Good Earls Don't Lie (15 page)

“What do you mean?”

“I would sell my soul for an heiress, if it meant restoring Ashton.”

She eyed him for a long moment. Somehow, this didn’t seem to be for the sake of his tenants and his sisters. “That’s a high price to pay for land.” Tilting her head to the side, she regarded him. “This is about proving yourself, isn’t it?”

A hard edge came over his face. “It’s about helping those in need. It’s my responsibility.”

Rose let out a slow breath. “Then I will do what I can to help. But you must give me some guidance about what you want in a bride.”

His anger seemed to diminish, and he reached for her hand. “Someone kind. Someone who can look past my pirate ways.”

A ripple of nerves washed over her, for she sensed he was talking about her. His fingers tightened over her palm, and she felt the heat wash over her. His green eyes held warmth, but she wasn’t certain whether he was teasing or not.

“Don’t flirt with me, Lord Ashton. You must be serious about this.” She sent him a friendly smile, as if his words meant nothing.

“I am serious. That’s what I’m wanting in a bride.”

She stood again, but lost her balance. He caught her waist and steadied her. “You know I intend to wed Lord Burkham if he asks for my hand.” Surely when he saw her walk—even stand—he would offer for her.

“How many letters has he written to you?”

The question surprised her, for she didn’t see how it mattered. “Why do you ask?”

“How many?” he repeated.

“Six. And the most recent one came last week.” That ought to satisfy his curiosity. She couldn’t see why he cared.

His palm warmed her spine, and he kept his grip around her waist while she remained standing. “Six letters in six months?”

Oh.
She didn’t miss his raised eyebrow or the implication. “Yes. He writes to me often.”

“One letter a month is not often.”

The pointed look he sent was irritating. “But he
does
write to me. He wished me well in his last letter and told me that he missed me greatly.”

Lord Ashton said nothing, but she could tell that he thought little of the viscount. It wasn’t his concern, was it? Without knowing why, she jumped to his defense. “He has duties in Parliament and responsibilities toward his estate. I am grateful for each of his letters.”

“All six of them,” he noted. “In half a year’s time.”

“Don’t cast aspersions on the man I love,” she reminded him. “He does the best that he can.”

But Lord Ashton surprised her when he leaned in. “If the woman I loved fell sick, I would be at her side, day and night. And even if my duties took me from her, I would write every day.” The roughness in his voice took her aback, and for a moment, she found herself caught up in his stare. She couldn’t read his emotions, for his anger was blended with an intensity that stole her breath.

“I cannot understand why any man wouldn’t do the same for you.” His mouth rested above hers, and she felt the heat of his breath upon her lips. Against her will, her body responded to his nearness, making her soften to his touch. Though he crossed no boundaries, she trembled at the hushed sense of the forbidden.

“You’re too good for him,
a chara
. If he truly loved you, he would not have left you when you were ill. And I think you know that.”

Her face flooded with color, for he was the first one to openly say this. “Then why would Lord Burkham bother writing to me?”

He hesitated at that. “I cannot say. Except that perhaps he feels guilty for not treating you as he should.”

She didn’t want to believe it. Not when Thomas represented her hopes and dreams for the future. No, she would take comfort in the fact that he
had
continued to write letters, and she was glad of it. She let out a sigh. “I am tired, Lord Ashton. I think we are finished for today.”

He regarded her with solemnity. “It wasn’t my intent to hurt your feelings,
a chara.
”

“I know.” But she couldn’t bring herself to smile. His observations had planted the seeds of doubt within her mind. And yet, there was no way to know what Lord Burkham’s feelings were until she saw him again for herself.

Without asking permission, Lord Ashton reached for her hands once more. Slowly, he placed them on his shoulders while he rested his own hands at her waist. She wanted to pull back, but his green eyes held her captive. “I hope you know that I am your friend. I want to help you.”

She nodded, fully conscious of his arm around her waist. He held her a little longer, and she wondered what it was he wanted. The expression on his face was kindly, but there was something more within his gaze. She didn’t understand it but couldn’t bring herself to turn away.

Instead, she studied him in return. His dark hair was slightly long, but his face was clean shaven. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she took off her glove, reaching out to touch his cheek. “You shaved.”

“So I did.”

