The Unwanted Earl (10 page)

Amelia. It was because of her. And only her.

Have I fallen under a witch’s spell? Am I a captive of her powers?
As much as his rigid temperament and strict upbringing pushed away the silly thought, the small, new strength he garnered from the red-haired vixen to his left shoved back.

What would Mother say?

At the moment, he cared not. Because his mother wasn’t there.

“
Yes. I do.” He had no idea what she might have in mind, but at the moment, all he could think about was her lavender scent.

“
Keep holding onto my hand.”

Gladly.

“
And step just a little closer…”

Certainly.

“…
to the water.”

Drat.

“
And turn toward me just a little.”

Yes…

“
And bend your left knee.”

“
Pardon?”

“
Conrad, we need to get the edge of your boot in the water.”

“
We do?”

“
To remove the uh…”

“
Of course.” He turned his head and gasped. Most of the geese had moved away as he and Amelia had neared the pond. But one goose, a very large grey one, floated across the water toward them. And he was…

With a squint, Conrad eyed the bird. Was the goose frowning? At him?

Conrad stepped away.

Amelia tugged him back. In her other hand, she waved her handkerchief again. “Since you won’t use mine to clean your boot, I think dipping it in the pond is the best way.”

A stray beam of sunlight peeked from behind a large cloud and landed on the cloth. Some of the thread must have had a slight shine to it because the effect was dazzling. As she waved the fabric back and forth, back and forth, the threads glistened, almost as if they turned this way and that on the cloth.

“
Oh my, look at that.” Amelia pointed with the handkerchief to something behind Conrad.

He turned slowly, suddenly afraid of what was lurking there. The grey goose approached stealthily, as if it were a pirate ship cutting through the ocean fog. When his gaze connected with that of the bird, Conrad sucked in so much air as to nearly make him feel faint. What was that crazy goose doing?

Closer and closer it swam. Conrad longed to turn and run the other direction, but his legs wouldn’t cooperate.
Why won’t they move?
 

Amelia gasped. “Go away, goose. Shoo!” She waved her handkerchief frantically, trying to scare it off. The result was the opposite of her intent. The goose eyed the movement of the handkerchief, seeming as dazzled by the reflection of the sun on the shiny thread as Conrad had been.

The more Amelia waved it, the closer the goose came.

Conrad’s mouth went dry. “W-why is that goose coming in this direction?”

“
I don’t know.” Her eyes rounded, and she, too, seemed attached to the muddy patch of earth beside the pond. She waved her handkerchief faster. She must not have realized that it only enticed the bird more.

“
Amelia, don’t—”

She screamed. Conrad turned just in time to see the goose’s long bill snap closed around the edge of the handkerchief. “Help, Conrad! Do something!”

Do something? Me?

A single tear formed and coursed down Amelia’s cheek. Conrad’s heart ached for her. Surely the handkerchief was of importance. Reaching out his free hand, he grabbed for the fabric before he had time to talk himself out of it.

Only for Amelia…

Conrad tugged. The goose tugged back. Anger replaced fear as Conrad pulled with all of his might. “No, you will not make Amelia shed another tear, you filthy fowl!” He released Amelia’s hand and put all of his weight into it, to the point of leaning back. With his heels dug into the mud, he strained against the goose’s surprising hold.

Suddenly, the tension eased. The goose let go of the handkerchief. Conrad wind milled his arms trying to keep his balance, to no avail.

With a curse, Conrad slipped forward, his boot giving way from the suction of the mud.

No. Oh no!

When he realized he had no choice, he gulped in air and closed his eyes. The splash was loud, but quick. Frigid water seeped first into his clothing, and then shocked his skin beneath.

With relief, Conrad’s boot touched the bottom of the pond. Saints be praised, because he couldn’t swim! He stood on the toes of his boots, which lifted his eyes and nose above the swirling green wetness. A distant thought floated through his mind.
At least the slime will now be gone from my boot.
 

Amelia was bent over the edge of the water, holding out her hand. “Here, let me help you.”

