Seduced by an Earl Page 2

  From across the room she recognized a strong voice to be that of Colum. “If you are going to insult my servants, and do not act civil Edward, you are not welcome here.”

  Edward smiled and lowered his head with a bow and said to Colum, “My apologies,” turning to Elizabeth, “What is your name, my dear girl?”

  “Elizabeth, sir.”

  “Well Elizabeth,” Edward said waving his wine glass, “I will employ you at my castle if you are not happy here with these stale people with their out of date manners.” He gazed at Colum who did not care for Edward whenever he drank too much.

  “I am perfectly happy where I am, sir,” Elizabeth said as she bowed and hurried out of the room.

  The room grew eerily quiet until Colum stood and stated, “Ladies you can remain and have tea, but I think the men have business to discuss.” The men pushed their chairs from the table and headed for the smoke room.

  * * *

  The room where all the men assembled had a high ceiling with beams crossing the room in the shape of an unfinished triangle. A large heavy beam running horizontal, the length of the room, held a large chandelier with lighted candles extending from the horizontal beam providing warmth throughout the room.

  Colum reached for a cigar on a silver tray that the man servant passed around, and the six gentlemen guest lit up and sat back in the comfortable deep chocolate leather chairs and sofa. Colum took the well worn chair and pushed his head back and blew the smoke into the air and the other men followed in kind.

  Edward, a handsome man with course dark hair, and black eyes with an impatient manner spoke out, “What are we going to do about the English? They are confiscating our lands and trying to push us out.”

  “We are not in jeopardy of losing anything, Edward. You least of all. You have been drinking too much wine and you are seeing the English around every corner,” Colum said with a frown. “You of all have the least to worry. Your mother is English born and are protected. And Edward, I know for a fact that you are the riches Earl in Ireland.”

  Edward’s mouth broke into a wicked smile as his eyebrow arched.

  “That’s because there are only a few of us left. All the other lords have left for Spain and Italy.” Edward picked up a lit cigar and drew in smoke and lifted his head and blew it out. “If you are not here then what am I to do for a social life?”

  Edward waved for another glass of liquor, “You have been drinking too much lately Edward,” Colum stated reaching for Edward’s glass with little success.

  “I am not drunk as you think. I still have my wits about me and I can see that if we don’t act soon, we will lose our lands and money. I don’t know about you Colum and your friends,” Edward said pointing his finger around the table, “but I am use to money and what it can buy and I do not want to lose it.” Edward raised his hand summoning the servant for another drink.

  “Edward you are concerned about having enough money to buy liquor and all those women I have seen you consorting with around town. What will your mother think?”

  Edward’s mouth twisted and his shoulders rose to his face. “What is money for if you can’t give it to a woman? I think my mother would hope I am putting it to good use.” He drank the remaining liquor in his glass.

  Edward took a step and swayed, then fell into the leather chair setting across from Colum. “Take that young beauty in your keep, you have her working as a slave, a girl such as that should have silk clothing and treated like a queen, not waiting on women who can not touch her beauty or chastity.”

  “And what would you have me do Edward, defile her as you would, given the chance.”

  “No, I would marry a girl like that if she would have me.” The room was heavy with smoke and silence but Colum’s eyes cut through the smoke to show Edward his displeasure of the conversation. “Once the English come in and take everything you and I have, your silly manners and traditions will not be worth anything, Colum.”

  “Enough of that talk, Edward!”

  Edward stoked his cigar once more, took a drink of Irish whisky and stood. “Well my friend, if I am right, I will be the first to ask that beautiful young woman to marry me. I will need all my riches and comfort I can keep, because I see by the look on everyone’s face, that I will be an outcast.” And he burst into laughter that filled the room and bled into the hall.

  “My man servant will take you to your carriage Edward.” Colum placed his hand on Edward’s back and led him to the door. “Tomorrow when you are sober you will think differently about the English and Elizabeth. It does not help to get the other gentlemen upset and overly concerned,” he whispered into his ear.

