Page 19 of An Earl Unmasked
“Aye, but I assure you—you can trust me.” Diana searched his features. His austere appearance softened, and a flicker of emotion she could not pinpoint flashed briefly in his eyes. Randal was an enigma. Before she took her leave of Chestwick Hall, she vowed to gain the man’s trust and unmask the Beast of Chestwick.
Randal chuckled. “I’d be dead if I believed every person who claimed themselves trustworthy.” He bent and waited for her to open the door.
Hand on the latch, Diana replied, “Your life is no longer in danger. You are safe here.” The full hearty rumble from Randal’s chest caught her off guard. “What is so amusing?”
“Nothing.” He shook his head. “Please open the door.”
Diana searched the man’s face once more. Nothing. His features revealed nothing of his thoughts. Frustrated, she unlatched the door and pushed it open. Minera was pacing in front of the window with her hands clasped behind her back and muttering to herself.
Minerva swiveled, and her brows slashed into a fierce frown. “Diana, is your ankle worse?”
Randal strode over to the large bed and placed her upon the soft mattress. Diana shimmied back to sit up against the headboard. “No, my ankle is fine.”
Her sister shoved Randal to the side and began arranging pillows to elevate her injured ankle. Minerva blocked her view of Randal, which also meant he couldn’t see Diana flinch every time her sister moved her ankle. While she was in his arms, she had barely noticed the pain, but the dreadful throbbing had returned.
Minerva swiveled and glared at their host.
Randal took a step away from the bed and toward the door. “I believe I shall take my leave now.”
Diana peered around her sister. “Mayhap, you could escort Minerva back to the library.”
“Absolutely not.” Minerva turned her attention to Diana. “I shall remain here with you.”
“I agree. Lady Minerva can tend to you while I deal with the uninvited guests under my roof.” Randal left her chambers without another word.
Diana reached for Minerva’s hand and squeezed. “He’ll need your help.”
“Aye—he will.” Minerva’s lips slowly curved into a smile. “I’ll rescue him after you share with me the blasted riddle that has landed us in this mess.”
The warmth of her sister’s love and understanding enveloped Diana. How could she ever repay her sister’s kindness?
Chapter Ten
Without Diana inhis arms, a void settled in Randal’s chest. The merriment that had filtered through the halls earlier was eerily absent, bringing thoughts of his mama to the forefront of Randal’s mind. He missed his mama’s infectious laughter and her unwavering positivity. Until Diana’s arrival, he had forgotten how fortunate he was to have inherited Chestwick Hall. The estate was full of potential, and with a little bit of effort on his part, Randal could restore it to its former glory—to once again be a haven for him and his family.
With his hand on the latch of the library door, Randal breathed in and steeled himself to face his neighbors and Diana’s family on the other side. He didn’t know these people, and they knew nothing of him. He wasn’t ready to infiltrate the intimate circle of theton. He needed time to adjust.
Randal was caught entirely by surprise when he opened the door to find Isadora and her brother Greg quietly playing chess by the fire, while Kent, Drake, and Cunningham were engaged in a serious game of cards near the window. Not one of them paid any mind to the hundreds of books that surrounded them. Volumes that Diana was eager to discover the contents of.
Kent placed his cards face down on the table in front of him. “Chestwick, you have returned.” Diana’s brother motioned to the empty chair to his right. “Care to join us? Commerce is the game today.”
Randal controlled the spark of ire at being invited to partake in an activity being held in his own home. If he trounced them a round or two, perhaps his guests would grow bored and willingly leave of their own accord. He nodded, and the ever-present footman, whose name escaped Randal but most likely was known by Diana, pulled the chair out for him. Why could he not block the woman from his every thought? Seated at the table, Randal waited for the current round to be completed.
Rather than continuing the game, Drake gathered the cards from the others and began to deftly shuffle them. “For years, we’ve been wanting to see the interior of Chestwick Hall. It is as impressive as Diana claimed.”
How had his papa kept the neighbors at bay all these years, yet, in the span a day, he had failed and been invaded, and the enemy had made themselves at home?
Drake dealt three cards to each player before revealing the three-card window.
Randal noted the absence of a pool. “What is at stake?”
Kent answered, “Fence repairs.”
Randal frowned.
Kent continued, “We don’t play for money amongst family and friends.”
Cunningham elaborated, “The loser is responsible for the fence repairs along our property lines. Drake has yet to win and has been reigning king of overseeing to the task. What is it now, three years straight?”
