Matthew's Mask [Lords of Hawksfell Manor 3] (Siren Publishing Menage Amour) Read Free Page A

though.”
    The earl laughed. “You wouldn’t be if you’d known our father, believe me.” He came to his feet. “You’re welcome to stay as long as you like, Matthew. I’ve come to believe family is important, something I didn’t learn from our father.”
    Matthew felt a stirring of the long-dormant need for family he hadn’t felt since he’d lost his mother. He tamped down that foolishness. “Thank you.
    “I’ll see you settled in the bachelor quarters. The rooms are large and should afford you privacy, should you need it.”
    Matthew must have looked confused, for the earl smiled again. “You haven’t been in this part of Yorkshire for long, have you?”
    “I’m afraid not. I was at the Inn at Helmsley last spring, though.”
    The earl’s dark Hawk eyes narrowed. “No gossip reached you there?”
    Matthew shrugged. “I wasn’t there long.”
    The earl looked pensive, and then he waved a hand. “My staff is very well-paid, Matthew. Devoted and discreet.”
    “I don’t know what you’re getting at, Lord Hawksfell.”
    “Gabriel, please.”
    Matthew felt a shift in his chest as he made this first tenuous connection to the earl. “Gabriel.”
    His smile came again. “My staff is at your disposal. They know of the Hawks’ particular needs and will serve you should you require it.”
    Realization struck Matthew, and his mouth dropped open. “You want me to…take your servants?”
    “That’s your decision. I would prefer you keep your lusts here at the manor instead of heading down to that blasted inn.”
    He thought again of that sweet girl he’d had last spring at that blasted inn. “Why?”
    “Do you want to be like our forebears, following wherever your cock goes with no regard to the progeny?” There was an edge to Gabriel’s voice, and Matthew knew he meant what he said.
    “No. I would prefer to be nothing like my uncle, thank you.”
    “Or our father, believe me,” Gabriel added. “I’ll have Grantley, my man-of-affairs, review your papers, but I’m sure they’re in order. You have my face, after all.”
    Matthew almost laughed. “Thank you, Gabriel.”
    He walked over to the door and turned once more. “I hope you’ll find what you’re looking for here, Matthew.”
    He nodded, and the earl left him in solitude. What was he looking for?
    “Pity I don’t even know what that is,” he said to himself.

Chapter 3
     
    “What do you think, Posy?”
    Posy started and glanced at the maid seated across from her at the long table in the servant’s hall. Lily’s head was tilted, and her green eyes were wide as she waited for Posy’s response.
    “What did you say, Lily?”
    Lily smiled. “I was talking about the viscount, Posy. Surely you saw him when he arrived.”
    Posy’s stomach dipped, and she nodded. “Yes, I saw him.”
    “He’s as pretty as the earl,” Lily said. She worked on the seam of one of Lady Hawksfell’s gloves. “Just like the earl in fact, but less…”
    “Frightening?” Posy finished. She bit her lip. “I didn’t mean frightening, exactly,” she rushed out.
    Thankfully they were alone in the servants’ hall. Lily nodded. “I know what you mean.” She looked around, probably to make sure that Mrs. Holmes wasn’t within listening distance. “I know I’ve only been at the manor for a month, but I’ve heard talk.”
    Please don’t ask me about the earl. “What kind of talk?” Posy asked.
    Lily shrugged. “That the earl used to be…demanding.”
    “Don’t let her ladyship hear you talking like that,” Posy warned.
    “The earl and Mr. Crowley have been very nice to me,” Lily went on. “And her ladyship has been very kind since I’ve come to work for her. I wouldn’t want to say anything to make her angry.”
    Posy didn’t want to see the countess angry, either. She might decide to revoke the earl’s offer months ago that all the servants could stay on at the manor even though he didn’t need their sexual services. As Mary’s