The Earl's Passionate Plot Read online

  "Are you insulting me, sir?"

  "No, you do so yourself with mind-numbing regularity, my dear. You carry your bastard status as some sort of badge pinned on your chest, waving it for all the world to see and to condemn. As if there is anything about you that does not scream quality and breeding."

  "I have neither quality nor breeding, thank you very much. My mother and I lived in shame and rejection the first years of my life and I can still remember the other children whispering that I had no father. Whispers don't go away, you know. They will follow me forever."

  "And you will deny yourself a future, a home, simply because of those whispers?"

  "Whose home would have me, sir? No decent person should have to live with that. I should think you would applaud me for not putting my burden on anyone else, for sparing others the shame of my illegitimacy."

  He opened his mouth to dispute her, then apparently thought better of it. She had little time to be smug, though. Before she knew it, he'd pulled her into the glow of the moonlight with him and he was wrapping himself tightly around her. Again.

  And she loved it.

  "The only thing shameful about you, Miss Langley, is the way you feel in my arms," he said. "And I am scoundrel and blackguard enough to keep you here just as long as you're willing."

  "If you really were a scoundrel you wouldn't care that I was willing."

  But she was. As much as she wanted to deny it, she was hopelessly willing. She hoped he wouldn't notice, but it was likely that he did. The way she pressed herself against him and gazed up into his wonderful eyes, waiting for his kiss, was probably difficult for him to misinterpret.

  "So you persist in your claims that I am a decent human being and not well on the road to adding further ruin and disgrace to my family name?"

  "I do. You cannot convince me otherwise."

  "I say you are wrong. I'm a dreadful person and there is no way I should even contemplate making a life for myself with a wife and a family."

  "You could make an excellent life for yourself, if you'd only put your mind to it."

  "Is that so? Well, if you are so very certain, Miss Langley, you ought to just marry me to spite me. That would certainly teach me a lesson. You could show me I'm everything you say that I am and then laugh in my face."

  "I most certainly ought to, and then... wait, what was that?"

  He laughed, cupping her face in his hands and watching her closely.

  "Marry me, Mariah. No, don't stare at me like that and try to shake your head. Maybe I am a little bit of an ogre, because I'm not going to take No for an answer."

  "But you can't marry me! You know that I'm—"

  "Oh, yes, I know that you're stubborn, interfering, and a bit too independent, but I think we can make a go of it anyway."

  "No, I was going to say that I'm—"

  "I know what you were going to say, and I won't hear it. If you believe I can be redeemed from the disadvantage of my parentage, then certainly you can, too, my dear."

  "But..."

  "Yes?"

  "I'm afraid I can't think of any other reason to refuse you, my lord. I suppose if you don't mind not knowing who my father was, then I certainly don't mind knowing about yours."

  "There you see? We sound like a match made in heaven."

  "Except that I'm not a wealthy heiress."

  He shrugged, apparently unmoved by the reminder of their sad financial situation. "You don't need to be. You're already worth a fortune to me."

  And that was the sweetest thing he could have said, so she gave up on pretending to be reasonable and pulled his face down toward hers. If he wasn't going to stop talking and kiss her, she was simply going to take matters into her own hands. After all, she really was no lady.

  Epilogue

  The wedding had been a simple affair, presided over by both the elderly vicar and the newly married Mr. Skrewd. May had bloomed warm and beautiful and everyone in Hinders Sundry said they had never seen a more beautiful bride than Miss Mariah Langley. It did, of course, help that there were not many brides in such a small village and this one was the first to have married an earl.

  After the wedding it had been arranged that Ned should escort Mamma and Ella into London to meet his mother and sisters. The Season was still in, so Mamma agreed to stay as guests of Mrs. Chadburne and let Ella come out early if she promised not to complain that her Season was shorter than most. Of course she did not.

  The Vandenhoffs had surprised them all. Instead of being disappointed to lose a title for their daughter, Mr. Vandenhoff claimed he'd done better. He'd found the perfect legacy—Mable and her dear curate did not wish to stay in the village, or in England at all. The Vandenhoffs and the Skrewds were going back to New York to use Vandenhoff money to start a foundation for orphans. It would, of course, be named after her father and would be full of good deeds and other important things she approved of.

  In appreciation for all of the earl's help in bringing such happiness to Mable and a newfound inspiration for them all, Mr. Vandenhoff paid not only the money he had agreed to for the lease he did not end up taking, but he gifted the lord and his new lady handsomely in honor of their wedding. He also promised to buy his wife a pug.

  The money Dovington and Mariah received would be more than enough to carry them through until the expected income at harvest, and to cover Ella's first Season. It was a welcome surprise and Mable made them promise to visit if ever they happened to turn up in New York. Mariah couldn't imagine what might cause them to simply turn up in New York, but it was nice to know they had friends there if needed.

  Everyone had been so eager to get on with their new lives that by the afternoon of their wedding day, Mariah had been left all alone at Renford Hall with her new groom. For approximately five minutes she worried she might be lonely for her mother and sister, but the earl had quickly seen to that.

  For the next week they had very much enjoyed not sharing the house with anyone and, in fact, gave the servants quite a bit of free time. By the end of that week, though, it was time to get busy. With practical things. They'd discussed arrangements and things had been settled to everyone's satisfaction.

  Ned would take Renford Hall as his home. It was obvious that he and Ella were destined for each other, and Mariah was fairly certain that by the end of this Season, there would be an announcement. Mamma would relent and let them marry early. That would be all nice and tidy and Mamma and Ella would never have to leave Renford Hall. The earl insisted they begin calling it The Grove, but of course no one paid any attention to him on that.

