An Earl for Edith Read online

  “And...”

  “And my younger sister has.”

  Miles did find that odd, though he couldn’t connect it to her earlier upset. “That is abnormal.”

  “My mother is beautiful, my sisters are exquisite, and we are poor. So, I stayed home when Felicity went to London. The real reason her comment about me being a mother hurt so much was because of what she implied. I’ll never be a wonderful wife, only a wonderful mother. You see, even her compliments have daggers.”

  “She might not have meant it in that way.”

  “Ah, but you don’t know Mama. I was only seven or eight when I realized she didn’t like me as much as my sisters. I overheard her telling Mrs. Brady, the vicar’s wife, she was worried I might not grow out of my ugly phase. She’s never approved of me and I, like a fool, can’t help but want her to praise me. So you see, I couldn’t very well say no to her when she told me to come and catch an earl.”

  She stopped walking which pulled on his arm. “I shouldn’t be saying these things. Please don’t tell Lord Camden.”

  Miles nodded, but didn’t know what to say. True, Miss Wilson was no diamond of the first water. She wasn’t even as noticeable as her much older mother, but surely there was something about her that was pleasing. If only he could place what it was. Then he remembered her smile and it came to him. “Your eyes have a very nice twinkle when you smile. I’m sure that with a little hard work and a lot of smiling, you could win someone over. After all, I’ve seen ladies much worse off than you in the umm...beauty department find a gentleman to marry.”

  “Thank you for saying that, but they were probably rich.” Miss Wilson let go of his arm and started walking again. Miles followed her closely, making sure she stayed upright.

  “Most yes, but I distinctly remember a Miss White who had no dowry and who was considered quite homely. She ran off with a baron to Gretna Green. It was quite the scandal.”

  Miss Wilson’s lips raised in a vibrant smile. She was taller than most ladies and had a willowy frame, and even with a slight wobble every now and then she held herself with grace. If they had met under different circumstances, say at a ball, would he have noticed her at all? Probably not.

  Miss Wilson lurched to the left and was about to fall flat on her face. Miles grabbed her waist to stop her from getting hurt. He pulled her back up onto her feet and quickly let go of her. She stood there gazing up at him, much closer than she ought to be.

  “Your eyes are truly beautiful,” he murmured as he stared into their honey brown depth.

  Miss Wilson’s eyes widened in surprise and he noticed a few flecks of gold near her iris. She leaned forward, hopped up on her tiptoes, and pressed her lips to his cheek. Her lips were warm and soft, and Miles put his hands behind his back to keep them away from her. A second later she stepped back. “What have I done?” she whispered as she turned around and ran back to the lodge.

  Chapter 2

  It didn’t happen. This is not real, Edith repeated over and over in her head as she sat on the earl’s very comfortable leather chair and listened to Mama and the earl chatting about gardening tips. Mr. Stirling returned a few minutes later. Edith smiled in his direction without actually looking at the man. The very first man she’d ever kissed.

  Her heart had fluttered at his sincere compliment. She’d seen the truth of his admiration in his eyes and her body had moved of its own accord. Was she so starved for affection that she’d latch onto the first man to ever notice her? No, it must have been the alcohol, or perhaps she was on the verge of losing her mind and what had definitely not happened earlier was the very first sign of deterioration.

  “What is your favorite flower, Miss Wilson?” Lord Camden asked.

  Edith barely heard his words; how could she talk about flowers when she’d just made the most horrendous mistake of her life? “I’m rather partial to gardenias and lilies,” she replied, happy her brain hadn’t completely failed her this time.

  “One represents innocence, love, and marriage, while the other is most commonly associated with death. I wonder what such contradicting flowers could suggest about your personality?” The earl smirked.

  “That I like beautiful pale petals and that you know far too much about the meaning behind each and every bloom. Was flower arranging part of the curriculum at Eton?”

  “Indeed it was offered; however, everything I know I learned from my cousin who took the class but couldn’t seem to pass. Poor soul, he can’t tell the difference between a dahlia and a daffodil.”

