As an Earl Desires Read Free

provide her with anything, not even a
roof above her head.”
    Arch was acutely aware of Camilla stiffening beside
him, thought he could actually see the hairs on the nape of her
neck bristling. He, on the other hand, assumed a casual pose,
leaned back in his chair, and stretched out his legs.
    While Camilla’s strategy when facing an
opponent was to reveal her arsenal, Arch’s was to keep his
hidden until the precise moment it was most needed. He realized he
often gave the impression that he wasn’t up to the task of
seeing to his affairs, but he felt he gained an advantage by not
revealing all his strengths—or his weaknesses. “Why in
the world would I not wish to see to her comfort, Mr.
Spellman?”
    â€œThe previous earl didn’t deem her
important enough to mention in his will.”
    â€œAn oversight I’m sure. The earl was up
in years. Did he alter his will at all after he married the
countess?”
    â€œNo, my lord.”
    â€œDid you mention the oversight to
him?”
    â€œNo, my lord. It was not my place to question
the earl’s actions.”
    â€œYet, here you are seemingly questioning
mine.”
    â€œBecause I fear matters are getting out of
hand.” Spellman reached into his satchel and retrieved a
stack of papers. “These are lists of items bought thus far
this year from various establishments throughout London. Each month
the countess purchases at least two dozen dresses, nearly as many
shoes, a dozen hats, cloaks…the list is
endless—”
    â€œWill you be unable to pay for these
purchaseswhen the time comes?” Arch
asked. He knew the elite shops—which he was fairly certain
were the ones Camilla would make use of—expected their
influential clients to be bothered with paying for purchases only
at the end of the year.
    Spellman’s face turned blotchy as it
reddened. “Of course, I shall be able to pay for
them.”
    â€œThen I fail to see the problem.”
    â€œThe problem is the abundance of items
bought. The old earl was an extremely frugal man, but since his
death three years ago, expenditures within the Sachse households
have gone up tremendously. Thus the reason that I thought I should
make inquiries now, rather than waiting to be shocked at the end of
the year as I have been each year before you arrived to take the
helm. The countess is prone to making unnecessary purchases, my
lord, and in truth is no longer entitled to spend the earl’s
money. A fact that I generously overlooked in the past, because a
woman must have some means with which to live. But the matter is
now in your hands.”
    Arch looked at Camilla. He could understand the
increase in spending within the last year as Camilla came out of
mourning, but he was baffled that expenditures had increased during
the first two years following the old earl’s death.
He’d had numerous people remark on how faithfully she’d
observed the two-year mourning period. Noneseemed to fault her for quickly dispensing with the
half-mourning attire. After all, she was young and a favorite among
the Marlborough House Set. Within their eyes, she could do no
wrong. They all seemed to want her happiness as much as Arch
did.
    Based on rumors he’d heard, he wasn’t
certain the same could be said of the old Sachse. Perhaps
she’d purchased items she couldn’t yet use simply
because her husband’s death gave her a measure of freedom
she’d not had while he lived. Arch wondered how many times
the previous earl had taken her to task for purchases such as
these. As Spellman had also worked for the man, Arch assumed he was
familiar with the way the old earl had managed things. But now
there was a new earl in London, and it was time everyone began to
accept and grow accustomed to his ways.
    â€œAre they necessary purchases,
Camilla?” he asked quietly.
    She turned to him, and he could see the worry lines
deepen within her brow.