Julia London 4 Book Bundle (6 page)

Not that anyone noticed, fortunately. Only her father chatted with the earl, and wonder of wonders, the Spence Family Scoundrel responded with effortless grace on the most boring topics in the world.
Farming
? Her father spoke of farming! Lilliana suppressed a groan of mortification, but Lord Albright managed to converse rather cheerfully on the subject. Just when she had convinced herself that she had to be dreaming—for surely a man like him would not be remotely interested in
farming
—her father abruptly stood.

“Alice, I could use your help in the library. Tom, weren’t you off to the stables to have a look at that new colt?” he asked, then glanced uneasily at the earl. “You will please excuse us, my lord?”

Excuse them? Oh no, what was
this
? They were going to
leave
her here with him? Lilliana jerked a frantic glance at her mother, but she stood and took her husband’s arm as if it were the most natural thing in the world to leave her daughter unchaperoned. That was absurd, as absurd as the notion that Tom, who was skulking to the door, would bother with a new colt—especially one that didn’t exist! “Mama?” Lilliana asked, her voice quavering slightly. “Wouldn’t you like to sit with us?”

Lady Dashell’s eyes flicked to Lord Albright, then
back to Lilliana. “No. Ah, no dear—your father needs help with the … ah … accounts.” Lilliana’s eyes widened at that ridiculous lie, and she panicked. They
were
contriving to leave her alone with him! What would she say? How on earth would she converse with a man like
him
? “You might offer some tea,” her mother added with a frown, and before Lilliana could speak, her father was moving toward the door, pulling her mother with him and forcing Tom out in front of him.

She gripped the arm of the settee as her family trooped out the door. What in blazes was happening here? Had some strange star struck the Grange and caused them all to take leave of their senses? She was completely unprepared—no,
inept
—to amuse a man of his position and experience! He was used to the finest the world had to offer, women far more sophisticated than she was!

“Your parents are graciously allowing me a moment to speak with you alone,” he said.

A strange little flurry of nerves shot through the pit of Lilliana’s stomach at that remark, and she dragged an astonished gaze to him. She knew what
speaking alone
meant in the country, but the idea was so unbelievable, so ridiculously preposterous, that she almost laughed. He arched a quizzical brow, and she thought it might be necessary to remind him that he was a man of the world, a scoundrel of the highest order, the exceedingly wealthy Earl of Albright. He was mistaken—he did
not
want to speak alone with her, not to Lilliana Dashell of Blackfield Grange. That idea was so ludicrous that she choked on a hysterical giggle.

Lord Albright smiled fully then, and the flurry in her belly turned into a full-blown churning. “You look positively horrified. Am I as odious as all that, Lilliana?”

Oh God, but her name sounded like heaven on his lips, especially since it was not supposed to be there. A gentleman would not be so familiar—well, at least not a
country
gentleman, but who knew what the fast set of London did?

He was staring at her. She swallowed. “Forgive me, I did not mean to look … horrified,” she muttered uncertainly. “Shall I … shall I ring for some tea?” she asked, her tongue moving despite her frozen brain.

“Perhaps a little later,” he said, and smiled charmingly. Lilliana frantically racked her brain for something to say as those lovely hazel eyes thoughtfully roamed her face and then her … oh
my
 … a deep blush flamed Lilliana’s cheeks, and she quickly lowered her gaze—only to see the hideous splatter of mud on her lap. Hastily, she snatched a handful of her skirt and folded it over the stain.

“Please don’t look so frightened,” he said with a low, silky chuckle. “I am perilously close to having my tender feelings crushed.”

Tender feelings
? “Oh! Do I look frightened? I assure you I am not,” she said uneasily. “Not in the least. I am just … I am just—”

“Surprised?” he offered helpfully.

“Surprised!”
she agreed, nodding furiously to emphasize just
how
surprised.

“I regret that I have not called sooner. Unfortunately, I am often in London—”

“Yes of course, London is a very large town—”

“And I do not get to the country as often as I would like. Kealing Park is a good half-day’s ride from London.”

