Page 36 of An Earl Unmasked
Lord Mansville took a step forward, and Randal shifted to his left to block the rude guest from getting any closer to the women. “That is easily remedied. I have a full stable with a fine array of horses at the ready. Let us adjourn to the stables.”
Stepping around both Greg and Randal, Lord Mansville made his way over to the ladies. “Oh, but I see that Lady Minerva is engaged in playing a game of chess.” Lord Mansville loomed over Minerva. “Who is your opponent, Lady Minerva?”
Minerva stood and glared at the man. Diana’s sister bravely faced her nemesis with her shoulders rolled back as if she was ready to argue with Lord Mansville. However, Randal noted Minerva was taking shallow breaths.
Mansville stepped closer, crowding Minerva. The gentleman was proving to be as vile as Drake made him out to be. Randal glanced at the women once more. The fear in both Diana and Minerva’s eyes sent sparks of anger through Randal. Coming to stand behind Diana, who had lowered her injured leg, Randal barked, “I am.”
Chapter Eighteen
Randal’s voice boomedthrough the room and rattled Diana’s bones. Her palms began to sweat. It was sweet that Randal was coming to Minerva’s defense, but there was no chance that Lord Mansville would leave before the game concluded, and Lord Tierney would no doubt ensure that the outcome of this match would be spread through thetonswiftly. The stakes of the game had tripled, and Diana found herself conflicted as what outcome would be best for her sister.
Minerva would do anything for her. Was Diana willing to forgo what she believed to be a blossoming love for Randal? Randal was, first and foremost, a soldier. The man fought for causes he believed in. He was a defender. The terrifying glare Randal was giving Lord Mansville would have most gentlemen excusing themselves and running, except Lord Mansville, the wastrel, was obsessed with studying the chessboard and Minerva.
Lord Mansville settled into the seat Greg had previously occupied, he crossed his legs and then his arms, radiating an air of ease that Diana knew was false. The vile man tore his gaze from Minerva to address Randal. “Lord Chestwick, what fortuitous timing. I enjoy witnessing all of Lady Minerva’s chess matches.”
The skin on the back of Diana’s neck prickled as the lecherous Lord Tierney approached. “You will have excuse Mansville’s egregious behavior, he loses all of his senses in the presence of Lady Minerva. He is obsessed with the woman. When he’s not in the same room as she, he’s actually quite rational.” The lack of etiquette displayed by both men had Diana clenching her hands at her side. Lord Tierney was aliar.Mansville was never rational.
Diana silently prayed Randal would not believe the falsehoods Lord Tierney was spouting. She scooted forward to the edge of her chair and jumped as Randal rested a hand upon her shoulder.
He bent to speak into her ear. “I won’t let any harm come to you or Minerva. Trust me.”
Her shoulders relaxed. Leaning back so she could face him, Diana smiled and said, “I do trust you.”
Randal rounded the settee and strode to stand next to the chessboard. “Lord Tierney, I believe a seat over next to Lord Mansville shall afford you the best view of the game.” His voice was hard and restrained, much like it had been upon finding her dangling from a ladder the first day of her visit.
Randal signaled for a footman and a sour-faced Paul came forward with a chair and situated it to the left of Mansville but a full arm’s length away from Randal.
A knot formed in Diana’s stomach as Randal took his seat opposite Minerva. She glanced at her sister, whose complexion was pale. Mansville had terrorized Minerva at every event they attended. He made it a point to ask Minerva for the first dance of every ball and thus forced her to remain on the outskirts of the dance floor once she declined his request. The man even managed to wedge himself or one of his cronies next to Minerva at every opportunity when their brother Kent or Greg were absent and made lewd remarks that were intended to unravel Minerva’s cool exterior.
At first her sister ignored the vile men, but by the end of the Season, Minerva’s defenses were in tatters. Diana and Isadora never left Minerva’s side, which heightened their mama’s ire—for none of them danced, promenaded, or conversed with any of the eligible gentlemen that were thrust upon them.
Diana searched the room for Greg, but he was nowhere in sight. How long had he been gone? They needed Kent. Mansville was a skilled chess player; he would immediately call foul if either Minerva or Randal threw the game. If he accused Minerva of such, Minerva needed Kent to be present.
She clasped her hands tight in her lap and glanced at her sister. Diana silently mouthed, “Stay calm. All will be well.”
Minerva woodenly nodded. “My apologies, please remind me, whose turn is it?”
Lord Mansville sneered, “Chestwick, don’t be deceived by Lady Minerva’s sweet tone and innocent looks. I’m certain she is quite aware of exactly who should recommence play and where each piece remains and has a stratagem to lure you into playing into her trap.”
Lord Mansville, for once, was telling the truth—Minerva would know exactly what and how many moves were necessary to win, but Minerva wasn’t playing to win. Mayhap her sister should be. Diana glanced at Mansville and Tierney. They may be members of the peerage and referred to as gentleman, but their souls were dark and evil.
She shifted her gaze over to Randal. Here was a good, honorable man who could provide a life for her sister. She crossed her arms and pressed against her stomach, which was knotted and aching. What a terrible sister she was. It was selfish to want Randal for herself. To want the man that could save her sister from torment and pain. Every inch of Diana’s body ached to be back in the security of Randal’s arms. She bowed her head and blinked back the tears that were forming. Randal would make Minerva a wonderful husband. Her sister could be happy here at Chestwick Hall, and Minerva would never have to endure another horrid Season.
She had failed to provoke Drake to take action all Season and, even with Randal’s assistance, she had failed to assist Minerva in gaining the man who had captured and then disabused her sister’s heart. Drake was a fool—he had done nothing to prevent the current match between Randal and Minerva from occurring.
Eyes blurry with moisture, Diana stared at the two unwanted guests once more. Lord Mansville was deep in thought, studying the board, while Lord Tierney was blatantly gazing at Minerva’s décolleté. Where did Diana’s loyalties lie? To her sister or to a man who she only recently met.
Chapter Nineteen
The wood carvingswere a blur. Randal’s brain screamed at him to win the game and protect Minerva from the ghastly men seated to his right. His heart yearned for the woman’s sister and ached with the remaining shreds of faith he possessed. Faith that all would work out in the favor of love. The intangible pull that had kept him close to Diana remained, but the slight turn of her body had Randal viewing her back instead of her alluring face. Unable to decipher his own conflicted thoughts, he was hoping Diana would give him a signal as to her own thoughts.
“It appears you have found yourself a worthy opponent Lady Minerva.” Lord Mansville’s statement drew Randal’s attention back to the despicable man.
For years on the battlefield, he’d been surrounded by men of all characters. Randal found those with Mansville’s temperament tended to be emotionally immature and thus sought out the weak to pray upon and only gained pleasure from the suffering of others. He detested men like Mansville.
Minerva’s cheeks gained a little more color. “Aye, Lord Chestwick does indeed live up to his reputation as a brave and brilliant war strategist.”
He expected her to reach out to make her next move, but she seemed hesitant. He wanted to box Mansville’s ears for causing such anxiety and discomfort. However, gentlemen didn’t resort to fistfights to settle matters as they did in the army, especially in the presence of women.
