Chapter Ten
Elaina didn’t need to wait and see to know she and Lord Melville would not be friends. She would allow him to bumble about the site in order to evaluate his abilities as she promised to do. But when the time was up, she would gladly write home to Uncle Henry to inform him she couldn’t recommend the earl for their trip to the pyramids.
She was certain the earl would contest her decision, but Uncle Henry would stand by his promise and it would be over. She only had to get through the next sixty-three days—yes, she had counted—and she would be free of the meddling man.
When they arrived at the site, he seemed to be more alert.
She only felt the slightest bit guilty for how she’d woken him and rushed him through his morning rituals. Obviously, he’d not had time for a shave. His jaw was covered in dark stubble that gave him the look of a pirate.
Why did her stomach flutter so from seeing the man unkempt? She’d seen plenty of men in a casual state during her travels. Some countries didn’t bother with appearances the way the English did. But seeing Lord Melville this way felt too intimate.
She glanced away, unhappy with her reaction.
He unloaded their tools and laid everything out per her instructions.
Occasionally, she caught him staring at her and part of her wished she’d worn something other than her ratty work clothes. He was used to being with beautiful women who wore lovely gowns without fear of getting them dirty. After all, how dirty could one get while embroidering or playing the pianoforte?
Well, she wasn’t there to look pretty, and she knew better than to think a pretty dress would make a difference.
He might charm and flirt with her, but she knew it was all a ruse to win her favor so he could get what he wanted.
He would be disappointed when he realized it wouldn’t work. And even more so when he discovered he wouldn’t be joining them on the voyage to Egypt.
She almost wished she could see the look on his face when Uncle Henry made the announcement at the ball in October. It would go a long way to getting the vengeance she sought.
“According to William Cunnington’s book Ancient Historie of Wilshire we are to do a site report before we start?” he said.
“You read a book on antiquary?”
He nodded. “Of course. How else would I prepare myself for an expedition? I will say, I was a bit discouraged when I engaged the bookseller on acquiring books on the topic and he suggested a book by Johan Joachim Winckelmann. I was sure the man was making a joke. I mean, who would think such a name was real?” He shook his head. “Something to note, booksellers generally take their work quite seriously. Best not to laugh.”
She made sure her mouth didn’t hang open and betray her surprise. He had read a book to prepare himself for this expedition.
Though, of course, she knew the man could read. He’d been educated and wouldn’t have gotten out of Heriot’s without learning something of value. And he’d graced her with his reading on their journey to entertain them.
But he’d read a book on antiquary. Such books are far from entertaining to most people. And not only had he read it, but he had retained enough to know they needed to do a site survey before starting.
She’d thought him a bored dandy who’d thrust himself upon her for his enjoyment.
She swallowed at the odd warmth when she’d thought the words “thrust himself.” Strange.
Shaking her head to clear it, she squared her shoulders as Lord Melville rocked back and forth on his heels before holding out his hands.
“What would you like me to do? I will cede to your expertise.”
Cede to her expertise? What the devil? Was this part of his game?
Cocking her head to the side, to study him for a moment, she found she could no longer stay quiet.
“I thought, like most men, you would expect to be in charge after reading a book on the matter.” Even Uncle Henry occasionally got caught in the trap of explaining something to Aunt Rose that needn’t be explained by someone who didn’t know it any better than she did.
But Lord Melville was shaking his head with that bright, friendly smile on his face.
“I should hope you find I’m not like most men. I don’t pretend to be better than the men who would be so bold as to think you needed a man to run things for you, but perhaps you would agree I’m at the least, not as bad?” He winked and the odd warmth returned.
“Very well.” She closed her eyes briefly trying not to think about the winking. “We need to take some measurements. Please get the measure from the box of supplies.”
She pulled her blank journal from another box and took out a pencil to take notes. She started with writing down the date and the members of the team on site.
Miss Elaina Bantham and Lord Melville
Surely, she shouldn’t feel such a thrill at seeing their names written out together like that.
“If you’d rather, you can use my given name, Julian Huntly.” He gave a nod to the page and smiled.
