Page 11 of Needs Must
Dawkins glanced at the earl, who nodded almost imperceptibly.
‘Tomorrow, I’m reckonin’, given that you need it done quick like.’
‘Oh, but I thought you were working on his lordship’s barn.’
Mr Dawkins sniffed. ‘It’s pretty much done, miss.’
‘Well then, thank you. I am much obliged to you.’
Mr Dawkins nodded, gave the earl a half-salute and was gone as quickly as he’d arrived.
‘I did not mean to cut you out,’ the earl said into the ensuing silence. ‘It’s just that I could see at a glance what was required.’
‘How?’ Donna flexed a challenging brow. ‘I should have thought that hovels of this nature would be alien to a man of your stature.’
The earl’s easy laugh had a most disconcerting effect upon her. ‘I am a man of many parts.’
‘So it would appear.’
He stared at her, reminding Donna that she hadn’t bothered to put her hair up that morning and was wearing a gown that had seen better days. Driving Bertram through the wind and drizzle would undoubtedly have played havoc with her tresses and muddied her hem, and the cold would have added a rosy glow to her cheeks that the matrons of thetonwould not have approved of.
She must look a sight; very different to the elegant ladies that the earl would be accustomed to mixing with. But Donna had always been perverse, and rather than being mortified she found the possibility amusing. She was not trying to impress the earl and absolutely didn’t care what he thought of her. In fact, she was astonished that he did not look upon her as being beneath his notice and wondered why he had remained in her company for as long as he had.
The questions would have to wait for later consideration.
‘I must be keeping you from your duties,’ she said absently.
‘This is actually a very fine mantel,’ he said at the same time, knocking the scarred oak with his knuckles. ‘Built to last.’
‘Unlike the rest of the cottage, it would seem.’
Donna wondered why the fireplace was of such interest to him. He ducked his head and looked up the chimney, emerging with soot in his hair and a smudge of dirt on his face. She decided not to tell him.
‘Are you leaving?’ he asked.
‘Not immediately, but don’t let me detain you.’
‘Afraid to be seen with me?’ His tone was mocking, challenging.
‘We are not being seen,’ she pointed out in a reasonable tone. ‘Few people pass this quiet location and wouldn’t be able to see us even if they did.’
They would however see the gig and Emperor, whom the earl had tied to a stout branch directly across the track. Anyone passing would put two and two together and make whatever number came into their suspicious heads. For her own sake she didn’t much care. Gossip was an acknowledged pastime the world over, and Donna was past worrying what people said about her unconventional behaviour. But she did wonder what the earl and his connections would have to say if rumours about the two of them being alone for a considerable time emerged, as they undoubtedly would.
Presumably he felt no threat from her and was unafraid to be alone in her company. That, she assumed, was no doubt attributable to her widowed status. But no lady of any stature would normally be contemplating living in this hovel, she reasoned, so he must have realised that she would be in no position to make assumptions about his attentions.
‘Even so, if you have had enough of me, I shall leave you to acquaint yourself with your new home. Dawkins will see you right, but if you have any problems feel free to send word to Arndale Hall and I shall be happy to make myself useful.’
‘And how will such a request be received by your servants?’ she asked, arms akimbo. ‘I thank you for your kind offer, but servants are the worst gossips in Christendom and your reputation would never recover if they were to get the wrong end of the stick.’
‘My reputation?’ He pointed at his own chest for emphasis as he barked on a laugh. ‘You are concerned for my reputation?’
‘Of course I am. I have only been in the district for a few days, but I cannot go anywhere without hearing your name. About your eligibility and endless speculation about the name of your future countess. Indeed, I believe they are running a book in the taproom at the Ship.They will be shocked beyond recall if they think you are installing a mistress so close to Arndale Hall.’
‘A mistress?’ He widened his eyes and looked dumbfounded. ‘I have absolutely no idea what you mean.’
‘Come, my lord. You are a man of the world and are surely not that dense.’
‘I can safely assure you that no one has accused me of being dense. Not to my face anyway.’ He allowed a pause and a soft smile flirted with his lips. ‘At least not until now.’
