The Dangerous Lord Darrington(14)

Guy hoped he had not given himself away when they were looking at the  ruins of the church. He had watched, entranced, as she flew around the  old building, drawing his attention to the exquisite carving on an old  pillar top, pointing out a gargoyle still clinging to the west wall. She  had been like a sprite, a will o' the wisp, darting here, there and  everywhere, so that when at last she stood still he caught her red-gold  ringlet to keep her there. She had grown very quiet then. Did she know  how much he wanted to kiss her? More than that. He wanted to ravish her,  to possess her completely. But it would not do: she had shown no signs  of wanting to flirt with him. She might succumb to him in the magic of  the moment, but afterwards, the tears, the recriminations-she was  betrothed to Radworth, as good as married. True, Guy's name had been  linked with married women, but they had always pursued him. It was not  his habit to come between a man and his wife.

For the first time he was glad of the early hours kept at the Priory,  and after looking in on Davey he retired to his chamber and threw  himself down upon his bed, his hands clasped behind his head. Damnation,  she had got under his skin! How long had it been since any woman had  done that-nine years, ten? And it had to be one as unobtainable as that  first, disastrous love affair. The guttering of his bedside candle told  him it was getting late and he began to undress. His ears caught the  sounds of stealthy movement outside his room. He was no nearer to  solving the mystery at the Priory, but suddenly he didn't care. All he  wanted to do was get away. Davey was recovering well now. When the  doctor called the day after tomorrow he would make damned sure he was  declared fit enough to travel and they would leave Malpass Priory and  its mysteries behind them.





Chapter Seven



Beth did not know whether to be most relieved or sorry when she saw  Lord Darrington riding out early the next morning. Kepwith told her that  the earl had breakfasted alone at a most unseasonal hour and had left  instructions that they were not to wait dinner for him.

She busied herself with household duties and surprised her sister by  raising no objection when Sophie suggested that Mr Davies could be  carried downstairs to the drawing room so that he could listen to her  play on the pianoforte. Lady Arabella offered to act as chaperon and  Beth was free to throw herself into a frenzy of cleaning, but no matter  how busy she was she could not keep her mind from wandering back to the  golden evening in the ruins of the Priory church. When Miles Radworth  called to see her late in the afternoon she made a great effort to greet  him affectionately.

'How was your trip to Staffordshire?'

'I bought a few pieces of Meissen, but nothing very much.' He raised his head. 'Do I hear music?'

'Yes. Sophie is entertaining Mr Davies in the drawing room. Would you like to join them?'

'No, I would much rather have you to myself. I want to talk to you about your guest.'

'Mr Davies?'

'No, the earl.'

'Oh?' Beth raised her brows.

Miles took her arm and led her towards the library. 'You know I have  never been happy about you having him stay when there is no man here to  protect you.'

'I am well aware of the earl's reputation, Miles, and I am quite  capable of repulsing his advances. Not that he has made any, which is a  sad reflection upon my charms-or lack of them!-do you not think?'

He frowned as he shut the library door upon them. 'This is no time for  levity, Elizabeth. If Darrington has made no move upon you, it is  because he knows he would have me to answer to. I would have you under  no illusion about your guest.'

Beth walked over to the sofa and sank down, wanting to tell Miles to  keep his counsel. 'Is this necessary?' she asked, keeping her voice  light. 'I have every hope that he will be gone in a few days.'

'That is good news,' replied Miles heavily. 'It offends me that a man  of such unsavoury reputation should be staying at the Priory.'

'He is certainly capable of making himself agreeable. He is on the best  of terms with both Sophie and Grandmama, but since he shows no  inclination to flirt with any of us-'

'It is not just that.' Miles took a turn about the room, like a man  struggling with some unpleasant subject. He said at last, 'The man is no  better than a traitor.' Beth stared at him and he continued, 'It is an  old story and thus you may be forgiven for not knowing of it. When I  went to Granby I met an acquaintance who spends a great deal of time in  town and remembers the scandal. Darrington passed Government secrets to  the French.'                       
       
           



       

'I do not believe it!'

