What the Earl Desires (6 page)

Adrys smiled. “Not far actually. Kittle Manor.”

He knew his shock showed. Their properties bordered one another and he had mulled over offering for it at one point. “Are they expecting you?”

“Yes. Abel was good enough to send a missive.”

The thought of Najja leaving before…well, it didn’t sit well with him. “So you will depart soon?”

Emotions shifted Adrys’ eyes hardened momentarily showing Colin a man who had the ability to be extremely dangerous. “That is why I asked to speak to you. I received word, just this morning there was a fire there. I wonder if--”

“Stay as long as you need until your place is fixed and you feel better.”

“Are you sure? I know a young unattached man…well, I have no wish to intrude and force my family upon you.”

“The staff enjoys them and they are no disturbance to my daily business.”
E
xcept Najja. I cannot get her out of my head.

“You are very kind, Mr. Faulkner.”

“Colin please.”

“Colin.”

Najja did not give in and say my name that easy.

He got to his feet. “I will assign some extra men to keep an eye on your family.”

The man looked old and tired. “Thank you. They mean everything to me.”

“Forgive my asking but does Miss Najja have a last name?”

Adrys sighed heavily. “No. That is her only name. I hope her presence is not causing an issue.”

You have no idea.
He swallowed and hoped to hell his voice remained level. “Not at all. I barely know she is even here.”
Aside from the constant state of arousal she keeps me in, it is as if our lives have never intersected.
Why would she only have one name?

“Good. She is a…part of our family.”

“I see her and your daughter are very close.”

Adrys grinned and appeared much younger. “They are. Been together off and on while we were there. Jo missed her so much when they were apart the times Najja was gone.”

“Where did she go?” The question slipped out unbidden.

Adrys hesitated. “She travelled for her father.”

More mystery. And Najja was a mystery he most definitely wanted to unveil. In more ways than one.

“I see.” He saw the reluctance on Adrys’ part to discuss Najja and had no wish to get the man to thinking he had any interest in her. “I shall leave you to rest.”

“Thank you, Colin.”

He inclined his head and slid past the door. As he made his way down the stairs he thought over the information he’d just learned. Someone was out to kill Lord Adrys. Why, he didn’t know. Najja had for some reason left her home and come to England with the Adryses. Add into this someone hijacking his own shipments.

Pausing on the stairs, he headed down with a new destination in mind. Abel waited for him, coat in hand. The man had this uncanny way to anticipate his decisions.

“Your horse is waiting.”

With a grateful nod, he put on the coat and hat. Heading out the door, he tugged on his gloves as he went. Sure enough a groom stood with his gelding, Salvage. He swung easily into the saddle and was off with a touch of his heels to the glossy chestnut sides.

The brisk air was even colder than he’d believed. Steam rose from Salvage’s sides and expelled from his nostrils as they thundered along the road toward The Brown Goose, a tavern where he was going to meet a man who had contacts he could only wish to have. A new one, not seen in this area before--at least for a long time, he was going to send along on the next shipment. But this meeting was also for something else now.

He dismounted even before Salvage slid to a halt. A boy caught the reins and he said, “Walk him around, I will be back in ten minutes.”

“Yessir.”

The interior of The Brown Goose was dark, noisy, and rank. Most tables full of men already deep in their cups. Women served them with necklines low in hopes of an extra bit of money for themselves. Shaking his head, he spotted the man he sought. Wilkes. He sat in the back corner, an eye on the door. Heavy beard, unkempt hair, every inch of him showcased a hard life. Not the man he recalled from years before. And there was no one else he would trust to undertake such a thing.

He joined him at the table and ordered a tankard of ale. “Wilkes,” he said by way of greeting.

“Faulkner.”

“I need you to do something for me.” The large man downed a swallow of the swill and remained silent. “I need to know if you hear anything in regards to Lord Adrys.”

“You have interest in the viscount?”

“Sort of. Just say how long he has been gone intrigues me.”

Disbelief filled Wilkes’ face. “I heard there was a fire at Kittle Manor. Luckily no one perished.”

“Anything you hear, no matter how small, send a message.”

“Thinking of increasing your estate?”

He gave a wane smile. “Anything is possible.”

“I will keep an ear to the ground.”

“Good man.” He slid Wilkes the ignored drink and put enough money down to cover them both. “I will be attending the fair tonight if you hear anything today.”

“Right.”

There was nothing else. Wilkes returned to staring gloomily across the tavern. So he left, barely pausing to toss the young lad who’d held his horse a coin.

“Thank ye, sir,” he said with a cheery wave.

Colin nodded then urged Salvage onward. He headed toward the property line between his and Adrys’ estate. He slowed nearing the end of the copse of trees he rode through. From here the land sloped down slightly into a meadow, a long area bordered by trees on three sides and a lake on the other. Voices brought him more alert.

Feminine voices.

Jo and Najja.

Different emotions waged within him. Lust and desire being near the top. He reined in Salvage at the edge, remaining hidden and observed. Two horses stood grazing and running around were Jo and Najja. They ran kicking a round ball like object. Each trying to get it from the other.

Both of them had their hair down and looked totally at ease. He frowned at the realization they had no protection. Where were the men he’d assigned to watch them?

Determined to confront them, he nudged Salvage only to draw him up again when movement from the black stallion’s saddle grabbed his notice. By the time he returned his gaze to the women they were putting themselves back to rights. Again he peeked at the saddle only to find it empty.
I am losing it.

He watched the women mount with ease, again something that would set them apart from most he knew from the upper crust of society, and turn toward him. Before they got to him he emerged from the shadows.