  Mariah would be moving to Dovington Downs to take her proper place as Lady Dovington. More good news had come as they'd learned more of the earl's investments had done very well, and coupled with all the other improvements he'd made, they were confident that things were looking up for the Dovington estate. He assured his new wife that with her help and shrewd management abilities, they would likely not starve. She assured him they would do a fine sight better than that and that he'd just best stay out of her way.

  On their final day at Renford Hall, a light rain spattered the grounds. The carriages were packed in haste and Dovington urged his bride to hurry along. She did as she pleased but eventually had herself ready and trotted down to the yard to meet him.

  "We want to get there while it's still daylight," he said.

  "Exactly, so you don't want to have to turn around and come back if I've forgotten anything, do you?"

  "Have you forgotten anything?"

  "Probably, but I can't think of it now."

  She sighed. It was impossible to imagine leaving Renford Hall, to never call it her home again. Of course she'd be back to visit, very often, most likely. And Ned promised to consult her if he had any questions regarding the management, but she doubted he'd need her.

  Not that she wouldn't have plenty to keep her busy where she was going. Her heart pounded at the thrill of seeing Dovington Downs for the first time. Just think what she could do with a
proper estate to look over! Not that the earl didn't already have a very capable steward, and clearly he was more than competent himself to handle his business, but he'd promise to let her be involved in the management of things with him. It was a challenge she could hardly wait to put herself into.

  And the fact that she'd not be alone, that she'd have him right there at her side... it was a dream beyond comprehension. First, though, they had a long ride ahead of them.

  "I'm sure I've forgotten something, but I can have the housekeeper send it on, or Mamma when she and Ella return."

  "You know, of course, your sister will be married by then. Ned will find some way to convince your mother to let them marry this year."

  "If he doesn't, Ella will. But I'm not worried. I've no doubt they will be happy."

  "How could they not, if she is anything like her sister?"

  She kissed him on the cheek for that and the sly quirk at the corners of his lips told her he thought he deserved much more. He always thought that way, and drat it all, but she usually agreed. Now, however, was not the time.

  He pulled the carriage door open for her and ushered her in. She was about to step up, but a call from the yard stopped her. The young boy from the stable was coming round the house and he waved. Mariah waved back and called to him.

  "Here, bring them here."

  Her husband grumbled, brushing droplets of rain off his coat but waiting patiently. Behind the young man Bess promptly appeared, her black and white coat shaggy with the wet and her three puppies—getting larger every day—came rolling and tumbling along behind her. They were aiming directly for the open carriage door.

  "Whoa, wait a moment," Dovington said, a moment too late as all four dogs—and all their mud—leapt up inside.

  "We have to take them," Mariah pleaded. "I know only little Bruno was supposed to be yours, but Ella is gone off to London, and Mr. Skrewd couldn't very well take Bess and the puppy he'd selected on that long ocean voyage, could he? I said we'd look after them all."

  "There are four wet dogs in my carriage, Mariah."

  "I know, my dearest, but you're so gentle with them."

  "Four wet dogs, Mariah."

  "We've blankets. They'll dry."

  "It's quite a long drive up to Surrey, you know."

  "And you want to be leaving so we get there before dark."

  He peered in at the dogs then glanced back at her. She smiled her sweetest for him and knew she had won. He shook his head and held the door open for her again.

  "Very well. They may ride in here with us. But," he paused, then leaned in so the boy from the stable couldn't make out his words. "They'd best stay on their own bench. This bench is ours."

  And she knew it was going to be an interesting drive, which of course was the perfect way to begin her new life.

  Red Door Reads

  "Who's Ben Skrewd?"

  Ben Skrewd is a busy man! He's popping up all over.

  Several authors from Red Door Reads have each come up with their own incarnations of Mr. Ben Skrewd. He might be good, he might be bad, but he's hiding there somewhere. You can look for him and find out what's behind the Red Door in these other fun titles:

  Hexed (A Deadly Sins Novella) by Andris Bear

  Dances with Demons (A Phoenix Chronicles Novella) by Lori Handeland

  Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness (A Half Moon House Novella) by Deb Marlowe

  Firebird (A Columbyana Novella) by Linda Winstead Jones

  In the Stars (A Regency Encounter Novella) by Ava Stone

  Her Muse, Lord Patrick (Muses Novella) by Jane Charles

  Cross Springs In Bloom (A Cross Springs Novella) by Caren Crane

  Touch of Trouble (A Blake Brothers Novella) by Susan Sey

  Reagan's Revenge by Tammy Falkner

  Accidentally In Love (A More Courtesan Chronicles Novella) Claudia Dain

  www.RedDoorReads.com

  About the Author

  Susan Gee Heino thinks the sexiest thing a man can do is engage in witty banter. If he happens to be wearing breeches and a cravat while he does this, all the better. If he comes with a noble title, a tortured past, and perhaps even dimples, then he is just about perfect.

  Her lighthearted Regency Romances are full of quirky heroines who tend to feel exactly the same way—at least they do by the end of the book. Usually it takes a little convincing by the cravat-clad hero. But no matter what adventures ensue, the hero always ends up with his lady. And vice versa.

  Ms. Heino lives in rural Ohio with her non-cravat-inclined husband, two very remarkable children, and an accidental collection of critters. She loves to hear from readers so please visit her website or connect on social media!

  www. SusanGH.com Love's funny sometimes!