The Earl’s Dangerous Passion (Historical Regency Romance) Page 5

  Derby resisted the urge to lick his lips as he watched the sight. They looked firm and yet soft. He wished he could touch her, just to see if they were as he was imagining. Then he shook himself. Now was not the time to be undressing the young woman in his mind. Not with her mother sitting on the couch by the fire, looking between them with an amused smile. She had to suspect something.

  Derby cleared his throat, bowing at Amy.

  “Miss Hartley.”

  Amy gasped and spun around. Then her face reddened, and she lowered her head, dropping into a quick curtsy.

  “My Lord Derby.”

  She sounded very breathless. Derby liked hearing how she sounded, but he forced himself to turn away and bow at Anna Day with a smile.

  “Mrs. Day.”

  “Lord Derby.” Anna nodded back. “You’ll forgive me if I don’t get up. I’m still not feeling particularly well.”

  “Of course not.” Derby then noticed how pale Anna was. “Do you need anything, Mrs. Day?”

  “I’m all right for now, thank you, my lord.” Anna gestured at Amy. “It’s my daughter who needs help, not me.”

  “I beg to differ.”

  Derby headed towards the side table. On it were several glasses and a jug of fresh water. He poured out one glass and brought it over to Anna. Kneeling before her, he slid the glass into her hand.

  “Drink this,” he insisted. “You must keep your strength.”

  “Thank you, my lord.”

  Anna gave him a warm smile as she raised the glass to her lips. Her hand was trembling. Derby noted the paleness of her face and the greenish tinge around her mouth. It certainly wasn’t makeup. Whatever was taking hold of the woman was enough to make her sway, but it wasn’t quite knocking her down. He squeezed her hand and stood.

  “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company? I didn’t realize you would be coming here, or I would have prepared something for you.”

  “Don’t mind me. I’m just the chaperone.” Anna nodded at her daughter. “It is Amy who has something she needs to discuss with you. It was more of an impulse thing to do.”

  “Oh?”

  Derby turned to Amy. She was still wringing her hands, and she looked like she was about to rush out the door again. Derby approached her, indicating for her to sit in a chair by the window. Amy hesitated, and then she sat down, smoothing down her skirts. The sunlight came through the window and fell on her, turning her brown hair into burnished gold. Derby had to stop himself from openly staring, settling into the chair across from her.

  “Now, how can I help, Miss Hartley?”

  “I…” Amy bit her lip, and she looked down at her hands. Then she looked up and took a deep breath. “First, I want to ask for forgiveness about the way I ran from the wedding last night. It was unbecoming on me. I should have been a bit more refined.”

  Derby smiled.

  “You have nothing to apologize for. You did something I had been wishing to do all night.” He sat forward, his smile fading. “What’s wrong? And how do you think I could help?”

  “I’ve...I’ve got a problem.” Amy glanced at Anna before turning back to Derby. “Mother said you were the person who could help me with your extensive contacts.”

  “Help with what?”

  Amy reached over to a nearby table, where there was a pile of letters tied together with a blue ribbon. She held them like they were about to blow up in her hands.

  “These.” She passed them across to Derby, pulling her hands back quickly when Derby took them. “I’ve been receiving letters from one particular person. They’re anonymous, and I don’t know what to make of them. I have no idea if they want to marry me or wish me harm.”

  Anonymous letters? Derby wondered if this was the reason why Amy was distracted the night before. He sat back and looked at the top letter. It was written in black ink, sloping, but legible writing. All it had was Amy’s name and address, nothing more.

  “May I look at them?” he asked.

  Amy nodded. She looked out the window, and Derby’s eyes were snared by the beautiful slope and curve of her neck. There was so much poise in the shy girl, and she had no idea.

  Derby coughed and turned back to the letters. Now was not the time to stare at the woman. He undid the ribbon and picked the top letter up. Unfolding it, he scanned through it. It seemed like a normal love letter. A little flowery, but nothing untoward. But then Derby opened another letter further down the pile, and he was shocked at the graphic, angry language.

  “I see why this would be concerning. One full of sweet, loving phrases, and another threatening your life.” He looked up at Amy. “Do you believe they’re the same person?”

  “It would appear so. The letters are written in the same hand, but I have no idea who is writing them.” Amy bit her lip. “I’m scared, my lord, and I don’t know what to do about it.”

  “And you want me to see what I can find out.”

  “I didn’t want to disturb you…” Amy went on hurriedly. “But you always said if I needed help from you that I was to let you know. And you said the same thing last night.”

  “I remember, and I’m not about to turn my back on my promise to you.” Derby put the letters aside. It was beginning to dawn on him why Amy had been on edge. “You thought one of the guests was your anonymous letter writer.”

  “Pretty much.”