Beth's response was instinctive. It was much easier to believe the earl  a libertine than a traitor. After all, she had experienced his charm,  and although she had little experience she thought she could understand a  man being carried away by lust.

'It was hushed up, of course,' Miles continued. 'Nothing was ever  proved and Darrington is related to some of the foremost families in the  land. He was making a name for himself in the government, too, but was  forced to give it all up once his reputation was tarnished. Any man who  would betray his own country is a scoundrel, Beth! You would do well to  distance yourself from him, especially when we are trying so hard to  avoid a scandal in your own family-'

'Yes,' she said quickly. 'We agreed we would not discuss that.'

'Once we are married, my dear, never one word of recrimination or  reproach shall pass my lips.' Beth stared at him. She did not like the  insinuation. As if reading her thoughts he said quickly, 'I have  offended you. Believe me, Elizabeth, I wanted to do no more than put you  on your guard.' He gave a little laugh. 'Lord Darrington has a fearsome  reputation with the fairer sex and I fear I am a little jealous of  him.'

'And I have told you there is no reason to be anxious for me,' she  said, keeping a rein on her temper. She rose, wanting to bring the  tête-à-tête to an end. 'I do not believe you need be concerned about the  earl. His friend is recovering well and I have every hope that Dr  Compton will declare him fit to travel tomorrow. After that we need have  no further dealings with the earl. Shall we join the others now?'

Beth put all thought of their discussion to the back of her mind as she  took Miles into the drawing room. Greetings were exchanged, Mr Davies's  health was briefly discussed, but when the party settled down and  Sophie continued her recital, Beth found herself going over in her mind  everything Miles had told her about the earl. She did not want to  believe it, but Darrington himself had admitted he rarely went to London  these days. Her experience of men was limited, so perhaps her judgement  was at fault. He might well be a cunning and unscrupulous deceiver.

It does not matter, she told herself firmly. It means nothing to me. In  a few days he will be gone, and everything will be as it was.



Beth rose early the following morning; by the time she joined Lady  Arabella and Sophie for a late breakfast she was able to inform them  that Dr Compton had already visited his patient.

'He has said Mr Davies is well enough to travel back to Highridge  tomorrow morning.' She added mischievously, 'It seems Mr Davies suffered  no ill effects from your piano playing yesterday, Sophie.'

'But surely he would be better not to undertake such a journey for a  few more days.' Sophie cast a beseeching glance at her grandmother.  'Being carefully carried downstairs bears no comparison to being driven  ten miles in a jolting carriage!'

'Are you casting doubts upon the comfort of my travelling chariot, Miss  Sophie?' Beth looked up quickly to see the earl standing in the  doorway. He had been out riding and brought with him an aura of health  and vigour as he strode into the breakfast room. Beth felt again a  frisson of excitement, of attraction, at the sight of him and fought it  down, telling herself it had nothing to do with the earl, it was merely  her own weakness. He was not even looking at her, but was smiling at  Sophie and there was laughter in his voice as he addressed her. 'I vow I  am mortified.'

Sophie had very quickly come to regard the earl as a friend, thought  Beth ruefully, and now she merely waved away his joking comment.

'I am sure his lordship's carriage will be very comfortable,' declared Lady Arabella.

'Yes, but-'

'We cannot trespass upon your hospitality any longer, Miss Sophie,' the  earl interrupted her gently. 'You have all been most kind, but Mr  Davies and I must return to Highridge tomorrow. There are any number of  matters that have been left unattended since this accident.'

'Yes, of course.' Sophie nodded.

'We will find cushions and blankets to support Mr Davies's leg,' offered Beth, noting Sophie's anxious face.

'Thank you.' She tried to ignore his smile, forcing herself to believe  it was insincere. He continued, 'Perhaps Miss Sophie would oversee the  arrangements for the patient's comfort.'

This suggestion met with immediate approval and when it was decided  that Mr Davies should be carried down to the drawing room again, Beth  realised that she could expect no help from her sister for the remainder  of the day. This did not worry her overmuch; knowing that Sophie and  the earl would spend their time entertaining Mr Davies and Lady  Arabella, Beth knew she would be able to attend to her own business  without fear of interruption.