To Tame a Highland Earl (7 page)

He had done a little investigating and found
that five years ago the lady had eloped. The prospective groom’s
father caught up with them before the marriage took place but, as
was so often the case, the wedding night had preceded the vows.
Lord Harrison Blane claimed she was pregnant with his child. Time
passed and no child appeared, but the accusation was enough to
brand her an undesirable bride. A fact that was sure to work in his
favor.

Erroll straightened from his bow, placed her
hand in the crook of his arm, and faced Somerset. “It almost seems
you intended to take advantage of my future wife. But that cannot
be the case.”

Miss Crenshaw gave a soft gasp and he only
half regretted his stupidity. If he could hear her gasp in that
fashion while he moved inside her, it would be worth the thrashing
his father administered once they broke their connection. She had
no more desire to marry him than he did to marry her. In the end,
she could cry off, and they would both go their merry ways; her,
the wounded lady, and him, the same rakehell he’d been all
along.

Somerset’s eyes narrowed.

Erroll had seen that look before. “Really,
Somerset, does the lady look as though she is being held against
her will?”

He released the hand that held her fingers
around his arm. She didn’t pull away. Very good. Now what would it
take to induce her to stroll with him in the gardens? That, Erroll
decided, would be the challenge—and the fun—of the chase and, who
knew, they might slake their desire even quicker than he’d
anticipated.

“
She is too much of a lady
to show her agitation,” Somerset said through tight
lips.

“
Rest assured, I am not a
prisoner,” she said in a no nonsense tone that made Erroll want to
laugh. That she had no fear of him, he found intriguing.

Somerset wasn’t afraid of him, either, and
that could present a problem. Dueling over a woman was bad
business. Erroll had no intention of turning a simple
affaires
de coeur
into a drama that might exile him to one of their
homes in Scotland, or worse, to France. Neither had he any
intention of giving up the chase.

He looked down at Miss Crenshaw who, as he’d
noticed upon first seeing her, looked beautiful in olive green
velvet. The dress would have appeared modest on any other woman,
but the bodice simply couldn’t contain her breasts, and the rise of
creamy flesh that spilled over the top of the lace hardened
Erroll’s resolve—and his cock—to taste her sweet charms.

“
Would you like lemonade,
my dear?” he asked.

Surprise flickered in her eyes, then they
narrowed almost imperceptivity. She may not be afraid of him, but
she didn’t trust him. She wasn’t stupid. Unexpectedly, her
expression turned sweet, and Erroll was pleased to realize she had
no more taste for duels than he did.

She inclined her head. “That would be lovely,
my lord.”

“
Somerset.” Erroll gave him
a slight nod, then started away with her.

“
I am here if you need me,
Eve.”

Erroll paused and looked at her. “Do you need
him, my dear?”

“
I am quite well, thank
you.”

Erroll shifted his gaze to the earl. “She
does not need you, Somerset. By the by, I expect from now on, you
will not be so familiar with my future wife.”

Miss Crenshaw’s fingers tightened around his
arm and he agreed with the sentiment he knew the action betrayed.
He’d done it again; called her his future wife.

*****

Eve walked from the alcove on shaky legs.
What had gone wrong with her plan? Why wasn’t Lord Rushton on his
way to Gretna Green? A hint of fatigue beneath his eyes caught her
attention and she wondered if he had attended other parties before
finding her here. His direct manner inside the alcove gave her the
feeling that he’d been searching for her. She recalled his wound
and realized his leg might be worse than he’d let on.

“
How is your leg,
sir?”

He looked at her. “Are you sorry you shot
me?”

She waited until they sidestepped two
gentlemen in their path, then said, “You deserved it. But I am
sorry. The shot alerted the innkeeper and maids to our altercation.
Things would have been much easier had they not seen the mess with
their own eyes.”

“
So you do not regret so
much shooting me, as the fact it got us caught.”

She gave an impatient shake of her head. “I
wasn’t trying to kill you.”