She traced the planes of his face, fully aware that she shouldn’t be doing this. And yet, he didn’t seem to mind her touch. He allowed it, and when she touched his opposite cheek, he warned, “Careful, Lady Rose.” His voice held a gruff quality that made her stop. But when she tried to pull her hand away, he covered it with his own, bringing it to his mouth.

Against her palm, his mouth was warm. The heat of his lips made gooseflesh rise upon her skin. Her imagination conjured up the image of his breath upon her body, and her breasts tightened inside her corset. She didn’t understand these sensations or why she should feel anything at all. Dozens of men had kissed her hand, though never like this.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured and tried to pull back.

“I’m not.” The wicked smile returned, and he kept her palm firmly in his own. “But it only seems fair that I should be allowed to do the same.”

She was frozen in place when his palm cupped her cheek. His thumb traced the outline of her jaw, moving lower to her chin. Her heartbeat quickened, blood rushing to her face. She told herself that this meant nothing, that they were only friends.

But he was overstepping the boundaries of friendship, reaching for something he couldn’t have. The look in his eyes seemed to reach beneath her defenses. This man was taking apart her good sense, tempting her in a way she didn’t understand.

“I am going to stay and teach you to walk, Rose.” He lifted her hand and stole another kiss that left her reeling. “That promise I’ve made, and that promise I’ll keep. But if ever you change your mind about Burkham, know that you are worth more than one letter a month.”

Chapter Eight

Iain rode across the open land, following the curve of the lake. The May sunlight warmed him until he was sweating from exertion and heat. He hadn’t stopped thinking about Rose since yesterday. It bothered him that she wanted a man who had abandoned her during her illness. How could she love such a person? Burkham deserved to lose her.

And yet, his own fate remained out of his hands. He knew he needed an heiress—but he was not at all prepared for London. Devil take it all, he dreaded entering such an unfamiliar world. Men and women would judge him by his Irish way of speaking, and he had no idea how to behave. He wished it were possible to avoid London entirely.

They will know you aren’t worthy of being the earl.
Lady Rose might think he had the difficult task of teaching her how to walk, but hers was the greater challenge.

Iain cursed beneath his breath and urged his horse faster until he reached the secluded part of the lake. He led Darcy over for a drink and then walked along the edge of the water. He wanted to swim, to churn his arms across the surface and release his frustration against the frigid water.

He wished Michael were alive so he could ask his brother for advice. Even though Iain had been the black sheep, the unwanted younger son, his brother had been his best friend. And God help him, he still felt the loss, even now.

No one was nearby, so he discarded his clothing on the shore and walked naked into the lake. The water stole his breath as soon as he stepped into it, but this was what he wanted right now—the punishing cold. He forced himself to begin swimming long strokes across the water, and the longer he swam, the more his body adjusted to the temperature.

He knew his obligations to Ashton and had made up his mind to marry. But he wanted to marry a woman he liked, especially since he would be expected to sire children with her.

The image of Lady Rose’s face appeared in his thoughts, haunting him. Here was a woman with determination and courage. A woman who wouldn’t turn her back on adversity, but who would meet her challenges without retreating. Although she wasn’t tremendously wealthy, she had a respectable dowry.

Rose doesn’t want you. She wants Burkham.
Try as he might, he couldn’t silence the voice of logic. But he didn’t believe that the viscount would come up to scratch. And he’d written only six letters in half a year? Mary, Mother of God, the viscount was leading her on. Even if Rose did return to London, there was no guarantee that Burkham would ask her to wed.

Irritation rose up within him, and he told himself it was none of his affair. It didn’t matter that Lady Rose’s touch lingered within his memory. She didn’t know how close she’d come to being kissed. The softness of her fingers upon his cheek had made him want to taste those lips, to show her the danger of one simple caress.

He kept swimming hard, back and forth, until his muscles burned from the exercise. It helped him to clear his mind and think of what to do. He would need a great deal of time to find the right woman to marry, and the longer he stayed here, the more his chances of finding the right woman diminished. Yet, if he stayed another fortnight, he could not only help Rose make progress on learning how to walk again, but he could also use that time to learn more about behaving like an earl.

The sound of an approaching horse made him remain in the water, but when he saw Rose riding closer, he paused. To his surprise, she had come alone this time and was riding along the edge of the lake. Usually she brought Hattie or Calvert with her, but not today. He wondered why.

