How to Entice an Earl by Manda Collins Read Free Book Online Page B

that, I think.”
    Not a bad assessment, Christian thought. “She did care very much when her brother disappeared as soon as she alerted the rest of us to Tinker’s stabbing.”
    Winterson sat up straighter. “What? I knew Linton was a scapegrace, but I hadn’t realized he was so far gone he’d leave his sister behind at a gaming hell, for God’s sake. It’s bad enough he took her there in the first place—I assume that’s what happened. Maddie is headstrong but she’s not foolish enough to visit a gambling den, even one that borders on respectable, by herself.”
    “No,” Christian agreed, returning his coffee cup to the table, and toying with the handle. “She’s not that foolish, though she was very determined to visit Mrs. Bailey’s. I don’t know what she used to force him to bring her, but he did not strike me as having acquiesced to taking her there willingly. Which makes it odd that he disappeared so soon after Tinker was found. She was holding the dead man in her arms, for God’s sake, and he was gone.”
    “I know that his family has been worried about Linton for some time now,” Winterson said with a sigh. “It would appear that he needs more than concern at this point. I have little doubt that his father will cut off his allowance after this debacle. Possibly more.”
    “One can only hope that it will do some good. As it was, I was forced to escort Lady Madeline home in a hackney. I am grateful that we weren’t noticed.” He waited for his friend’s inevitable chastisement.
    Winterson gave him a look.
    “What?” Though Christian knew full well what.
    “You took Lady Madeline home in a closed carriage?”
    “Yes, what’s so odd about that?” Other than the fact that it’s damned scandalous?
    “Aside from the fact that it’s damned scandalous?” Winterson asked, as if talking to a small child.
    “You exaggerate,” Christian bit out.
    “I think I do not.”
    “Well, there was little other choice.” Christian sat up straighter. “She was stranded at a gaming hell. She was hardly going to walk home through the dark streets of London. Or accept the escort of Vinson or Fortenbury. I could not allow her to do that, even if she wished it. What if they’d taken a liberty? Do you really wish to see her married off to either of them?”
    “And I suppose I should like to see her married off to you?”
    “Better me than those fools,” Christian said, his temper rising. “I did what was necessary—both for my conscience and as Lady Madeline’s friend.”
    Winterson was silent as he watched his friend, his gaze assessing. Finally he said, “Interesting. I had no idea that was the direction of things.”
    “Don’t be absurd,” Christian said sullenly. “There is no direction of things. I was simply behaving as a gentleman ought. I have little doubt you’d have done the same thing in my position.”
    “Not if I wished to remain living,” Winterson said wryly. “I have little doubt that Cecily would avail herself of my pistol if she caught me escorting another lady home in a closed carriage. Cousin or not.”
    His annoyance diffused by Winterson’s wry humor, Christian said, “Then you should be grateful it was me there last night and not you.”
    “I suppose you’re right,” Winterson said. “How did Maddie endure her ordeal, do you think?”
    Reflecting on her demeanor during their trip from the hell to Essex House, instead of recalling her trauma, Christian remembered what it had felt like to hold her in his arms and was disturbed by his body’s immediate response to the memory. Damn it, he’d better get himself together or else Winterson would suspect he’d done more than simply offer the girl a ride home. And that was all he’d done. And offered a shoulder to cry on. Which was what any gentleman would do in such circumstances. He had nothing to feel guilty about. Not a thing.
    In answer to Winterson’s question, he said, “She was as strong as you’d expect.