The Daughter of an Earl Read Free Page A

by another Siren, he had fortified his defenses and his heart—or the battered remnants of it.
    Annoyed at his line of thought, he yanked his attention to the present. To Emily, who stood so still, but was clearly seething. She did not like his foiling her plans. But a man could not grow up with three sisters and not identify—and respect—feminine guile in all its forms.
    She recovered her voice and drew herself up, her blue eyes snapping. “How dare you lecture me on deception. Was it not you who broke your
right
arm and cajoled me into drafting your business letters, choosing to omit the pertinent detail that you write with your
left
?”
    She was never going to let him forget that. It had been a weak moment. After being tossed out of a speeding curricle, he had coveted a pretty face by his side to cheer his bruised spirits during his recovery.
    â€œAnd I am paying the price for that. I am still clarifying your little addendums. Do you think it is easy explaining to clients that I do not suffer from gout, have no need of a loan of a cane, nor have I gained eight stones, thank you very much?” Drummond was not the only man that Emily’s cleverly penned words had gotten into trouble.
    She smiled. “Serves you right. Women do not like to be deceived.”
    He caught the gleam in her eyes, and arched a brow. “Spare me your apologies, and no, it did not threaten my relations with clients, but thank you for inquiring. I am touched by your concern, but you need not lose any more sleep over the matter.”
    She dismissed his sarcasm with an airy wave of her gloved hand. “Had I any doubts of your ability to smooth things over, I never would have written what I did. In drafting your business letters, I witnessed your ability to iron out complex problems without blinking an eye. It is why Curtis Shipping is asuccess. I am sure your explanations were charming and deftly handled, and the clients liked you all the better for adding a personal touch into your correspondence. No thanks are needed. Really, it was my pleasure.”
    â€œOh, there is little doubt the pleasure was all yours,” he said dryly, surprised and oddly moved at her compliment to his business acumen. “I do work very hard at—” He froze and shook his head, wagging his finger at her. “Very good. Distracting me with praise. Well done. However, let us return to the matter at hand. Why did you need to meet this man, Drummond, is it? And alone?”
    She clamped her mouth shut, her expression mutinous.
    â€œIf you want me to keep my discretion and not speak to your father—”
    â€œYou wouldn’t dare!”
    â€œOh, I dare many things, as do you. You wrote a letter to a man, inviting him to meet you alone in a private location.” He amended his words when she opened her mouth to protest. “My mistake, you were not without a chaperone. You brought your absentminded abigail with you. You chose this location, scattered with workmen, knowing her penchant for—”
    â€œYou go too far!” she cried, then cast a glance behind him and tightened her jaw. “We will discuss this later. It appears my maid has disappeared. I must locate her before . . . ah . . . before those
penchants
lead her into deeper trouble.” The last was muttered beneath her breath. She turned her back on him and without waiting to see if he followed, started up the bank.
    Incredulous, he shook his head. Maid and mistress were a dangerous combination. It was time someone kept an eye on the two of them. For the moment, that appeared to fall to him. He stormed after her. “
I
go too far?
Your
actions show foresight, strategy, and determination, while exhibiting a total lack of regard for consequence. Do you have any idea what could have happened had I not come along as I did? Had he—”
    â€œBut you did and he did not!”
    Her stride slowed and he heard the