Good Earls Don't Lie by Michelle Willingham Read Free Book Online Page A

holiday in Bath?”
    “She told me I was welcome to visit your family anytime this year. I sent word, but apparently my letter didn’t arrive.”
    She glanced at him again, wondering if he might be telling the truth. Letters were frequently missed, so it was indeed conceivable. But she couldn’t bring herself to trust him. At least, not yet.
    “My grandmother is not a fool. If she does not believe your tale of being the Earl of Ashton, she’ll toss you out on your ear.”
    “As you would like to do?” He shrugged. “You’ll see, Lady Rose. She has met me, and your mother and mine were friends.”
    Highly unlikely. “Then why have I never heard of you?”
    His expression grew shielded. “I’ve never been to England before, unlike my older brother.”
    She didn’t miss the hint of pain when he mentioned a brother, but she didn’t inquire about the family death. Yet his claim, that he had never visited England, struck her as preposterous. A younger son would have to visit London from time to time.
    “So your family neglected you in your training to become the earl.”
    His hands tightened upon the reins of his horse. “That was their choice, not mine. And I intend to remedy that immediately.” He glanced behind him at Beauregard. “This lad stole my brother’s signet ring. So he knows I am the earl.”
    The boy let out an exasperated huff of air. “I never saw a ring. He probably is a groom. And I’ll tell Father how he forced me to shovel dung. If you hadn’t come when you did, he might have forced me to eat it.”
    The boy’s resentful words were spoken as if he wanted Rose to be aghast at his misfortune. Mr. Donovan only laughed at the boy and said, “Hardly. But if you don’t bring back everything in the morning, I might consider it.”
    He winked at Rose, and the harmless teasing unnerved her in a way she didn’t understand. Even if, God help her, he was an earl, he would never spend this much time flirting with a woman like her.
    Unless he desired her fortune.
    Yes, that was undoubtedly the reason. He hardly knew her at all, and she couldn’t even walk. She decided to ignore his flirting, for it meant nothing.
    They continued riding down the dirt road, and she grew quiet, savoring the evening light. The sky was transforming from a soft blue into a darker indigo. Upon the horizon, the setting sun gleamed its golden rays.
    Beauregard looked as if he wanted to ride on ahead of them, but Mr. Donovan kept him close, holding the reins of his horse.
    “I can go home on my own,” the young man asserted. “I know the way.”
    “Children should be seen and not heard,” was Iain Donovan’s answer. Rose had to hide her smile at Beauregard’s indignant glare.
    “I’m not a child.”
    “Aye, you are. Only a child bent on mischief would be stealing a man’s shirt and coat. Unless you believe yourself to be a man, in which case I’d have to bring you to the authorities for a more appropriate punishment.”
    Rose glanced back at Iain, wondering if he truly meant it. But she spied the amusement in his eyes.
    “Go and ride alongside Calvert,” he bade the young man. “But don’t try to flee home without us, else I will drag you back.”
    For a fleeting moment, Beauregard looked uncertain of whether to accept the freedom. But he took advantage of the offer, guiding his mount back to ride alongside the footman. It gave Rose and Iain a slight measure of privacy to their conversation.
    “Calvert, if the lad attempts to ride home on his own, bring him back to me,” the Irishman ordered. The footman only shook his head and muttered.
    “He’s not very cooperative, is he?” Mr. Donovan said. “What about you, Lady Rose? If the boy attempts to flee, will you help me hunt him down?”
    She started to argue, but then realized it was all in fun. With a serious nod, she said, “I shall send my mother’s wolves after him.”
    A wide, appreciative smile slid over his face. “A fine idea, to be