Page 25 of A Christmas Temptation for the Duke
“No,” she forced herself to say. “Just… just come back soon…”
The Earl looked confused by the comment, likely surprised that she was not arguing with him for a change. And where it might have been her imagination, she could have sworn that she saw a smile tugging at the side of his mouth.
“Godrey,” he turned to the valet. “Keep an eye on Lady Alison.” His eyes flicked over her, and she pulled her blanket tight with embarrassment. “Perhaps a bath and some food, if she requires it.”
“You are going outside now?” Godfrey asked. “In this weather? Dressed in that?”
Lord Grayhill shrugged. “Little point doing it after the manor is robbed. Do not fear, I will be right back.” He nodded once at Godfrey, looked at Alison to ensure that she was fine, and then strode from the room without delay.
Alison gaped after him, still struggling to fathom all that had happened. She had been left behind. Her home was quite possibly being broken into and burgled. But none of those things captured her concern or attention. She thought only of Lord Grayhill, how quick he was to help her, how fearless he was acting, and how safe she suddenly felt knowing that he was there for her.
It was the strangest thing, but Alison wondered now if she had misjudged the Earl. By all accounts he was not at all what she had thought. Not even close.
Chapter Eight
Alison was sitting by the fire in the drawing room when Lord Grayhill returned. The valet had given her a dress to wear, she still had her brother’s coat wrapped around her shoulders, and with the warmth of the fire seeping through her body, she was finally starting to feel at ease.
By her feet slept Pickle, snoring as the little terrier so often did.
“Still here, I see.” The Earl strode into the room.
“Oh.” She turned to find him coming for her and was quick to jump from the couch. “Yes, I…” He was still wearing just his bathrobe, body shaking from the cold. “I was not sure what I should do while I waited.”
“Considering what I know of you, the less the better.” His eyes flicked over her body, noting the dress she wore.
“And what does that mean?”
“I meant nothing by it,” he assured her calmly, not giving in to her sudden rise in anger.
“Sorry…” She winced, feeling guilty at having turned so quickly toward hostility. Alison had not meant to, because she was indeed grateful for what he had done. But there was just something about the Earl that made her so… uneasy. Constantly on edge, as if she had to be prepared for anything he might say.
“It is no bother,” he dismissed as he made for the fire. There, he held out his hands and rubbed them to find warmth. His body shook and his teeth chattered. “But the next time you insist on asking for help, might I suggest you do so during the summer months?”
“I will try and remember that,” she laughed softly.
Then she watched him. He stood with his back to her, rubbing his arms over his robe, stretching his thick shoulders as the fire worked its magic. His body glowed, power emanated from his presence, and again Alison felt safe like she could not have imagined she would be around the cantankerous Earl.
It was a few moments later when he finally turned to face her again.
“I take it that your family left you behind.” It wasn’t a question.
She started. “Wh – why would you say that?”
“Logical reasoning. I saw Lord Pemberton leave earlier today, and I figured you to be with them. That you are not leaves little room for guess work.” His brow furrowed and he almost looked concerned. “Might I ask how such a thing happened?”
A cold swept through the room. Or perhaps that was just Alison’s imagination? The way the Earl looked at her, pity fixed upon her, brought with shame and embarrassment because how could she possibly explain that her family thought so little of her that they did not even notice she wasn’t with them?
She looked away. “It does not matter how…” Her voice was soft, her posture withdrawn. “That they did is enough.”
Again, she braced herself for a snide comment. That was how it always was, after all. The few times she and the Earl had spoken, he could not help but drive the knife in where he saw a chance to wound her.
“I am sure it was an accident,” he offered. She balked and looked up, noting an expression that was not mocking but riddled with concern. “Just as I am certain they are worried about you.”
“I doubt it…”
“Be that as it may, I will write them as soon as possible and have a courier sent first thing on the morrow. They need to know you are safe, and that you will be until they return for you.”
“If they do.”