  “You know her name. Ah, I see the other side of your face Colum.”

  Colum opened the carriage door and Edward stepped in and sat back, then leaning forward, “If you don’t marry that servant girl, I will.” Edward spied Colum’s face. “You are in love with her.”

  “You don’t know what you are saying Edward, it is not acceptable to marry out of our station.”

  “Then what are you planning to do with her? I know you Colum; I have known you since we were boys. What are you planning to do with that pretty little girl?”

  “You are drunk, Edward.” Colum thoughts settle on Elizabeth and he is consumed with a deep thirst for her body. He is also filled with jealousy and lust.

  Colum raised his hand and the coachman led the carriage through the winding road from his castle and into the night. He could not help but think about what Edward said about Elizabeth and the loss of his fortune. It was worth thinking about but he felt it was remote.

  Edward had cast a pall over Colum’s dinner party. He did not want to continue the celebration any longer. He retired to his room after announcing to the women and men that he would entertain at another date.

  * * *

  After the castle had been cleared and the servants had gone to their rooms, Colum decided to venture into the kitchen to have a piece of lemon cake that he never got a chance to taste. When he opened the door, he saw Elizabeth in the corner washing the floor with a pan and a brush. “What are you doing?” He hurried and grabbed her arms and lifted her to her feet.

  He held her hands and reached for a dry cloth and wiped her hands dry. Elizabeth looked at him with head lowered and her green eyes filtering through her long lashes.

  “I am cleaning the kitchen, in preparation for tomorrow,” Elizabeth said looking up at Colum who appeared to be shocked. “Sir, how do you think your castle stays clean? Some one has to do it and since I am the youngest the hardest chores go to me.”

  “But your hands, they will be hard and blistered,” Colum said as he took her hands and turned them over to examine them. “You should not be doing this kind of work.”

  “I am use to this kind of work. I have worked harder than this, sir. When I am home, I cook, clean, and plow and make whisky for my brothers.”

  Colum’s mouth opened in surprise. He never thought about the servants. He never really noticed them. They were there to provide needed services that made him free to manage his many lands and the people who worked them.

  “I will see that you work as a ladies’ maid. I will marry soon. It is expected.” Colum did not know why he was explaining this to the beautiful girl with seductive eyes, and mountains of curly hair. “You can go to your room.” He paused, “Where is your room?”

  “In the back of the kitchen, mi lord.”

  “That little hovel? I want you to have a room on the third floor.”

  “Oh no sir, the servants will talk and your fiancé will get rid of me.”

  “No one will say a word to you or send you away.”

  “But you don’t understand, I am not married and my father has yet to promise me in marriage. If there is any scandal, I will not be able to marry. Please don’t put me on that floor.”

  “OK, as you wish, but you will have a decent room and I will see that it is done tomorrow,” Colum murmured reaching for a piece of cake. He loo
ked, smiled, and turned leaving Elizabeth staring in his direction as he exited the kitchen. The Earl had spoken to her; he even wanted her to have a room on the same floor as his. She knew her place and she felt that he was an honorable man and she did not think that his intentions were anything but honorable.

  Colum’s feelings were anything but honorable. He wanted Elizabeth; he desired Elizabeth and he wanted to bed Elizabeth. No one but her had aroused such sexual excitement in his body.

  Chapter 2

  Saturday was the day Elizabeth cherished, on that day she made a visit to her family. She gathered her few belongings, a plaid cotton skirt, white top, and a wool coat that her mother knitted from the wool of a young sheep that had fallen to wolves. She packed her change of clothing in a moth eaten bag, where she scurried down the cobble stone walkway and disappeared into the trees. The walk would be over a mile to her home and if she started early she would reach the waterfall before mid-day, and she would be close to her home as the sun stood high in the sky. It was a clear day and the weather was agreeable, no rain or mist in sight. The spring sunshine had thawed the frozen ground and the lakes surrounding the castle emptied freely into a river that moved through the country side.

