Page 12 of Needs Must
‘I did not say that youweredense,’ she replied with an impatient little huff. ‘But you must see how it looks. My taking up residence at the Shipwith my maid, a lady on my own, has already raised eyebrows. Apparently, it isn’t the done thing.’
‘And I am not in the least bit surprised that you have broken that particular rule.’
She looked at him askance. ‘If that was a compliment then I thank you for it. I never was one to follow the crowd or do the accepted thing. Ask anyone who knows me. And look where it got me when I finally did,’ she addedsotto voce.
His expression turned quizzical, and she thought at first that he might start asking probing questions. However, good manners won out over curiosity, and he smiled at her. ‘Let people gossip, Mrs Harte. I am perfectly sure that my reputation will survive the experience.’
‘And every young local lady with aspirations will despise me.’
‘Ha!’ The earl threw his head back and roared with laughter. ‘Then you will have done me a service.’
‘Go away, Lord Arndale,’ she said, making shooing motions with her hands. ‘Stop making fun of me and go and bother someone else. I have a great many things to be doing and you are holding me up.’
He looked astounded when he realised that she really did want rid of him.
‘You are a breath of fresh air,’ he said, taking her gloved hand and kissing the back of it. ‘And you will be a very welcome addition to our local society.’
‘Don’t be so ridiculous!’ She snatched her hand back. ‘I live in a hovel, in case you need reminding. Your grand friends would never recover from the shock of mixing with someone so lowly. Besides, I have no desire to show my face in society.’
‘There is nothing lowly about you,’ the earl replied, his expression now intense and serious. ‘You are a lady of mystery. A lady of quality with reclusive tendencies, but a lady nonetheless.’
‘And you are flirting with me, I think, for reasons which escape me. Do you not see how insulting that is?’ Donna realised how ungrateful, how waspish she sounded, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. And that, she conceded, was because she enjoyed receiving the elegant gentleman’s attentions, which concerned her greatly. She had vowed never to need a man in her life ever again, and now she seemed in danger of falling at the first hurdle.
‘Insulting?’
‘Do you flirt with all the ladies who grace your drawing room?’
He gave a theatrical shudder. ‘Oh good heavens no!’
‘Well, there you are then.’ Donna impatiently flicked a long strand of hair away from her face.
‘You interest me, Mrs Harte. You speak your mind and are not afraid to talk about things more taxing than the weather. I find that as unusual as it is refreshing. I do not know what brought you to this district or what secrets you are hiding, and I shall not ask you. You will tell me when you are ready to.’
She sent him an imperious look. ‘You seem very sure of yourself.’
‘I can sense that you are in trouble. That your standards have been reduced through no fault of your own. I may not be able to sense the presence of ghosts,’ he added, smiling at her, ‘but I can sense a great sadness and determination about you. Someone has done you a terrible wrong and it would be my privilege to help you right it, if you will let me.’
‘Even supposing that you are right,’ Donna replied, swallowing in an effort to moisten a throat that suddenly felt inexplicably dry, ‘why would you put yourself to such trouble? And more to the point, what would you expect in return?’
‘I ask for nothing other than the opportunity to be of service to you,’ he replied, his expression sincere. ‘Good day to you, Mrs Harte. You will be hearing from me again very soon.’
Donna stood in the open doorway, oblivious to the wind that gusted into the cottage, as she watched the earl stride across the track. He untied Emperor’s reins and swung into what had to be a damp saddle with graceful athleticism. He raised a hand to her in farewell, turned Emperor and trotted off in the direction of Arndale Hall.
‘Well,’ she said aloud as she closed the door and returned to a sitting room that now felt empty and considerably larger. ‘What am I supposed to make of that?’
Why was he so interested? she wondered, as she absently took stock of the furniture that was in the cottage and made mental notes of the things she needed to acquire. Why would a man of the earl’s stature spare her the time of day, especially since she had not been especially civil or grateful for his help. Not that she had needed his help, nor had she asked for it, she reminded herself. Like all men, he had simply assumed that she was incapable of knowing what needed to be done to make the cottage habitable and had taken it upon himself to arrange matters.
It hadn’t seemed to concern him that locals would gossip. Dawkins would make sure of that by enlightening the denizens of the taproom as to the earl’s presence in the cottage. But the man had seemed indifferent to the damage it would do to his reputation and hadn’t spared a thought for the harm it would do to hers.
‘Typical!’
It was unfortunate that Donna had enjoyed his company, even if she did not welcome the inevitable tarnishing of her already questionable reputation. The earl, she understood, had two brothers, a married sister and a mother. None of the ladies would want to know her, of that she was absolutely sure, and she was grateful for the class-consciousness that would keep them at arm’s length. She most emphatically did not wish to draw attention to herself in local society until she was ready for her location to become common knowledge.
Donna threw her head back and roared with frustration. ‘Why do these things happen to me?’ she demanded of the cobwebbed beams above her head.
She had not expected a response and was unprepared for the chill that rippled through her body. Someone, or something, was in the room with her. She was no longer alone.
‘Is that you, Mrs Bagshott?’ she asked. ‘If so, you might as well know that I mean you no harm.’
