Page 35 of Lady Audacious
‘But Lady Emily might want her.’
Lord Amberley laughed. ‘You worry too much. Emily will be delighted that she has found a good home. We cannot keep every puppy each time a litter is produced or we would be overrun. She is used to them being homed and will transfer her affections to the next one that’s bullied. Although with you living so close she will not need to, since she will be able to see Willow frequently.’
‘Lady Emily will always be welcome,’ Odile replied.
‘She will be glad to hear it.’
The earl leaned closer from his position on the stool across from her and his earthy, masculine aroma assailed her senses, making her feel a little giddy and adding to her confusion. She was rapidly revising her opinion of him. The fact that he would personally set out on foot to look for the lost runt said much about his compassion. He had waded through the stream and didn’t seem to mind that he’d soaked his boots. She didn’t suppose that he would be required to clean them himself but imagined that his feet must now be wet and uncomfortable, yet he made no complaint.
‘It is evident to me that you are in need of assistance,’ he said softly. ‘Confide in me and I will do what I can to keep Brigstock, and anyone else who threatens you, at arms’ length. Tell me why his referral to your father overset you so much and why you cannot remember him.’
Odile looked at him for a long time and then nodded, aware that he could use his influence to keep unwanted ruffians like Brigstock at bay. Besides, she had already decided that it was unrealistic to suppose that she could restore this house without the earl’s protection. She gasped when the nature of her thoughts belatedly struck home. There was only one type of female who lived beneath a man of his stature’s protection without being married to him. Her cheeks bloomed as she suppressed a smile, surprised by just how enticing that possibility seemed in her current vulnerable state.
‘What is it?’ he asked, sending her a curious look. ‘What has amused you?’
‘Trust me, my lord, you would not believe me if I told you. I will however explain why Brigstock assumed he could wheedle his way in here.’
The story of the accident and her subsequent loss of memory poured from her lips, in disjointed bursts at first and then in a continuous stream, the words tumbling over themselves in their anxiety to be spoken. He nodded, frowned and encouraged her with gestures on the rare occasions when she paused, but didn’t once interrupt or break her flow, probably sensing that she needed to get it all said.
‘There.’ She fixed him with a steady look when she ran out of words, feeling the relief of a burden shared. ‘You now know what a hopeless case you have living on your doorstep. Are you sure you still want to have anything to do with such an ambiguous excuse for a lady?’ She spread her hands. ‘I do not know my own identity or why I am here. Can you imagine how that feels?’
‘Not even barely,’ he replied softly. ‘And I am full of compassion for your circumstances.’
‘Compassion is all very well, but now that I am free of Miss Mackenzie, I am determined to find out more about the reasons behind my inheritance. I shall know no peace until I do.’
‘Well then, we shall just have to instigate investigations.’ He paused. ‘If you are absolutely sure. You may not like what we discover.’
She blinked at him in bewilderment. ‘Wouldn’t you, in my situation, be determined to find out who you once were?’
‘Certainly I would, but you must bear in mind that your gift of this property, the money required to maintain it and keep you in comfort for the rest of your days is…well, substantial. You will not be able to keep it entirely confidential, and word will slip out about your being a wealthy, unmarried woman living alone. The less scrupulous will look upon you as fair game, I’m afraid to say.’
‘Of course I realise that. I am not a total simpleton. And if I was in any doubt, Mr Brigstock not wasting any time in beating his rivals to my door would have set me straight on the point.’ Odile twitched her nose. ‘I did not like the man. He was both presumptuous and arrogant. He also underestimated my intelligence and didn’t do his research very well. He mentioned Mr Sandwell but he could have got his name from Mr Barton, the local land agent who gave me access to the property.’ She frowned. ‘What perplexes me is that he must be aware that Mr Sandwell would warn me away from him, so why mention his name?’
Lord Amberley lifted a broad shoulder in a negligent shrug. ‘He probably thought that you would accept his word at face value, especially when he claimed to be an associate of your father’s.’ The earl smiled at her. ‘He assumed you would be feeling bewildered, and therefore gullible as a consequence. Indeed, he made the ultimate error of underestimating you.’ His smile caused something in her stomach to execute a slow somersault.
‘Hmm, perhaps. But how did he know that my father wasan apothecary?’
‘We will come back to that. Let’s not waste our time thinking about Brigstock. Instead, let us apply our minds to your dilemma.’ He paused to rub Chase’s head. Willow had fallen asleep on Odile’s lap. ‘If it is your parents’ estate, why all the mystery? Who arranged for you to be enrolled in Miss Mackenzie’s school after their death and…?’
He paused for a second time, looking at her with an intensity that stole her breath away. She blamed her lack of interaction with any gentleman, much less one of the earl’s prepossessing stature, for her difficulty in accepting at face value his apparently genuine concern for her dilemma. His attentions disadvantaged her, preventing her from disguising her fascination with her sophisticated neighbour. His rugged masculinity stirred dormant feelings deep inside of her, causing her heart to race and her mouth to turn inexplicably dry.
Why are you doing this for me, Lord Amberley?
‘There are many more questions that I am sure you have been asking yourself all these years,’ he said, the deep timbre of his voice snapping her from her reverie.
‘Well, obviously,’ she replied, rolling her eyes. ‘But Mr Sandwell has been my only contact, and he will tell me nothing.’
‘He is not your only contact. Barton has been responsible for the property all the while it’s been empty. Did you ask him any questions?’
‘Of course I did, but he just refers me back to Mr Sandwell.’ Odile threw her hands up. ‘It’s hopeless.’
‘Nonsense,’ he replied briskly. ‘These people will not fobmeoff. I expect Barton is aware of your father’s profession and Brigstock gained that information from him. There are many ways in which we can do some sleuthing.’ He sent her a boyish smile, obviously enjoying the distraction from his regular duties. ‘There was a national census in 1801. Your parents were still alive then?’
‘Of course!’ Odile smacked her forehead with the heel of her hand. ‘How could I be so dense? I should have thought of that for myself.’
‘Don’t get too excited.’ He held out a warning hand. ‘We can check the records but that will only help if they were resident here prior to their deaths, and if that was the case then the locals would remember them. Eleven years is not so very long.’
‘Ah…’ Odile’s excitement evaporated.
