Seduced by an Earl Read online

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  SEDUCED BY AN EARL

  Historical Romance

  By Rachel E. Rice

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  Cover copyright ©2012 by Jimmy Thomas

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  Copyright 2012 by Rachel E. Rice

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  Published 2012 by Rachel E. Rice

  on Smashwords

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission, except for brief quotations to books and critical reviews. This story is a work of fiction. Characters and events are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  SEDUCED BY

  AN EARL

  by Rachel E. Rice

  Chapter 1

  There were three Earls in Ireland in 1790, but there was only one Elizabeth O’ Sullivan.

  Her curly strawberry blond hair hung past her breast and down to her tiny waist. Freckles dotted her cheeks and her flawless, soft, delicate shoulders. Her eyes were blue green like pools of fresh water. Her lips were full with a natural red, the color of a rich newly picked cherry, and when she smiled, she brought warmth to all in her presence. Some thought that Elizabeth was the most beautiful girl in all of Ireland.

  It was whispered that she was the prettiest child anyone had ever seen. The English lords and ladies would travel across oceans to compare her to their children or someone they knew, and all would agree that there were none in England or Ireland that could compare to Elizabeth’s beauty, innocence, and grace.

  Had she been born into royalty, her beauty would have been priceless, but she was born into poverty and her beauty was only something of an oddity. Yet she could command what ever her station in life gave because she was as innocent as she was lovely. She was like a rare bird. People would stop and stare in amazement.

  The only daughter in a family of many sons, Elizabeth delighted in cooking and looking after her seven brothers. Her brothers worked at the nearby castle, where they farmed and tended to the Earl of Tyrone’s vast number of animals and land. When she became a young woman of sixteen, her eldest brother informed the Earl’s son, Colum, a man of twenty-three, that he had invited their sister to work as a kitchen maid in his castle.

  Colum had seen Elizabeth briefly when she was fourteen. He was a man of twenty when he first noticed her. Elizabeth remembered that day as well. She first laid eyes on the dark haired blue eyed Colum O’Neal the morning after her name day. A perfect specimen of youth and manhood with his strong perfect jaw and wonderful exciting face adorned with dancing blue eyes and a mouth with perfect white teeth that weakened Elizabeth’s youthful body and resolve when he smiled at her.

  One cold spring morning a blanket of fog covered the surrounding hamlet where Elizabeth had set up a vegetable and fruit stand on the outskirts of Dublin. As Colum rode closer, she saw the figure of a man and the outline of his gray steed with a black and gold saddle. His servants and guardsmen hung close behind as he led the parade in an eastward direction.

  The fog began lifting as the sun beat its way through the clouds. When Elizabeth lined a row of fruit and vegetables from her mother’s garden, she set the stand near a dirt road to attract rich gentlemen who traveled in coaches and on horseback. If anyone owned a horse, they were indeed nobility, and if they wanted fruit for their table, she could sell to them without haggling for the price.

  Elizabeth picked a large fresh melon to display when it slipped from her hands and rolled into the path of the coming steeds. She chased after the lost melon, but she did not see the gray horse cross her path until it reared up, and its hoofs came plowing down. Colum quickly controlled the reins and diverted the horse to a ditch.

  The stallion stood on its hind legs causing Lord Colum to tumble off the horse and land directly in front of Elizabeth. Elizabeth rushed to help him to his feet.

  “I am sorry mi Lord it was my fault,” Elizabeth said with her eyes lowered and head bowed. “I am at fault, please forgive me,” she repeated. “Please sir, do not blame my family because I am so clumsy.” Her head remained bowed as Colum glanced at her, taking in her beautiful childish face and manner.

  Colum standing with a slow soft smile gazed at her. He studied her face and was drawn to her body. He became enchanted by her glorious round face. He placed his hand to her chin and lifted it. His pulse quickened at the sight of the young girl whom he felt an intense and immediate attraction. He could not believe the warmth and arousal of his sexual feelings at just the sight of her stunning lips and bright green eyes.

  The fullness of her natural red lips mesmerized him. His eyes moving to her breast clearly showed that they were still forming, and one day they would be the delight of her husband. Colum resisted a strong urge to bed her because of her youth and her low-born status. He took a deep breath, staggered back, dropping his hand, and releasing her face. He gained his composure realizing that he could not control himself in her presence.

  His castle guard glowered at Elizabeth because of Colum’s accident, and he stepped in front of Colum pushing her on to the hard ground.

  Colum standing with his head erect and gazing long at Elizabeth, took off his riding gloves, turned to his servant, and slapped him for his cruelty. He placed his riding gloves on and handed her his gloved hand, and she took it. Then Colum scooped her up, placing her in front of him. He stood staring down at her as his men of the guard watched in astonishment. As if in a trance he stated, “You are an exceedingly lovely little girl, what is your name?”

  “Elizabeth, mi Lord,” she said as she curtsied.

  Then the Earl pushed a swatch of hair from her face. His long gaze and piercing glare settled on Elizabeth’s firm full breast. He raised his head and straightened his clothing claiming control of his body once more. He asked, “How old are you Elizabeth?”

