Trapped with the Earl of Sin

Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

“ E veryone has been so wonderful,” Susanna commented happily to Mary as they walked through the hallways of the house. “So kind and welcoming. It really is building up to be a wonderful wedding.”

“I am so grateful that you are getting along with everyone,” Mary declared with a smile. “Lady Standen, in particular, has been kind.”

“I am even finding it impossible not to warm up to Luke. He really does seem to be a truly great match for you.”

Mary blushed. “I just knew that you would like him. He really is lovely, I cannot wait to marry him and spend the rest of my life with him. What do you think of his friend?”

“Lord St. Clair?” Susanna glowered. “He is the only person I do not like as much as the others.”

“Really?” Mary seemed surprised. “I thought he was a lot of fun. What is it about him that you do not like?”

“He is… rude,” Susanna finally declared, deciding on the right word for him. “It does not matter what I say, he is always challenging it.”

“Do you not think that he is just joking around with you and having fun?” Mary asked. “That is how it seems to me.”

Sometimes it did feel a little like that, but deep down, Susanna was sure that Martin simply did not like her at all.

“I am not too sure about that…”

“You must come with me anyway,” Mary said decisively. “We are going for a walk in the gardens.”

“We are?” Susanna did not mind, but she had to admit this had come as a bit of a surprise. “Any reason?”

“Do not look behind you,” Mary continued through gritted teeth. “But Edwin is behind us. He has been following us for a little while now—he is always trying to get me to go for a walk with him. He does not even seem to care that I am about to marry his cousin. He is still determined to continue his pursuit, it seems. I do not think anything will ever stop him. Even months of rejection…”

Susanna pursed her lips angrily. “I cannot believe that he is here. I did not know that Edwin was related to Luke.”

“Me neither,” Mary hissed back. “And I cannot seem to avoid him wherever I go. That loud, distinctive voice of his seems to follow me everywhere. I have never met a man like him before. One that simply cannot take no for an answer. I honestly wish that I had never turned to him for help in the first place back then. But I really did think that he wanted to assist me in getting answers…”

“Do not fret sister, you were only trying to find out more about your late betrothed. And he was the only one who could help you in your grief.”

It was not until they were out in the sunshine that Susanna finally risked looking over her shoulder. Much to her relief, there was no sign of them being followed by anyone. With a bit of luck, as soon as Mary had grabbed her arm, Edwin had backed off.

Not that he was one to take a well-executed hint. Susanna had seen him ignore many clear messages that were designed just for him. Lord Edwin only seemed to see what he wanted to see.

If only he could leave.

Everything would be so much easier if he was not here.

“I think we are safe now,” Susanna whispered. “But I suggest we take a good long walk anyway.” She liked the idea of having a moment alone with her sister, so she could check in on Mary again and change the subject before her sister worried about Edwin and his intentions. “So, how are the wedding plans coming along?”

With Mary and Luke’s mothers so heavily involved with wedding planning, and Martin’s mother offering her assistance as well, there was not much need for Susanna to help out. She thought it more important to keep an eye on the bride anyway.

“I think everything is going to be quite lovely,” Mary declared excitedly. “I cannot wait. I am sure you can see why I have fallen for Luke now—he is quite the gentleman. I might not have planned on falling for him, but he made it impossible not to.”

“Yes, I can see why,” Susanna replied cautiously.

Much as she truly did like Luke, she still worried for her sister. It absolutely terrified her to imagine her sister’s heart being broken again. Susanna did not think that Mary would be able to survive another heartbreak. But she could not say any of that, not without raining on Mary’s parade.

“I am sure he is looking forward to being your husband as well.”

“I keep thinking about our children, and what they will look like.” Mary giggled. “Is that a little wild?”

Susanna resisted the urge to recoil. She had never considered what her children might look like, but then again, she was not in love and about to get married. Perhaps that changed things.

Not that she would ever find out.

Susanna was still staunch in her plan not to fall in love after what happened to her sister. Even seeing Mary now with Luke had not changed her mind.

But again, it was not appropriate for her to say as much to a very loved-up Mary.

“I am sure it is very normal, considering you will be married soon,” she declared instead. “I am certain that most brides spend a lot of time thinking about their wedding night…”

Mary looked like she had a few questions to ask about that topic, but Susanna was grateful when they were distracted. There was no chance she would be able to answer any of those questions. She had absolutely no idea. The only advice that Susanna would be able to offer her was stories that she had heard, and there was no telling what was accurate and what was not.

