Reckless in Innocence ~ A #Free Historical Romance story ~ Part Sixteen

Reckless in Innocence

for my Historical Romance readers ❤

© Jane Lark

Publishing rights belong to Jane Lark, this should not be recreated in any form without prior consent from Jane Lark

Reckless in Innocence

Read the earlier parts

one , two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight,nine, ten, eleven,twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen

Elizabeth

Leaning against the balustrade of the broad terrace which ran the length of Larchfield, Elizabeth looked out across the gardens. The night was cool and the air fresh. She had not realised how much she’d missed the clean air and sweet scents of the country. It was pleasant here, quiet as London could never be, and she remembered home; the cold manor with cobwebs in every corner. It was even cold in summer, and in winter she had to wrap up in several layers of clothing to keep warm. The single fire in the kitchen range was the only one that had been lit for years and it did not keep the entire manor warm. Often, as a child, she’d spent her evenings in the kitchen by its side, watching the scullery maid wash dishes.

But remembering her home with its worn drapes and faded wallpaper, which was peeling from the walls from the damp, made her feel so out of place here. The avenues of perfectly clipped hedging and trellis, stretching out before her, punctuated with fountains and statues of god like men and women, only highlighted how distant her life and her status was from Marcus’s.

And everyone else here was respectable. The Campbells’ friends, Lord and Lady Fitzherbert were travelling back to their estate; they’d met Marcus’s brother and his wife soon after the two couples had married. Then there were the Everetts and the Castletons, both gentlemen Marcus and his brother had known since school. They were all as quiet as the country – brought up in wealth and comfort by parents who neither gambled nor drank to excess.

Her eyes reached to the furthest fountain and then the lake and the meadow beyond and beyond that there was a wooded hill.

“Do you like it?” Marcus’s voice rose behind her and made her jump.

Elizabeth pulled her woollen shawl closer about her shoulders. She had come out here to be alone, because the conversation within the drawing was beyond her. It was the conversation of wives, and the men had been left at the table to drink their port. “The sunset is indeed beautiful tonight.”

“I did not mean that, Elizabeth, and you know it. I meant my home. Do you like my home?”

“Our manor house is small. My father has fifteen acres left. You know our circumstances; why would I not appreciate the wealth you have, Your Grace? But I do not envy you it, if that is what you are asking?”

“It was not a trick question, Elizabeth. I did not ask it to taunt you. If you even consider envy I shall return you to London.” He took a step closer to her. “Will you call me Marcus while we are here? When two people are as close as we have been it seems ridiculous that you, Your Grace, me.”

She looked at him. The sky above him was shaded from dark to light blue and behind him the red rim of the sun slipped beneath a distant hill, and about it the sky was red and gold, it cast his face in shadow, she couldn’t see his expression. “Why did you bring me here?”

He was silent for a moment as he looked at her face, which he must be able to see in the last violet-blue of the sunset.

“To keep you away from Lord Percy and the other scoundrels you entertain.”

She did not wholly believe him, there seemed something more to it, something spoken in the clipped pitch of his voice.

Elizabeth turned back to the view and watched the blackness to creep towards them; already she could not see to the edge of the wood. But then a white flash danced across the meadow beyond the pleasure garden and her eyes adjusted to the last light of dusk. “Look, Marcus, look. It’s a red deer.” She pointed to the distance.

Marcus moved closer behind her and leaned to her shoulder, to look along her arm and see where she pointed, while his hand rested at her waist. “I see it. Look, there are more. I can see another two.” He straightened but he did not move away and his other hand settled on her waist too.

“And a stag. Do you see the stag? His antlers are magnificent.”

“I see him. Those antlers will be upon my wall soon if we go hunting tomorrow.”

Elizabeth turned and flung the flat of her fist at his chest. “You dare harm that poor creature, Marcus Campbell, and I shall never forgive you.”

Marcus caught her hand. Smiling broadly in the wicked way which had melted her heart from the first moment she’d seen him, he took her hand to his lips and kissed her wrist and when her hand fell open, his lips touched her palm.

Elizabeth shook her hand free and stepped away from him, her thoughts confused.

Was he playing with her? What was this? He had not touched her in weeks.

No, oh no. Had he brought her here for this, for a repetition, to make her his again, in a physical sense? But he’d said he did not want her as a mistress.

Her heart slammed against her ribs at the very idea, warring between anger, fear – and hope. But even if he decided he did want her it would not be as a wife, and she had learned her lesson. She’d given her heart to him once and he’d ripped it up. Giving herself to him had been reckless and foolish. “I will retire,” she whispered, stepping back again. “I am tired. I did not sleep well last night.” She did not wait for his response; instead she turned and walked away.

Marcus

Marcus turned away as she left and looked out into the pitch black of night now that dusk had passed.

When he’d seen her standing here in the half-light he’d wished that he could paint, that he could capture that moment of her beauty. Why had he brought her here? He hardly knew why himself, other than it was easier to keep her away from Percy on his home ground. Liar, you brought her here, because you wanted her here.

