Earl of Bergen: Wicked Regency Romace (Wicked Earls' Club Book 15) Read online

  “Surely that cannot be the Mrs. Newton? She is in London as we speak. While we do not move in the same circles, I know this to be true.” She smiled broadly at her son. “Oh, goodness! His aunt is a colourful woman, indeed.”

  “I will not ask how you know of Mrs. Newton.” He grinned at his mother. “But I am certain that Bergen will not be expecting his aunt. I plan to leave immediately.” Shefford was always amused at his mother’s polite candour.

  “Yes, I believe her appearance might add a spark of…something…to his friendship with Lady Newton. I believe she is the widow of Lord Horace Newton, and she is a very proper lady. Lady Newton will be shocked to have been confused with a woman of such questionable…values, I am sure.” She cleared her throat.

  “I must leave immediately, Mother. Your information has helped immensely.”

  “Did Bergen’s aunt happen to mention what part he was playing in the pageant?” Her lips were tightly closed on the question, but amusement was shining in her eyes.

  “No, but somehow I doubt his role is one of the wise men.” Grinning, he leaned over and kissed his mother goodbye. Bergen, what in the world have you got yourself into this time?

  Lord Bergen insisted on walking Elizabeth home from the church. The children had left earlier with Aunt Jane and she had stayed behind to speak with the vicar. Lord Bergen seemed to be everywhere, and she simply could not fathom why he found anything to interest him in helping with the pageant. He must have dozens of women fawning over him in London, so surely, he could not be staying just for her?

  “What are you thinking?” Lord Bergen asked as he walked along beside her, his arms clasped behind his back. He was very handsome, and a younger Elizabeth would have been enamoured with the possibilities of being Lady Bergen.

  “I was wondering why you are still here,” she blurted out. Immediately, she clasped her hand over her mouth.

  Lord Bergen laughed. “That was certainly plain speaking.”

  “I suppose it is the truth,” she answered, gasping as the reason for her damning words occurred to her. “The amulet!”

  Lord Bergen smiled and then his lips broadened into that boyishly wicked grin. “So, I can ask you anything now and you will have to answer honestly.”

  Elizabeth pulled the amulet from her pocket and attempted to drop it into the front pocket of his greatcoat. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her close, wrapping his hand around hers with the amulet still inside.

  His face was so close to hers, she could feel his breath upon her mixed with a hint of sandalwood. He tilted her chin upwards to look into his eyes. Even she knew she was in deep trouble. Many a stronger woman would fall hard under his spell.

  “Please do not,” she whispered.

  “But I must know,” he pleaded.

  “Why? I have no doubt you have women lining up in London for your pleasure. Why come here and insert yourself, not only into my life, but into the children’s also? You will leave again in a few days. It is not fair to them.”

  “And what about you, Elizabeth? What would it do to you? Would you care if I left? Or do you want me to stay?”

  Elizabeth tried to lie, but she could not say it. She pressed her lips together, but the amulet betrayed her. To avoid his knowing gaze, she turned her face away.

  “Say it, Elizabeth.”

  “Yes. Yes, I want you to stay.”

  Bergen smiled, and she was lost. His lips descended on hers, and a wave of pleasure such as she had never felt before rushed through her body. His hands reached up to cradle her face with a tenderness she had never experienced. Horace had barely kissed her with a brief touch on the lips, and now Lord Bergen was teasing them open with his tongue. Elizabeth did not want to think of Horace, and she melted into Lord Bergen’s body. His arms came around her and pulled her close, and his hands began to caress her back and bottom. Good Lord! He was caressing her bottom in public! She pulled back, her chest heaving, and looked around. It was dark, and no one was about.

  “Goodness! We got carried away,” she exclaimed.

  “It was wonderful, was it not?” he answered. By the bright moonlight, she saw he was still grinning at her.

  “Yes,” she admitted unwillingly.

  He pulled her behind a tree and kissed her again. This time, it was harder, more passionate.