He trudged through the murky mud until he could reach his arm out just far enough that she grabbed his hand.

Amelia bit her lip. “Are you ready?”

To get out of this evil pool of darkness?
“Yes!”

She pulled so hard that when he popped out of the water, she fell backward. Conrad had no recourse, as the momentum pulled him down… down, until he fell on top of her.

Amelia blinked. And smiled.

Even in the hideousness of the moment, with soaking wet skin and having come closer to a bird than he’d ever imagined in one of his darkest nightmares, one side of his mouth lifted as well.

Quick steps approached. “Lord Lofton! I’ll thank you to remove yourself from Miss Talbot’s person.”

Conrad sighed. He’d forgotten about the pesky maid.

Miriam Croome paced
the parlor, her boots squeaking every time she turned. Conrad was bringing his betrothed to meet her. He’d only just the day before spoken to her father about asking for her hand. And
apparently
today, he couldn’t wait to bring her here, to the house. Miriam wasn’t looking forward to it, either. The girl was blackmailing them, for heaven’s sake. Miriam’s fingers itched to wrap around the spoiled little rich girl’s throat, tightening until the imprints of her fingernails left permanent marks on Miss Talbot’s perfect young neck.

How dare she try to take advantage of Conrad?

Of me?

Miss Talbot was in for a surprise. A big one. Conrad had said he’d tried to tell his intended that he wasn’t rich but she hadn’t believed him. She’d find out what was what in a few weeks when they married. Miriam gritted her teeth together. Once the new Lady Lofton lived in the house where did that leave
her?
 

In the barn?

Perhaps she should have been nicer to her son. Shouldn’t have said some of the less-than-kind things to him. She’d never worried about it in the past. But now… He wouldn’t take revenge by kicking her out, would he? Make her fend for herself? No. Of course not. At least… she hoped not.

Hadn’t she always taken care of him? Looked out for his best interest? And she’d always insisted that he stay indoors, away from anything repulsive and harmful that lurked outside. When he’d been little, he’d often tried to sneak out of the house when she wasn’t looking. But she’d broken him of those desires. As an adult, he’d finally given in to her views on remaining indoors. He’d been a strong-willed child, but after years of nagging and haranguing, he’d come to see things her way.

Now there was to be a third person in their little family. Miriam tried to imagine what things would be like once Miss Talbot took up residence. What if the soon-to-be Lady Lofton decided that she wanted to be the
only
woman of the house?

Miriam tapped her finger to her chin.
Why am I getting so worked up? This is a
young girl. Stupid. Naïve. Weak-willed.
Surely she would have no problem putting Miss Amelia Talbot in her place. Once the girl knew who really was in charge, she would run for cover and hide. Perhaps, she’d even shed a frightened tear or two. How amusing!

A smile lifted the corners of her lips. That was just what would happen. She’d see to it in short order. As a matter of fact, may as well get it established before the wedding took place. No use letting the girl think she’d have the upper hand. Ever.

A door opened and closed near the front of the house and the sound of two sets of boots echoed down the hall.

They’re here. Why not take care of this little matter right now?
She rubbed her hands together.

Conrad stood in the doorway to the parlor and removed his hat. A butler appeared from the hall and took it. “Good day, Mother. I’d like you to meet Miss Amelia Talbot.”

A beautiful girl stepped into view. Red hair. Green eyes. All soft curves enhanced by a small waist. And she wasn’t all that much shorter than Conrad. Her pale yellow dress was accented by a lovely white hat trimmed with yellow daisies that Miriam longed to own. Not only would the new Lady Lofton be uninvited, she’d also take away necessary funds that Miriam would normally have used for herself. And
her
hats.

Miriam nodded her head. “Pleased to meet you, Miss Talbot.”

Amelia curtseyed. “And you as well, Lady Lofton.”

Miriam bit her tongue. Would that be one of the last times she would be addressed as such? “Won’t you come in and sit down?”