  She looked forlorn. Scared. Derby wished he could reach over and comfort her. Do something to calm her. But he kept his hands to himself. If he touched her, Derby was sure he wouldn’t let go. And with Anna Day sitting close by still watching them, that would certainly cause a scandal.

  He was causing a scandal in his own head.

  Derby put the letters aside and sat forward.

  “I’ll see what I can do. I can’t promise anything, but I’m sure we can make some headway on it.”

  “You’ll do this?” Amy blinked at him. “Really?”

  It was like she hadn’t expected him to accept. Derby smiled.

  “Of course. I’ll always help you whenever I can, Miss Hartley.”

  Amy smiled, this one reaching her eyes enough for them to sparkle. She sat forward and clasped Derby’s hands.

  “Thank you.” She bowed her head quickly, meeting his gaze with one of relief. “I’ll always be grateful for this.”

  Derby planned on remembering that.

  Chapter Five

  “You feel better now, don’t you?”

  Amy looked at her mother. They were walking along the street, just around the corner from Hartley’s home. Amy had wanted to get a carriage due to her mother’s health, but Anna had declared she wanted to walk. It wasn’t far from Derby’s residence back to Amy’s. There was no arguing with her, so Amy had accepted. With Robinson following close behind, the two women headed through the streets of London. People nodded in greeting as they passed, and the sun beat down on them. It was a particularly warm day, even with the cool breeze that brushed against Amy’s face. She was glad they hadn’t taken a carriage now; they would have been even warmer, which wouldn’t have been good for Anna.

  As it was, Anna was looking much better than before. The air was bringing some color to her cheeks, and the sparkle in her eyes had come back. Amy had missed seeing this side of her mother. She smiled and slipped her arm through Anna’s.

  “I do, just a little bit,” Amy admitted. “Knowing that someone has taken me seriously and is willing to help me is comforting.”

  “Don’t forget, I believe you as well.”

  “You know what I mean, Mother.”

  “I do know.” Anna squeezed her daughter’s hand. “I figured Derby would help you. You two have known each other for a long time, haven’t you? Ten years or something, isn’t it?”

  “I…” Amy wondered where her mother was going with this. “I don’t know him as well as you think I do. We’ve grown apart since we were children. I was always much closer to Sarah.”

  “Maybe you don’t. But I was right. H
e is fond of you.” Anna gave Amy a sly look. “More than fond, I would say, considering the interaction between you two earlier.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Derby was staring at you. A lot. And when you touched his hands, I was surprised he didn’t jump out of his seat.” Anna laughed. “I haven’t seen anyone act quite like that before. Whatever is going on between you two, it’s certainly intense.”

  It began to dawn on Amy. Anna was talking about Derby having feelings towards her. Had she and Sarah been talking? Sarah was sure that there was something between her friend and her brother. Amy had seen Derby watching her with an expression that made her belly heat up and her core throb between her legs, which made sitting down uncomfortable, but she didn’t think anything of it. Derby was someone she had known for years, and he knew Amy. He knew all her faults, her flaws. Why would he look at her like he desired her?

  There wasn’t anything there. Was there? Amy sighed and shook her head.

  “Please, Mother, don’t try and look for something that isn’t there between us. I don’t want my hopes raised and then crushed if I’ve guessed wrong.”

  “All right, I won’t press it any further.” Anna giggled. “But I would advise you to keep him as an option. I think the two of you would balance each other out perfectly.”

  “Mother, enough!”

  Anna fell silent, but Amy glanced over and saw her mother still smiling. She looked behind her, up at Robinson. The footman hadn’t said anything at all on the journey, and he didn’t meet Amy’s eye as they walked along, but Amy could tell he was doing his best not to laugh. His mouth was screwed up in an attempt to hide a smile, and his eyes were glinting. He obviously found this amusing. Amy glared at him and turned away. Servants listened far too much.

  “Here we are.”

  Anna slowed to a stop at the corner. Amy could see her father’s house further down the street, opposite the small park where she had spent a lot of her childhood, running in and out of trees and climbing them whenever her nanny wasn’t looking. It had driven her parents to despair, one of the few things they agreed on. Girls were not supposed to be climbing trees.

  That felt a long time ago now.

  Anna turned to her daughter.

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to walk you to the door, love?”

  “No, it’s best that you don’t. Father will be furious if he sees you.” Amy gave her mother a reassuring smile and squeezed her hands. “You get home and rest. That’s what James told you to do. Robinson will escort you home.”

  “I will.” Anna grinned as she indicated the strapping young man. “I’m not going to come to any harm with this handsome fellow looking after me.”

  Amy bit back a laugh as she saw Robinson’s face go red.

  “Now, you’re embarrassing him, Mother.”

  Anna’s eyes twinkled. She kissed Amy on the cheek.