Her pace was slow, and after a moment, she glimpsed him. Iain straightened in the water, unable to stop his smile. Well, now. Wasn’t this an interesting dilemma?

“You have me at a disadvantage,
a chara.
” He took a few steps closer, unable to resist teasing her. Now the water was at his waistline, and Rose put up her hands.

“Stop,” she commanded. “I didn’t realize you were here. There’s no need to . . . leave the water.” Her face held a lovely blush, and he rather wanted to see what she would do now. “I’ll just go now.”

Oh, no. He wasn’t about to let this opportunity escape. “I had just finished swimming,” he said. “If you’d like to take your turn, the water is all yours. Though, I must say, it’s a bit cold now.”

“I wasn’t planning to swim.”

He took another step closer, and this time, the water grazed his hip bones. Rose scrunched her eyes shut. “No, you needn’t come any farther.”

He rather wondered if she would sneak a glimpse if he were to leave the lake. He took another step forward, baring a bit more of himself.

When she didn’t respond, he guessed that she was indeed hiding her eyes. “I do need my clothes,” he pointed out. “And they are on the shore at the moment. I’ll go and fetch them.”

This time, he strode out of the water, fully bared. God almighty, it was cold. He watched Rose closely as he continued toward his clothes, but she kept both hands covering her eyes.

He couldn’t be certain, but it almost looked as if there was a slight space between her fingers. Was is possible that she was staring at him?

“Are you enjoying the view,
a chara
?” he asked as he reached for his smallclothes and trousers.

“I am not looking at you.”

“So you say.” He smiled to himself as he dressed. When he was half-clothed, he returned toward her horse. Aye, he could have finished putting on his shirt and the remainder of his clothing, but he wanted to see her reaction, to tease her a little more. “You can look now.”

She did, and promptly shut her eyes again. “You are not dressed, Lord Ashton.”

“All the important bits are. And it’s not as if you haven’t seen me in this state before.”

She let out a groan. “Really, now. Must you behave in such a villainous manner?”

“I would only be a villain if I pulled you from that horse and threw you in the lake.” He had no intention of doing so, but the slight gasp she emitted made it clear that she wasn’t quite so certain.

“Don’t you dare.”

He approached the horse while her eyes were still closed and reached up, pulling her down to stand before him. Rose squealed, and tried to fight him, but he held her steady. “Now,
a chara
, I wouldn’t do such a thing to you.”

“You took me off the horse.”

“So I did. You were wanting to walk, were you not?” He kept her standing, knowing full well that his body was still wet from the lake.

“Your skin is freezing,” she pointed out. “The water was too cold.”

“It’s England. It will never get warm,” he felt compelled to remind her. And he was accustomed to swimming in frigid water, for it wasn’t at all warm in Ireland, either.

But the longer he held her waist, the more she had an effect upon him. Her eyes remained closed, her lips slightly parted. Her reddish-brown hair was caught up in a pretty green bonnet, and she wore a riding habit that revealed the dip in her waist and the curve of her hips. Iain kept his arms around her, enjoying the temptation before him. There was no denying that Lady Rose was a stunningly beautiful woman, one he wanted to touch.

Not yours,
he warned himself.

But she wasn’t fighting his hands upon her waist. And although she gave a slight shiver, she didn’t seem frightened of him.

“I’m not going to harm you, Lady Rose,” he reminded her. “You can open your eyes.”

After a moment, she did. “I cannot believe you were swimming naked in the lake. Did you think no one would come along?”

He shrugged. “I don’t suppose I cared if anyone did.”

Right now, he was enjoying the feel of this woman in his arms. Her lips were soft, her cheeks blushing at his unclothed state. And though he knew he ought to let her go, he told himself that she would lose her balance if he did.

She swallowed hard and told him, “You may put me back on my horse now. I’ll return to Penford, and I won’t bother you.”

“That wasn’t why you came riding out here,” he predicted. “You were thinking of swimming, weren’t you?”

“I came for the pleasant view. And we both know I cannot swim. Especially not with you.”

He wasn’t convinced of that, but he wouldn’t press the matter. Instead he lifted her up into his arms and walked toward the large boulders that rested on one edge of the lake. “You can dip your toes into the lake, then. There’s no harm in it.”

