The Earl Takes All Read Free Page B

sorted through his things. Merely packed them up.” He’d had both his trunk and Albert’s placed in the bedchamber that had been his when he visited. To be gone through later. “Perhaps I’ll find a letter he penned that can provide some answers.” A letter possibly unfinished that would tear at his gut. Death left much undone.
    â€œHave you contemplated,” Ashe began slowly, tapping his finger against his half-­empty glass, “that you are going to have to abstain completely from any sexual encounters? Considering your past and your appetites, that’s going to create quite the challenge, which I honestly don’t know if you’re up to meeting. But should she hear of you fornicating about, thinking it was Albert being unfaithful to her, that could very well cause her to lose the babe.”
    â€œI considered that and I plan to be as chaste as a monk.” He released a self-­deprecating laugh. “It might not be as hard as you imagine. None of my previous conquests were here today. And some of them were ladies.” He’d noticed their absence, along with the absence of tears. Not a single one shed for Edward. Christ, attending one’s own funeral was an incredibly humbling experience.
    â€œEdward—­”
    â€œGreyling,” Edward said, cutting off Locke. “If my ruse is to have any chance at all of succeeding, you must both acknowledge me as the Earl of Greyling, call me either Greyling or Grey, as you did Albert when it wasn’t only us about. Except now you must do it even when we’re alone. Lest you slip when we’re not.” And he needed to stop thinking of himself as Edward. In manner, thought, and deed, he had to become the Earl of Greyling. At least until Julia delivered the heir.
    Then he would be obliged to do what he did best: give her another reason to hate him by revealing the truth, breaking her heart, and shattering her world.

Chapter 2
    I n death, it seemed Edward Alcott was accomplishing what he’d not been able to in life: He was causing Julia to lose Albert. Since his return, Albert seemed to welcome any excuse not to be in her company. She despised that she was experiencing petty jealousy toward a dead man because all of her husband’s focus was on him, that she’d begun to doubt herself and question her husband’s love for her.
    She rather wished now that she hadn’t encouraged him to go, to take one last trip with Edward, but she knew how much he’d enjoyed traveling before she came into his life. Bless him, he’d always sensed how much she worried that something awful might happen while he was away, so he’d curtailed his exploits, which had created a fissure between the brothers. She’d thought the trip would do them all a world of good, might make Edward more accepting of her. It was no secret among the aristocracy that they didn’t quite approve of each other. It saddened her that they’d not been on good terms when he parted this earth.
    Suddenly she became aware of a hand closing around hers on her lap and squeezing.
    â€œWhere have your thoughts gone?” Minerva asked.
    Tea had been prepared and brought to them, but it had grown cold with neither of them touching it. “My apologies. I’m being an awful hostess.”
    â€œPosh. Under the circumstances, you shouldn’t feel as though you need to be a hostess at all. You looked so sad just then. I think it’s more than the funeral or Edward’s death that’s troubling you. I’m here to listen if you want to talk.”
    It seemed at once a betrayal and a weakness to voice her doubts, but perhaps another’s perspective could shed some light. “Albert’s not been quite himself since he returned.”
    â€œNo doubt grief taking its toll,” Minerva assured her.
    â€œThat’s what I’ve been telling myself. But he’s been so distant, offering and