removed his traveling cloak, and the rich burgundy color of his waistcoat set off his coloring most attractively. His. cravat was simply, though faultlessly tied, and his golden buckskin breeches were tightly fitted, with his powerful leg muscles bulging through the material. He was absolutely magnificent, she decided.

“Do you mind?” Derek inquired politely, holding up a smoldering cheroot.

For an instant Diana thought he was chastising her for staring so rudely at him, but when she noticed the cheroot, she sighed with relief. “I don't mind at all if you smoke.”

The earl paced the room calmly, puffing on the cheroot. Then the innkeeper knocked sharply on the parlor door. Without waiting for a reply, he entered, Gladys following close behind him. Harry carried a tray laden with numerous plates of food. He waited impatiently while Gladys laid down a fresh tablecloth, plates, cutlery, and glasses; then he swiftly arranged the food in the center of the table.

“Would you prefer wine or ale with your meal, milord?” Gladys asked, her empty tray dangling down at her side.

“Wine, of course,” her brother hissed in annoyance. “I shall bring it at once, your lordship.” Harry shoved Gladys out of the room and returned with the wine. He hovered expectantly around the table until the earl dismissed him.

“And, Harry,” Derek called out as the innkeeper was leaving, “please be sure my men are fed as well.”

Harry's chest puffed with importance, and he left the room beaming. Diana smiled in amusement. Taking the seat opposite the earl, she folded her napkin in her lap and watched him.

Derek cut a thick slice of beef and put it on her plate. “I hope you are hungry, Diana,” he said conversationally. “I don't intend to stop again until morning, and even then I cannot guarantee we will find such a well-kept establishment.”

“Or such an accommodating innkeeper,” Diana said with a laugh.

Derek gave her a charming smile and helped himself to the pickled vegetables. Diana sliced the crisp bread and filled her plate with a section of squab, a slice of pork pie, and vegetables. After eating every crumb on her plate, she indulged in a generous serving of fruit compote and a wedge of fruitcake with rum sauce.

Derek watched her eat in pure fascination, wondering where such a small, slender woman put such a great quantity of food. As she swallowed her last bite of cake, he told her just that.

Diana thrust up her chin at his remark. “You just told me I should eat heartily, my lord.”

“Just so, Diana,” Derek said soothingly. “I was merely speculating as to where all the food goes. You are quite thin, except for your—” He stopped abruptly, as his eyes traveled to her breasts.

“My lord,” Diana said in a censuring tone, but he interrupted her.

“You must cease addressing me so formally, Diana. It reminds me too much of Harry.” He flashed her what he hoped was his most engaging grin.

After drinking the last of the wine, they left the parlor, and took another stroll about the innyard in the afternoon sunshine. Derek left her standing outside the coach under the watchful eye of his driver, Langston, while he went back inside to pay Harry. When he left the inn to join Diana in the carriage, the innkeeper called his thanks as he followed Derek out of the inn and halfway across the yard.

Derek, who was rushing away from the overly grateful innkeeper, immediately noticed Harry's chattering had stopped abruptly as Derek swung up inside the carriage. Once settled in the seat across from Diana, he turned to look back at the innkeeper, who was now staring bug-eyed at the coach pulling out of the yard.

“What did you do?” Derek inquired, observing the smirk on Diana's face.

“Just bidding Harry farewell, my lord,” she replied.

“Derek,” he corrected absently.

“Very well, Derek.”

“What did you do?”

“I merely winked at the good innkeeper, that's all,” Diana said nonchalantly. “He acted most surprised.”

“I should say,” Derek blurted out. “He probably thought you were flirting with him.”

“No. Do you really think so?” Diana asked, her eyes shining with mischief.

“Poor Harry,” the earl chuckled. “It's a wonder he didn't have apoplexy. Well, at least you got him to keep quiet for a few moments.”

They both shared a quiet laugh. The coach pulled out on to the main road and the journey resumed. The coach made good time, despite the disgraceful condition of the road in certain places, and Derek and Diana spent a pleasant afternoon alternating between congenial conversation and light sleep.

