The Earl's Confession
by Marnie L. Pehrson
Format: Ebook

"NOW THIS IS A WOMAN WORTH DYING FOR" Montgomery Eaton thought to himself but immediately brushed the notion aside, frowning. In another place, another time, he would have pursued this young lady to the ends of the earth, but Montgomery held too many secrets. He could never risk life with any woman, especially not one as charming as this vision standing before him. His will would be undone and his secrets spilled dangerously from his lips. Chaos and calamity would most assuredly follow.
 

Story Behind the Story

Marnie's latest ebook, The Earl's Confession is set in 1626 Wiltshire England. Inspired by her ancestors, the Arundels, who lived in Wardour Castle, this story is set in a time when religious persecution blazed at a fevered pitch, and state and religion were firmly welded and enforced by the sword. When Lady Ashley Crittenden falls for the dashing yet mysterious Earl Montgomery Eaton, she soon finds that his dangerous secrets intersect with her own in an unexpected way.  

Excerpt from Chapter 2  

  Montgomery ’s black flowing cape billowed behind Liberty ’s muscular hind legs as the animal charged through the falling snow toward the hexagonal outer curtain wall of Wardour Castle . Greeted by guards who recognized him as an old friend of Sir Thomas and Lady Ann Arundel, they allowed him to enter and he rode onward toward the hexagonal castle which boasted two hexagonal flanking towers. The driving snow which had commenced shortly after Montgomery left Eaton Manor now covered the inner courtyard in a blanket of white. Montgomery slowed his pace as he neared the castle, and a servant met him to care for his horse. As he approached the door of the castle he lowered the hood of his cape, shaking the snow from it. The butler greeted him, took the garment and announced Montgomery ’s arrival.

“We are honored that you could join us this evening, Montgomery!” Sir Thomas met his friend with a warm handshake as Lady Anne stood at his side in the large banquet room.

“The weather has become positively frightful. I hope it was not too treacherous!” Lady Anne’s brow furrowed in concern.

“No weather is too treacherous to detain me from an evening in your presence, Milady,” Montgomery bowed gallantly and kissed Lady Anne’s gloved hand. The elegant lady with dark brown hair and striking brown eyes inclined her head in acceptance of the compliment.

“Here! Here!” Sir Thomas exclaimed and gazed lovingly upon his wife. “Tis true, my love. Neither snow nor hail would detain a man from an evening in your company.” Sir Thomas, a man as large and formidable as Montgomery , invited, “Come, join our other guests.”

Approaching a portly balding gentleman with a beard he introduced, “I believe you know Lord Briggs and his wife Lady Caroline.”

“Wonderful to see you again, Sir,” Montgomery shook the man’s hand.

“And you as well, Earl Eaton!” the gentleman smiled. Montgomery then bowed to the man’s wife, kissing the rather homely looking woman’s hand.

The introductions continued. There were nine other guests in attendance… an assortment of dukes, earls and knights. Finally, coming to stand before twelve-year-old Matthew Arundel, Montgomery ’s eyes were arrested by a beautiful woman at the lad’s side. In her mid twenties, her shimmering auburn hair had been arranged meticulously atop her head. Her skin was as smooth as porcelain, her lips strawberry red, and long luxurious eyelashes crowned her striking blue almond-shaped eyes. A stunning cameo hung about her long slender neck and her royal blue gown exposed a portion of her soft white shoulders and descended in a v-shape further accentuating her feminine figure. Montomery’s muscular six foot body towered over her slight frame which was only a couple inches over five feet.

“Earl Eaton, have you met my cousin, Lady Ashley Crittenden?” Matthew inquired.

“Nay, I must say I have never before had the honor of beholding this lovely young woman.” Lady Ashley’s heart fluttered on butterfly wings as the handsome stranger took her hand in his, bowed gallantly and kissed it. Reflexively, she offered a greeting in return.

“Now this is a woman worth dying for,” Montgomery thought to himself but immediately brushed the notion aside, frowning. In another place, another time, he would have pursued this young lady to the ends of the earth, but Montgomery held too many secrets. He could never risk life with any woman, especially not one as charming as this vision standing before him. His will would be undone and his secrets spilled dangerously from his lips. Chaos and calamity would most assuredly follow.

Lost in his thoughts he held her hand for several moments and gazed into her eyes longer than was customary. Lady Ashley wondered at the passionate yet almost angry expression in the man’s eyes, yet she could not look away for her eyes were locked into his gaze. An odd commingling of exhilaration and melancholy coursed through her as he finally released her hand and absent-mindedly mumbled an excuse from her presence and strode away.

The guests soon sat down to supper and unnervingly for Montgomery , the Arundels seated Lady Ashley directly across from him. When Sir Thomas looked to Montgomery , winked and nodded his head subtly in her direction, Montgomery knew it had all been arranged. His friend was forever and always encouraging him to wed. The women he had introduced him to in the past were easy to resist, but this time Sir Thomas had come dangerously close to tempting his friend with this morsel of beauty.

As Ashley lifted her gaze from her plate where she had just diced her pheasant into manageable bites, it was to meet Montgomery ’s scowl. Again, he owned her gaze, but after a few moments she forced her eyes back to her plate and fumbled nervously with her food. The man was clearly agitated, and she could not comprehend what she had done to irritate him so. Throughout the remainder of the meal, Ashley forced herself to engage the elderly woman at her right in conversation. The woman prattled on about her chambermaid who neglected to properly make a bed, forgot to bring her fresh water for her wash basin in the morning, and refused to change the flower arrangements before they wilted. She debated upon letting her go, but she felt good help was too hard to find and that if she replaced the servant, her next choice may be even more catastrophic. She could end up with a maid like the one that worked for Lady Ashmore. She found the tart flirting with her husband and dismissed her on the spot.

After supper the conversation moved into the drawing room where Montgomery positioned himself as far away from Lady Ashley as he could. He braced himself as the elderly lady who had earlier captured Ashley’s attention cornered him.

“I have heard, Earl Eaton, that you have taken into your care a passel of village orphans! Into your very home! Surely you shall not keep them long before you find homes for them!” the lady flung her hand to her bosom and bellowed loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Nay, Milady, I intend to raise them as my own.” The entire company distinctly heard Montgomery ’s solid answer, and all conversations ceased as all eyes trained on him and the old woman.

The woman gasped, “Oh my! Surely you do not mean to raise those commoners as your own children, Sir!”

“Aye, I most certainly do,” he affirmed, unruffled by the woman’s melodrama over propriety and station.

“Surely, you shall move them to lodging outside your manor, then?”

“Nay, Milady, they are my children now, and I shall treat them as such. We are a family.” Montgomery folded his arms across his broad chest.

“But you haven’t even a wife, Earl Eaton!” she exclaimed.

“That can be remedied,” Sir Thomas chimed jovially as he came to his friend’s rescue and slapped Montgomery ’s shoulder soundly. Montgomery rolled his eyes at Sir Thomas’ remark. The last thing he wanted to receive was another barrage of encouragement to wed.

Copyright 2008, Marnie L. Pehrson. All Rights Reserved.