The Earl's Desire (11 page)

“
My lord, have you forgotten to mention something to me?” Lady Queensbury continued. “I seem to see my brother-in-law and his whole family here.” Her beautiful, youthful face turned quite red when she said that.

Merrick turned to look at the Wilsons on the other side of the room, who had just arrived half an hour ago. Instantly, he saw Christine standing awkwardly near the door like a wallflower. He turned back to Lady Queensbury. “Yes, excuse me,” he said, bowed at both women, and left.

Lady Queensbury and Anne both walked to greet their relatives, the other Wilsons.

“
Good evening, Lillian. I had no idea your family had been invited to the earl’s private party,” Lady Queensbury said sarcastically. She moved closer to Mrs. Wilson and whispered, “What did you do?”

“
Ah, Lady Queensbury, you see, we accidentally met during the Robinson’s dinner party last winter. He happened to invite us to his party. It is not what I did that got us here tonight, but rather
”—
she turned to look at her daughter
—
“because of Jane.” She smiled triumphantly.

“
I see!” the countess snapped.

Anne said to Jane, “Ah, Cousin Jane, I see you’re still a schoolgirl after all, with that distasteful gown of yours. Very unfashionable, let me assure you. It’s a gown for a school miss, not a lady of fashion.” She smiled and whispered into Jane’s ear. “If you’re trying to catch the earl, don’t even think about it. For I’m sure he sees you as no more than a stupid school miss who is making a fool of herself.” She lifted her head then and smiled with satisfaction at Jane, who just looked defeated.

Anne turned to Mrs. Wilson. “Good evening, Auntie, enjoy your dinner tonight.”

Mrs. Wilson looked from the smiling Anne to her daughter. “Jane? Are you all right?” she asked in concern.

Jane blinked and said, “Oh, Mama, I—”

Merrick came to stand in front of Christine near the door. She looked up at him and smiled nervously.

“
You look nice,” he said, and he
meant
it, perhaps even understated it. “Come this way. I will introduce you to my guests.” He led her to the Wilsons.

“
Everyone,” Merrick began, “may I introduce my ward, Chris Smith.”

Anne glanced at Christine. She widened her eyes and then glared at Merrick. “You have a ward, my lord?” she said. There was a hint of an accusation in her voice.

Christine bowed to Anne.

“
Have I seen you somewhere before, lad?” Lord Queensbury asked Christine. He looked as though he had just seen a ghost.

Christine shook her head and said, “No, I don’t think so, my lord.”

Maximilian appeared at the door then. His presence was so powerful that the guests turned toward him standing there, silently watching them. Lady Queensbury swiftly grabbed her daughter’s arm and rushed over to him. “Why, Your Grace, I didn’t know you’d be here, I mean in this house party.” She composed herself and said to Anne, “Anne, curtsy to the Duke of Lynwood.”

Anne curtsied low. “Your Grace,” she said and held out her hand for him. Maximilian took it and lightly touched it to his lips.

“
Ah, I see you’ve met my friend, Maximilian Devilyn.” Merrick laughed. “And, Max, this is my ward, Chris Smith.”

Christine bowed her head and said, “Good evening to you, Your Grace.” When she looked up at him, she had to tilt her head right back because he was very tall, the same height as Merrick, in fact, and was as muscular as well. He was dangerously handsome with his ash blond hair, blue eyes, and strong, angular face. She glanced at Merrick, who was standing beside her, and thought that he too was very handsome indeed, even more so than the Duke of Lynwood in her mind. But to her Merrick didn’t look dangerous, though she reasoned with herself that he could be when he wanted to be. To her right at that moment, Merrick looked big and gentle.

“
A good evening to you, too, Chris,” Maximilian said. “The burgundy is good. I like it, and the peonies, too.”

Christine smiled shyly and said, “I’m glad you like it, Your Grace. Mrs. Ross said that it’s your room because you come so often and that you want nothing changed, but I thought that the drapes and sheets were too old, so we bought new ones. I thought you’d like burgundy.”

Merrick was certain of two things then. One was that Max’s room had been refurbished by his ward, and two, that Max liked it. He wasn’t sure what to expect if Max didn’t like the new arrangement. Though they had been friends for ten years, he had never seen Max flare up with anger before, nor had he ever seen the man smile or laugh. Max was always in control of his emotions.

“
Dinner is served,” Ross announced at the door.

“
Lady Queensbury?” Merrick said to the countess, offering his arm.

“
Very good of you, my lord.” She put her hand on his arm as they strolled to the dining room. She saw that the duke was escorting Anne, which caused her to smile in pleasure.

They were on their way into the dining room when they heard a carriage draw to a screeching stop outside. A footman rushed to open the front door.

“
Excuse me,” Merrick said to the countess, bowed, and made his way down to greet the new, unexpected guest.

A woman stepped down from the carriage. Merrick frowned as he made his way toward her. “Maria?” he said in surprise.

She smiled up at him, her green eyes sparkling with pleasure. “My lord, why did you not tell me you were having such a lavish party at your estate? For once, I am very disappointed with you.”

“
I did not expect you to be here,” he said to her quietly.

“
You know, I do really love parties and yours especially.” She smiled mischievously at him. He watched her making her way up the stairs toward the Hall, her hips swaying from side to side.

“
And who is this?” Lady Queensbury uttered at the front door, her face flaming red and her blue eyes narrowed with suspicion as she watched the new guest approaching them.