  “Stay safe, Amy.”

  “Love you, Mother.”

  “Love you, too.”

  Anna walked away, crossing the road with Robinson in tow. Amy watched them go until they turned a corner and disappeared. It wrenched at her heart to be separated, but it had to be. Even with her strength, Anna was terrified of her former husband. Hartley had declared he wouldn’t hold back if he ever saw Anna close to her former home again. Amy didn’t want to get her mother into any trouble.

  She set off towards her home. Hopefully, Hartley would either be in his study or out at the club, and Beatrice would be having afternoon lunch with some of her friends and gossiping about the latest scandals at one of the many tearooms. Amy would be alone apart from the servants, which was how she liked it.

  She entered the house and handed her cloak and hat to one of the footmen who opened the door to her. As he walked away, and Amy headed towards the stairs, a loud, booming voice came out of nowhere, making her jump.

  “Where have you been?”

  Amy spun around, finding Hartley storming towards her from the library. He hadn’t gone to the club, after all. Amy pressed a hand to her chest, trying to slow her sudden, increased heartbeat.

  “Father! You gave me a fright!”

  “Answer me, young lady!” Hartley snapped. “Where have you been?”

  “I went out.”

  “Out?” Hartley stopped before her, towering over her. Amy had to resist the urge to take a step back. “Without a chaperone? Are you trying to get yourself into a scandalous position?”

  “I wasn’t alone. Robinson was with me.”

  “I see.” Hartley’s eyes narrowed. “And where is Robinson? Shouldn’t he be with you right now?”

  Amy bit her lip and squared her shoulders. She had been hoping not to explain herself, but Hartley would not back down. He was going to demand it out of her. Amy looked at her father in the eye.

  “He’s escorting Mother home, just to make sure she returns safely.”

  Hartley’s expression hardened. His jaw tightened. Then he snorted rudely with a shake of his head.

  “Stupid fool. If he had any sense, he’d leave that woman to the footpads.”

  “That is my mother you’re talking about, Father.”

  “That woman is a harlot. Always has been. She committed atrocities that weren’t tolerated by anyone. She’s not allowed in our Society anymore, not after what she’s done.” Hartley sneered at his daughter. “You shouldn’t be around her at all.”

  Amy hated it when Hartley spoke of Anna like this. Even as she trembled, Amy faced her father down. She would not hear a word against the woman who had given birth to her.

  “She is my mother,” she said in a tight voice. “And she wasn’t the one who committed atrocities, that was you. You were the one who committed adultery and violence. It was why Mother divorced you in the first place.” Amy watched as Hartley’s face went even redder, his eyes practically bulging out of his head. “The only crime she committed was getting married to you.”

  Hartley looked apoplectic. Amy moved back as Hartley jabbed a finger into her face, narrowly missing her eye as he waved it furiously.

  “You need to watch what you say, you little brat,” he hissed.

  “Do I? Mother’s a good woman, and she’s never broken the sanctity of marriage.”

  “She broke it by divorcing me!” Hartley bellowed. “She shouldn’t have gotten the divorce, either.”

  Amy snorted.

  “So, you say she should have stayed with you and allowed you to beat her for breathing the wrong way?”

  Hartley snarled, and suddenly his hand was at Amy’s throat. Amy gasped and tried to pull away, but the grip on her neck tightened. She could feel her breath being squeezed out of her. Hartley shook her, bringing her close to his face.

  “You will not see your mother anymore,” he hissed. “I will not allow it.”

  He thrust her away, causing Amy to stumble. She caught her foot in her skirts and fell, landing on the stairs. Pain shot up her elbow, jarring her arm. Sitting up, Amy glared at him.

  “You can’t tell me whether I can or cannot see my mother!” she shouted. “I’m not a child anymore.”

  “I can. You’re under my roof, so I can tell you to do whatever I want.” Hartley’s eyes were blazing as he pointed a finger at his daughter. “You see her again, and I’ll have you locked up in your room until someone thinks you decent enough for a marriage, not that I think that will happen anytime soon.” He turned away and strode off down the hall. “Now get out of my sight.”

  Amy heard his footsteps fade away, and then a door slamming. The noise echoed around the hall, vibrating in Amy’s ears. Cradling her injured arm to her body, Amy rose unsteadily to her feet.

  Not for the first time, Amy wished she didn’t have a father. No father would lay their hands on a child they were supposed to love. But Hartley clearly didn’t love her.

  Amy was sobered by the thought as she climbed the stairs. To know her father didn’t care about her was more painful than she cared to admit.


  * * *

  “My lord?”

  Derby looked up. Dobson was standing by his desk, watching him with a frown. Derby hadn’t heard the door open. His valet was very good at moving around like a ghost.