  “I love this amulet,” he said as he showered kisses upon her neck and downward. He loosened some of her laces and rubbed his hand over one of her breasts.

  “Do you like that?” he asked.

  “Yes, damn you!” she replied, squirming. “But we cannot do this, Bergen,” she said, though her nether regions were screaming otherwise.

  “Why not? I like it; you seem to like it. What is the harm in enjoying each other?”

  Elizabeth was finding it harder and harder to answer that question. She had never felt pleasure like this. In that moment, she wanted to be lost in it. Her back was now up against the tree. When had that happened? She felt his hand slide her dress upwards, and between her legs she was throbbing.

  “Do you want more?”

  “Why are you talking?” she demanded—with difficulty, for she had her head thrown back and was trying to hold in a groan.

  He laughed wickedly and went down on his knees as he pulled her skirts up.

  “What are you doing to my mama, thir?” Elizabeth heard Marie’s voice ask the question.

  Oh, God, no. Please no. Elizabeth was mortified. Please do not let her have seen anything.

  “Your mama stepped on something. I was just checking her leg.” Bergen had risen quickly and pulled her skirts down. Elizabeth was trying to think straight, but her senses were muddled.

  “Ith Mama all right?” the little girl asked.

  No, Mama was not all right.

  “Yes, yes she will be quite well in a moment.”

  “Then you had better come inside out of the cold,” Marie insisted and took his hand.

  “I think you are right,” Bergen answered as they walked away. “What are you doing out here alone?”

  “I brought Clarence a carrot from the kitchen. He wanted one.”

  “He did, did he?”

  Elizabeth opened her eyes to see Marie leading Lord Bergen back to the house. She looked down; the stupid amulet was still in her hand.

  She took a moment to compose herself and then went to make sure Clarence was comfortable. She had not even realized they had walked back to the estate.

  “Clarence, what have I done?”

  He made a strange noise that sounded like, “I don’t know.”

  Elizabeth shook her head. Her world had been turned upside down, and instead of wishing Lord Bergen to the devil, she only wished he could finish what he started. She was about to tie the amulet back around the donkey’s neck when she heard a noise behind her. Quickly, she slipped it back in her pocket and ran into the house.

  “Where have you been?” Aunt Jane asked with a sly, knowing look on her face as she stood in the hallway.

  “I was visiting Clarence.” Thank goodness she could answer truthfully.

  “Well, come on in and warm yourself by the fire. There is some wassail as well.”

  “That sounds lovely,” Elizabeth agreed. When she entered the drawing room, however, she was arrested by the sight of Lord Bergen, sitting with both girls in his lap and Josiah at his feet. He was telling a story, and it was all too much for Elizabeth as the children were hanging on his every word. She was about to object when Aunt Jane came up behind her and said, “Say nothing, the children need this.”

  What about me? Elizabeth thought, but obediently sat down in the chair opposite and sipped her mulled cider as she watched the dancing flames in the fire. When Lord Bergen finished his story, Elizabeth looked over and the girls were asleep in his lap. She started to stand to pick them up, but he shook his head. Slowly, he stood and began to carry the girls upstairs.

  “Let me help you,” she whispered.

  “No. You relax. Josiah will help
me.”

  Elizabeth was so dumbstruck, she sat straight back down in the chair. He was a natural father, and it was not helping her will to resist him.

  When they had left the room, Aunt Jane spoke. “Are you going to tell me what happened out there?”

  “I would rather not.”

  “Humph,” she grumbled. “Well, I hope you were as well tumbled as you appear to have been.” She giggled.

  “Aunt Jane!” Elizabeth reprimanded, but her cheeks burned with embarrassment.

  Lord Bergen came back into the room.

  They are safely tucked in their beds. I should be on my way.”

  “No need to rush,” Aunt Jane insisted, curse her. She rose to pour him a drink. He would never leave, now!

  “Thank you,” he said as she handed him a full tumbler of brandy, and he sat back down in the chair opposite Elizabeth.

  “I thought I saw Lady Bergen in town today,” Aunt Jane said with a recognizable glare. Elizabeth’s heart jumped at the thought of a Lady Bergen.

