The Countess Intrigue (7 page)

“A few weeks ago, when we were attending Lady Yorkleigh’s musicale, she overheard Sir Broderick plotting with Lord Austen to entrap the Duke of Wrentham into marriage with Lord Austen’s daughter, Lady Anne. Rose did her best to thwart their plot by telling Wrentham and redirecting Lady Anne. Sir Broderick abducted her two nights ago at the ball where you spoke to me for the first time. That is why, when you mentioned bad men, I grew suspicious about you, wondering if you were threatening me because of my association with Rosamund.”

Justice listened in silence as she told him what she knew. Once it seemed like she hadn’t anything more to add, he pressed her for details with a few questions. “Did Miss Smythe think there was more to their plot than a desire to get their fingers into the duke’s purse?”

“Yes, she thought it might have something to do with his being a duke, maybe something to do with the government. I have taken very little interest in the workings of the government, I am sorry to tell you, so I didn’t understand why she thought that. Rose took a much greater interest in that sort of thing, probably because of her father.”

The earl knew he should ask her more but he wanted to learn more about his future wife. “Does that sort of thing bore you to tears?”

Elizabeth finally looked at him again, and he tried not to squirm under her scrutiny. “Do you wish I was an empty headed miss, my lord? I am sorry to have to tell you that I am not. It doesn’t bore me — I just have not had a chance to investigate it. My father has always been of the opinion that it is an important matter that must be left in his capable hands, and I ought to just concern myself with my needlework.”

“I don’t think you are empty headed, Elizabeth, quite the contrary. Did it bother you that your father had such an attitude?” He was trying to see into this woman’s mind and finding it rather difficult. He had never been so intensely invested in getting to the bottom of someone’s thinking. It made him nervous. But he persisted anyway.

Elizabeth offered a brief shrug. “I guess I accepted it as normal. My sisters and cousins were satisfied with needlework and such. I wanted to play with my brothers and be just like them. Of course, they were not much interested in my company, but I always knew I wasn’t normal. I learned how to pretend but it is a challenge.”

“I would really rather you don’t pretend with me. Please ask me whatever you would like to know. If I can help you learn something I would be happy to. If I do not have the answers for you, I will make sure we find a way to get them.”

“Really?”

Justice felt his heart clench at the eager look on her face. It was poignantly charming to see how utterly hopeful she looked. “Really and truly,” he promised her. He could see that she was mulling over his words, but the wariness embedded deep in her expression had not been fully dissipated. He decided not to press the issue and returned to the matter of Broderick.

“Do you know if Miss Smythe ever found out what was behind Broderick’s interest in the Duke?”

“I don’t think she knew everything before he abducted her. Her parents sent me a message yesterday that she was safe, but that they would be retiring from the city so I have not been able to speak with her. She probably knows now, if Broderick told her after abducting her. I do know that she spoke with Lady Yorkleigh. Perhaps you could ask her.”

“I actually already have.” Justice tried not to be disappointed. It would seem his betrothed was right. She did not have much information for him. Compromising her had not gotten him any further in his investigation of Broderick. And he couldn’t even be sure that Wrentham had Broderick in custody. The dastard could not be left to wreak havoc upon any more innocent victims. He glanced at his companion. One could even say Elizabeth was now a victim of the cur. Justice’s hands tightened on the reins as he struggled to contain his frustration. The cloud of dread that had hovered over him since he had begun looking into Broderick seemed to intensify. The sensation that he was going to run out of time before someone else got hurt made him nauseous.

He tried to turn his thoughts by looking on the bright side. At least now he no longer had to worry about finding a countess. He could finally get on with his life. Once he could put the matter of dealing with Broderick behind him, he would be content. Elizabeth drew his attention back with her question.

“Was she able to help you?” Elizabeth’s interest encouraged him.

Justice shrugged. “Somewhat, but most of what she knew I was already aware of.”

* * *

E
lizabeth gazed at the earl
, her worries about her future fading a little as she enjoyed the conversation. It was so rare that a gentleman would expect a level of intelligence from a woman. It made her eager to learn more and be of assistance.

She allowed her face to relax into a genuine smile for the first time since they had met in the morning room. “So why are you investigating him, anyway? If you did not know about Rosamund and the Duke of Wrentham, it must be some unrelated matter.”

“It is an unrelated matter, but I would really rather not say at this point,” came his unbelievable response.

Elizabeth stiffened in outrage. She turned to look at the earl knowing her tumult of feelings must be written on her face and not much caring. “My life has been irrevocably changed by your quest to learn more about the dastardly knight and yet you do not think I have a right to know why?”

She couldn’t decide if she was more hurt or angry. Her dearest wish in life had been to find a mate she could love and be loved by in return. It would seem what she was getting was a murderer who couldn’t give a fig about her feelings. Stiffening her resolve, she determined that she would have to harden her heart. There was to be no escape for her. She would make the best of the situation and just figure out a way to stay alive. Perhaps once she was increasing with his heir, she could see about having the earl killed. Then she would be free to live her life however she liked. She derided herself for the ridiculous thought but her amusement warmed her slightly and helped her hold onto the fragments of her composure.

