For the Earl's Pleasure by Anne Mallory Read Free Book Online Page A

irritated with anyone seeking the same. Made him angry at his own reactions.
    He tried speaking to everyone he knew in the room. He tried Abigail’s friends, thinking that perhaps they were in on the secret. He even tried Penshard—surely the man would smile evilly if he knew.
    Nothing.
    It was as if…as if what she had begged him to understand years ago had merit. No. Never. That would mean he had been wrong. It wasn’t possible.
    Ghosts. He wiped the thought away. He’d never believed her. Had used her words to taunt her, to hide the past hurt. He wouldn’t believe her now.
    A movement of blue caught his attention. He was so used to keeping an eye out for her, that it was nearly second nature. She moved away from her new beaus. Finally. If only he was able to interact with the others in the ballroom. The hell he would generate for her attendance to those two…
    Piled dark hair atop a blue dress—he’d know that neck anywhere—followed an even shorter, more energetic form to the door.
    To the door?
    An emotion that felt uncomfortably close to panic washed through him. Abigail was leaving. His only source of information and sanity was walking right out the door.
    He bounded after her as she crossed the threshold. He tried to skirt around bodies at first, then closed his eyes, gave up the notion that he had to skirt around others, and strode through the throng. Through Aidan Campbell, Mr. Farnswourth, Celeste Malcolm. Through anyone who crossed his path.
    Just a nightmare. A simple nightmare. As soon as he caught Abigail Smart, he’d wake up. He was sure of it.
    He made it to the door just as the footman opened it again—and smacked right into something solid. The solid feel of hitting something sent a thrill through him. Perhaps he was already waking. But no, people continued to pass through him, and he could not follow in their wake.
    He reached out a hand to the open space between the door and its frame on the other side. Solid air. He swallowed. Rainewoods didn’t panic. He pushed against the barrier. Nothing. It was as if something was seeking to keep him trapped inside.
    More guests passed through him, and he gave an involuntary shiver at the disquieting thought of it all. He looked up in time to see Abigail enter a carriage in the drive. He needed to be in that carriage.
    He backed up and ran toward the door. A shock reverberated through him as he bounced back. How that could be so, he didn’t know, since he was otherwise not even physically present.
    The carriage started to roll down the drive.
    He pushed against the barrier with all his might and thought of blue eyes and shining chestnut hair. More than anything he needed her to tell him what was happening. More than anything he knew that she was his link to the truth. More than anything he wanted to be in the carriage with her.
    And all of a sudden he was.

Chapter 4

    “C ontinue to encourage Mr. Farnswourth,” Mrs. Browning said in her usual bossy fashion. “Mr. Sourting as well. Given favorable circumstances and due diligence, you will be married by the end of the season. Both are solid choices.”
    “And that nice Mr. Brockwell,” her mother said.
    “Mr. Brockwell is also acceptable. But Mr. Penshard…” Mrs. Browning frowned. “You have encouraged him. A more radical type of man. You’d do well to choose one of the others.”
    “Mr. Penshard is not radical.”
    “I think I have more notion of men’s characters, especially those on the mart, than you do.” Mrs. Browning raised a brow. “Heed my words. We want someone pliable.”
    Abigail wasn’t sure why she— they —wanted someone pliable, but since her hire, Mrs. Browning had always insisted on that as the foremost quality in a suitor.
    “We should take Mrs. Browning’s advice, Abigail,” her mother said. “You have a finite window to make a match.”
    “And you can’t be too finicky,” Mrs. Browning added, giving her a once-over that clearly stated that she was found