The Dark Earl (53 page)
Thomas ran an appreciative hand along the Arabian’s glossy neck. “Yes, June would be good. Then she’ll foal next May, when there’s plenty of grass to help her milk supply.”
Abercorn put his hand on his son-in-law’s shoulder. “I deeply appreciate you nursing Harriet through her dreaded bout of cholera. We could have easily lost her if you hadn’t taken over and tended her day and night.”
“She had a bad time of it. It truly was touch and go for many days.
She became paralyzed and lost the use of her legs. I’ve never been so deathly worried in my life.”
“Bringing her to Shugborough has done her a world of good.”
“Yes, I agree. Would you mind terribly if we didn’t come back to London right away? Harry is longing to stay the entire summer.”
“I think that’s a splendid idea. Stay and breed your horses and enjoy your estate. You’ve done an amazing job restoring Shugborough’s treasures and furnishings. I know that money has been a problem for some time.”
“I promised Harry that I would swallow my pride and ask you for financial advice.”
“Nothing would please me more, my boy. There’s money to be made in English manufacturing. We produce the best-quality goods in the entire world at the moment.”
“Thank you. Come to the library after dinner. You provide the advice and I’ll supply the home-brewed ale.”
When the two men returned to the house, Abercorn made a suggestion. “You know, I think it advisable if you stay at Shugborough for the entire summer, Harry. London is an unhealthy place at the best of times, and contagions are rife in the hot weather.”
“Thomas has likely been painting you graphic pictures of my illness. But thanks to him, I am completely recovered. My reasons for wanting to stay at Shugborough for the summer are totally selfish, so I thank you for indulging me, Father.”
Abercorn winked at his daughter. “We all have selfish reasons for doing things. For instance, the reason I came rushing to Shugborough the moment we returned from Ireland, quite apart from seeing how you were, Harry, was to make sure Riley and my best carriage are returned to London. I can’t manage without them.”
“Hell and Furies, Father, I was hoping to keep them,” Harry teased. “Next thing, you’ll be wanting Rose back at Hampden House!”
“This has been the most wonderful summer of my life!” Thomas was driving Harry back to Shugborough from a day of shopping in Stafford. She had bought material for new curtains in the kitchen, and some lovely Staffordshire pottery for the new stillroom they had built. Then they had enjoyed dinner at the posting inn.
As they drove through the gates and the lights from the house came into view, Harry said, “I don’t know which season is my favorite. Spring was delightful with all the daffodils in bloom, and Cannock Chase filled with newly born wildlife, but the summer months also have been splendid. I have truly enjoyed the warm, lazy days and my walled garden overflowing with jasmine and honeysuckle.” She sighed happily. “I can’t believe it is August. Where has the time gone?”
“It has been the happiest summer of my life, because I’ve spent it here with you.”
“Let’s do it again next year. What is to stop us from coming in the spring and staying until autumn? We could possibly even do some entertaining. Perhaps by next year, our honeymoon will be over and we can bear to let others into our lives.”
“I very much doubt our honeymoon will be over.”
She glanced at him as they drove up to the stables. “You have an enigmatic look on your face, as if you know something that I am unaware of.”
Thomas smiled. “I do have a surprise for you, but I intend to keep my secret just a little longer.”
“You take inordinate pleasure in keeping secrets, you dark devil.”
As they walked from the stables to the house, Harry pointed with delight. “Do you see the glow flies in the darkness?”
“Did you know that when their luminescent glow goes on and off, the fiery signal is a mating invitation?”
“Oh, how lovely. I never thought about it, but I warrant you are right.”
When they went into the house, Harry saw that there was a letter from her mother on the table in the entrance hall. “Good! We have news from London. I’ll take it with me and read it upstairs.”
She paused when she got to the foot of the staircase. She could now climb stairs faster than anyone at Shugborough, but it was far more pleasurable to have Thomas carry her, especially when it was bedtime.
Harry undressed quickly and slipped on her nightgown. Then she sat on the edge of the bed and opened her letter.
“Oh, Thomas, you’ll never guess. Trixy and D’Arcy have twin sons! Bless her heart, no wonder her tummy was so huge. Mother and babies are doing very well.”
“That’s wonderful. I’m very happy for them. But when you have babies, I hope they come one at a time. I’d die of worry if you were having twins, Harry.”