As nightfall approached, Diana grew apprehensive, staring out the carriage window into the inky blackness. The earl had mentioned he intended to travel through the night, and she wondered if it would be safe. Hadn't he already informed her an elegantly equipped carriage barreling down a lonely stretch of road was the perfect invitation for a robbery?

“Hungry, Diana?” The earl's deep voice called to her from the darkness.

“No, my lor—no, Derek.”

“Frightened?”

“Apprehensive, perhaps.”

“Don't be,” he told her soothingly. “This particular stretch of road is well-known to my men. We are perfectly safe.”

Derek spoke with such assurance that she knew he was telling the truth. Diana slowly released the breath she was holding. She curled up in the corner of the coach, allowing the swaying motion of the carriage to gently lull her to sleep. Her final conscious thoughts before succumbing to slumber were of her impossibly handsome traveling companion, and she slept deeply through the night with a wistful smile on her lips.

Derek watched the sun rise gradually over the trees while the coach rolled down the road. He stretched out his stiff arms and shoulders, debating whether or not to again ride up top. He had spent several enjoyable hours in the box the previous night driving the coach, as much to give Langston a rest as to escape the confines of the carriage.

With morning fast approaching, Derek was loath to leave the coach, however, on the chance Diana would suddenly awaken and find herself alone. Of course, she would not mind his relieving Langston of the ribbons. Knowing Diana as he did, he felt certain she would applaud his efforts to assist his servant.

What a truly unusual woman she was. The more time he spent in her company, the greater he was intrigued by her plainspoken manner and unique charm. As the morning light gently illuminated the carriage, Derek was able to observe her at his leisure. She appeared much younger in sleep and her lovely features took on a vulnerable quality. The haunted look that so often dominated her soft brown eyes was gone. Her long, thick black eyelashes made her porcelain skin look even creamier, and they contrasted sharply with the wisps of golden-blonde hair framing her face.

Almost as if by intuition, Diana became aware of Derek's scrutiny and opened her eyes. She blinked several times, still sleepy and disoriented. She shifted her position until she was sitting upright and gave the earl a crooked smile.

“Good morning, my lord,” she said groggily. At the earl's answering frown she hastily corrected herself. “Derek.”

“Did you sleep well?” he inquired.

“Yes, surprisingly well, as a matter of fact. Your carriage is quite comfortable. I've never been inside such a luxurious vehicle.”

“This is the first time I've ridden in it also. Giles commissioned its construction last year,” Derek said.

“I see,” Diana remarked softly, looking about the interior of the coach. Knowing Giles had also ridden in the vehicle instantly took away some of her pleasure. She twisted her hands nervously in her lap, unsure how to respond.

“I shouldn't have said that,” Derek said, his deep voice breaking the awkward silence.

“It's all right,” Diana assured him.

“No, it isn't all right, Diana. God's blood, woman, it was probably your money that paid for all this luxury.” Derek reached over and grasped her hands in his much larger ones. “I'll make it up to you, Diana. I swear it.”

A lump formed in Diana's throat as she gazed into his handsome face. He really was a good man. “That is not necessary, Derek,” she said mistily, fighting back her tears. His sincere kindness touched her heart, but she felt no compulsion to have him pay for another man's mistreatment of her. “The money is not important. Truly. I am grateful to be finally free of Giles. I want only to forget.”

At that moment, the carriage halted so suddenly that Diana was thrown across the seats and into Derek. He caught her easily and pulled her onto his lap, cradling her gently against him. She could feel the solidness of his chest and the strength of his arms as he held her, and she discovered she did not want to draw away from him.

She lifted her head. Mere inches separated them, and she could feel his warm breath on her cheek. He was going to kiss me, Diana thought, leaning forward to encourage him.

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, and then his lips brushed against hers softly, sweetly. She shivered at the intimate contact. His tongue nudged her lips apart, slipping inside her mouth. She gave a deep sigh of contentment and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing herself against his hard body.

Derek kissed her gently at first, then more forcefully. His fingers caressed her back, his strong hands cupping her hips and holding her intimately against his hardness. She returned his kisses ardently, her heart fluttering wildly as the blood pounded in her temples. She felt helpless to stop herself, reveling in the delicious warmth that invaded her each time their tongues met.

