Page 29 of Needs Must
‘I cannot have vengeful females running about the district causing mayhem,’ he said, laughing and holding up his hands as though fending off an attack that he had every right to expect from her.
Rain pattered against the windows, distracting them both, which Donna thought to be just as well. She found looking at the handsome earl, annoyed though she was with him, a little too easy. It was a habit that she must avoid, she reminded herself. She did not need him to scoff at her admittedly thready plans and suggest better alternatives. Nor did she need him to stick his nose into her affairs.
‘All well and good, but I have yet to hear your alternative suggestion.’
The dog, little more than a puppy, whimpered once again and snuggled closer, as though siding with her in this battle of wills with the earl, who watched the creature with an unreadable expression gracing his rugged features. He was far too good at keeping his thoughts under close guard, she thought with irritation, whereas she was well aware that her expression gave her away at every turn. Indeed, he had said as much upon their first encounter.
‘You and Bagshott both have good reasons for wanting to trap your brother-in-law and ensure that he is brought to account for his crimes.’ He explained more particulars of his recent meeting with the man. ‘If Ian is impersonating Jonathan, as I very much suspect is the case, I think Bagshott should be involved. I am sure he will jump at the opportunity to help draw him out.’
Annoyingly, Donna could see the sense in that suggestion, and tried not to feel relieved that she was no longer fighting her battle alone. ‘Very possibly, but I would like to be in attendance when you speak with him about the matter.’ She sent him a look of firm determination. ‘This is my fight, and I don’t intend to be cut out of it by protective gentlemen who think they know what is best for me.’
‘I would not dare to exclude you,’ he replied, with a theatrical shudder that made her smile.
‘Come,’ he said, standing and extending a hand to help her to her feet. ‘I have detained you for quite long enough and I would not have Miriam coming after me with her famous rolling pin.’
‘Believe me,’ Donna replied, smiling in spite of herself, ‘she would not be daunted by your status.’
‘I am well aware of that.’ He disappeared and came back with a towel in his hand. ‘Here. Wrap the little cur in this,’ he said, ‘and you can then reclaim your cloak. I can see that you and he have adopted one another, which means you will have a ferocious protector whose presence you cannot possibly resent.’
‘This little thing? Ferocious?’ Donna smiled and shook her head as she allowed the earl to drape her cloak around her shoulders. She shuddered when he tied the ribbons beneath her chin, providing that service because she was unable to do it herself and still hold the dog. His knuckles brushed against her neck, agitating the pulse that beat at its base and causing her face to flood with colour.
‘Thank you,’ she said primly.
‘The pleasure was entirely mine,’ he replied with a knowing smile.
They made their way back to Denmead Cottage in silence, heavy rain beating down on their heads and soaking Donna’s feet through her thin half boots that were in urgent need of repair. When they arrived, the door flew open before they actually reached it.
‘I thought you’d been abducted,’ Miriam said, sending the earl a darkling glance. ‘What in heaven’s name kept you for so long? Get inside before you’re soaked through.’
A little late for that, Donna thought as she stepped into the welcome warmth, brought about by the fact that a fire now blazed in the grate.
‘The sweep came, so I got the Cooper boy to bring up some logs,’ Miriam explained. ‘It will get rid of some of the damp if we keep a fire going.’ She glanced at the bundle in Donna’s arms. ‘What on earth …?’
‘He’s a stray. I’m going to keep him. He’s half-starved, the poor scrap.’
Miriam rolled her eyes. ‘Of course you will keep him. You were always one to collect lame ducks.’ She sighed. ‘Put him down, lass, and I’ll see what I can find for him. I brought a few supplies up with me.’
She returned from the scullery with a bone that she threw to the dog, who pounced on it and sat down to have a good gnaw.
‘I was going to boil the bones up for a broth, but I suppose I can spare one for a needy cause.’
‘You’ll never get rid of him now,’ the earl remarked, laughing.
‘I don’t have the least intention of parting with him,’ Donna replied, tossing her head in defiance.
‘Dine with me at Arndale Hall tomorrow evening, Mrs Harte,’ the earl said. ‘I will send a carriage to the Shipto collect you.’
Donna opened her mouth to protest but the earl gave her no opportunity.
‘Good day to you, ladies,’ he said, doffing his hat and disappearing into the rain.
Chapter Eight
Emperor had remained protected from the worst of the elements by the stand of trees under which Cal had tied him. Even so, he was shuffling and keen to move. Cal winced as he lowered his backside onto the damp saddle. He was as anxious as his horse to get home and so he gave Emperor his head, mindless of the mud thrown up from his flying hooves as the stallion ate up the ground with his long stride.
He thought about his extraordinary exchange with Donna Harte, not doubting for a moment that she had told him the complete and absolute truth – or at least most of it. But she had kept something back, of that he was certain. Keeping Emperor on the right track prevented him from rolling his eyes at her naivety. Clearly, desperation had made her lose all sense of self-preservation. But there again, he reasoned, if she had lost everything then her desire for revenge was entirely understandable. He wondered how she planned to support herself once … if … she achieved the revenge in question. The sale of her mother’s jewels, clearly lamented, would not last her for the rest of her days.
Presumably she would remarry. The thought of another man touching her, treating her badly – or even treating her well – angered Cal. What the hell was the matter with him? He knew very well that would be the only way out for her. If she chose to reveal her true heritage, there would be no shortage of candidates for her hand, even though she was a penniless widow. There was just something about her fiery temperament that would appeal to any man free to marry without the need for a bride’s dowry, Cal had good reason to know.
