Page 23 of Escaping the Earl
It was a risk to ask such a probing question, but she felt deep in her bones that she could trust Zehra with any inquiries that might reveal her interest in the earl.
“Not much, I’m afraid. He is a friend of Rafe’s. I believe he’s only been an earl since last fall.” Zehra covered her laugh with a hand as Mr. Russell grabbed Rafe, one arm around the back of his neck, so that Rafe was trapped beneath Russell’s armpit as he tried to wrestle him to the ground.
“Have Rafe and Mr. Russell known each other a long time?” Sabrina asked.
Zehra nodded. “Since they were young men. Their older brothers became acquainted at university and, well, the rest is history.”
“History?”
“Yes, you know, the League of Rogues. Their brothers are both members,” Zehra explained, but then her eyes widened in shock. “You don’t know who they are?”
Sabrina shook her head. “Are they famous?”
Zehra smiled. “More likeinfamous. There were five of them, originally—a duke, an earl, a baron, a marquess, and a viscount. They were all notorious bachelors until they made one mistake.”
“What was that?” Sabrina was already drawn into her story.
“They kidnapped a woman named Emily. It was revenge, you see, because her uncle had stolen from the duke, but that’s what started it all. That one woman brought the five men to their knees, and now they are all happily married. Now it seems it is starting to trickle down to their brothers. I believe Lawrence never knew how lonely he was until Lucien got married. Men are far more social creatures than they dare ever admit.” Zehra gave her a soft smile. “And they can be unbearably romantic and sweet too.”
Sabrina thought of her masked stranger and how they had made love beneath the stars. He could have so easily gotten up and returned to the ball after satisfying his own lust, but he’d stayed and reached for her hand and held it as they watched the sky. That had been romantic. He would never know what that had meant to her, to hold on to her when she’d been so at risk of drifting away.
“My dear, Rafe’s face is turning blue. Best to let him breathe!” Zehra called out, snapping Sabrina out of the memory. Mr. Russell released Rafe, who promptly walloped him in the stomach. The Earl of Rutland watched this boyish play unfold with a bemused grin. Then he turned away and came toward her, Zehra, and Isla.
Zehra stood and held out her hands to the little girl. “Isla, come with me, my darling. Why don’t we go tackle your papa to the ground?”
Isla squealed in delight and rushed at her father. Rafe fell to the ground and begged for mercy as his daughter climbed all over him. Zehra stood by her husband, watching Rafe and Isla with a fondness that made Sabrina’s heart swell.
“May I sit?” Rutland asked.
“Of course, my lord.” She didn’t want to look at this handsome man, even when he spoke. She was still angry. Yet she couldn’t deny that her body buzzed with him sitting so close. He rested his hand on the bench, the edge of his palm just grazing the fabric of her gown. She tried stubbornly to ignore him. They were two people sitting on a bench. That was all. They did not need to say a thing to each other.
“I’m sorry I did not tell you who I really was. I was unprepared to share my title. I’ve seen far too many women change around an unmarried man with a title, money, and lands.” He sighed, the sound heavy.
She’d been so determined not to look at him, but that sound was one she recognized. She understood that weariness that weighed upon a person’s soul. But she wouldn’t create excuses for him.
“Are you boasting about yourself, my lord, or are you insulting me?” she asked quietly, raising her chin as she pinned him with what she hoped was a regal glare.
He flinched. “Neither of those. Actually, I’m lodging a complaint. I have not been the Earl of Rutland very long. To myself, I’m still Peregrine Ashby.”
Sabrina did look at him then, and what she saw filled her with a dark, wild longing. This dark-haired man with tawny eyes reminded her of a bird of prey, strong, fast, intelligent, yet she didn’t fear him.
“Then I must admit that I am Miss Talleyrand, not Talley. I, too, was trying to hide a little.” She wanted to trust him, but in the past she’d mistrusted people and been proven a fool. Her brother hadn’t even searched for her after she’d fled his home that awful day. She was both relieved and hurt to not even be missed. But it was a chapter she’d closed in the book that was her life.
Peregrine studied her. “Why do you wish to hide?”
She shrugged. “My life has changed, and I am no longer in the station I once was.”
“You shouldn’t be ashamed of anything. Before last fall, I was barely above a pauper, making only small bits of money at gambling establishments. And unlike many men, I gambled out of desperation rather than pleasure. I’m not proud of it, but I can be honest about it.” He held out an arm. “Walk with me?”
She found herself placing her hand on his arm. “You aren’t ashamed to walk about before your friends with a governess?” she asked.
He grinned. “I’ve done far more scandalous things in my life than walk with a lovely young woman.”
They moved away from the croquet lawn into the gardens. Sabrina couldn’t help but feel something strange come over her, a sense of déjà vu.
“This may sound rather silly, but I feel as if I’ve done this before,” she admitted.
Peregrine tilted his head. “Walked in the gardens?”