“It is a good half-day’s ride from
Hades
,” she hastily agreed.

He smiled again, sending another quiver through her belly. “Nevertheless, I pray you will forgive my deplorable lack of manners.”

What on earth was he talking about? She hadn’t expected him to call at all, much less before now! Her mind flicked through all sorts of useless information she had dragged out of Benedict about him. Had Benedict mentioned his brother was coming? Was there some rule of etiquette that required him to call on her before Benedict offered?

“But I am a man of action, Lilliana, and when I have determined my course, I waste little time.”

Whatever he should mean by that, she could certainly believe it. A man of action and sophistication and excitement and—

“I have recently determined that I have certain responsibilities to be fulfilled now that I have reached my thirty-second year, and it is that which brings me to you. I apologize for arriving unannounced, but in my haste to get here, I am afraid it was unavoidable.”

Responsibility. All right, all right, she was beginning to understand, she thought, and took a deep breath. He was speaking of something to do with Benedict, and almost sighed with relief.

He rose so suddenly that her perfect posture slipped for a moment; in two steps he was sitting beside her on the settee. Astounded, Lilliana’s eyes widened with surprise. Acutely aware that she was gaping at him like a fool, she gasped when he pried her hand from its grip on her gown. In stunned amazement, she watched as he carefully placed it between his two, strong hands, jolting every nerve in her. What responsibility did he have that required such delicate touch? God, did she bloody well care?
Don’t you dare swoon!

“You are aware, I am sure, that among the
ton
, two people of suitable lineage and fortune enter into matrimony for the purpose of extending the family name and increasing their holdings.” Yes, yes, she knew all that, and nodded dumbly as her mind raced ahead, offering up and rejecting different suppositions for his wildly absurd call. “I am certain you are equally aware that a man in my position must make a match with a woman who has been trained to manage a large household, is dutiful in her role as a countess and can provide an heir. Above all, a woman who is a good companion,” he continued.

Lilliana nodded unconsciously. This had to do with Benedict, that much was clear, what with the reference to matrimony and the rattling off of society’s expectations.
Did he think she and Benedict did not suit? Was
that
what this was all about? She should hardly be surprised—she was the daughter of a downtrodden baron, had left Blackfield Grange exactly twice in her twenty-two years, and had no real connections to the Quality other than some distant cousin on her mother’s side. Benedict, on the other hand, was the son of a wealthy marquis and could certainly do better than her. Honestly, she had often wondered why he did not seem to realize that.

The earl’s hazel eyes flicked to his hands and long dark lashes swept his high cheekbones, momentarily hiding his gaze from her. The mad notion that he was here to tell her that Benedict could not marry her popped into her numbed brain. Funny, but she felt nothing in particular about that—except a sense of irritation that Benedict had not come to do the deed himself. All right, then, she was unsuitable. And when had the Spence family reached this astounding conclusion? Certainly since Monday, because Benedict had almost cried with despair when she had begged a reprieve from his call, citing a very bad headache. Well, good God, she had not expected him that day, and she had promised to race Jason. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t responded every other—

“Of course, companionship is not the best of reasons to make a match, but it is very pleasing to have it all the same. I have thought long and hard about this, and I have determined that you are the woman,” Lord Albright said, and looked up, his eyes suddenly piercing hers.

Lilliana blinked. She must have been swooning when he was speaking, because she had no earthly idea what he was talking about. “
What
woman?” she asked, confused.

“The woman I would have as my wife,” he responded casually.

With a shriek, Lilliana jerked her hand from his.

He quickly lifted his hands. “I know this must come as something of a surprise—”

“A
surprise
? I beg your pardon, my lord, but is this some sort of
joke
?” she cried.

“Not in the least, madam!”

“Because if it is, I shall beg you
not
to jest about something so … so …”

“I am quite serious, Lilliana.”

