Romancing the Earl (5 page)

“Good God, no.” Elijah’s lips twisted with distaste. “We’ll stay at an inn.” Or set up camp somewhere. Anywhere was preferable to residing under the same roof as his frigid mother.

Wade nodded. “The coach is waiting.”

“Thank you.” Elijah turned toward the foyer.

“Good luck!” Wade called after him.

Elijah made his way outside to the landau, the top of which was open. Elijah had requested it so that he could enjoy the night air. After so many years of spending a great deal of time out-of-doors, he found his new role poring over accounts and ledgers to be constricting. He looked forward to the day when he was well-versed in his duties as the earl, so that he could return to some of his previous pursuits.

He settled himself into the landau, and the driver took them on their way. What had his previous pursuits included, exactly? Riding, which he still did every day. Building, which had been a necessity in the expanding Australian colony. Hunting, though that truthfully wasn’t his favorite activity. What he really ought to do was spend some time with his tenants. He’d taken a tour last week, but overall the people had been aloof. Could he blame them? They’d apparently suffered a criminal and then Matthew, who’d visited the tenants exactly once.

The pastoral countryside passed by, in some ways familiar and in others completely foreign. After two several-month voyages across multiple oceans, and years in an isolated locale, his “home” felt like anything but. The grandeur of his bedchamber made him ill at ease, the fussing of the servants was unwelcome, and the responsibility he now bore as earl suffused him with restlessness. He told himself the situation would improve once he grew acclimated, but he wished the adjustment would happen faster.

He found the mystery surrounding the hidden tapestry and possibly his brother’s death considerably more engaging. He thought of little else beyond all of his unanswered questions. And of Miss Bowen. He thought of her far too much.

The trip was brief, and soon they were passing a newly repaired gatehouse as they drove up the lane. Bassett Manor rose before him, the early evening midsummer sun shining upon the mullioned windows, casting the house in a warm, inviting glow. The impressive façade was equal parts medieval castle, Tudor hall, and Restoration manor. It was a bit convoluted in design—it looked as though it had been enlarged several times—but it held far more character than Cosgrove.

He exited the landau without waiting for the coachman’s assistance, something his retainers were learning to accept, and made his way to the front door. A footman opened it and held it wide as Elijah stepped into the massive foyer. Soaring three stories, the space seemed cavernous, likely because it wasn’t stocked to the brim with
stuff
. In fact, it was rather austere, with a simple, thick carpet covering the stone tiles. Large rooms opened off the hall, and a wide, grand staircase ascended the far wall.

Another footman approached. “This way, my lord.” He led Elijah to the room at the right side of the foyer. Like the entry, this room was huge, with exposed, arching beams. Despite its size, it felt comfortable, as though people actually lived here. Elijah realized just then that he resided in a museum, not a house. He couldn’t wait to get rid of the antiquities cluttering it up.

He immediately recognized Miss Bowen and his hosts, Mr. and Lady Foxcroft. There were four other occupants—two couples—but he didn’t know them.

Mr. Foxcroft came forward with a welcoming smile. “Good evening, Lord Norris. It’s our pleasure to have you in our home this evening.”

Lady Miranda joined him. “Indeed. I’m so glad you accepted our invitation. Allow me to introduce our guest, Miss Catriona Bowen.”

Though they’d already met, it hadn’t been a formal introduction—that much Elijah recalled from his brief time in English Society—and it had also been
secret,
at her request. Miss Bowen inclined her head and dipped a brief curtsey. “Good evening, my lord.”

Lady Miranda gestured toward a settee where a red-haired woman, her belly rounded with child, perched. The man standing next to her carried an air of authority that Elijah recognized. Had he also been in the military? “And this is my brother, Lord Saxton, and his wife, Lady Olivia. They are visiting on their way to Saxton’s home in Yorkshire.”

Saxton stepped forward and offered his hand. “Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Elijah shook his hand, appreciating the man’s direct stare. “As am I.”

“Finally, this is my steward, Rob Knott, and his wife, Felicity,” Foxcroft said.

Knott, a muscular fellow, came forward and offered his hand with a firm grip. “Glad to see Cosgrove inhabited again. Sorry about your brother.”

His wife nodded with a warm smile. “Indeed. Lord Norris—that is, your brother—was a charming fellow. I met him on a few occasions.”

She had? Had all of them? Perhaps the Foxcrofts had hosted a similar dinner party for Matthew. “I’m a bit surprised,” Elijah mused. “I would’ve expected Matthew to spend most of his time in London.” He preferred to be where he could engage in the most debauchery.

“He did,” Lady Miranda said. “However, he also enjoyed his time in Wootton Bassett. He hosted a few, ah, gentlemanly parties. And, of course, we entertained with him here.”

Elijah imagined Matthew enjoyed socializing with the daughter of one of the most powerful dukes in the realm. “I hope you found him well-behaved.”

Lady Miranda’s blond brows drew together briefly until she realized he was joking. She smiled, which only enhanced her classic English beauty. “Compared to the prior Lord Norris, he was positively perfect.”

“Ah yes, but then the previous earl was a criminal, wasn’t he?” Elijah said.

“Indeed he was,” Foxcroft said darkly.

“Fox was a criminal too,” Lady Miranda said with a grin. “Two years ago, the orphanage was in such dire straits that he had to resort to highway robbery. That’s how we met.” She beamed at him and curled her hand possessively over his arm.

Elijah blinked, looking between them. He couldn’t begin to think of how to respond.

