Page 27 of Entrancing the Earl
Iona eyed the earl with interest but didn’t speak up again. If she wanted him to help her, she shouldn’t push him too far. He didn’t need to remind her that she was small and weak. Sitting next to a muscular man like the earl reminded her of all she was not. Her wits were her best defense.
As the last of the dessert plates were carried away, the earl bent toward Iona again. “May I have a word with you without everyone watching?”
A tingle ran up her spine, and she was pretty certain it wasn’t of fear. Ives was extremely handsome, after all, and she wasn’t immune to masculine interest.
“You should probably askMiketo linger over port,” she said, lips twitching as his steam level rose again. “I usually check on my queen at this hour. While you talk to your new steward, I’ll sit with the ladies a little before going out.”
“You go out in the orchard at nightalone?” His voice rose.
“Talk to Mike.” Iona stood up with the other ladies and left him simmering.
Yes, she was a managing, interfering female, but the earl wouldn’t have to put up with her for much longer.
And a good thing, too. She was enjoying her brief freedom entirely too much. Not having to watch her tongue or mind her back gave her time to think about what she actually wanted.
She wasn’t certain what she wanted in the long term, but right now, she wanted her sister and her hive safe, and she’d like to kiss the Earl of Ives and Wystan, at least once. Before she could have anything, she had to pry Mortimer out of her life.
Once her stepfather held no threat over her, she’d be able to think clearly again—because wanting an English earl with little more money than she had made no sense at all.
Eleven
Leavingthe castle and striding for the orchard, Gerard longed to be anywhere but Wystan. He’d not been able to concentrate on his conversation with Mary Mike while he worried over the damnable countess out here alone. This might not be the city, but foxes, poachers, and other rogues all roamed the night. Did she plan to hex them?
He found Iona just where she’d said—communicating with herqueen. She’d wrapped a cloak around her against the cool night wind. With the hood up, she looked the part of witch. But when she heard him coming, she dropped the hood, and moonlight caught her corona of golden hair, and it was like watching the sun rise. He could almost believe in magic.
Treasure comes with danger, the medallion said grumpily.
“You wished a word with me, my lord?” she asked politely as he approached.
Why did he have the impression that he could have been a monster, and she would have faced him equally coolly?
“I simply wanted to assure myself that you weren’t planning on doing anything hare-brained like running away.” Now that he’d said it, he felt a right fool, but he’d needed this moment with her alone, just to settle his temper.
No one ever stripped away his polished veneer the way this diminutive female could. That was a problem. Next, he’d be telling her about the voice in his head cryingDanger,and he’d be a laughingstock within weeks.
Although once his friends learned about Mary Mike, that would happen anyway.
The countess shrugged. “First, I need to determine if the Queen is at Balmoral yet or still at Holyrood. I assume she might have left staff at Holyrood, so Edinburgh would be simpler.ThenI’ll run.”
She dimpled up at him, apparently recognizing that she was only raking the coals of his ire. The damned female was a manipulator par none. How did she do that?
Then remembering his mother’s dangerously sensitive abilities and Iona’s mention ofsmellinghis lust, Gerard wished he’d never requested this meeting. He should be riding the hell out of here before the beekeeper had him turned inside out so she could examine his innards. Wrapping himself in a cloak of ennui wouldn’t deceive her perceptivity. He already felt raw and exposed.
“You cannot directly petition the queen for your title,” he told her, hoping to nip this inanity in the bud. “It has to go through proper channels, and that will most likely include a parliamentary committee and more red tape. It is not a simple matter.”
“The queen can make it simple, if she wishes. Is your father on her right or wrong side these days?”
She may as well have smacked him, inquiring about the marquess’s aid as if Gerard were naught more than a stepping stone. He understood why men might threaten to horsewhip her. “Politically, they’re at odds. Personally, Vicki likes looking at him. He occasionally gets away with metaphorical murder. And I am not applying to my father on a matter of no concern to him. He has enough to do.”
She nodded. “Fair enough. I’ll ask the ladies at the School of Malcolms. I need to go to Edinburgh. Would you be interested in helping me to do that?”
“Why?” he demanded. “So you can sell yourself to the American, then run away again?”
It would be just like the damned noble countess to sacrifice herself for her sister.
“I have given our discussion some thought. I have never been particularly interested in marriage or children. I want a freedom that women aren’t permitted. I’m not like Mary Mike. I have no desire to be a man. But I would like to have the ability to improve my estate, experiment with my bees, travel to London... all things I cannot do now. As a married woman with wealth, I could do a great deal more.”
She gave him one of her enigmatic molten-honey looks. “What I need is a good negotiator. I thought your father might be a possibility. Mr. Winter would probably genuflect to a marquess. But the ladies will know someone.”
