The Daughter of an Earl Read Free

you say, is a family . . .
friend,
along with your abigail, will escort you home. Lady Emily, until we meet again.” He tipped his hat and then spun on his heel, leaving them alone.
    She closed her eyes and exhaled. The silence was still and loud until Brett’s scoffing disdain shattered it.
    â€œWhat a tuft-up coxcomb. With his cravat tied so tight, I am surprised he doesn’t choke over his words. Wherever did you find him? More important, what in the world possessed you to meet him here
alone
?”
    The words cut like a knife through her tightly strung nerves. She wanted to rail at him, venting her frustration over the failure of her meeting, but she could not.
    Contrary to what she had assured Drummond, she had no idea if Brett would keep her confidence. If he did not and spoke to her father, he could ruin everything. She had to stop him, and if that meant feigning sympathy for Drummond, she would do so. Tears made most men retreat, and she had no qualms in employing them now.
    She drew herself up and whirled on Brett, letting her voice hitch as she spoke. “That is enough. He was . . . a . . . a dear friend of my late fiancé, and I have hurt him badly. I think that is punishment enough, so please refrain from airing your callous opinions of a poor man whom you know nothing about.” She turned her back on him and walked away, curling an arm around her waist and lifting the other to her temple.
    Let him retreat. Please retreat.
    Silence met her. The distant sound of the workers carried to them, and still he did not speak. It never failed to amaze her that the bravest of men were flummoxed at the sight of a distraught woman. She bit her lip to curb her triumphantsmile, but could not resist tipping her head to the side to surreptitiously study him from beneath her lashes.
    She straightened like a poker upon discovering he had crept up beside her. Too damn close. Worse, his arms were folded across his chest and a smile tugged at his lips. The dratted man was laughing at her!
    â€œWell done. You are almost as good as my sisters.” He leaned so close that the teasing gleam in his eyes held her mesmerized. “But you forget, I am not as easily maneuvered as your family. I also am familiar with your talents with penning a clever note. I am sure your
friend
read exactly what you intended for him to read, which was your bait to lure him here.”
    She silently cursed him to perdition and back.
    His humor vanished, and his eyes narrowed. “I repeat, what is so important that you risked your reputation and your safety to meet this man alone?”
    His heated gaze burned through her carefully composed veneer and saw all she fought to hide.
    It was just as she feared.
    He was going to ruin everything.

Chapter Two

    B RETT kept his voice level, but rage vibrated through every muscle in his body, simmering since he’d stumbled across Lady Emily in another man’s arms. Heard the distress in her voice.
    What the devil was she doing with the bastard?
    He flexed his fingers, which still itched to snatch the gilded pin that had pierced the fop’s lace cravat and stab him with it.
Then
he would have strung the man up as he had threatened. His temper had eased somewhat at her decisive setdown of the whoreson. She had some sense left after all. And he could not fault the pathetic Mr. Drummond for his taste.
    Lady Emily Chandler was a prize worth winning.
    Tall, slim as a willow weed, fair of feature, and dressed in a sky blue gown that highlighted those long-lashed, luminous Chandler eyes. Eyes of such a deep, fathomless blue that Brett feared if a man stared too long, he would drown in them.
    Another reason to keep his distance from Lady Emily Chandler.
    Like the Sirens in Greek mythology, whose beauty and voice lured sailors to shipwreck their boats on the rocky shores of their island, Lady Emily was just as dangerous. Fortunately for him, having been splintered