  “I am fourteen, sir.”

  Colum’s heart and body would not allow him to believe that she was so young. How could he have such an intense sexual felling for such a young girl? He thought. His gaze remained longer on her round full sensual lips. He tilted his head to the side and looked in disbelief. He shook his head and a wide smile crawled across his handsome breathtaking face. His breathing quickened and he is aroused again at the sight of her, and her innocence.

  “When you are sixteen come to my castle with this letter,” he pulled from the inside of his velvet coat a letter with a gold seal, “and I will see that you have work in my kitchen.” Colum reached into his outer pocket and placed two gold coins in her hand. He closed her hand and kissed it and then climbed on his steed.

  Digging his boots into the horse, he sped away. The horse dashed off but through the sun and fog, Elizabeth could see the Earl of Tyrone turn and look back until he disappeared among the trees. He trailed his entourage, who were riding slow, until he could no longer see the beautiful young girl staring back at him.

  No woman had commanded his heart and body and now he is led to unimaginable desires by a girl, he thought. This idea alone brought a broad soft smile to his face. The idea delighted him and frightened him. He knew that he wanted her and lust had consumed him. His heart raced and he became nervous whenever his mind strayed to Elizabeth. And when he thought of her, he would send her a piece of jewelry his mother had given him to give to the woman he would marry. Dee
p down inside he would become embarrassed at the thought of seducing a girl.

  As he looked at the small gold and emerald ring he placed into a small box, and bid his servant to take it to Elizabeth’s house, he thought aloud. “She will not be a girl for long, soon she will be mine.” And a rush of desire covered him.

  * * *

  It was three years since that encounter, and Elizabeth had worked for Colum for over a year before she came in contact with him. Many nights she dreamed of him. Happiness and sadness balanced her feelings. Happiness because she could help her family out of poverty with her work at the castle, and she could be near the man she dreamed of since she was a girl. She could only dream of Colum because there was no hope of marriage for her. It just wasn’t done because of her low-born station in life.

  Struck by Elizabeth’s startling captivating looks that was enhanced by her childish eyes and pouty natural red lips, Colum could never forget her face and the sexual feelings that consumed him. On her seventeenth name day she toiled in the Earl’s kitchen baking bread and churning butter when she was ordered to serve in the great dining room.

  She was reluctant to serve at the extravagant dinner that Colum had planned for his engagement party. The high-born ladies would be there wearing their beautiful gowns of all the colors of the rainbow. Elizabeth would dream of the day when she could afford to have all the pretty things that adorned these ladies, but it would be only a dream.

  The elder Earl of Tyrone a stately gentleman and soldier died suddenly during his service in the King’s army and now his son Colum controlled all of his father’s wealth. He received his title from his ancestors around the middle of the 12th century during the invasion of Ireland by England. Henry II landed in Ireland near Waterford in 1171 and captured Ireland as the domain of England and therefore presented the lords the power over most of Ireland.

  The great divide with language, religion, and the confiscation of land pushed the Anglo Irish earls into war against England. It was that time that the Earl of Tyrone defied the English nobility to protect the country that he loved and gave his life.

  Colum chose to follow his Anglo heritage and customs, and pride himself in being an Earl with its devotion to the crown and to live as an Earl in Ireland. Yet time was passing and Ireland was changing as lands were confiscated and the people began to starve. Even though Colum felt bewitched by Elizabeth, he knew that he could never marry a low-born girl, especially one who worked as his servant. He may have been captivated by Elizabeth, but he could never make her his wife. She was not born into the ways and traditions that his father had passed down to him.

  Elizabeth’s mother Ann saved some of the money she was paid. She needed a dowry when she would marry a man of her father’s choice. Ann wrapped Elizabeth’s jewelry that had been given to her by Colum and sent her to the castle. Elizabeth thought that the beautiful ring, with small and delicate stones, was a family heirloom.

  Her thoughts were of marriage. She felt that she would never earn enough money or marry anyone of importance that could afford to give her the wonderful things she saw in the castle. Yet she continued to dream of the day when her father would find her a good match, where she would eventually fall in love with him and marry as so many young girls her age had done.

  * * *

  On the day she was commanded to serve in the great room, Elizabeth walked fearful into the dinning room and froze. All she had to do was keep the glasses full with water and replace the bread on the tray, but her hands shook violently. She had never seen such high-born people in one place. She noticed the crest on the men’s clothing, which signaled that they were of royal blood. They were very important rich men because the women at their side wore diamonds and pearls. She had never seen such jewelry in one place. She stood startled and amazed at the most handsome gentleman that had ever graced her region in Ireland. And the one who stood out as the most handsome young man with his steel blue eyes was Colum O’Neal.

  As Elizabeth held the bread tray, she could not find the courage to move pass the doorway into the great room with its mahogany table, and custom silk chairs, the finest silver and china, and crystal goblets. Colum glance strayed across the room to the striking beauty standing like a scared little girl. “Come here girl,” he waved his hand, gesturing for her to bring the bread tray. Elizabeth eased slowly toward him at the head of the table. He follow her every move. “I have seen you before.”