It was obvious to her that the earl did not know what to make of her question. She was surprised to see a tinge of pink heating his cheeks as though he were embarrassed by her words. She mentally shrugged.
He ought to be uncomfortable,
she thought, since she wasn’t likely to ever be comfortable again.

“I am sorry, my lady. It is just that it is a sensitive matter and I am not comfortable sharing it with anyone at the moment.” Despite the slight blush, Elizabeth could see from his clenched jaw that he was quite resolute on the matter.

She shot him a withering look but restrained herself from comment. Looking straight ahead she saw that they were nearing a town. It was hard to believe that only twenty minutes had gone by. It felt as though she had aged several years in the last two days. Elizabeth wondered if he would allow her to be served a drink containing spirits. She thought rather wildly for the first time in her life that she might need the fortification. She actually laughed at her own thoughts. When she felt the earl’s questioning gaze resting upon her she realized she had laughed out loud. Elizabeth could feel the heat creeping into her cheeks with mortification. She really was in danger of losing her mind.

They had arrived at an establishment called The Ball and Castle. It looked to be a respectable enough place. Her mouth had grown dry and she looked forward to some sort of fortification. She doubted the earl would order her any sort of spirits, but even a lemonade would do at this point. Elizabeth was shocked to feel the familiar shiver of awareness trickle up her spine as the earl lifted her down from his curricle despite her feelings of anger and outrage toward him. Her life was getting murkier by the moment. She wished she had someone she could discuss everything with, but her dearest friend was unavailable to her. She would have to deal with this on her own. Elizabeth determined to make idle conversation with the earl until he returned her home. She reassured herself that she was safe with him at least until after they were wed. And the man would most likely want his heir at some point as he had told her that was his reason for seeking another countess. No doubt he would keep her alive for at least a little while after the marriage. She would have to keep her wits about her and learn as much as possible about him in the meantime.

The delighted landlord quickly showed them to a private dining room and left them to a strained silence that was only broken when he returned with two glasses of lemonade and a plate of biscuits that were far more delicious than they appeared. Elizabeth sighed silently with reluctance but then strove for conversation.

“Tell me about Heath, my lord.”

She knew her question surprised him, but she was discomfited to see that it also looked as though he was delighted over it. He launched into an enthusiastic speech about all the aspects and merits of his ancestral estate. Despite herself she grew interested and questioned him on many details.

“Do you have other properties in addition to Heath, my lord?” She could tell by his raised eyebrow that he was remembering his request that she call him by his Christian name, but she was nowhere near comfortable enough to do that at this juncture. She ignored the look and awaited his answer.

“I do, actually. I shall be happy to settle them on our younger sons if we should be blessed with many children.” His answer made her blush to her roots and wonder if perhaps he was considering not killing her. She would have to find out as much as possible about his first countess in order to determine why she had died. There was no way she could condone the killing, but perhaps he had some sort of a reason that made sense to him. She rather liked the thought of remaining upon this earth. Even though the inn was comfortable and remarkably well appointed, Elizabeth had no wish to linger and was relieved when the earl suggested they return to Town as soon as they had finished off their collation.

She tried to keep up a steady stream of chatter as they returned to the carriage. She had so many conflicting feelings to deal with and hoped fervently he didn’t notice or at least wouldn’t ask about them. Elizabeth sucked in her breath as he hoisted her up onto her seat, but was relieved when he didn’t comment even though the light dancing in his eyes made her think he had noticed. Ignoring her reaction, she asked him another question about Heath.

They continued to discuss his estate, tenants, and crops as they drove back to Mayfair. As he was dropping her off at her home Elizabeth thought with amazement, if it was not for the fact that she was convinced he had killed his first wife she would have quite enjoyed the afternoon and would be almost looking forward to her life with him. It was a ridiculous notion.
Rumours such as that do not spring from nothing,
she reminded herself fiercely.
Just recall what Lady Meriwether had said the night of her ruination. Even that old harridan believed he’s guilty. And the fact that he wouldn’t confide in her about his own involvement with Broderick just shows how untrustworthy he is.
You must not lose sight of that fact,
she admonished herself then dashed up the stairs.

As the butler held the door open for her, Elizabeth looked back at the earl shyly and lifted her hand in a small wave, gratified to see that he stood watching her attentively. He winked and waved back at her. Elizabeth averted her gaze with a stifled smile and ran into the house, allowing the butler to shut the door with a resounding click. Climbing up the stairs toward her room as swiftly as propriety allowed, Elizabeth called out for her maid to be summoned to her room for her. Her mind was abuzz with her constantly conflicting thoughts. The earl was so handsome and attentive, and yet she did not feel that she could trust him. She felt torn between reaching out to him and pushing him away. Elizabeth could feel a headache wanting to form from the conflict.

* * *

J
ustice stood
beside his curricle as his future bride climbed the stairs to her home. He was delighted when she looked back at him and waved. The girl was certainly a strange mixture of conflicting thoughts and feelings. He had been fully aware that his refusal to confide in her had hurt and angered her but he was not about to start confiding in a woman. That had gone so horribly wrong for him in the past, he recalled with a grimace tightening his face. He was glad that the door had already been closed behind her when that thought crossed his mind as he was certain she would not be happy to see him frowning at her from the street.