Vexed by a Viscount Read Free

known almost her whole life, but with whom she had never been able to summon the nerve to have anything other than a perfectly polite, perfectly boring conversation. I’m well, thank you, my lord. Yes, the weather is just lovely! Do enjoy your day.
    She wrinkled her nose just thinking of what a featherbrain he must think her.
    Like it or not, she would have to speak with him tonight. The very thought sent butterflies dancing through her belly. He was just so . . . intimidating. Not in a bad way, but in an out-of-her-reach way. Her family was well-known and respected in their small little corner of England, but it wasn’t as though they were part of the beau monde , as Lord Ashby and his family were. She’d never had a London Season, and wouldn’t ever be presented at court. She was just a plain country girl who was about to become a plain country wife, destined to live her life shut away in an estate that was miles and miles from anything.
    And if that thought made her throat tighten, well then, she could just think of the list.
    ***
    “M r. Landon has come to call, my lord. Are you at home?”
    Ash glanced up sharply at the butler’s words. He sincerely hoped his neighbor’s presence was a coincidence. After catching his daughter naked—though unfortunately shrouded by murky water—only hours ago, the unexpected visit couldn’t help but elicit unease.
    “Yes, I’m available. Send him to the drawing room and have some tea sent up. I’ll be there presently.”
    As Tolbert nodded and withdrew, Ash sighed and ran a hand through his hair. God willing, this was merely a casual visit. When he arrived in the drawing room, his neighbor was standing by the window, looking out over the courtyard.
    “Good afternoon, Mr. Landon. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
    The older man turned and offered a perfunctory smile. Ash breathed a silent sigh of relief. He obviously wasn’t here about Miss Landon’s escapade.
    “Lord Ashby,” he said with a dignified nod. The long, wispy pieces of hair that had been carefully combed across his thinning pate shifted forward with the movement. “I heard you’d returned, and I wished to be the first to welcome you back.”
    Right. Having been raised by a father who was legendary for his ruthless pursuit of advantageous connections, Ash could read between the lines. Now that he was done with university, he was no longer seen as the young pup. He was a man now, one with a title, a fortune, and perhaps most important, an earldom in his future. Social climbers were to be expected.
    On his guard, Ash allowed his smile to slide toward cool. “Very hospitable of you. I trust all is well with your interests.”
    “All is well, thank you.” Landon paused, cutting his sly gaze toward Ash. “Though I must admit, things would be a lot better if I could convince the earl of the benefits of a joint irrigation project.”
    Ah. Ash had forgotten that his father had dismissively mentioned Landon’s pleading on the matter months ago. Shaking his head, he said, “If you can convince the earl to do anything, sir, then you’ll have accomplished something quite singular indeed.”
    The man’s lips lifted in a cunning, commiserative grin. “I imagine that as his only son, you must hold some sway with him. I’m a firm believer that this project would be beneficial to both the estates for generations to come.”
    How little Landon knew of his longtime neighbor. Ash was as much a trophy to his father as his stepmother was. Easy to take out, polish, show off to the neighbors, but never seen as anything of any true worth or value. He couldn’t recall a single time his father had asked his opinion about anything, in fact.
    Besides, Ash knew his father well enough to be confident he would never agree to the project. The earl wanted superiority over everything and everyone around him. Having superior land to his neighbors was no doubt a point of pride. With complete honesty, he said, “My father takes no