“
How fortunate for
me.”

“
Why someone did not shoot
you long ago defies belief.”

“
Others have tried,” he
said with an amiable tone. “Their aim simply was not as good as
yours.”

The next steps brought them to a stop as Lady
Banks and Lady Hollister turned toward them.

“
Good evening, my lord,”
Lady Banks said.

“
My lord.” Lady Hollister
gave a small curtsey, then looked at Eve. “Miss
Crenshaw.”

“
Ladies.” He reached for
Lady Hollister’s hand and Eve released him as he bowed over it,
then turned to Lady Banks and did the same.

“
We must offer our
felicitations,” Lady Banks said. “We read of your engagement in the
paper. How exciting!”

Eve caught the flicker of surprise in the
earl’s eyes. So he had been unaware of the announcement as
well.

He flashed a charming smile at Eve. “I am a
very fortunate man.”

Good Lord, his performance was sure to ignite
the two old biddies’ imaginations. By morning, all of Manchester
would believe that Earl Rushton was smitten with his wife-to-be.
The current gossip was bad enough, but after this, his and Grace’s
return to England as man and wife would paint her forever as the
bride cast aside in favor of her sister. The gossip would not
flatter Lord Rushton any more than it would her, she realized with
a start. She hadn’t considered how his ‘jilting her’ might affect
his reputation. What sort of cad left his intended bride for her
sister?

Lady Hollister’s titter of laughter grated
against Eve’s ear. “I am sure you two shall be very happy,” the
older woman said, “and it could not have come at a better time. We
were saddened to hear of your brother’s death, Lord Rushton.”

He stiffened.

That was right. Eve had forgotten. He
returned from the navy a little over a year ago with the news that
his brother had perished at Trafalgar. His brother had reached the
rank of lieutenant, and Eve’s father said he earned that rank as an
enlisted man, instead of letting the marques buy him a commission.
According to her father, Lord Valan was on his way to an
Admiralty.

“
That is kind of you,”
Rushton replied.

Lady Hollister looked confused. “Forgive me
if I spoke out of turn, my lord. I—”

“
There is nothing to
forgive,” he interrupted. “Now, if you will excuse us, we were on
the way to the refreshments room. Miss Crenshaw is
thirsty.”

“
Of course,” the ladies
answered in unison. They dropped a curtsy and he led Eve
away.

“
Meddling old busy-bodies,”
he muttered as he guided her around another couple.

Eve knew he was bothered by their mention of
his brother, and wanted to offer condolences, but his response made
her reticent. Instead, she said, “You purposely egged them on about
our supposed engagement.”

His head snapped in her direction. He stared
for an instant, then grinned. “I cannot help myself, can I?”

“
I believe you thrive on
mischief.” His brows rose, and she added, “In this case, you are
only making it more difficult for when we do not marry.”

“
You are still set against
marrying me, then?”

“
Do not act as if you feel
any different.”

“
Rushton,” a large man
called to him.

The earl brought them to a halt as the man
closed the few paces separating them, a lady on his arm.

“
Lord Camden,” the earl
said. “Lady Camden.”

“
How are you, Rushton?” the
man said.

“
Very well, thank you. May
I present Miss Eve Crenshaw? Miss Crenshaw, Lord and Lady
Camden.”

Eve affected a graceful bow. “My lord. Lady
Camden.”

“
Oh yes,” Lady Camden said.
“We know who this young lady is.”

“
Congratulations, my boy,”
Lord Camden said. “It is high time you settled down. Your father
must be pleased.”

Lord Rushton canted his head. “The marquess
is satisfied.”

“
Satisfied?” Lady Camden
laughed. “I am certain he is ecstatic.”

Ecstatic? Eve had serious doubts about that.
Oscar, her coachman and confidant, had told her that the marquess
had visited her father that afternoon while she and Grace were
shopping. Eve feared that meant her father had given the marquess
the marriage contract—along with the threat that he would shoot the
earl if the marquess did not endorse the marriage.

