Forever Your Earl by Eva Leigh Read Free Book Online Page A

searching for his old friend, Jonathan’s young sister Catherine had occasionally accompanied him. Jonathan wouldn’t respond to Daniel alone. Catherine was the baby of the family, a late addition that Jonathan had doted over. She was all that mattered to him, even in his descent.
    It was wildly inappropriate for a single man and a young girl not yet out to be in each other’s company, especially in public, but Catherine had insisted. They’d visited docks, staked out brothels, gaming hells—­all the places Jonathan had been rumored to be seen. And all to no avail.
    If only Lord and Lady Holcombe, Jonathan’s parents, weren’t all but useless. Even when their heir, Oliver, died, leaving Jonathan the next in line, they’d been unable to do anything besides wring their hands and whine about the hurt to their own reputation.
    Yet Daniel would have far preferred searching for Jonathan with Lord Holcombe to potentially hurting Catherine’s reputation, but there had been no choice, especially after she’d come to him, begging for help.
    Catherine wasn’t even out yet. He hadn’t seen her at a public assembly or ball—­and certainly not at a gaming hell.
    As he now fastened the row of silk-­covered buttons on his waistcoat, a tap sounded at his door.
    â€œEnter.”
    The apologetic face of Edinger appeared. “Forgive me, my lord, but the Marquess of Allam is below and requests a moment of your time.”
    Daniel frowned. Why would his godfather visit him at this hour, far past the time most paid calls? However, Allam was of the older generation, and now claimed the privilege of age by ignoring social custom.
    â€œSend him up,” Daniel instructed. He usually didn’t have company when dressing for the night, but he hadn’t seen Allam in weeks and didn’t want to keep him waiting.
    â€œVery good, my lord.” The butler bowed and disappeared.
    In a few moments, the tap of a cane in the hallway outside announced his godfather’s approach.
    â€œLord Allam, my lord,” Edinger announced, and bowed the older man in.
    The cane and white hair were Allam’s only concession to the advance of years. Otherwise, he was as tall and lean as he’d been since Daniel had stood only as high as his knee. Same hawkish features, same upright posture, same sharp gaze. Very much like his son Marwood, one of Daniel’s closest friends—­besides Jonathan.
    â€œAllam,” Daniel said, coming forward to shake the other man’s hand. “This is an unexpected surprise.”
    â€œIf it was expected, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise,” Allam answered, returning the handshake.
    â€œOne thing that hasn’t changed—­you still enjoy taking me to task.” Daniel waved toward a nearby chair. “I can ring for some tea or brandy.”
    Allam lowered himself into the chair, his movements precise and controlled. “None of that. Helena expects me home for dinner within the hour. After thirty-­one years of marriage, I’ve never disappointed her.”
    â€œAt least where mealtimes are concerned.”
    His godfather sent him an icy glance before the cold veneer fell away and a grudging smile creased his face. “She is the center of my Ptolemaic universe,” he conceded fondly.
    As Daniel tied his cravat, emptiness spread through his chest. He’d known Allam and his wife his whole life, and had never met a ­couple whose esteem and affection rivaled theirs. Not even his own parents had shared as strong a bond. Once, as a young, romantic boy, he’d believed he’d one day meet a girl he could love the same way Allam and Helena loved each other. But those dreams had soon turned as brittle as autumn leaves, ground beneath the boot heel of reality into a fine powder.
    He’d learned at a young age that earls didn’t marry for love.
    â€œBut that is precisely why I am here,”