  Elizabeth looking down began singing and skipping along the tree lined path. The warmth of the sun and the beauty of the hills and meadows gave her a feeling of freedom. Looking up, she felt the heat of the sun, it was nearing noon and she had been walking for hours without seeing a soul. She could taste the lamb stew and smell her mother’s fresh baked bread. Her feet quickened thinking of her mother’s cooking, but in a distance she spied dust coming from a mounted horse. She stepped to one side to prevent the horse from riding her down.

  After a few moments, the rider of the large black steed brought his mount to a full stop before reaching her. Then still sitting on his horse, he turned to his left in the saddle and said, “You there, beautiful girl.”

  Elizabeth turned to face the fancy gentleman in his blue and silver velvets. “Yes, I am speaking to you. You are that lovely kitchen maid I had the pleasure of meeting at the Earl of Tyrone’s castle.”

  “Yes mi lord. I am in the Earl’s keep and I do remember you sir. You are the gentleman who had too much to drink.” Edward was taken aback at the boldness of Elizabeth’s words, and gave a small smile but deepened his voice.”

  “Do not call me sir.”

  “But sir what am I to call you? I am not permitted to refer to you in any other manner.” Elizabeth became nervous. She held her hands together with her bag hanging from her hands in front of her. Edward immediately dismounted his horse. He had a confident stride as he walked closer to Elizabeth. He stood facing her with his soft, dark, dangerous eyes.

  “My name is Edward Mc Hugh, you can call me Edward.” He moved closer where he could gaze into Elizabeth’s green eyes.

  “But I cannot sir,” Elizabeth said with trembling hands.

  Edward stood even closer to Elizabeth as he walked in front of his horse with the reigns dangling on the ground behind him. “I remember your name, and if you want to keep calling me sir, do as you wish, but I will refer to you as Elizabeth, not that servant girl as Colum calls you. Now Elizabeth, where are you off to?” Edward said soft and low.

  Elizabeth glanced in Edward’s direction with her head lowered, “Saturday is my day off and I spend it with my mother and father. On occasion, one of the young men of my father’s choosing will join us for dinner.”

  Edward stopped and stared at Elizabeth, “Are you interested in one of the young men?”

  “No sir, but I am old enough to marry and my father is afraid that I may become a burden and have no one to take care of me if something were to happen to him. It is becoming very difficult to farm. The wars have done nothing but make poor people starve. I am grateful that the Earl has taken me into his castle where I can have food and clothing.”

  “I don’t think he has done a very good job. Look at that skirt.”

  Elizabeth’s hand passed over her skirt, “It is a perfectly good skirt,” Elizabeth said.

  Edward touched her hair and Elizabeth pulled away, cautiously. “Don’t be afraid, I would never harm you, I am just mesmerized at your beautiful curls. You are a vision of loveliness. Don’t you know how stunning you are?” He said pausing to stare into her eyes. “Come with me.” He took Elizabeth’s hand and led her to a nearby stream, “Look, you are a beautiful girl and you should not settle for anyone even if your father selects him for you.”

  “I cannot disobey my father’s wishes, sir. We are poor people and do not live by the same rules as you do.”

  Edward nodded at Elizabeth’s statement. “I am an Earl and your family farms my land. Your family is in my keep, and if I say you cannot marry someone, I will have the last word.”

  “You wouldn’t do that my lord?” Elizabeth pleaded.

  Edward smiled at her and tilted his head, “No I would not do such a thing to you my beautiful girl.”

  He had been born into his title and never knew the ways of the poor. When Edward looked further he saw a small house in a distance. Elizabeth pointed eagerly, “I’m almost home. Thank you your lordship.”

  “Call me Edward. We have been together long enough to be friends. Aren’t we friends?”

