Enticing the Earl Read Free

before. I know all my tenants, your tenants and even Middleton’s tenants, and most of the people in the village.”
    “A stranger in the village will cause talk,” North commented. “Perhaps if you question a few people, they will know of this man.”
    “I plan on doing that just as soon as I hear how she’s faring.”
    “It might be too late by then.” North rose. “Come along, we will leave the women to help Miss Featherstone while we question the villagers.”
    Simon nodded. At least this would give him something to do to keep his mind off her for a few minutes. He let Harris know to give the ladies the message that they were heading to the village, and then walked out to the stables.
    Once they had mounted their horses, they set out for the ride to Cheadle. Simon kept his thoughts to himself and thankfully so did North. The last thing Simon wanted was North questioning him about Mia. No one knew how he felt about the woman and no one needed to discover how deep his feelings for her had become over the past few years.
    He had been aware of her from the time he was seventeen. Even though she’d only been fourteen at the time, he could see she would be a beautiful woman. And with large brown eyes that could see into a person’s soul, chestnut hair and her slim figure, he’d been right.
    But his attraction to her was more than physical. He’d witnessed her kindness on more than one occasion. When his mother grew ill, the physician had said there was nothing he could do. Mia and her mother disagreed with the man and fought to draw his mother back from the brink. Five years later, his mother was healthier than she’d ever been. Mia had always been there for the servants and tenants on his estate.
    “Here we are,” North said, pulling Simon out of his musing.
    Simon glanced about the small town and frowned. The clouds were rolling in over the hillside and the rain would be here soon. “We had best make this quick. I do wonder how we are supposed to question people when I don’t have a name.”
    “We ask about any strangers in town. Most people know of the Featherstones and they will be angry to hear what happened to Miss Featherstone. If they know something, they will talk.”
    “Very well,” Simon agreed as they walked into the local inn.
    Two hours later, the skies had darkened to match Simon’s mood. No one had seen any strangers in the area. A few people had passed by the inn but after a night, they had continued on their journey. “Let’s be off before we get soaked,” Simon said as they walked toward the yard.
    “As soon as you get a name from Miss Featherstone, let me know and we can try again.” North mounted his horse and led him to the main road. “I will head back to the estate now. I have no doubt that Selina will want to stay the night with Miss Featherstone.”
    “Thank you, North.”
    “I owe you this much... and more.”
    Simon smiled, remembering how only a few weeks ago, he had run off after the man who had shot North and injured Selina too. Just as Simon mounted up, the rain began. “Damn.”
    “And now you know why I am heading back to my home,” North said. “I’ll return the mare tomorrow.” North raced off down the road toward Northrop Park.
    Simon nudged his horse to a trot. No matter how fast he went, he was bound to get wet so there was no point in possibly injuring himself or his horse. As he rode toward Hartsfield Park, the rain increased, soaking him to the bone. By the time he reached his home, all he wanted was a warm bath by a fire.
    Arriving at his estate, he dismounted and handed his reins to the stable boy. “Make sure he gets some extra oats tonight, lad.”
    “Yes, milord.”
    The front door opened as he approached. Before he even entered the house, he could hear Harris shouting at the footmen to draw a bath and start a fire in his bedchamber. Harris was worth every pound he paid him.
    “How is Miss Featherstone?”
    “Mrs. Featherstone wants to see