Page 13 of An Earl Unmasked
“From what height?” Gregory scowled down at her. “Based on the swelling of your ankle, it was not mere inches.”
Her siblings had all mastered the art of manipulating the truth with ease, while Diana struggled to veer from the facts, not in her favor. “I…It might have been a f-few feet or so.”
Minerva groaned. “You had best examine her thoroughly—she’s obviously not forthcoming.”
Before Gregory could begin a full examination, Diana confessed, “I did hit my head.”
Her brother promptly began methodically running his fingers over her head inch by inch. Diana flinched as the tip of Gregory’s fingers grazed the tender knot. “Ow. Gentle. You need to learn to treat your patients with more care.”
“She has a decent sized contusion on her head.” He continued with his examination and added, “I’d hope my patients won’t all be as reckless as you.”
“Then it was a wise decision for you not to become a surgeon…” She stared back at her brother’s confused features and expounded, “Surgeons are present at every duel, are they not?”
Minerva sighed. “Dueling is illegal. And so is trespassing.”
Diana peeked up at her sister and smiled. “I’m sorry. You didn’t have to volunteer to stay.”
Minerva shook her head and began to pace from one side of the room to the other.
When her sister neared, Diana added, “You could have sent my maid and Gregory.”
Minerva’s steps didn’t falter at Diana’s statement. Her sister merely glanced at her momentarily before she proceeded to pace about the room. Gregory lowered his athletic form into the chair next to the settee and leaned forward. He braced his forearm over his knee and in a low whisper, said, “I’m certain Benedict is packing up the staff and sending them over now.”
“But that doesn’t explain why Minerva felt it imperative that she stayed as well?”
Gregory’s sad eyes tracked Minerva. “Mama has been harping on all day about the failure of the past Season. I believe Minerva blames herself for none of you securing a husband.”
“Pfftt. That’s last Sunday’s news.” A stab of guilt for not being at home to assist in deflecting their mama’s barbed comments hit Diana in the chest. “Minerva hates sleeping anywhere but in her own bed. I can’t fathom why she would wish to remain here at Chestwick Hall?”
“I have a theorem.” Gregory leaned in closer. “Lord Chestwick is the first gentleman to intelligently converse and, even better, dared to challenge Minerva since her first Season. Perhaps, she’s considering…”
“Stop attempting to whisper.” Minerva came to stand in front of Diana once more. “I’m sorry if my silly declaration of marrying the first fool to defeat me in a game of chess ruined your first Season.”
“Don’t be silly. I didn’t want to marry any…”
Minerva placed her finger to her lips, silencing Diana. Her sister had hearing like a bat; someone must be approaching. Gregory reached out and plucked the oddly skewed pencil from her hair, and Diana’s long locks fell down her back. Diana was in no mood for her brother’s games. She snatched the sharp writing instrument back and was about to reach up to twist her hair back into the makeshift chignon when Lord Chestwick reentered the room.
Her host’s eyes were trained upon her, as if no one else occupied the room. Randal marched directly to stand before her, and he lowered himself, taking up a position like a frog. Eye level, he softly said, “How are you feeling?”
The throbbing pain in her ankle fled from her mind as she stared into his mesmerizing eyes. Out of the three Malburys in the room, she was the worst at pretending nothing was amiss. Isadora was the worst at playacting, which was why she was normally left at home. Diana took in a slow, calming breath, attempting to settle her racing pulse, but all she could focus on were the man’s uniquely colored eyes.
They were full of sincerity. Randal truly cared for her well-being, which was unsettling. There was no question that her family loved her; however, being the fifth child out of six, she often became invisible, which worked in her favor most of the time. Unaccustomed to being singled out and fawned over, Diana was acutely aware she was in her host’s sights.
Diana curled her lips into a smile. “My thanks, Lord Chestwick, for extending such a magnanimous invitation to my siblings and me. It will be an honor to remain here at Chestwick Hall.”
“I surmised from your sister’s posture and tone, I hadn’t much of a choice, or did I?”
Diana replied, “Aye, Minerva can be quite persuasive when she wishes to be. However, there was an alternative—you could have lived up to your reputation and simply had us escorted off your property.”
“True. Except I didn’t.” For the first time since she met him, the corners of his lips twitched, almost forming a smile but not quite.
Diana imaged he’d be quite handsome if he smiled. What would his laugh sound like?Silly.What reason would the man have had to smile or laugh on the battlefield? But he wasn’t on the Continent any longer. If she couldn’t continue solving his papa’s riddle, Diana settled upon herself the challenge of making Lord Chestwick laugh. He needed some joy and levity in his life.
She found the will to remove her gaze from the man in front of her, only to realize that her siblings were off in the corner whispering. Minerva’s back was to them. Her sister’s perfect posture meant she was scheming. Gregory’s expressive face revealed he did not care for their sister’s plans.
Lord Chestwick shifted, and before she realized what he was about, he picked her up from the settee and cradled her to his chest. “Mrs. Humbleworth should be done preparing your chambers.”
She should be alarmed by his presumptuous behavior, mayhap even appalled, yet in his brawny arms, she was hit by the sensation that this was exactly where she should be. Safe and secure. “Do you intend to carry me about for the duration of my stay?”