They were interrupted suddenly by a banging noise on the top of the coach. Langston yelled out, “I've stopped at an inn, my lord. Do you want to get out and have your breakfast?”

Derek reluctantly tore his mouth away from Diana's, muttering an oath under his breath. He regretfully called out, “Yes, we'll stay.”

Derek turned his attention back to Diana, who was still sitting on his lap. Her face was blushing a becoming shade of pink, and she was struggling to remove herself from his embrace. She pushed forcefully against Derek's chest, and when he let go of her so suddenly, she fell to the carriage floor.

“Don't,” she screamed indignantly when he reached down to help her. “I can manage.” Grabbing on to the edge of the leather seat, she lifted herself up, but the coach lurched, and instead of landing on her side of the compartment, she was once again sprawled across the earl's lap.

“I could have done that, my dear,” he murmured softly in her ear as she struggled to right herself.

Diana managed to scramble off Derek's lap and sit down on the seat next to him, just as Langston opened the carriage door. Her face was flushed from her exertions and embarrassment, and her breathing was unsteady.

Langston's expression was unreadable as he held the door open for them. Derek swung down unassisted. He reached up to grab Diana, and she pressed her hands on his broad shoulders to steady herself. Once on her feet, she moved out of his reach and began walking toward the inn.

“Do you think we will be able to get a room where I can refresh myself?” Diana asked, still struggling to calm her ragged breathing.

Derek nodded, then instructed Langston to go inside to make all the necessary arrangements. By the time they reached the doorway of the establishment, Langston had secured a room for Diana and ordered breakfast for all of them.

Once alone in her room, Diana soaked the small washrag in a basin of cool water and held it up to her face. She felt confused and bewildered, and a trifle embarrassed over her display in the coach earlier. Lord only knew what might have happened if Langston had not interrupted them! As much as she tried to, Diana was hard pressed to come up with any reasonable explanation for her behavior toward Derek. One heart-melting smile from him and her heart lurched in reaction. One touch of his lips to hers and she completely lost all sense of reason, all sense of caution.

Methodically Diana completed her toilet while pondering her problem, discarding several possible solutions in rapid succession. She finally abandoned the notion of trying to figure out why she was acting so unlike herself where the earl was concerned. Clearly, the only sensible thing to do was to remain a discrete distance from Derek at all times, therefore avoiding the difficulty of having to maintain her composure in the first place.

True, it would hardly be easy to stay at a distance when traveling cooped up inside a carriage with the man, but it was not impossible. She would just have to find a way. Resolved on her new course of action, Diana left the room to join Derek for breakfast.

A private parlor was unavailable in this more crowded inn, but Langston was able to obtain a secluded corner table for Derek and Diana. Derek rose immediately to his feet when she approached the table, and they began their meal in silence.

Pursuant to her new plan, Diana limited the breakfast conversation to safe, mundane topics, such as the excellent weather and tasty food. If Derek thought her overbearing manner a bit odd, he did not comment, and he appeared to be content to follow her lead.

Derek enjoyed watching Diana as she ate her meal. He could tell she was still flustered by their earlier encounter in the carriage because she deliberately tried to monopolize the conversation. She daintily buttered a muffin, and Derek felt the blood rush to his head as he observed her long, slender fingers with lustful regard, imagining them boldly caressing his hot, naked flesh.

As the meal progressed, Derek's thoughts seemed to run away from him, becoming more and more lustful. By the time breakfast was concluded, his body was so heated, his manhood so swollen, he could not leave the concealment of the table because his tight-fitting breeches would immediately reveal his lecherous intentions.

Diana ate the remaining bite of sausage on her plate and congratulated herself on successfully accomplishing her mission. She had just shared a perfectly pleasant and very impersonal meal with the earl. Pleased with her success, she made a motion to rise from the table, but at Derek's strained grin, she returned to her seat.

“Are you feeling all right, Derek?” she asked, trying to keep her tone mildly curious.

“Fine,” he responded with a grimace. “Please do stay and have another cup of chocolate, Diana.”

Not wanting to appear rude, Diana complied with his request, forcing herself to drink another cup of chocolate, while he stared about the crowded taproom taking deep, even breaths.