Knott laughed and shook his head, defusing any tension that Lady Miranda’s declaration had aroused. Miss Bowen took that moment to move toward Elijah. “I’m glad you came tonight,” she said softly.

He looked down at her and tried not to notice how lovely she looked with her ebony hair swept into an artful style, an intriguing silver pendant gracing her slender neck and dragging his gaze lower. He snapped his attention to her face, which was as alluring as the rest of her, with her pert but lush lips and too-strong chin. “Why, so you can interrogate me further?” He arched a brow to indicate he was teasing—though it probably wasn’t too far off her intentions.

Her gaze lingered on his. “Perhaps.”

A footman announced dinner, and Foxcroft led them from the great hall. The couples paired off, leaving Elijah to guide Miss Bowen. “I suppose I have you to thank for tonight’s invitation.”

She tucked her arm over his. “Why would you think that? Miranda loves to entertain, and as the social leader of the district, she feels it’s her duty to welcome you.”

“I see.” And he did. Lady Miranda surely would’ve invited him sooner or later, but Elijah was certain that Miss Bowen had ensured it was the former. “How long will you be staying with the Foxcrofts?”

“I suppose that’s up to you.” She flashed him a beguiling smile as they entered the dining room.

Elijah managed to pull his attention from his captivating companion and take in his surroundings. Obviously from the same era of the house as the great hall, the dining room boasted a massive fireplace, whose wood mantel was decorated with carved deer, foxes, and other woodland creatures. The table was impeccably set with crystal and fine bone china. Elijah briefly wondered if he’d ever host such an occasion at Cosgrove, and found he couldn’t imagine it.

Lady Miranda took her chair at the head of the table, opposite her husband at the other end. “Lord Norris, you’re over here by me.” He vaguely recalled how formal seating arrangements worked. “And Cate, you’re next to Lord Norris.”

Elijah guided Miss Bowen to her indicated seat. “I take it you also arranged to be seated beside me?” he murmured.

She looked at him over her shoulder. “You’re a suspicious fellow, aren’t you?”

“Suspicious
and
infuriating. It’s a wonder you speak to me at all, given your lofty opinion of me.”

She laughed softly and her eyes sparkled with mirth.
Yes, captivating.

Elijah took his seat and wine was poured. “Pardon me for raising this subject again, Foxcroft, but are there any reparations that need to be made for the prior earl’s crimes?”

Foxcroft shook his head. “No. Repayments were made and may have been what sent Norris into the apoplexy that caused his death. And please, call me Fox. Everyone does.” He sipped his wine. “I know he was your relative, but I can’t apologize for my lack of remorse. He was a thoroughly reprehensible man.”

Elijah now recalled the ledger entries detailing the money that had fled the coffers two and a half years ago—those had been the repayments. And they’d started his brother at a bit of a disadvantage.
If
he’d been paying attention to the accounts, which Elijah doubted. But pair that with Matthew’s extravagant expenses and it was no wonder the earldom was in financial disarray. However, selling off the ridiculous antiquities collection should repair matters. Add a valuable treasure into the mix, and Elijah could see turning the situation around completely and bringing a new level of honor to both the title and the estate.

He contemplated Miss Bowen briefly as the first course was served. Could he find this treasure without her? Since he didn’t particularly want to share it, he supposed he’d have to try. Wait, he
wanted
to find it?

“Did you determine where your brother hid the tapestry?” she asked. Conversation had sprung up all around the table and no one heard her question but Elijah.

“You assume I even looked into the matter.”

She paused in lifting a spoon to her mouth. “Never say you didn’t, for I shan’t believe you.”

He resisted the urge to smile at her cleverness. “No, I haven’t found it yet.”

“But surely you have a notion as to where it might be?”

Not that he planned to disclose. He liked Miss Bowen—he did?—but he didn’t yet trust her. Trust was something he gave sparingly. “Miss Bowen, I realize you desire to purchase the tapestry, but for now, I’m not interested in selling it. Which is entirely moot since I’ve no idea where it is.”

She leaned toward him. “You must have
some
idea. If you just think about—”

“Whether I think about it or not, find it or not, is none of your concern.” He enjoyed the pretty flush that rose in her cheeks, but he wasn’t purposefully trying to aggravate her. He simply wanted to be honest and forthright about his intentions and as of now, he had no reason to include her in any of his plans.

She pulled back and scowled at him. “Is it too late to add stubbornness to your list of attributes?”

Norris’s warm laughter rankled Cate even further. She considered
accidentally
spilling her soup bowl in his lap, but that would likely send him directly home, and she wasn’t finished with him yet. He joined the conversation about improvements to the orphanage that Fox owned and she was content—for now—to simply watch him interact with the others.

He was annoyingly confident and intelligent, with a hint of dry wit. How was she going to persuade him to help her? She was pleased to learn that he’d at least considered the tapestry. That was better than him doing nothing. Presumably, he would find it, and she’d be watching. She’d talk to Grey and they’d come up with a plan to get the tapestry, one way or another.

As the final course wound down, Miranda glanced around the table. “Do you gentleman want to stay here for brandy or shall we all adjourn to the hall?”

The men exchanged looks and gentle shrugs. “Let’s all go to the hall,” Fox said. “Young Albert from the orphanage has consented to play the pianoforte for us this evening if anyone would care to dance.”

Cate looked over at Norris, who slid her a curious glance. Did he think she’d organized that too?

“I had nothing to do with the entertainment,” she whispered.

He stood and helped her from her chair, then offered his arm. “I didn’t say you did.”