Enticing the Earl Read Free Page A

you, my lord. She said it was important.”
    Important? Oh dear God, Mia must be worse off than he expected. Simon raced up the stairs to the rose bedchamber and knocked on the door.
    “Thank goodness you have returned,” Selina said as she opened the door.
    “What’s wrong with Miss Featherstone?” Simon walked into the room and cringed. He’d known it would happen, but seeing the way Mia’s eye had swollen and bruised made his anger return.
    Mia opened her good eye and smiled. “You look dreadful, my lord. Do you not know enough to come out of the rain?”
    Mrs. Featherstone grabbed his elbow and dragged him into the adjoining salon. After shutting the door, she turned to him. “She is badly injured. In addition to her noticeable bruises, she has two cracked ribs. I have bound them but we cannot move her yet.”
    “Of course. There is no issue with her staying here. I have plenty of bedchambers.”
    “And more importantly, you can keep her safe.”
    Simon nodded. “No one will gain entrance to this house unless I know them. Harris will make sure of that.”
    “Good. I need to check on Mrs. Smith again. I was with her when you called me up here.” Mrs. Featherstone stared at him with those probing blue eyes. “I trust with your mother here that I do not need to worry about a chaperone.”
    The reality of her words slammed into him. Mia would be in his home... alone with him. “My mother left today to visit Caroline and her husband. But with a dozen servants in this house, you have nothing to worry over. Every one of them would watch your daughter like she was their own. Besides, the duchess will stay the night.”
    “True. And you are a gentleman, are you not?”
    “Of course.”
    Mrs. Featherstone’s lips twitched. “That is good while she is healing. But perhaps not when she is well.”
    Simon’s eyes widened. What exactly was her mother saying? “Excuse me?”
    “I want my daughter safe, my lord. Do what you must to keep her that way. Use any means.” She stared up at him. “ Any means .”

Chapter 3
    T he earl returned to Mia’s room after changing his clothes. Her dearest friend, Selina, excused herself while Hart sat down in the chair next to her bed. Every bone and muscle in her body ached and yet, she didn’t want to tell him of her woes. She had seen his anger before and hated how it had made her feel small and helpless.
    “How are you, Miss Featherstone?”
    “I am mending. Thank you for bringing me here and...” Tears welled in her eyes and one finally breached her cheek. She didn’t have the strength to wipe it away. A large hand cupped her face and his thumb slid the tear away.
    “We can talk tomorrow when you are feeling better.”
    “Please don’t go yet.” She had no idea why she wanted Hart to stay. For some reason he brought her more comfort than either her mother or Selina.
    “Very well.” He sat back against the chair. “Do you want to tell me who did this to you?”
    “Please don’t kill him, my lord.”
    His face tightened and a little tic pulsed in his jaw. “No promises, Miss Featherstone.”
    “Allan Davies.”
    Hart gave her a look of confusion. “You say that name as if I should know it.”
    “You don’t?” This made no sense. Allan had always disparaged Hart, his money and his title. She had quickly discovered that Allan was afraid of the man and refused to walk on his lands.
    “I have never heard of the man.”
    “He acted as if he knew you.”
    Hart looked away and then slowly shook his head. “I do not believe I have ever met the man.”
    “That’s odd.” Mia stifled a yawn. “Drat this laudanum. I swear Selina only gave it to me in retaliation for me giving some to her when she’d been shot.”
    He smiled down at her. “I remember that day.”
    Mia’s heart gave a lurch. His light gray eyes held nothing but kindness right now. But he was a man. With a man’s strength and heartlessness. She’d vowed as Allan was pummeling her that she