If Mary wanted some advice, she was going to have to go to someone else.

“Oh, look!” Mary suddenly declared with a lightness to her voice. “Luke is coming back from a horse ride. And he is not alone.”

Martin.

Susanna’s heart sank.

She had wanted to spend time with her sister, not her nemesis. She had been doing everything that she could to avoid Martin, but Mary was already making her way over to her husband-to-be.

“Luke, how are you, my dear?”

Because she did not wish to be rude, Susanna followed Mary, but every step was begrudging and heavy. If anyone was paying any attention, they would have been able to see the disdain in her eyes.

“We will come with you,” Mary called out happily, “to the stables while you drop off the horses. Then perhaps we can go for a walk.”

Much as this was a little better than having Edwin continue to follow her, Susanna was not keen on the walk either. But she was stuck, there was nothing that she could do.

Susanna forced a smile as she approached the stables with Mary. She could see the joy in her sister’s eyes as she greeted Luke, who dismounted his horse with effortless grace.

Martin, following closely behind, gave Susanna a nod of acknowledgment that she returned with a curt nod herself.

“Mary, you look radiant,” Luke said warmly, his eyes sparkling with genuine affection. “I hope your day has been pleasant.”

“It has been lovely,” Mary replied, glancing at Susanna with a smile. “We were just taking a walk to enjoy the gardens. You really do have the most wonderful home, Luke. There is always so much beauty to look at, no matter where I go.”

“Wonderful,” Luke said smilingly. “Then we must join you for your walk. That sounds lovely.”

He took Mary’s arm and instantly started on their journey, which of course left Susanna and Martin walking slightly away from the couple, to one side, a little awkwardly left with only one another’s company.

“Are you enjoying the sunshine?” Martin asked in his typical teasing tone, which always left Susanna on edge, wondering what he was not saying. “It is a lovely day.”

Why is it that even the simplest comment from him is enough to infuriate me?

“Yes, the weather today reminds me of the heath of Highbury.”

She waited with bated breath to see if he would understand what she was referring to.

“Ah, so you enjoy the works of A Lady also?” Martin responded, proving that he knew exactly what Susanna was talking about. “And Emma nonetheless. I did not peg you as a reader of quality novels. Although I have to admit, I have always preferred Mansfield Park. ”

“Is Emma too much of a strong character for you?” Susanna shot back, having heard that comment from men before. “You prefer the meeker Fanny Price?”

“Now you have gotten me all wrong,” Martin insisted, with his hand to his chest in mock horror. “I am not like that at all. I merely prefer the setting and description of Mansfield Park , that is all. It has nothing to do with the strength of character.”

But Susanna was not sure that she believed him one bit. “I am surprised you are not more of a Gulliver’s Travels reader. All men enjoy the novels by Jonathan Swift, right? I can only imagine that you have a lot to say about that work.”

“Oh, but my dear Lady Susanna, you must have noticed that I’m not like other men.” He smirked at her and she felt her cheeks flush.

The nerve of this man.

“I definitely have, My Lord. But I wouldn’t be so quick to take it as a compliment.”

“Being different is better than being like everyone else. Even if it’s in a bad way. I expect you, more than anyone, to agree with that.”

“And what is that supposed to mean?” Susanna was willing to pay any price just to see his confidence crumble. But every time she tried, all she managed was to feel even more irritated.

But before she had time to form a better retort, they both seemed to realize that within the heat of the conversation, they must have wandered away from Mary and Luke without noticing it. Although it was clear that the betrothed couple had not noticed either.

Susanna and Martin had wandered close to the house and silently seemed to make the mutual decision that they would continue to walk until they reached the front door to the manor, where they would head inside and wait for Mary and Luke to return.

At least, Susanna assumed that was the plan, but before she could get much further, Martin held his arm out to halt her in her tracks.

Because Susanna was not expecting this, she lost her footing and tripped forward, falling against his arm a little too hard, knocking the air right out of her lungs.

But somehow, Martin was prepared, and he snapped into action. It was almost as if he expected this to happen. He enveloped her in a tight embrace and pulled her upright, pressing her close to him while she caught her breath once more.

It was only when Susanna glanced upright to perhaps call him out on his actions, because it was his strange behavior that had made her fall, that she realized just how close they were.

They were so near to one another, their faces almost touching, which knocked the air right out of her lungs.

“You should be more careful, My Lady. You wouldn’t want me to think that you did this on purpose, now, would you?”