Elizabeth was the only woman who had ever affected him beyond a superficial lust. A need for her pulled at his senses, a very deep need. He felt like an addict and he was tired of sharing the woman.

He sighed into the night. Elizabeth’s beauty and the beauty of his home were matched – things he desperately wanted but would never claim.

Home. What a damned fool word to describe Larchfield. This place had never been a home to him, not when he was a child and certainly never as an adult. In fact he had only returned to the property twice in all the years since leaving school. He paid his man of business to manage it, actively avoiding the need to do anything for it, and that had included visiting the place. He kept it on for Jason’s children, not his own.

Damn it, why do I care if she likes the place?

But he had meant that question. He’d brought her here to like it, to see if she liked it. Yet who knew why? He did not.

To be continued…

Over the Christmas holidays I’ve been busy checking the last edit of the next book in the Marlow Intrigues which is out on January, 22nd, The Dangerous Love of a Rogue, but boy does it make me realize how simple this story which I wrote years ago was, this is so different to what I’m writing now, but it was never intended to be anything other than a Mills & Boon monthly, I don’t think I would be capable of even trying to write one now as my word counts extend and extend… 😀

If you cannot wait until next week for more of Jane Lark’s writing there’s plenty to read right now 😀

To read the Marlow Intrigues series, you can start anywhere, but the actual order is listed below ~ and click like to follow my Facebook Page not to miss anything…

The Lost Love of Soldier ~ The Prequel #1 ~ A Christmas Elopement began it all ~ The paperback would be a lovely stocking filler 😉

The Illicit Love of a Courtesan #2

Capturing The Love of an Earl ~ A Free Novella #2.5

The Passionate Love of a Rake #3

The Desperate Love of a Lord ~ A second Free Novella #3.5

The Scandalous Love of a Lord #4

The Dangerous Love of a Rogue #5

Jane’s books can be ordered from most booksellers in paperback and, yes, there are more to come 🙂

Go to the index

For

the story of the real courtesan who inspired The Illicit Love of a Courtesan,
another free short story, about characters from book #2, A Lord’s Scandalous Love,
the prequel excerpts for book #3 The Scandalous Love of a Duke

Jane Lark is a writer of authentic, passionate and emotional Historical and New Adult Romance stories, and the author of a No.1 bestselling Historical Romance novel in America, ‘The Illicit Love of a Courtesan’.Click here to find out more about Jane’s books, and see Jane’s website www.janelark.co.uk to learn more about Jane. Or click ‘like’ on Jane’s Facebook page to see photo’s and learn historical facts from the Georgian, Regency and Victorian eras, which Jane publishes there. You can also follow Jane on twitter at @janelark

Reckless in Innocence ~ A #Free Historical Romance story ~ Part Fifteen

Reckless in Innocence

for my Historical Romance readers ❤

© Jane Lark

Publishing rights belong to Jane Lark, this should not be recreated in any form without prior consent from Jane Lark

Reckless in Innocence

Read the earlier parts

one , two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight,nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen

Chapter Five

Abigail held up the sealed envelope and waved it in her hand. “Miss, you have a letter.”

Elizabeth turned, her light kid leather gloves clutched in her hand. She was ready to leave. Her blue spencer was already tightly buttoned across her chest.

“Let me see, Abigail.” Elizabeth held out her hand to take it, ignoring how much her fingers shook as her heart leapt in the faint hope that it would be news from her brother at last. Every day when she looked at the post she still looked for the particular strokes of his writing but it had been four years since he’d argued with their father and deserted her.

Her hands trembled as she opened the letter. She was nervous; afraid she would be among the greenery again at Marcus’s. She would be like a poor relation compared to the others the Campbells would invite – a nothing – a no body. Why had Marcus asked her?

Elizabeth opened the neatly penned letter and read the details carefully.

“Miss?” Abigail said in question. The cheeky girl was waiting to know what it said.

Elizabeth smiled. The news was too good not to share. “It is a letter to invite me for an interview, Abigail. I have applied for a position to be a lady’s companion and the lady concerned has written back to ask to see me.”

The screwed up face that Abigail pulled almost made Elizabeth laugh. She understood the maid’s perspective. At sixteen she would never have considered life as a spinster, but her perspective had changed sharply when she’d seen her parents and the world for what it was. She no longer believed in love, or desired marriage. She would be happy with a position that would keep her away from her parents and away from the world.

“Give me a moment, Abigail, I will write a reply. I can see her Thursday next, and you must find someone to deliver it. The Duke will be here soon.”

“My youngest brother, Billy, Miss… He’d do it for a penny or two. The house where he works isn’t far away, if I run.”

“Thank you, Abigail. But you must make sure that neither you, nor he, tell anyone about the letter, I do not want my family to know.”

“Yes, Miss, I wouldn’t.”