Stunned, she shot off the settee and stumbled blindly to the pianoforte. This was inconceivable! The man she had admired from almost the beginning of time would suddenly stroll into Blackfield Grange and offer her
marriage
? For heaven’s sake, what strange dream was this? Something was wrong. Perhaps he had been hit on the head—it happened to Mr. Perry and the poor man didn’t know who he was for a full three days—“Lilliana,” the earl said in a terribly rich, terribly soothing voice as he slowly rose to his feet, “please do not rush to judgment. At least hear me out.” Oh, but he was in luck on that score. She was too overwhelmed to think or move! “I am an extraordinarily busy man. I do not have the luxury of time to call on a lady as a gentleman should, particularly one who resides so far from my affairs. It would have been impossible to have courted you properly.”

“D-did you remember me as a child?” she asked, desperately searching for a reason, something that made sense of his astonishing announcement. “Is it possible you could have remembered me after all these years? Did you care for me then?” she blurted frantically, and whirled around to face him.

He looked almost chagrined. “I will not lie to you. I do not remember you as a child.”

Certainly
that
did not reassure her. But honestly, how could she even think he would remember her? She had not seen him in fifteen years, and could hardly expect a man of his stature to recall some little girl from the country. “Then … then is it my father? Do you know my father?” she asked breathlessly. “You must,” she said, nodding, trying to convince herself. “You remember Papa fondly, don’t you!”

Lord Albright sighed and slowly shook his head. “I remember him only vaguely.”

He did not know her family? What in God’s name was
happening
here? “Then … then
why
? What possible reason could you have to come here and ask … Are you ridiculing me?” she cried.

“Of course not!” he said sternly, and strode across the room to quickly take her hands in his. “I came because I want you as my wife, Lilliana. We would make an excellent match, you and I. I can give you a life of luxury, anything your heart desires.” He spoke softly and earnestly, his eyes peering deeply into her own, and Lilliana wondered if he could see her heart fluttering madly. “I had every intention of calling on you before now, but I began to wonder what possible difference would a few hours of chaperoned courtship make in your decision? Why should we waste that time when we could reach the conclusion, and therefore our marriage, much sooner?”

“But … but you can’t just come in here and offer
marriage!
We might not suit! Did … did you think of that?” she sputtered hysterically.

“Of course we suit! A few hours sitting on your settee with your parents in this room would not tell me more than I already know. You are of gentle birth, you have been properly schooled, and you have a reputation for a warm and generous spirit and lively character. You are a good match for a man in my position, an excellent companion. What more should I hope to know? No, I am quite determined in this. But perhaps there is something about me that gives you pause?”

Lord God, there was
nothing
about him that would give her pause! He was right—six minutes, six days, or six years would not alter her opinion of him—she had adored him far too long. But she was not so silly that she could not see how sudden, how incredible this was!
He did not know her!

“Lilliana? Have you a concern about my character?
Undoubtedly you have heard the rumors that circulate—is that what upsets you?” he asked softly.

If only he knew how she relished the rumors that circulated about him, the tales of adventure, of daring exploration, of defying society’s edicts! She slowly shook her head. He smiled. “Then perhaps you are loath to be a countess?” She practically snorted at that—she was unconventional, but she was not stupid. “Then do you agree that a few hours of courting would not change your conclusion?”

Her heart was hammering wildly now, and she forced herself to take a deep breath before she became apoplectic. She would walk to the ends of the earth to marry a man like him, but that did not make his offer any less insane.
Insane!
“Yes,” she said meekly, and inwardly winced at her traitorous tongue.

His charming smile deepened, warming her to the tips of her toes. Giving herself a sharp reminder to breathe, Lilliana jerked her hand from his. “I beg your pardon, my lord, but this makes no sense! You could marry any woman! A woman with connections, and … there must be women far more agreeable to you—”

“There are none,” he said resolutely.

“Or beautiful! I am not beautiful, and I know you enjoy the company of—”

“A woman’s beauty is in her character—”

“Ladies who frequent the finest salons of London—”

“They bore me.”

She gulped. His smile seemed to widen, and she realized how very close he was. So close, she could smell the spicy scent of his cologne. Now her heart was beating so wildly that she was quite certain it would break through her chest at any moment. “But … but there is Benedict! He … he, ah, he plans to offer, too, you see,” she stammered.