  “You cut me to the core cousin. I am relatively sure that one of those is bushy while the other is red and pear-shaped,” Mr. Stirling stated emphatically.

  Mama laughed loudly. “You two are so entertaining. Pear-shaped flowers indeed. It will be getting dark soon. Do you have an extra room where we could stay? I'm sure my coachman will be able to find us by morning.”

  “Ah, yes. It has been a while, and he still hasn’t returned.” The Earl of Camden frowned.

  “Therefore, we’d be happy to let you borrow our horses. The stable here is better equipped than the lodge itself,” Mr. Stirling said with just a touch too much vigor for her liking. Edith’s face flushed with embarrassment. The man probably thought she would accost him in his sleep.

  “Our house is over ten miles away. There’s no way we can travel so far tonight,” Mama declared.

  “That may be true,” Mr. Stirling rebutted, “however, there is a nice little hamlet about two miles up the road that has a very comfortable inn.”

  “Ah, but my poor Edith is terribly afraid of horses. I’m sure she couldn’t endure any more excitement tonight.”

  Edith couldn’t take any more indignities today. She turned to Mama prepared to tell the gentlemen the truth, that she adored horses, but her resolve melted at the expectation in Mama’s blue eyes. Edith sighed, “It will be ever so difficult, but I think I’ll be able to manage if Lord Camden will ride next to me and guide my horse. Could you do that for me?” She made sure her words were dripping with honey, in order to mollify Mama.

  An interesting look passed between the two gentlemen. From Edith’s point of view, it seemed as though they were having a silent battle of wills. She wasn’t sure who lost, but a moment later the earl smiled and said, “I’ll be delighted to help guide you, and Mr. Stirling can help guide your mother.”

  “I am an avid rider, Lord Camden, and your cousin is looking rather tired. The three of us shall do just fine on our own,” Mama said with a smile and for once Edith completely agreed. There was no need to drag Mr. Stirling along with them. She would much rather leave him behind and never see him again.

  “Nonsense, I’m not that tired and there is safety in numbers. As you said, it might get dark along the way, and I would worry about you if I didn’t come along. I’ll have Jeffries saddle the horses.” Mr. Stirling left quickly and Edith felt her shoulders relax once he was gone. It was hard pretending not to notice him.

  Now that he was gone the room came into clearer focus, there were blue and white flowers on the rug at her feet that covered the wood floors. Which reminded her of being outside with the large and rugged Mr. Stirling, which reminded her of the wonderful way he’d looked at her. Edith’s head was still swirling strangely from the alcohol, but she was sure his admiration hadn’t just been her imagination. Needing something to keep her mind from wandering, Edith asked, “How many horses do you have here?”

  “Four, exactly. Two for me and two for the eaa…the eager Mr. Stirling. He practically lives in the saddle. We’ve come here to hunt almost every summer since we were adolescents. The game is plentiful and the woods are lovely. Do you have any brothers that enjoy the sport?” He leaned forward on the couch and a lock of dark hair fell onto his forehead, making him look younger. There was something charming about Lord Camden, but in comparison to his cousin, who wasn’t as classically good looking, he was lacking in laugh lines and sardonic smiles.

  “No, I don’t have any brothers,
but my father dabbles in it from time to time when he has company. He says hunting is always better when you’re with someone else.”

  “He sounds like a good man,” the Earl of Camden said. A moment later the clip-clop of horses accompanied Mr. Stirling’s return.

  Mama stood and Edith followed her outside. “Don’t forget you’re scared of horses,” Mama whispered in her ear. “Use that as an excuse to get close to the earl.”

  Edith stepped back to walk next to Lord Camden and did her best to seem scared of the lovely bay mare in front of her. “Are you quite sure this horse is tame?”

  “I can assure you that Lillybell is very sweet and gentle,” Lord Camden said. He clasped his hands at knee height and helped her into the saddle. “If you need anything at all, just let me know. I promise to stay as closely by your side as possible.”