Her future daughter-in-law glided across the room as if she rode on a cloud. She really was quite exquisite. Surely, though, she couldn’t hold her own with Miriam when they did more than exchange pleasantries. Miriam was certain that before the visit had concluded, both women would know where they stood.

Conrad followed Amelia and assisted her to the settee. He sat down beside her, a little too close. Why was his face flushed? Was he nervous? No. More than likely he was angry at having to even bring her to his home. And why wouldn’t he be? Conrad wouldn’t be marrying her if it weren’t for her blackmail scheme.

With a huff, Miriam sat across from the couple in her favorite high-backed chair. It made her feel regal, somehow, to be surrounded by the plush dark green fabric. It also bolstered her courage to say what she needed, to Amelia.

She grasped the arms of the chair tightly. “Tell me, Amelia… May I call you Amelia?”

“
You may.”

“
Tell me, how does your family fare?”

“
Quite well. Thank you for asking.”

“
And you? Are you well?”

Amelia nodded. “Yes. Quite.”

“
And what have you been doing for entertainment?”

“
The Bird Sanctuary. Conrad took me there recently.”

“
Pardon?”

“
It’s my favorite place.”

“
But…” The birds. The insects. Dirt and mud.

“
Have you ever been, Lady Lofton?”

“
Certainly not.”

“
Then you must accompany us sometime soon.”

“
I think not.” Miriam shuddered. Poor Conrad. To think that wanton girl dragged him there against his will. He must have been horrified.

“
I see.” Amelia clasped her hands together in her lap.

“
I cannot for the life of me imagine why you would have gone
there
.”

“
As I said, it’s my favorite venue. And Conrad was good enough to humor me.”

Miriam eyed her son. “Is that so?”

With a tug at his cravat, Conrad swallowed. “Yes. It was… yes.”

“
But you detest that place.”

Amelia whipped her gaze to Conrad. “You do? I knew you seemed reluctant. At first.”

At first?
What had happened to change that? Miriam gripped the chair arms even tighter. This conversation wasn’t going well. Not well at all.

“
You see, Mother, when I was there with Amelia, things didn’t seem…”

“
Didn’t seem what? Speak up, son.”

“
I… It was different. That’s all.”

What was going on? Had Amelia cast some spell over Conrad? Enough of that. Time to set some things straight before they got too out of hand. “Now that we’ve met, Amelia, perhaps it’s time we discussed some weightier matters.”

Conrad tapped his finger on his knee. “Mother…”

Amelia blinked. “And what might those be, Lady Lofton?”

“
I know the truth.”

“
The truth?”

“
About you. About how you’ve convinced my son to marry you.”

Conrad tightened his hand into a fist. “Mother, this is neither the time nor—”

Miriam glared at her son. “Conrad, if you’d been more of a man, we might not be in this situation in the first place.”

Amelia sat forward. “I beg your pardon?”

Looking back and forth between the two women, Conrad’s face paled.

The girl has the gall to question me?
“You heard me, young lady.”

Amelia scooted closer to the edge of her seat. “Maybe you should be more specific, my lady.”

“
My pleasure.” Miriam edged forward as well, although it took her three tries to get there. Blast Amelia for being younger and more nimble. “Conrad has informed me that you blackmailed him into marrying you. Do you deny it?”

“
Of course not. What would be the use of that?”

Miriam’s jaw dropped open. “Y-you admit it?”

“
I won’t say I’m proud of it, but I was given no choice.”

Conrad stared at her. “Given no choice? To marry me?”

“
Yes, why in the world would you pick Conrad?” In unison, Conrad and Amelia stared at her. “I… that is…”

“
Mother, really… Can’t you keep your opinions to yourself? At least when we’re entertaining a guest.”

“
Guest?”
The word emerged as a screech.
I sound like an old crow
. She slapped her hand over her mouth.

Conrad reached over and patted Amelia’s hand.

Miriam’s eyes bulged. “Why are you touching her?”

He drew his hand back as if burned. Splotches of red colored his otherwise pale cheeks.

“
Amelia, you are not a guest. You’re an intruder. An unwelcome, interfering—”