Julian.
“I think everyone is familiar with who you are,” she said, while clenching the pencil to keep from writing out his name.
Julian.
“You may call me Julian, if you wish.”
Her eyes went wide. “I can’t do that. It wouldn’t be proper.”
“Do you call everyone on expedition by their full names?”
“No. But we don’t usually have titled gentleman on our digs.”
“We are the only people here. I don’t think anyone would care.” He waved his arms around at the barren plot where they would be working.
Damn her reluctance to have a chaperone. It seemed completely unnecessary since she knew without a doubt, she would never allow a man to compromise her. And the inconvenience of dealing with a meddling woman on a site was not worth the sense of propriety no one cared about.
So, she wore men’s clothing. It was easier to work without the hindrance of a full skirt catching at her legs as she tried to move. A chaperone would never allow such a sneer at fashion. In fact, the one time she’d had one, the woman had expected her to sit in the shade and watch the work rather than be part of it herself. A lively argument had ensued and the woman may have fallen in a large puddle of mud.
To this day Uncle Henry still accused Lainey of pushing Mrs. Kirkpatrick rather than woman stepping back into the mud by her own power. It was possible that Elaina’s threatening step closer had forced the woman to make a hasty retreat that resulted in her ending up in a puddle. But Elaina hadn’t actually touched the woman.
Still, a chaperone would be too restricting. And for what reason did she have to protect her virtue at this point?
She was a spinster and as such was ignored in most things, including scandals involving handsome men. After all, if she had the skills needed to lure a man like Lord Melville—Julian—in that way, she would already be married, would she not?
“It might be amusing to you that I wish to keep things professional including our proper names. This is not a randy party, my lord. It’s business.”
“I see. I’m sorry if I offended you. Or if you thought I wasn’t taking this seriously. I assure you, I am.”
Yes. So far, he had proven as much. And in doing so had once again impressed her. But she didn’t want to like him. It was too dangerous.
She’d liked him five years ago, and that had been a horrible mistake. Even if he didn’t seem much like the same person who had acted so callously with her tender feelings, she wouldn’t let down her guard. Or let go of her pain.
She took charge of planning the site, fully expecting Julian—Lord Melville, rather—to try to take over or complain, especially when she’d tasked him with a few duties that were less than pleasant.
But he went about his assigned tasks without a hint of irritation. Even checking to make sure she was pleased with what he’d done.
“You truly do not mind moving the dirt about?” she asked.
“No. I assumed there would be a great amount of dirt moving actually.”
“But wouldn’t you rather be the one digging? So you might find some vast treasure?”
His brows pulled together as he looked around the area.
“My understanding was that we were here to unearth something of interest. I don’t think we Scots were left with anything to be called vast treasure after the English stripped everything at the end of the Jacobite rising.”
“Yes. You are right. I assumed—”
“I think it’s safe to say you have assumed a great deal about me, and while I’m not usually so pleased to tell a beautiful woman she is wrong, well…” He sighed dramatically, letting his shoulders fall as if in utter disappointment. His wicked smile, however, proved otherwise. “You should know, I don’t want to go to Egypt to find vast treasure either.”
“You don’t?”
“No. Not that I would shove it back in the sand if I were to find some.”
She couldn’t help but laugh at the very idea.
“Then why do you want to do this so badly?” It was clear by now that he had no intention of giving up because the work was difficult. He was not a bored dandy, but rather a conscientious student.
“I have my reasons.” He frowned and she thought perhaps she’d found a weakness. “But they are my reasons. You only need to know that I understand this is hard work, with possibly no reward. But it is something I have always been interested in. And I want the opportunity to see the process up close while I still can.”
While he still could? Did that mean… Was the earl sick? Was this his dying wish?
She swallowed down her shame at how she’d treated him. He looked the picture of health, strong and virile. Surely, she didn’t need to consider that last thing, but couldn’t help herself.
Though not all illnesses left the person stricken to their beds until they were more advanced.
She would watch him more closely, not that she’d had any difficulty with that thus far. If he grew weak and needed to rest, she would accommodate his needs. He seemed the type that wouldn’t stop until he had no choice.