Iain balanced himself carefully as he stepped onto the group of boulders, and chose a spot near the water’s edge. Gently, he lowered Lady Rose to a seated position and then sat beside her.

“You’re too close to me,” she protested. “Find your own rock.” But there was a hint of amusement in her voice, as if she didn’t truly mean it.

“I like sharing yours. And besides, if you fall in, I’ll be able to snatch you back out again.”

“I am not going to fall in the water.” But she did lean back against the largest rock, smiling a little as she untied her bonnet. The ribbons hung down against her bodice, and she adjusted her skirts to hide her ankles.

He remained beside her, acutely conscious of her body beside his. It was entirely inappropriate for him to be half-clothed and leaning next to her. But she wasn’t protesting anymore. Instead, he caught her stealing a glance at him when she thought he wasn’t looking.

“Are you going to put your feet in?” he asked.

She shook her head. “I don’t think so. It would be foolish. Besides that, I’m already breaking too many rules by sitting here alone with you. Though if anyone finds me, I shall claim that I was abducted by a pirate.”

“And then you would be forced to wed me to save your reputation,” he suggested. “Which is not so very dreadful.”

“I disagree,” she countered. “You, Lord Ashton, are a very wicked man with no sense of propriety.” But her eyes revealed her amusement.

“If I worried about what others think, I would not be sitting with a beautiful woman on a sunny day, now, would I?”

He leaned back with his arms crooked behind his head. He had the feeling that Lady Rose had a rebellious side to her, buried beneath her years of good manners.

She shook her head and sighed. Then she lifted up one foot and began unbuttoning her shoe. “I must be mad.”

A rebel indeed. He grinned and helped her with the other shoe, until she was clad in stockings. “No more than I. But it was an invigorating swim.”

“You ought to put your shirt on,” she reminded him. “Someone will see you and think you are intent on seducing me.”

“You
did
accuse me of being a pirate,
a chara
.” He kept his voice light, but leaned a little closer. “We aren’t known for being gentlemen.”

In response, Rose dipped her hand into the water and splashed it at his chest. “Then I’ll be forced to defend myself from you.”

The frigid water spilled down his bare chest, dampening his waistband. Iain rested his arms on either side of her, trapping her against the rock. “Now that wasn’t fair, Lady Rose.”

Her smile faded instantly. “I was teasing, Lord Ashton.”

“Were you?” He was feeling rather bold at the moment. He drank in the sight of her—those wide brown eyes, the delicate nose and sweet lips. Her hair was hidden beneath the bonnet, and he took it off, setting it aside. “You don’t need this.”

“My face will be covered in freckles if I don’t wear it.” But she didn’t appear to mind his interference. And instead of shoving him aside, she was watching him with interest. Sunlight gleamed across her brown hair, revealing the hints of auburn. He leaned in, resting his forehead against hers. Her eyes widened, but she remained fixed upon his face.

“Did Burkham ever kiss you?”

“Of course.” Her voice held a hint of panic, but she didn’t pull away.

He was caught up in the beauty of her. Her breath warmed his mouth, and for a moment, he remained near to her. She was forbidden to him, and he would not intrude where he wasn’t wanted. And yet, every part of him was entranced by her.

“Tell me to leave you alone,” he said in a low voice.

But she remained silent. Her hand moved up to touch the roughness of his face, and it only deepened the intimacy. She trailed her fingers upon his jaw, and the simple touch undid him.

Iain bent and brushed his mouth against hers. It was the barest hint of a kiss, the promise of more if she wanted it.

He pulled back immediately, searching her expression. He never wanted her to feel threatened by him. “Tell me if you’re wanting me to stop.”

He leaned in again, nipping at her lips a second time. He waited for a long moment, giving her more than enough time to refuse. She could tell him no at any moment, and he would pull back. Instead, her eyes were wild, as if she didn’t know what to say or do.

She tasted of summer, a softness and warmth like sunlight. Her eyes were caught up with his, her expression emboldened by a taste of the forbidden.

Iain bent and claimed her mouth deeply, framing her face with both hands. He didn’t stop kissing her, learning the shape of her mouth and drawing her even closer.

Rose’s fingers dug into his bare skin, but Lord Ashton’s chest was no longer cold. Beneath her fingertips, she could feel his heart beating faster. Her mind was numb to all this, uncertain of what to do.