  Elizabeth curtsied and stated, “Yes mi lord, we did meet three years ago.”

  “Yes. Yes. You are the pretty little girl who caused my horse to throw me.”

  “I am a woman now mi Lord.”

  “That you are.” Colum let out a broad smile and a laugh to match. All eyes were on him as he continued to discuss that morning.

  “I thought I requested that you come into my service when you were sixteen?” Colum’s thoughts strayed remembering the day when he could see her as a woman.

  “You did mi lord; I have been here since my sixteenth name day.”

  “And what were you doing all this time? I would have remembered seeing you.”

  “Working mi Lord,” Elizabeth said lowering her eyes and peering through her long eye lashes.

  Colum’s was interrupted by a shrill voice coming from a young woman sitting near him who appeared to be younger than the effects of the makeup smeared across her face. She had a low cut blue satin gown of the finest silk with her ample bosom keenly displayed, which gave her more endowment than nature provided. She had been discussing her travels to England and France when she noticed the attention Colum was heaping on the servant girl.

  Mary Francis leaned close to Colum and whispered loud enough for Elizabeth to hear. “Do you think it’s suitable for an Earl to become familiar with servant girls?” On hearing her comments, Elizabeth waited only long enough to listen to Colum’s reply.

  “We are not married yet.” He raised her hand and gave it a kiss in her palm as he continued to eye Elizabeth placing a small piece of sour dough bread on a large plate. When she had set out the butter, she returned to the kitchen.

  An old kitchen servant bent over from years of cleaning floors, looked on Elizabeth and whispered, “You should never engage the master in conversation, especially when he is surrounded by those women.” The old woman servant took another bite of the bread and butter.

  “Is one of the women his mother?” Elizabeth said looking up from washing a glass.

  “The great lady died shortly after his father was killed in the last war. When she got the news of his death, her heart gave out. I say she died of a broken heart.” The old maid continued brushing the crumbs to the floor after she had tasted the larger pieces.

  When Elizabeth looked up from drying a glass, the kitchen servant was waving for her to bring out the lemon cakes. She had carefully cut and assembled the square lemon cakes in the horizontal silver tray. Her thoughts as she worked were of the handsome Earl whom she would never hope to ever say anything to again. The Earl was educated and rich and she was poor Irish lass who would settle for the man whom her father would agree to a marriage of convenience. Besides she could never remember to say my lord instead mi lord as her mother had taught her.

  Elizabeth did not relish the idea of being around the high-born woman who made her feel inadequate. She would make a man a good wife. She could cook and sew, she thought. She could take care of children and work in the fields to grow food. What could these selfish women do but sit around and spend their husbands’ money where they would raise the taxes to make sure their wives would not bankrupt them in their old age.

  “Hurry lass, they are waiting for their desert,” the old maid said as she pushed Elizabeth into the great hall that led into the great dinning room.

  Elizabeth resented the looks coming from the mother of Mary Francis. She heard her whisper when she was serving the bread and butter, “Get rid of that girl when you marry Colum.”

  All the women’s eyes appeared to penetrate the uniform
she wore showing that she was only a maid. Elizabeth dressed in a hand me down from the previous elderly maid. She wore a long uneven gray and white dress with a white apron and cap to cover her heaps of curls in her hair and small shapely body. Her unusually large breasts were tucked quietly under the heavy weighted clothing.

  Approaching the dinning area Elizabeth paused to catch her breath and tried to smile. She remembered that she should not smile because as the elderly maid said, “You should never smile because you are too pretty and that will only intimidate the women and they will see that you will not be around when they become Lady O’Neal.”

  Elizabeth lowered her head and was careful to tuck her long curly hair under the cap. She placed the tray on the table setting in the hall and pulled the cap down over her ears. She picked up the silver tray by its handles and proceeded into the room.

  As Elizabeth offered each lady and gentlemen the lemon cakes, she did not notice young Lord Edward Mc Hugh, the Earl of Castlehaven, staring at her. Edward, a dark haired tall handsome man of twenty-eight, with piercing deep dark eyes and dark features sat peering at Elizabeth. His mysterious face held a seductive smile, but then a wide open soft grin slid across his face and she noticed Edward, and how handsome he truly was with his brilliant teeth. Yet his smile could not hide his dark emotions and secrets, but because of her innocence, Elizabeth only saw sadness.

  He had arrived late and did not eat, but he gestured with his hand calling Elizabeth to him. Elizabeth with her head low, and her sparkling sea green eyes fell lower, trying not to meet his gaze. With a large silver spoon and fork, she placed the cake on a small plate. “No, I want you to hand me the plate,” Edward stated, with a tilted head and looking up at Elizabeth’s face.

  Elizabeth carefully placing the cake in front of Edward looked up when he grabbed her wrist. A startled Elizabeth met his eyes. Edward had been drinking and Elizabeth thought that he was full of mischief. She had brothers and was use to their merrymaking especially when they drank too much.