“It is certainly not my business, but I will be sure to keep from making assumptions in the future. We all know that assumptions often get one into trouble. Please accept my apologies.”
He smiled that devilish smile, the one with the dimple that proved it was sincere and not a mask he put on for the masses. She almost felt as if it was just for her. How ridiculous.
“Come on, then. Leave that dirt for now and come with me so I can show you how to dig for nonexistent treasures.”
They spent the rest of the day with their heads bent close together, sifting through dirt and finding nothing. But a smile remained on Julian’s face throughout the day. There was no hint of disappointment to be seen.
And before she realized it, she was having fun and smiling back.
Revenge set aside yet again, and she couldn’t bother to care.
*
“How was thefirst day?” Ben asked as he put everything in place for Julian’s bath. And Julian surely needed a bath more than he probably ever had. Not just because of the dirt—which seemed to find its way into every crevice of his body, including the very uncomfortable bits—but from the sweat of physical exertion the likes he’d never known in his pampered life.
It was incredibly fulfilling.
His father always frowned on physical activities and didn’t approve of anything that remotely resembled labor. It wasn’t done by their kind.
But it was invigorating. Especially when Miss Bantham was right there beside him.
He was impressed not only with her knowledge, but by her entire lack of decorum while on a dig. She was every bit as dirty and sweaty as he had been and from the smile on her face, she had enjoyed it just as much.
He had seen her at the ball last month and knew she was able to transform into ballgowns, curls, and feathers when needed. Somehow knowing both women were wrapped up inside such a delectable package made her even more alluring.
At one point during the day, he’d said something witty and she’d tossed a clump of dirt at him which exploded all over his shirt. His response was, of course, to throw one back and for the next several minutes, a war of dirt throwing ensued until they were both laughing and covered in the substance.
He’d even gotten some in his mouth.
“I enjoyed it immensely, Ben. Who would have known toying around in the dirt could be so exciting? I’m sure it would be even more so if we’d found something, but still, I’m already looking forward to going back tomorrow.”
To spending the day with Miss Bantham again. To making her smile and laugh with his antics.
His own smile dimmed slightly. Would he be starting over anew the next day? It seemed any time she was given more than two minutes alone, she came back to him with that sour look of displeasure on her face and icy dislike of him.
“And Miss Bantham?” Ben asked.
“What of her?” Julian stalled and cleared the smile from his face. It wouldn’t do for Ben to know he favored the woman. Julian recalled the time he’d had a crush on the coachman’s daughter. He’d only been twelve and Ben had deviled him terribly.
“Did you win her over? While she was clearly enchanted by me, she didn’t seem to care for you overmuch. What did you do during your travels?”
“You know very well I didn’t do anything of that sort.”
“I do know you only dally with consenting, experienced women. But that doesn’t absolve you from doing something else she may not have found amusing.”
“You mean to say I am not as charming as I think I am?” Julian splashed water at the man.
“I’m saying sometimes people of substance are not so easily charmed. They need more than just a flashy smile and bit of wit.”
“You know damned well, it’s more than just a bit.” Julian smirked at his valet who rolled his eyes, proving his earlier comment to have some merit.
Ben saw the real man behind Julian’s fa?ade. Perhaps Miss Bantham did as well?
When he was clean once again, Ben helped him into his clothes and he paused only a moment before heading down to dinner.
Would he be dining alone? Or would Miss Bantham forgo eating in her room to join him?
After spending many evenings locked in his room as a boy because he’d dissatisfied his father, Julian preferred to eat anywhere but in his room. And he preferred to have people around him.
But as he descended the stairs toward the foyer, he realized he wouldn’t suffer from a lack of people.
The Leightons had arrived.
While he was not unhappy to see them, he was disappointed that he would have to share Miss Bantham. No more intimate dirt battles and laughter. He couldn’t imagine the older couple would appreciate such a thing.
A wave of irritation came over him as he took in the happy greetings below.
He wanted Miss Bantham to himself.
He wanted her to be his alone.
The thought was utterly ridiculous.