Character Interview with Roark Marquardt, the Earl of Clarendon
From
The Earl’s Enticement
By
Collette Cameron
I’ll tell you, dear readers, I was more than a little nervous when I sat down to interview, the Earl of Clarendon. Oh, he’d devilishly handsome, there’s no arguing that, but he’s rather a sober fellow, and I do believe the only reason he consented to sitting with me at all was because Adaira refused to permit him the use of her stallion to sire the foals he wants if he refused.
You don’t know who Adaira is? She’s the mischievous Scots noblewoman who locked the earl in the dungeon of her family’s keep. She couldn’t be with us today, but promised she’d call another time and stay for a nice long chat.
Oh dear. Collette lowers her voice to a whisper. I do believe his lordship is scowling at me. He’s not to overly found of Miss Ferguson right now.
Collette clears her throat and offers what she hopes is a cheerful smile.
Collette: Thank you for graciously agreeing to talk with me today, my lord.
Roark: Yes, well Miss Ferguson was most insistent I make an appearance, and I would rather like to get acquainted with your readers. I’d like to assure them I’m not the trow that sassy Scot lass has made me out to be.
Collette: Trow? That’s Scot’s for troll, isn’t it? Did she really call you a trow?
Roark: Indeed, that and several other unflattering names while she had me locked in the dungeon. That woman needs to tame her tongue.
Awkward pause.
Collette: I imagine that dungeon business wasn’t an altogether pleasant experience.
Roark smiles, then winks. What part could I possibly find unpleasant?
Getting knocked unconscious by that behemoth Scottish friend of hers? Waking up locked in a dank cell with a cracking headache? Or the constant unwanted visits by the numerous vermin that thought they’d pay me a call at all hours of the day and night?
Collette: Adaira told me she felt awful once she realized she had imprisoned you and not your brother. And , of course, she released you at once when she realized the error. Are you still terribly angry with her?
Roark sighs and runs a hand through his hair. He leans back in the armchair and crosses his legs.
Roark: I ought to be furious with her, but I suppose on some level, I do understand why she imprisoned me. Edgar, he’s my brother, is the worst sort of blackguard. He spied for the French during the war, and what’s worse, he attempted to abducts and despoil our stepsister, Yvette.
Roark shakes his head.
Still, if Miss Ferguson hadn’t been gallivanting about the village unchaperoned and in breeches to boot, I’d have made my appearance at Craiglocky, and the whole mess would have been avoided.
Collette: True, but I confess, I rather like Adaira’s boldness. She’s not afraid to say what she thinks, and she doesn’t care at all what people think of her. Even you have to admit that breed of horseflesh she’s developing is magnificent!
Roark grins. Indeed they are. She’s has real talent in that arena.
A frown skitters across his face.
Too bad she is so lacking in the areas of feminine social graces. Some poor sot is going to have his hands full with her.
He straightens, a wide smile spreading across his face. Collette eyes him warily.
Roark: Unless, that is, someone takes it upon themselves to tame Miss Ferguson’s reckless streak and turn her into a respectable woman of quality.
He stands.
Roark: I’m sorry to cut our interview short, but I’ve just had the most marvelous idea.
Collette: And I believe you share that idea in The Earl’s Enticement, don’t you? It made for some . . . er, interesting reading.
Roark: It did, didn’t it?
He bows, and then with a snappy salute, strides from the room.
Well, dear readers, there you have it. Trust me when I tell you, his lordship gets much more than he bargained on. You’ll have to read the book to find out what exactly.