  Edith smiled at the earl and thanked him for helping her onto the horse. Yet it was the very act of smiling that brought back Mr. Stirling’s words. ‘Your eyes are truly beautiful.’ The memory of his voice soft and low in her ear brought a flush of heat that was surely evident in the color of her face.

  Edith snuck a quick glance at the man riding next to Mama. Mr. Stirling was practically a stranger, yet she’d felt at ease in his company, and he hadn’t said anything about the kiss she’d planted on his cheek. The earl was rich and his good looks would secure a bevy of ladies after him. If she chose to pursue his cousin, on the other hand, there would undoubtedly be less competition.

  Provided he is not already married! Did I just accost a married man?

  “Is there a Mrs. Stirling?” Edith blurted, her stomach fluttering at her forward question. The earl’s face clearly showed how shocked he was by her invasiveness. Just how many rules of society could she break in one night? Is it even possible to salvage this conversation? Perhaps if she had a good reason for asking such a personal question... “I was just wondering if I might know the lady, as I have several friends from London.” Did her voice sound as flimsy in his ears as it did in her own?

  “My cousin and I are both widowers. It is one of the many traits we have in common. I highly doubt you knew Anna, she was a very quiet woman from Norfolk.”

  “I’m sorry for both of your losses. It must be very hard to move forward after such a tragedy.” For a moment a look of deep anguish crossed the earl’s handsome features. She’d surely touched a nerve.

  The rest of the ride passed uneventfully, though the dark gray clouds were worrisome. Edith chatted with the earl, enjoying the cool breeze and occasionally stole furtive glances at his cousin.

  They arrived at a picturesque little hamlet nestled in the forest. The Foxhound Inn was one of the larger buildings in the main square and the hostler quickly helped her off Lillybell, before taking all of their horses to the stable. The earl escorted her inside and generously offered to pay for their stay.

  “Surely it is too late for you gentlemen to return to the lodge,” Mama insisted when he only purchased one room. “You should stay the night and we can reconvene tomorrow for breakfast. It has been such a pleasure becoming acquainted with you two fine young men, and I have no idea if our coachman will find us here. How will we get home?”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Wilson,” Mr. Stirling said, “but there is still enough light out for us to travel by. We’ve ridden through these woods since we were young and know the way back by heart, and to set your mind at ease I’ll hire you a carriage to take you home.”

  Edith noticed Mama’s eyebrow twitch, as it often did when she was upset. With no other reason to keep the gentlemen with them, Mama smiled and said, “That would be more than kind. I’ll have to return the favor someday. It has been a pleasure, Lord Camden, Mr. Stirling. Have a safe return.”

  Edith also bid the two men farewell. Part of her was relieved at parting, glad to have some time alone away from the man she’d embarrassed herself in front of, yet another side of her wanted to see him again. For she could still hear the sincerity of his compliment ringing in her memory, and she would never forget the warmth in his pale green eyes.

  Edith followed a young serving girl up to their room. The space was sparsely furnished, but the two beds were inviting. Though, Edith quickly realized it would be far from a comfortable night as they hadn’t brought any bedclothes. Mama helped her out of her laces and she returned the favor. Tonight, they would sleep in their chemises.

  Miles Stirling, the Earl of Camden, relaxed his tense shoulders the moment the Wilson ladies left the room. He patted his cousin George on the back saying, “I apologize for forcing you to lie about your identity. It was wrong of me to switch our positions in front of strangers, but the moment I saw them standing there, I knew I was trapped. Like a deer cornered by hunters and hounds.”

  “I understand Miles, but if we meet them again, we’ll have a devil of a time explaining our farce. The odds of us meeting again in polite society is high, and I hope you are the one that gets to explain the situation.”

  Miles turned and walked out the door. The clouds were black and heavy. In the few minutes they’d been inside the inn the weather had changed from overcast to a light mist. “I think we can make it back if we gallop.”

  “Are you serious? The storm is about to break, we might as well stay here,” George said.

  “Where’s your spirit of adventure? A little wind and rain won’t kill you,” Miles teased. They’d ridden in the rain before, and he wanted to be as far away from the Wilsons as possible.