  “Yes I think so.” Elizabeth extended her hand. Edward took it and kissed her hand. This was the second time she had the pleasure of having her hand kissed by an Earl. She left Edward standing near his horse and she headed down the pebbled path to her home.”

  Edward called out, “Can I escort you back to the castle tomorrow?”

  “Yes if you would like.” Elizabeth blushed and a smile spread across her childish face. A face that was developing.

  “I’ll meet you here tomorrow at noon,” he shouted. Edward waved and put his boots to his horse and the steed headed slowly down the path. Edward turned around in his saddle and stole another look. His heart quickened and he knew she would be the one.

  “If you wish sir,” Elizabeth said cautiously.

  “Call me Edward,” he yelled.

  As Elizabeth neared the turn to her home, she spied her father in his garden. She crept up and placed her hands over his eyes to surprise him. His eyes were keen and he saw her from the midday shadow. She bent to kiss him on the cheek.

  Elizabeth was his only daughter, he had many sons but one daughter and he cherished her. He turned and gave her a tremendous hug and swung her around. “Elizabeth, did you come alone? I expected one of your brothers to accompany you. It is a long walk my lass.”

  “Papa, Edward walked with me.”

  “You have to be careful my daughter, you are an innocent young girl and we cannot risk having something happen to you.”

  “Don’t be so concerned papa, he is a friend of the Earl of Tyrone and an Earl and these are his lands.” Elizabeth grabbed her father’s hand and headed for the house with her father carrying an arm full of vegetables. “I served him last night at the party. He is...” Her father interrupted.

  Elizabeth’s father wrinkled his brow and stopped, then turned to her, “I know. I have heard rumors of Edward McHugh. He has a terrible reputation in these parts. He is exceedingly rich and they say he has spoiled many young girls in his keep. And as for Colum O’Neal…”

  “No father, Lord McHugh is a perfect gentleman and I served him at Sir Colum’s party. Sir Colum is to be married soon when he finds a suitable match.”

  “A man rich as the Earl of Tyrone does not have to look for a wife. I suspect that the ladies were after him.”

  “He did not appear to be interested in any of them.”

  “Men in his station are expected to take a wife and a mistress. But you should not concern yourself with their lives. You will be married soon and then I can give you some of the money from your dowry to keep.”

  “But father I am not ready for marriage.”

  “Your mother said the same thing to her father once and she became a wonderful wife an
d mother. She was your age when I married her. We have loved and cherished each other. We are poor but we have everything a rich man desires.”

  Elizabeth stopped and turned to her father, “You are wonderful.” She opened the door and walked in. Elizabeth’s mother was standing over the hearth, stirring a pot of stew, and hearing the door open, she turned around.

  “Look whose home,” Elizabeth’s father said with bright eyes that appear to smile.

  “Mother, I am so happy to be home.”

  “I know you would rather be in your own bed than living away, but there is nothing we can do at this time. But enough of this talk sit down and tell me about the great castle and the Earl and the beautiful ladies.”

  After eating lunch and supper, the family sat around the fireplace and discussed Elizabeth’s future. Her father said that the young McCain boy was interested in marrying her but he could not until the next spring.

  Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief and headed for her bed. She looked up at the roof and thought of the Earl’s castle. It was sometimes cold and damp but it was surrounded with beautiful things, and the people were far more interesting than what would be in store for her. She heard in the castle that girls were marrying men or boys that they fancied not a match made by their fathers.

  It was the wars with the English that tore at their societies and boys came home broken and disturb that some of the girls refused to marry them. Ireland was becoming poor and people were starving in the cities so some of the Irish girls left for England and the Americas. When the letters finally arrived, it told of how they met and married English or American men who could give them better lives. Elizabeth heard of this in the kitchens and she eased dropped on the conversations of the Earl’s guest.

  Before she fell asleep she vowed that she would not marry a boy of her father’s choosing. She knew her father would be disappointed in her but he would give in to her wishes because of the love he has for her.