Susanna forgot all the arguments that she was about to make because all she could see was him . His beautiful hazel eyes and all the emotions dancing on the flames of his gaze.

The heat that always surged between them seemed to intensify. It was so powerful that it actually left Susanna weak in the knees, and it most certainly did not help that Martin’s eyes appeared to darken with desire as well.

“No,” was all she managed to utter.

The passion that always made her argue with him seemed to become something new as she became acutely aware of his fingers brushing against her skin and his breath tickling her face.

Never had Susanna been so self-aware. Never has she been flooded by fizzling tingles like this. She truly did not know what to do with herself.

It was as if the rest of the world had simply vanished, and she and Martin were the only ones left in it. She could only see him, only feel him, and despite herself, she could not resist the magnetic pull that seemed to be drawing her closer to him.

I should tell him to let me go.

With her heart thundering against her ribcage, Susanna’s eyes fluttered half closed as if she were about to kiss him. Her very first kiss, which she was supposed to save for her non-existent wedding day, was about to happen right here in front of Luke’s home.

Talk you fool!

But before she could bring herself back to reality, Martin pulled her closer to him, taking her breath away, only to put her back on her feet a moment later. She shivered from the lack of his touch. But Martin didn’t step away from her. He was still standing an inch away, just to torture her.

“Aren’t you thankful, Susanna?”

She could feel the rest of their party coming closer. Yet their voices were not enough to pull her out of her trance. All she could process was the unforgettable feeling of his firm chest pressed on her and the hand that felt like an iron grip around her waist.

“Th-Thank you, My Lord.” She whispered, breathlessly and she felt her knees weaken.

“Such a good girl.” He whispered.

And that was all she needed to snap back into reality. What had she just said? What had just happened to her? This man was dangerous. She felt her fury rising and her cheeks heating up.

“What do you think…” Susana’s attention was forcefully pulled away from the man standing in front of her when she heard voices close by. All she could hear was a snippet of conversation without seeing clearly who was talking.

“I hope this time, Lady Mary has better luck than her last betrothal.”

“Maybe it was not luck.” Susanna thought that she was already angry from the first comment. Until she recognized the person talking next.

Edwin!

“Maybe it’s deserved punishment.” Edwin finished his statement and Susanna felt a shiver run down her spine. Her bizarre interaction with Martin only minutes before, almost forgotten.

Poor Mary had been through so much that she most certainly did not need to go through anything else. So she dismissed all the cutting retorts she had for the earl and only threw a glare in his way before looking around for her sister.

Edwin knew what Mary had been through as well. How could he be so cruel?

Then again, Susanna knew that this was a cruel man because of the way he had hung around their home ever since Duncan died, offering his assistance but doing nothing.

By the time Mary realized what Edwin’s true intentions were, he had already wasted far too much of her time.

Would he never let her go?

Susanna caught Martin’s eyes, and he seemed to sense her discomfort. She needed to get out of there before Martin or, even worse, Edwin infuriated her further.

So the duke’s company is better than Edwin now?

She needed to escape this earl’s powerful presence. He was a distraction while she needed to focus on her sister. She needed to make sure that Mary would be happy. There was no way to be sure that she could control herself and behave like a lady was supposed to if someone was being nasty about her sister.

Especially if it was Edwin of all people.

Deserved punishment.

Those words continued to rattle around in her brain as they backed off as quietly as they could, trying not to make a sound that would alert anyone to their presence.

Deserved punishment.

What did that mean?

Duncan was brutally murdered. He suffered a lot in death. While Susanna did not have all the details, that much she was aware of.

Edwin had told her family that Duncan owed money and was involved with bad people, which had led to his death. Was that his ‘deserved punishment?’

But Susanna was never fully convinced by those stories. Especially because there was never any evidence that Duncan had ever gotten involved with gambling.

No one seemed to be able to prove that.

Susanna might not have known Duncan for a long time, but she had never seen any reason why he would deserve to die. No one else had ever had a bad word to say about him either, which only made this statement a lot harder to process.

It did not matter how many times these words ran through Susanna’s mind, she did not know what to do with them. She did not know what to say.

“We should head back now.”

“But, my sister…” Susanna felt a hand on her waist guiding her towards the estate. The opposite direction from where she should be heading.

“She is with her future husband. You have nothing to fear. I will escort you back.”

And no matter how many times she protested, Martin’s hand stayed firmly on her waist.