Finally, breakfast was completed and they stood up simultaneously from the table. Diana hesitated only slightly before she took hold of the arm Derek. offered her; then they stepped outside into the sunshine. Neither one spoke as they took their customary stroll about the innyard to exercise their cramped muscles.

After circling the yard three times, Derek announced it was time to leave. They reentered the coach and the journey resumed. They conversed pleasantly for an hour until Diana announced her desire to rest. She curled up in her corner of the coach, closed her eyes, and feigned sleep.

Derek was puzzled by her actions, but not unduly disturbed. For some unknown reason, Diana had decided to keep a polite distance, and he respected her wishes. He too was disturbed by the rampant desire consuming him each time they kissed and the strange possessiveness he felt toward her. Perhaps a bit of distance between them would help him once again regain command of his senses.

Later that afternoon, Derek took the ribbons from Langston, and Diana breathed a sigh of relief. She was having difficulty pretending to sleep all the time, and she was not quite sure how to keep herself constantly aloof when engaging in conversation with Derek.

The coach pulled into another inn as dusk approached, and this time, Derek calmly informed Diana that they were going to spend the night. As she entered the inn on Derek's arm, Diana was momentarily timorous, certain every eye must be trained upon them. She knew they must look odd, traveling with neither maid nor valet, but Derek handled the innkeeper with his usual style and grace and had no difficulty in securing the remaining two adjoining rooms for them.

As they entered their second week on the road, their traveling days took on a similar pattern, with little altering except the quality of the inns and the changing landscape. Diana's nerves were stretched taut with the strain of keeping up an impersonal, yet polite facade, and Derek had grown gloomy at her withdrawal. He repeatedly asked her if something was wrong, and she continued to insist everything was perfectly fine. Her response, she knew, only served to further his anger. Derek spent more and more of his time riding on the outside of the coach with his men, rather than inside with her, and Diana tried valiantly to convince herself she was glad to be spared his company.

 

As Diana gazed out her window now, the upland pastures and moorlands of wild desolate beauty told her they had driven far into Devon and would soon be entering Cornwall. If the weather held, she might even reach home by nightfall of the next day.

She gave a heavy sigh at the thought. The coach pulled into a small village, and not even the picturesque row of fishermen's cottages hugging the hillside—with their thick whitewashed stone walls, slate roofs, and distinctive chimney pots—could dispel her gloom.

Derek instructed his driver to escort Diana into the inn. They were met by the innkeeper's wife, who directed Diana to a small corner table that afforded her some privacy from the curious eyes of the crowded taproom. Diana ordered a meal for herself and the earl, also requesting the earl's men be served whatever they wished. Derek joined her soon after that, and she was at first glad of his company, for it discouraged the bolder stares she had been receiving.

A pretty young barmaid brought their supper, favoring the earl with a broad wink when she set down the plates of hot food. Diana unconsciously ground her teeth together, excessively annoyed at the maid's familiar manner. Derek, his eyes trained on Diana's face, barely noticed the maid, assuming he was the cause of Diana's ire.

Dinner was a strained affair. Diana remained lethargic and depressed throughout, eating very little of the excellently prepared meal, even forgoing the delicious Cornish pastry, with its chunks of beef, potato, onion, and turnip baked to perfection inside a light, flaky crust.

Derek also did not eat with his usual enjoyment, and Diana frowned slightly when he signaled the barmaid to bring him a second bottle of wine. Diana excused herself soon after, wearily following the innkeeper's wife to the top of the stairs, where her bedchamber was located.

Although the room was rather small, Diana was pleased to note it was clean. The bed, though not overly large, had a soft mattress and fresh linen. Diana accepted the lit candle from the innkeeper's wife with thanks and, once alone, began to mechanically undress. She sponged off her travel dirt in the small copper basin, thinking longingly of a proper bath and vowing to burn her two black mourning gowns upon her arrival home.

After putting on her nightgown, Diana sat on the edge of the bed, brushing out her hair. The rhythmic stroking helped ease the tension in her head, and Diana laid back against the covers. Perhaps once she was home at Snowshill Manor she would be able to forget about Derek and the unsettling effect he had on her. Grimacing with honesty, she forced herself to admit doing so was unlikely.