Page 37 of An Earl Unmasked
Randal’s lungs were devoid of air at the thought of his men and the war. He had left them to fend for themselves and face the bloodshed without him. He promised himself he would return to fight by their side within a year. A year should have been sufficient time for him to assume his title of earl, fortify the estate that had languished from generations of scholarly management, marry, and sire an heir. However, he had not anticipated the complication of finding himself entangled with Diana Malbury. It seemed as if his entire world had shifted the moment the woman had raked her hands over his body.
His gaze was drawn to Diana once more, but it was as if time had stopped while he ruminated over the past and present. No one had moved. Diana remained facing away from him, while Minerva perched on the edge of her seat appeared to be either preparing to gather her courage and bolt from the room or make a bold move in the game. Diana’s spine stiffened as Minerva’s slight hand hovered over her king.
Randal desperately wished he could will Diana to look at him. He wanted to reach for her to comfort her. What was he thinking? He glanced at Mansville and Tierney, who hovered close like vultures ready to pick the flesh off the bones of its prey. Becoming involved with the Malbury family would be like signing up for war of a different nature. A battle waged in drawing rooms, at balls, and soirees. His stratagems that had proved successful against the Frogs hardly seemed appropriate against foes like Mansville and Tierney. The Malburys were an intelligent lot. They were in no need of his assistance.
Minerva raised her hand to pick up her knight and completed her turn. Was she sending Randal a message by selecting the knight rather than the king?
Manville shot to his feet. “Lady Minerva! You disappoint me—you are not playing to win.”
Randal stood to face the man that was a peer but was no better than a Frog in Randal’s opinion. He wanted to grab Mansville and his crony by the scruff and tell them to get the bloody hell off his estate and to never dare step foot upon his land again. Societal rules that he’d not had to abide by for years but had been drummed into his head as a young man prevented him from doing so.
Before Randal could act, the hard wooden library door hit the wall as Kent, followed by Greg, burst through into the room and marched to stand next to Minerva. “Mansville, are you accusing my sister of dishonorable play?” Kent’s deep voice echoed off the walls.
Mansville swiveled to face Kent. “L-lord Kent. Were you aware of this façade?”
Kent’s dark scowl was rather impressive. A look that Randal had not thought him capable of. Randal took a step closer to Diana, intending to pick her up and move her to a safer location in the room should a brawl erupt.
Slightly bent at the waist, Diana stalled his movements with a fierce whisper. “Do not even consider carrying me about in front of those jackals.” She placed her hand in Minerva’s, who had joined them.
Minerva said, “I’ll assist her while you lend support to our brother.”
Diana rose and leaned on her sister’s arm for support. A twinge of pain or jealousy that Diana chose to seek out her sister’s aid and not his hit him squarely in the chest.
Burying the unwanted emotion, Randal walked around to deal with his unwanted guests. “Gentleman, let’s adjourn to my private study to discuss the matter.” He waved a hand toward the door, and, surprisingly, both Mansville and Tierney moved to leave without objection. Kent and Greg followed suit. As Randal made his way, he looked over his shoulder to see Diana consoling Minerva, whose head was cradled in her hands. He wasn’t certain what was to come of his next discussion, but he knew it would determine his future.
Chapter Twenty
Roles reversed, Dianarubbed large circles over her older sister’s back. It was refreshing to be able to be the one to console Minerva. Her sister, who never wavered, who was the family pilar, who was always the first to comfort Diana, was currently a nervous wreck. Diana and her sisters had believed the blasted challenge to win a chess game for Minerva’s hand a stroke of brilliance three years ago, but now it was proving to be the worst scheme they had ever engaged in.
Minerva rolled her head from side to side, “Kent will let his anger get the best of him and no doubt challenge Mansville to a duel. He’ll die, and it will be my fault. All because I wanted to avoid marriage. Why did I ever concoct such an idiotic idea?”
Diana tried to piece together words that would help alleviate Minerva’s fears. Wasn’t she the sister known for her flair for words and books? Surely, she should be able to find the right words. Except her mind was blank, and her stomach was in knots.
Minerva peeked from behind her fingers. “Lord Mansville makes me nervous.”
“He’s a scoundrel and a bully.” Diana pried Minerva’s hand away from her face. “He can’t challenge you again. You are safe.”
Her sister shook her head. “I won’t be safe unless…”
Diana interrupted. “Unless you marry! You should lose and marry Randal. He’s smart, honorable, and he’d make you a fine husband.”
Minerva straightened and took Diana’s hand in hers. “No. Lord Chestwick would tolerate me like papa endures mama. There is no escape from marriage to the wrong man. However, I am of the belief Lord Chestwick would makeyoua very fine husband.”
“Why would you say something so absurd?”
“Mayhap it is due to the fact that the man shares your love of literature…” Minerva paused and ran her thumb over Diana’s brow. “And like you, he has the propensity to seek out adventure. I don’t know the man well enough to deduce his exact reasoning for spending all those years on the battlefield, but it is clear to me he is perfect for you.”
Diana let go of her sister’s hand. “Have you gone mad? He’s known for being a beast…” But she could not hide her tiny smile.
“And that is precisely why you are drawn to him. Lord Chestwick is built like a warrior unlike any other gentleman of our acquaintance. It is no surprise to me that you find the man attractive. I’d wager all my pin money that he makes you feel wanted, secure, protected, all the things mama has been denied all these years.”
Diana blinked twice. “Mansville’s appearance has muddled your mind. You are mistaken.”
Minerva rarely gambled. For her sister to place her entire savings at risk meant there was no changing her mind. “I suspect Lord Chestwick bears deep internal scars that were inflicted well before he ever stepped foot upon the Continent. Wounds that are in need of healing. My hypothesis is that Lord Chestwick’s papa had hoped your shared love of riddles would bring the two of you together.”
“Are you suggesting Randal’s papa tricked me?”
Minerva’s gaze flickered toward the door that the men had exited through. “Tricked? Or was it merely an old man’s attempt at matchmaking? I’m sure it was carried out with no malice.”