  “Aunt Faith? No, you must be mistaken,” Bergen replied. “She would never leave London at this season. She hosts the entire family for Christmas.”

  Elizabeth relaxed.

  “Well, I could have been mistaken. I have not seen her in years. We had our come out together, you know.”

  “No, I was unaware,” he answered taking a sip of his drink, then swirling the liquid around in his glass. “I sent her a note telling her I would be detained.”

  “Then she must have a twin. I could have sworn it was her.”

  “Dear God, I hope not,” Elizabeth heard him murmur. She suppressed a laugh.

  Aunt Jane stood up quickly, and Bergen also got to his feet.

  “I will be off to bed, then,” her aunt said. “My old bones need the rest.”

  Bergen took Aunt Jane’s hand and kissed it. “Good night, my lady.”

  Aunt Jane gave Elizabeth a knowing wink and then left, shutting the door behind her.

  Elizabeth’s heart sped up and she could feel the effects of her wassail. Quickly, she pulled the amulet out of her pocket and placed it on the table in front of her.

  Bergen was still standing. After a tiny pause, he walked over to her and looked down at her.

  “I think you have had enough for one evening, but we are not finished yet.”

  “Is that a promise?” she asked, instantly wondering where her boldness had come from.

  Suddenly, he was on his knees in front of her and his lips were on hers. After she had been thoroughly kissed, he leaned his forehead against hers. “That is most definitely a promise.”

  Chapter 6

  Leaving Elizabeth and her family, Bergen and Merry headed back to the inn. Bergen had had so much ale of late that he missed the taste of a finer liquor. The brandy had tasted good and he wished he had taken a second glass. His mellowed mood took his thoughts to the kisses he had shared with Elizabeth. He had wished for more time before Marie’s interruption but, on the other hand, her appearance had reminded him that there was a need for discretion around the children. He was not used to having children about. Nevertheless, he enjoyed their company, especially Josiah, who seemed to need a male connection. When he had first met Josiah, there had only been one or two-word responses. Now, their discourse covered topics as wide-ranging as horses, travel to London, and the Christmas season. Josiah had mentioned his parents more than once. The pain of his loss was clear. Bergen reminded himself to be especially careful in their relationship so that Josiah was not hurt, again.

  As he passed the mulberry bush where he had found Clarence, he checked the area around it. He could not shake the feeling that there was something not quite right with the gypsies who had remained behind. Although he saw no movement and heard no voices, he decided to stop and investigate the space. The discussions about the amulet today had made him uncomfortable for Elizabeth’s and her children’s safety and the feeling persisted.

  A few hundred feet ahead, the road turned, following the edge of a wood, which began to surround the road on both sides. The forested area had occasional dark cavernous openings between trees, only slightly hidden by tall scrub brush. “Wait here, Merry.” He dismounted his horse and checked under the brush, gradually walking back behind the thicker undergrowth of the area. A shiny object caught his attention. Kicking away the sandy soil, he discovered a small, bejewelled dagger, one that might have been worn by someone in the troupe. It was not the type of knife that he recognized, but it appeared deadly. Who would have dropped this? The hair on the back of his neck prickled, so he mounted Merry and moved her along quickly and quietly. There was an easy access behind some scrub, so he rode Merry into the thicket. They hid behind the thick undergrowth just as two gypsies walked towards them.

  “I lost it somewhere out here. I am almost sure.” Bergen recognized the voice as belonging to the same man who had spoken outside his window several days past. The two men walked close to the brush, both kicking the soil on the road and studying the edge of the road so intently that they did not notice they had company. It was the first time he had seen the men up close. One was tall and the other was short. They were both dark-headed, and wore thick heavy coats hanging open, revealing baggy shirts and loose trousers. The shorter one, whose voice he recognized, had his head covered by a brown and white turban. The taller one wore a short black cap with flaps covering his ears. I think I will recognize these two, if I see them again.