“Good afternoon, ladies.”

Both were flushed from their exertions and the cold. He nodded first to Jo then Najja. Her brown eyes sparkled and that familiar clench in his gut returned and hit him with incredible force.

“Mr. Faulkner, what a pleasant surprise,” Jo said with a cheeky grin. “Are you out for a ride just because or do you have a destination in mind?”

“Just because,” he replied keeping his gaze on the young Miss Adrys. “Might I join you?”

“We would love it. You have such a beautiful estate. The colors of autumn make it magnificent. I am surprised Mama has not been after me in saying you would make a good--”

“Jo!” Najja interjected.

The chit blushed. Rather adorable when she did so. “Oh…blast it. I am so sorry, Mr. Faulkner. I never can control my mouth.”

He didn’t point out polite young women didn’t say “blast” either. Colin chuckled and maneuvered his horse along Jo. “No reason to apologize, Miss Adrys.”

“Jo please. Miss Adrys seems so dreadfully proper and I would like to think of us as friends.” She directed her mare so he rode between the women. “Besides, titled or not my mother knows you are a very wealthy man. And if no nobleman will have me, be forewarned, Mr. Faulkner, you may just find yourself in her sights.”

He couldn’t believe her audacity. Women didn’t speak so frankly, at least none he knew. Instead of her frankness exasperating him, he found it refreshing. “Am I to assume then that I am not the kind of man you wish to be married to?” He could hear Najja muttering something he couldn’t understand.

“Please do not take offense. I have no desire to marry. I will declare myself a widow and travel the world, seeking adventure where I find it.”

“Well, when you put it like that,” he teased, casting a glance to his right where Najja rode. She gave him a small smile then looked away. It wasn’t much but it was enough for the moment. As they continued on he got thoroughly entertained by Jo. Even Najja joined in the conversation. Never before had he been in the presence of two ladies and enjoyed himself more.

Once the stable was in view, he asked, “Are you two up for attending a festival?”

“Yes!” Jo said immediately.

“Very well, I will have the carriage readied. We can go together this night.”

Jo rattled off something across him to Najja while he just watched his brown vixen. Those fools who said brown skin was unattractive didn’t have a clue what they spoke about. Just staring at Najja made him want to touch and caress her. There was no mistaking her for a debutante who despised the outdoors and whose skin was paler than most sick persons. Amazing how he had never really noticed that before.

Najja never flinched from his sharp stare. “See you tonight, Najja,” he said on a husky whisper.

“Mr. Faulkner.”

He hid his displeasure and dismounted before going to Najja. Hands placed at her waist, he lifted her down. As her intoxicating body slid by his, he whispered, “I much prefer it when you call me, Colin.” A slim tremor coursed through her.

“Until later, ladies,” he said with a bow before leaving them and getting back on his horse. He had to ride and calm down. Najja’s supple body was proving to be one hell of a distraction and temptation.

Chapter Three

Najja sat in her room. Her heart still pounded with swift alacrity from when Colin…no, Mr. Faulkner assisted her off her horse. The warm breath along her cheek and ear went straight to her core so it throbbed with intensity.

She stared at her hands noticing with disgust how they shook. Even now.
Why him? Why now?
She had a mission to accomplish. But still she wondered what it would be like. A man like Colin was sure to be an amazing lover.

What little sleep she got had been invaded by wistful dreams of being able to let down her guard and allow him as her lover. How his fingers and hands would feel. The heavy weight of him covering her as he lay between her legs, sliding--

“Najja!” Jo burst into the room, her face alight with excitement.

She smiled at her friend with practiced patience and forced those renegade thoughts of Colin to the back of her mind. “Hi, Jo.”

Jo closed the door and frowned, a furrow appearing between her brows. Moments later she joined her on the bed taking one of her hands. “Are you okay?”

Feigning a cheerful expression, she nodded. “I am. I was just thinking.”

Blue eyes regarded her carefully. “You miss Africa?”

“Yes.” She did so much.

“Me too,” Jo said resting her head against her shoulder. “But I do like Colin. He is really nice. And cute.”

Cute wasn’t the word she would have picked. Dangerously handsome. Something grew in the pit of her belly. Ugly and angry. The idea Jo may want him made her feel physically sick. She fought it. Jo had more right than she to be with Mr. Colin Faulkner.

The one thing she had not counted on was how well she had taught Jo to observe.

“You like him.” The words were whispered and almost awe-like.

“Let it go, Jo.”

“No. I think it is wonderful. What can I do to help?”

She expelled a sharp breath. “There will be nothing to come of it.”

“Why not? I see how he watches you when he does not think anyone knows.”

Her belly fluttered at the knowledge. “He is not for me.”

Jo tugged on some of her hair. “Seems to me he can make up his own mind.” She scrambled off the bed. “Did you know you never once denied you liked him?” Jo vanished before a response could be formed.

With a groan, Najja flopped back on the feather mattress. Cheeky girl. And a truer friend she’d never had. But then, she’d never had a friend before she met Josephine Adrys. The girl had not understood boundaries and had wormed her way past all defenses. No matter what she went through, Jo was there when she made it back. Never judging only welcoming her with friendship.

Najja dressed in what she would wear for the night and made her way downstairs. But instead of going for the meal she ducked into the library and curled up in a large chair near the blazing fire, book in hand.

“I missed you at dinner.” The voice, deep and seductive, wove around her like molten silk.

Peering over the top of the book,
The Iliad
by Homer, her heart gave a jump. Colin stood close, a tray in one hand, dressed in black breeches, blue coat and shiny Hessians. She’d never even heard the door open or him enter.