Enticing the Earl by Christie Kelley Read Free Book Online Page A

wait.” Once he turned back to her, she said, “I apologize. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. You are the kindest man I have ever known. But you have to understand I feel that I am cheating you out of a proper wife. I at least want to know you desire me and want to make love with me.”
    “There is no cause for concern on that part.” He retreated from the room before she could say another word.
     
    Simon walked outside before the desire consuming him forced him to storm into her room and show her just how much he wanted her. Foolish woman. She had no idea the restraint it took from him to not overwhelm her with his passion. Then she had the gall to question him on it.
    He needed a distraction, something to help him work off this frustration coursing through his body. He headed for the stables. Once there, he picked up a pitchfork and to the amazement of the stable boys, he started mucking out the stalls.
    “Sir, we done that already,” one of the lads said quietly.
    “Go take Bonnie outside to field, Samuel,” Mr. Thompson said to the lad. The head groomsman looked at Simon and then said, “In fact, all ye lads get out of the stables for a while.”
    The boys whooped as they ran out of the stables. Mr. Thompson put down the brush he’d been using on one of the mares and nodded to Simon. “If ye get to it, my lord, Tilly just came in from her exercise and could use a good rubdown.”
    Mr. Thompson departed the stables, leaving Simon exactly where he wanted to be: alone. He put the pitchfork down and walked to Tilly’s stall. The mare needed her brushing more than the clean stall needed mucking. Taking the brush in his hand, he smoothed it over the mare’s fine hair. He murmured softly to Tilly about the foolishness of women.
    “I should have known I’d find you out here.”
    Simon turned at the sound of North’s voice. “What are you doing here today?”
    “Selina’s delivering a baby so she’ll be gone most of the day. I thought I’d ride over and see what the Bow Street runner had to say.” North picked up a brush and started brushing his gelding.
    “He’s very concerned that no one seems to know Davies. He believes Miss Featherstone may have been a pawn in a bigger plan.”
    “What plan?”
    Simon put the brush down and leaned against the stable wall. “I have no idea. Mr. Tanner thinks Davies was using her to get information on me.”
    “For what purpose? You act far more the country squire than a fashionable lord of the realm. Is someone trying to extort money from you?”
    Simon laughed harshly. “I wish them luck with that.”
    North stilled his brush on the horse. “What do you mean?”
    Simon hadn’t told anyone what had happened last year with his steward. “I discovered my former steward had been giving himself a rather large bonus the past two years.”
    “Dammit, Hart. Why didn’t you tell me? I know how much you hate doing the books but I would have been happy to help you.”
    “You haven’t been here. Until a few months ago, you wouldn’t step foot on your estate or even enter the county.”
    North blew out a long breath. “You’re right. I have not been a good friend to you. I am sorry for that. How bad is it?”
    “Very bad. Mother insists I attend Caroline’s country party to search for a wealthy bride.”
    “Perhaps she has the right idea,” North said quietly.
    “It’s a little too late for that,” Simon commented.
    “How so?”
    “I proposed to Miss Featherstone this afternoon.” Simon waited for the blast of anger from his friend. He knew proposing to Mia was a foolish idea considering his financial outlook. But he wasn’t about to ask her to become his mistress. She deserved far better than that.
    “I can only assume she accepted.” North’s calm demeanor seemed at odds with his stiff jaw.
    “Not completely.”
    “Not completely? What the bloody hell does that mean?” Finally, the anger had risen to the surface. “A woman like her will not