  “We need to catch up with the troupe, my brother,” the other man grumbled. “We’ve spent too much time spying on the donkey you abandoned. I’m not sure there was any value to the beast or the supposed jewel around his neck. It looked more like a bauble to me, anyway. And you only used the dagger to cut your meat or fruit.”

  “Then, brother, you go back. I will find the amulet. I heard the woman say her son had it. I am certain it has magic powers, and the elders will be glad to have it for our people.” The man’s tone was terse.

  “So be it! Come back to camp tonight and I will spend one more day looking for the stupid amulet, but if you are not successful, we leave. Agreed? The man who visits her family each day—I have seen him around. I heard him addressed by the inn’s ostler as a lord. We do not need to cause trouble around here.”

  “True enough.” The man whose voice he recognized heaved a sigh. “If the child has it, he may have lost it; but I want to find out. And I want my knife back, even if I only use it for food!”

  Bergen needed to warn Elizabeth. What kind of trouble had he brought to her front door with the donkey? Bergen could hardly wait for the two men to walk out of view. As soon as they did, he mounted Merry and rode back to warn Elizabeth.

  He looped Merry’s reins over the black iron fence and knocked on the door.

  The butler opened the door looking a bit startled at his reappearance. “Good evening, sir.” He accepted Bergen’s hat and coat and stepped back as Lady Newton entered the hall and walked up to the door. “Did you leave something, Lord Bergen,” she asked.

  He knew she had not meant to ask it quite like that, but he had to admit he liked the Elizabeth with the amulet in her pocket, who could not qualify her remarks to him. He would laugh if this situation were not so serious. He pulled out the dagger.

  “I found this on the way home. I thought to look around the mulberry bush area, and while I was looking, the two gypsy men came back. Merry and I hid behind the bushes and overheard them.”

  “Were they after that?” Elizabeth nodded at the knife, a look of alarm on her face.

  “Yes, and unfortunately, it is not the real object of their quest. It seems they have been looking for the donkey, but I heard them mention having overheard that Josiah had removed Clarence’s amulet. It is my belief they might come for it. I became alarmed and needed to warn you. In fact, I am very reluctant to leave you.” Bergen hoped she would see the seriousness of the situation. On the short ride back to Elizabeth’s house, he had formed a plan to return there earlier tha
n usual in the morning, knowing that staying, even in the stables, would be out of the question with Elizabeth.

  “It is indeed frightening that the men have been close enough to hear our conversations. This afternoon, I heard something stir behind me. It sounded like something stepping across dry brush, but I did not look. Instead, I hurried into the house. Do you think they intend harm?”

  “It is unlikely. The travellers are generally peaceful, despite being described as otherwise. They would most likely try to steal the amulet, which from the little I have heard, it seems they feel some entitlement. That does not mean there are no bad people among them, as there are in our own society.” Bergen felt a knot rise in his stomach, as he questioned his own decision to return to the inn. “I will keep this…” He held out the dagger. “…with me.”

  “Thank you for that, sir.” Elizabeth smiled gently. “I appreciate you coming to warn us. I believe we will be well. I do have my husband’s fowling piece on the top shelf in the boot room. I can secrete it near the door. One of the men will be able to fire it, I am sure. I will also turn Clarence loose in the barn, so he will not be trapped should they try to steal him away. That is all I can think to do. There are quite a few animals—including a baby lamb, a cow, a couple of goats, horses, and a few barn cats that stay in there. Clarence seems to have grown protective and I believe he will warn us of any unwanted guests and protect the other species. Why, only this morning, he chased away a fox.”

  “Please, Elizabeth, promise me that if they come, you will give it to them.”

  “I will. I promise.” To his utter surprise, she boldly leaned towards him and brushed a kiss across his lips.

  “That was nice.” Not one to miss an opportunity when it presented itself, Bergen crushed her to him and pressed his lips to hers. He wanted to protect her, and that was a new feeling for him. Out of breath, he pulled back and kissed her nose. “I want you and the children to be safe. Lock the door. I will be back early in the morning.”