“Fetch your cloak, you’ll be riding on the box so you’ll need it. I’ll go to Father’s office.”

Lady Derwent’s excitement at the prospect of her daughter’s increasing status, spending time in the intimate company of the Duke of Tay, had led to her suddenly becoming conscious of appearances, despite her lack of concern for all the weeks they’d been in town. In response she’d insisted on Elizabeth taking Abigail rather than relying on the Duke of Tay’s household to share a maid with her.

When Elizabeth stood in the hall, having written her reply; her mother rushed in from the parlour. “The Duke’s coach is here and his brother accompanies him on horseback. You must hurry. We can not have them left waiting; they have put themselves out considerably to call for you.”

Elizabeth sighed and slipped on her gloves, then put on her bonnet and tied its blue ribbons beneath her chin. “Mother, they are passing by our door. It is not out of their way.”

The bonnet was a gift from her father, or rather an investment. An invite to the Duke of Tay’s country estate equalled promise in her father’s eyes. She had not enlightened him otherwise.

“But he need not have asked you at all.”

“Yes, Mama.” Elizabeth agreed, knowing that agreement was the only thing that would end her mother’s obsessive behaviour. There was something surreal and a little bewildering in her mother’s concern. It was too contrary to her mother’s nature. But then of course this was the Duke of Tay, and his Grace would be a significant – and profitable – catch. Well if her mother anticipated her gambling debts being cleared, she was making a huge mistake.

“Mother, promise me you will not play too deep at the tables while I am away?”

“Of course, dear.”

Despite the denial, Elizabeth could see the glint of need in her mother’s eyes even at the thought of the tables. She had hopes for Elizabeth and the Duke. Or rather she had hopes for funds to spend at the tables.

“Mother, he will not marry me.” She spoke as the door was knocked and she knew her mother disregarded the words as she turned to the door.

“Abigail! Where is that blasted girl? Abigail! Is she not ready to go? Where has she gone to? Damned maid.” Lady Derwent opened the door herself. Marcus probably heard the last of her diatribe.

She smiled.

Marcus stood proudly in his grey coat and black unmentionables, his tall hat still on his head, as he lifted his gloved fingers to its rim. “Lady Derwent, your servant. Is Miss Derwent prepared?”

Her mother stepped aside to reveal Elizabeth. “She is indeed, your Grace. There is just the one small trunk to accompany her.”

“I will have my men take it.” He turned to descend the steps and returned with two men from the footplate at the rear of the carriage. Elizabeth’s pulse raced, her insides turning to fluid. How could he look more handsome every day?

Marcus stepped forward and his hand caught hold of her forearm and drew her gently aside as the men carried out her trunk. She turned and bobbed a brief curtsy to her mother. “Goodbye.”

“Good day, Lady Derwent.” Marcus acknowledged before turning her away, and leading her down the steps in the wake of her small trunk of clothes. There was a very large trunk on top of the carriage.

“My maid is not here, Your Grace. She went to say goodbye to her brother. She should be only a few moments if you would not mind waiting?” Elizabeth said as they walked. But as soon as she finished the excuse Abigail ran around the corner of the street, her skirts hitched above her ankles and the ties of her waist-length cloak flailing about her.

She came to a breathless halt In front of them. “I didn’t think I’d make it, Miss. I couldn’t find Billy, he was busy, but I got him in the end. I give him the penny and he said he’d do it, sure enough.”

As though sensing subterfuge, Marcus looked at Elizabeth.

She ignored him, avoiding his inquiry. “Thank you, Abigail. Hurry now, His Grace is ready to leave.”

He touched Elizabeth’s elbow and led her to the carriage door, shepherding her, but tension seemed to hover in the air. Perhaps he thought she had sent a note to Lord Percy.

A footman opened the carriage door and his sister-in-law called from inside. “Miss Derwent! What a pleasure to meet you again. I am so glad you are able to come.” She beckoned from within with a wave of her hand.

To be continued…

If you cannot wait until next week for more of Jane Lark’s writing there’s plenty to read right now 😀

To read the Marlow Intrigues series, you can start anywhere, but the actual order is listed below ~ and click like to follow my Facebook Page not to miss anything…

The Lost Love of Soldier ~ The Prequel #1 ~ A Christmas Elopement began it all ~ The paperback would be a lovely stocking filler 😉

The Illicit Love of a Courtesan #1.5

Capturing The Love of an Earl ~ A Free Novella #1.5

The Passionate Love of a Rake #2

The Desperate Love of a Lord ~ A second Free Novella #2.5

The Scandalous Love of a Lord #3

The Dangerous Love of a Rogue #4

Jane’s books can be ordered from most booksellers in paperback and, yes, there are more to come 🙂

Go to the index

For

the story of the real courtesan who inspired The Illicit Love of a Courtesan,
another free short story, about characters from book #2, A Lord’s Scandalous Love,
the prequel excerpts for book #3 The Scandalous Love of a Duke