  The hostler quickly saddled their horses and gave them a long rope to guide the other horses back. But just as they were leaving the small town the heavens opened and the rain came down in heavy sheets that slapped him in the face as they rode. In moments they were both drenched, and Miles admitted defeat. He signaled to his horse, Amadeus, to turn around, sure that George would follow. Soon they were back at the inn and gave the horses to the hostler once again.

  When they reentered the Foxhound, the innkeeper’s wife quickly came to greet them. It was as well kept as he remembered and the innkeeper’s wife was kind and efficient. She ordered them a cup of hot tea and sent a maid to fetch her son’s old clothes so that they could wear something dry. After the warm drink was gone, they were shown into a small but clean room with a pile of folded clothing waiting for them.

  The maid waited outside while they dressed in a mismatch of styles. Once they were dry, Miles let her come back in for their wet things. When they were finally alone Miles turned to his cousin and said, “Be prepared to wake up early. We’re leaving at the crack of dawn, hopefully before Mrs. Wilson has any idea we stayed the night.”

  “Agreed. While I wouldn’t mind having your money, it’s rather tiring being called Lord all the time, and I can do without the attention of mothers of marriageable misses. She looked at me like I was the largest Christmas ham hanging in the butcher’s window.”

  “I know the feeling well, George. Though I must say you have quite the poetic side to you.”

  “And you’re a royal pain, now go to sleep.” Miles laid down on the lumpy mattress, pulled the clean but worn sheets up over his ill-fitting clothes, and blew out the candle.

  When he woke the next morning the sun was already up. He got out of bed, and shook George’s shoulder until he stammered, “I’m awake.”

  “Good, I’m going to see where they put our clothes and then we’re off,” Miles said. He quickly tucked his borrowed yellow shirt and put on his boots. His cousin was now sitting up in bed and wasn’t likely to fall back asleep.

  Miles opened the door to his room and it swung out into the corridor with a thud. “Owww!” a feminine voice wailed. Miles stepped around the large wooden door. A young lady in a pale blue dress was holding her nose. He recognized the dress and the brown hair. He just had to run into Miss Wilson the second he stepped out of his room.

  “I’m so sorry, Miss Wilson, are you alright?”

  Miss Wilson looked up at him in surprise. “I had no idea you were still here,
Mr. Stirling. I’m perfectly fine, it didn’t hit me all that hard,” she mumbled.

  “Let me have a look at your nose,” he asked, afraid that he might truly have maimed her.

  Slowly Miss Wilson removed her hands from her face; they were covered in blood and her nose was swollen. “Ohh,” he grimaced, “You should put your hands back, Miss Wilson. You’re bleeding.” Miles searched his clothing for a handkerchief but found nothing. “Wait right here, I’ll go find someone to help you get cleaned up.”

  Miles rushed down the stairs, past the empty main hall into the taproom. There were a few people eating breakfast and the innkeeper’s daughter was serving them. Miles waved her down. “Miss Wilson is upstairs in the corridor by my room with a bloodied nose. She needs attention as fast as possible.” The young lass nodded and hurried away.

  It had been a long time since Miles had been so helpless. He dashed back up the stairs to see Mrs. Wilson arguing with his cousin, while her daughter held an old shirt up to her nose, one of the ones they’d been offered the night before. Good thinking George. They left a pile of clothing in their room, why hadn’t he thought of that?

  “You!” Mrs. Wilson screeched. “How could you leave my poor Edith here all alone after you slammed the door in her face? She’ll be disfigured, I’m sure of it. I’ve seen plenty of men with crooked noses after one too many blows. How will she ever find a husband now?”

  “I’m fine, Mama. It is just a liddle swollen,” Miss Wilson said through the shirt.

  “I am truly sorry for hurting your daughter, Mrs. Wilson. I don’t know why anyone would build doors that swing into the corridor, but I shall definitely leave a complaint.” It was time to come clean and tell the ladies who he really was. If her face was permanently damaged in any way it was his fault. Was it his fate to have not just one loveless marriage but two? “My mother…”