Eve caught sight of a woman she didn’t
recognize staring at Lord Rushton.

“
It was very nice seeing
you,” the earl said to Lord and Lady Camden. “But if you will
excuse us. We were on our way to the refreshments room.” He didn’t
wait for a reply, but grasped Eve’s elbow and maneuvered her around
them.

His attention, she noticed, snagged on the
woman, and the woman’s mouth curved in a sensual smile. Eve barely
refrained from rolling her eyes. Was the woman a past lover, a
current lover, or perhaps in the market for a lover? Lord Rushton
made a sudden turn that took her out of view and Eve cast him a
furtive glance. His gaze remained forward, and his expression gave
away none of his thoughts.

Two more couples waylaid them before they
made it halfway around the large ballroom, and Eve spotted a group
of rotund women who had them in their sights. Lord Rushton steered
her past a cluster of gentleman and into the thick of the crowd
where it would be difficult for the ladies to navigate their girth.
They emerged near a hallway and he hurried her forward.

“
The refreshments room is
there.” He pointed ahead to an open doorway.

Two couples stepped from the room into the
corridor and Lord Rushton slowed as they passed. Eve started to
veer toward the open doorway, but he hurried her past the room.

“
My lord,” Eve
protested.

“
Shh,” he
whispered.

They turned the bend into a shadowy part of
the corridor.

“
Sir, we should not be
here.”

He made a quick left down another corridor,
then stopped in front of the fourth room on the left. He released
her hand, slid open the doors wide enough to fit through, then
urged her inside the dimly lit room.

Eve whirled back toward the door and was
forced to retreat two paces when he stepped inside. “Lord Rushton,
this is a very bad idea.”

He drew the doors closed. The meager light
from the hallway disappeared and they were left with a faint light
emanating from the hearth.

Lord Rushton faced her. “I realize meeting
alone like this is not the most desirable situation, but our
families have left us little choice. Unless you plan to obey your
father’s order to marry me, I suggest we talk.”

She hesitated, then acquiesced.

“
Have a seat.” He nodded to
something behind her.

Eve turned. They occupied a small,
wood-paneled parlor. Directly ahead, a sofa was positioned before
the hearth. Thick, floor length curtains hung on the wall to the
left of the fireplace. Lord Rushton crossed to the Louis XIV
commode that sat against the left wall and poured two drinks from
the decanter sitting on the marble top. Eve started toward the
couch and caught sight of the large Lyonnaise region armoire that
dominated the wall to the right. Apparently Lady Grendall had a
penchant for very expensive French furniture. Eve settled on the
couch and Lord Rushton joined her a moment later. He extended one
of the glasses of liquor.

“
I don’t drink, my
lord.”

He chuckled. “Now might be the time to
start.” When she frowned, he said, “Take it, Miss Crenshaw. A bit
of brandy is good for the nerves. We could both use a little
fortification.”

Eve couldn’t argue. She took the glass and
sipped the brandy. Warmth spread down her throat to her stomach and
radiated out. She had to admit, the feeling was nice.

“
How is it you are so well
acquainted with Dorsett Hall?” she asked as he took a long sip of
his drink. “This mansion is one of the largest within twenty miles
of Manchester.”

“
Tony and I have been
friends since childhood. I have been here often. His mother
sometimes takes a respite from her parties here.”

Eve startled. “Good Lord, if she finds us
here, my father will call for a parson on the spot.”

“
Lady Grendall has no
intention of leaving this party for even an instant. The ballroom
is filled beyond capacity, and our impending marriage is all the
buzz. This is the only party where we have been seen together,
which will make Lady Grendall the envy of every other lady of note.
Now, madam, down to business. You do not intend to marry
me.”

At least he was direct. “I cannot see why I
should.”

“
Well, there is reason that
you should, but that is of little consequence if you will not allow
for it.”

“
I will not,” she replied.
“Grace may have that honor.”

“
I did say that I would not
marry your sister.”