“There’s more amazing news. Jane is engaged to Will Montagu! My sister has been in love with the braw Scot for years.”
Thomas grinned. “Your mother will be over the moon. She’s always wanted Will Montagu for a son-in-law.”
“Jane will be the Countess of Dalkeith and the future Duchess of Buccleuch. Mother always insisted that one of us should marry Will so that she could visit Montagu House on a regular basis and descend its glorious staircase with the dramatic flair it deserves.”
Harry was distracted from her letter the moment Thomas began to undress. If truth were told, it was the highlight of her day to see the lithe body of her naked husband. Tonight, for some reason, he removed his trousers and left on his shirt. Her eyes followed his fingers as he began to undo the buttons. Then he deliberately turned his back before he took off the linen shirt.
When he turned to face her, Harry’s eyes went wide with delight. “You got a tattoo today!” She ran to him and traced the indelible image on the left side of his chest, above his heart, with her fingertips. Then she kissed it and went weak with desire. “A centaur was the perfect choice.” She slipped off her silk nightgown, lifted her arms about his neck, and rubbed herself against his body. “Oh, I was right. Our attraction
is
physical!”
is
physical!”
AUTHOR’S NOTE
In
The Dark Earl
I refer to the Marquis and Marchioness of Abercorn as the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn, though James Hamilton did not receive his dukedom from Queen Victoria until 1866.
The Dark Earl
I refer to the Marquis and Marchioness of Abercorn as the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn, though James Hamilton did not receive his dukedom from Queen Victoria until 1866.
Harriet and Thomas Anson, the Earl and Countess of Lichfield, had thirteen children. Thomas became the lord lieutenant of Staffordshire from 1863 to 1871.
Beatrix and D’Arcy Lambton, the Earl and Countess of Durham, had twin sons, followed by eleven other children.
Jane Hamilton married William Montagu, the Earl of Dalkeith, in 1859, and they had eight children.
Shugborough Hall, Staffordshire, is open to the public.
Virginia Henley
is a
New York Times
bestselling author and the recipient of numerous awards, including the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award. Her novels have been translated into fourteen languages. A grandmother of three, she lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with her husband.
is a
New York Times
bestselling author and the recipient of numerous awards, including the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award. Her novels have been translated into fourteen languages. A grandmother of three, she lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with her husband.
Read on for an excerpt of another exciting and sensual historical romance from
VIRGINIA HENLEY
The
Irish Duke
Irish Duke
AVAILABLE NOW FROM SIGNET ECLIPSE
Montagu House, London
August 1894
August 1894
“W
ouldn’t you
love
to know?” Dowager Duchess Louisa winked at her two great-granddaughters, who were whispering about her.
ouldn’t you
love
to know?” Dowager Duchess Louisa winked at her two great-granddaughters, who were whispering about her.
The pair blushed hotly when they realized Lu had overheard them wondering how many lovers she’d had in her eighty-odd years.
The
trés grande dame
was presiding over a levee of her one hundred and one descendants.
trés grande dame
was presiding over a levee of her one hundred and one descendants.
“After all, I belonged to the decadent Georgian era. You cannot expect me to even pay lip service to the rigid respectability of the repressed Victorians.”
“Is it true, Your Grace, that you declined the office of Mistress of the Robes to her Majesty the Queen?” Maud asked in awe.
Lu threw back her head and laughed. “Not once, but twice. One of my greatest passions is beautiful raiment in brilliant colors, such as red. Just the thought of Queen Victoria’s dull and dowdy garments gives me the shudders.”
“Her daughter-in-law Princess Alexandra has lovely taste in clothes,” Maud said.
“Indeed she has. It will be a most welcome change to have a queen who is fashionable. I cannot wait.”
The girls looked incredulous that the old girl expected to outlive Queen Victoria.
The corners of Lu’s lips lifted in a wry smile. “I’m not ready to stick my spoon in the wall for another decade. I fully intend to welcome in the next era with gusto.” She waved her crimson ostrich-feather fan languidly. “A little decadence never hurt anyone.”
The room fell silent as Louisa’s youngest daughter, Evelyn, Marchioness of Lansdowne, read congratulatory letters from Her Majesty Queen Victoria and His Royal Highness, Edward, Prince of Wales.
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