“
Ah, if I’m not mistaken, you are Lady Queensbury. Isn’t that right?” Maria said as she came to stand beside the older woman. “Well, my lord,” she turned to look at Merrick behind her, “will you not introduce me to your other guests?” She raised her thin, shapely red brows at him.

“
Maria,” Merrick said in a warning tone of voice.

She ignored him and introduced herself. “I am Lady Maria Ferguson. The earl and I are old friends,” she said, smiling pleasantly at Lady Queensbury.

“
I say, Merrick.” Allan advanced toward his cousin. “’Tis getting late, Lady Ferguson must be tired and hungry after her long journey from London.”

“
Why, I certainly agreed with, err…”

“
Allan, please. I’m Merrick’s cousin,” Allan replied.

“
Ah, my lord, your cousin. He is indeed very charming.” Maria laughed and touched Allan’s arm. She shifted her eyes across the guests and spotted Maximilian. Her body shook when he saw him staring sharply at her. “
Lord Devil!
” she said under her breath.

“
Good evening to you, too, Maria,” Max said as he bowed his head.

“
Mrs. Ross,” Merrick called to the housekeeper. “Arrange a guest room for Lady Ferguson.”

“
Yes, my lord,” Mrs. Ross said and hurried away.

“
Come along, Maria,” Merrick said, leading her into the Hall.

* * *

Christine dashed out of the drawing room, hurried along the corridor, and raced up the stairs toward her room. She was very glad that the evening was over. She was sure she was going to scream like a madwoman if she were to stay and watch those high-society women throwing themselves at Merrick one more minute. They were competing for his attention, she was sure, and they had done it in the most disgusting way, in her mind. They had thrown themselves at him by sweetly talking to him, smiling at him, fluttering their lashes at him, and showing their beautiful white cleavage at him. She shook her head and stalked across the corridor. Aye, she had had enough for one day.

“
Master Smith!”

She turned to see an old maid who looked a bit like a witch with a long, thin nose and narrowed, dark eyes watching her.

The maid curtsied and said, “My name is Kate. I am Lady Ferguson’s maid, sir.”

“
And?” Christine queried. She did not want to be bothered with anything just at that moment. She just wanted to go to her room and not think about Merrick, who was undoubtedly falling head over heels in love with a witch named Anne Wilson.

“
And I was wondering if you could help us, sir.”

“
Help you?” Christine narrowed her eyes.

“
Aye, sir. You see, Lady Ferguson wondered if you could please help her with something,” the maid said.

What game was this Lady Maria Ferguson playing at, Christine wanted to know.

“
All right, Kate. Tell me, and then I’ll see if I can help.”

Kate smiled. “Aye, sir, come with me,” she said and led Christine the way.

The moment Christine stepped into Maria’s room, an overwhelming smell of roses reached her nostrils. She felt the strong aroma oppressing her, and she wanted to gag.

“
I have brought Master Smith here, my lady,” the maid said.

Christine adjusted her eyes to the dimly lit room and found Lady Ferguson sitting on a velvet chair in front of the mirror.

“
You have come, Master Smith,” the woman said.

Christine widened her eyes. Gosh, but the woman was very beautiful indeed.

“
What can I help with?” she asked curtly.

Maria got up and walked toward the table beside the bed. She opened a drawer and took out a sheet of paper that was folded like an envelope. She strolled gracefully toward Christine.

“
I want you to take this and give it to Merrick.”

“
A letter, is it not?” Christine asked, her eyes on the envelope waving before her as if a child hungrily eyeing sweetmeat that his mother forbade him to have.

“
Aye, Master Chris, for Merrick.” She nodded and turned to the maid. “Kate, bring me that reward.”

The maid disappeared into the darkness and returned with a pouch. It looked heavy.

“
Here…” Maria handed Christine the letter. “Don’t forget to give it to Merrick. And this is your reward.” She opened the pouch and gave two pounds to Christine.

When Christine simply stared at the coins, Maria said, “You are the luckiest one of all the children Merrick saved from the streets. He took you in as his own ward and let you stay in this Hall. He could have left you at St. Peter’s House, an orphanage he and the duke created. Here, take it. You’ll probably need it when he no longer wants you here. Oh, and be sure he reads it.” She grabbed Christine’s hand and dumped the money in her palm. She then turned toward the mirror, dismissing Christine.

Christine wanted to punch the woman in the face. Maria was insulting her. But the woman was right in a way. She was only a slum kid Merrick had saved. One day, when he had married Lady Anne, he wouldn’t want her to stick around anymore. The very thought hurt her deeply. She clutched the money in her hands as Kate opened the door for her.

In the corridor, she turned her attention to the letter. She wondered what the contents of that letter contained. Oh, she wondered so much. Mayhap she was inviting him to her room.

She was so busy with her thoughts about the possibilities that the letter contained that she did not realize she had reached her destination. She opened the door and slid in while still examining the envelope, turning it over in her hands.

“
What do you have there, Chris? You seem mighty interested in it.”

She snapped her head up and saw Merrick watching her. “No, ’tis not that interesting. In fact, ’tis for you,” she said as she shoved the letter to him.

Merrick took it. The aroma of roses reached him. He knew instantly it was from Maria. He unsealed the envelope as Christine shoved past him. He ambled toward the candle to read the message. As usual, she sent her love to him, inviting him to her bed that night.

“
I thought I told you not to attend me,” he said and placed the letter into the top drawer next to his bed.