Mad About the Earl by Christina Brooke Read Free Book Online

the exquisite Rosamund must be paired with the boorish Tregarth.
    Rosamund—vain, stubborn fool that she was—made no real attempt to correct society’s assumption. It was pleasant to be wanted by a gentleman whom all the other ladies fawned over. Philip’s determined attentions were so soothing to her pride.
    Pleasant. Soothing.
    Hmm …
    With all his myriad stellar qualities, she ought to be in love with Philip Lauderdale.
    There was just one giant, rude, infuriating reason why she was not.

 
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    The Duke of Montford paused on the threshold and raised his quizzing glass to examine the motley assortment of relatives ranged around his breakfast table.
    Rosamund and Cecily were there, of course. And he’d rather expected Xavier, Rosamund’s brother, to join them this spring. Understandable in the circumstances, if not altogether welcome at this delicate juncture.
    Andrew, on the other hand …
    “Good God,” said Montford faintly. “You here, Lydgate?”
    Andrew Westruther, Viscount Lydgate, smiled at him, sleek and self-satisfied as a cat. “Delighted to see you, too, Your Grace.”
    Xavier, Marquis of Steyne, said nothing, either by way of greeting or explanation. One side of his mouth twitched at his cousin’s facile pleasantry, but his blue eyes remained hard and bright.
    Had Montford wished to needle Xavier, he might have quizzed him about the reasons for his presence. It happened that Montford saw no benefit in doing so. At least, not this morning. The marquis could remain at Montford House as long as he wished, provided he didn’t interfere with Montford’s plans for his sister.
    With a glance at Rosamund, Montford took his plate from the head of the table and moved to the sideboard to make his selection.
    He decided to tackle Andrew first. “To what do we owe this pleasure, Lydgate? Pockets-to-let?” Andrew had yet to reach his twenty-fifth year, upon which he would inherit the full sum of his fortune. Until then, Montford held his purse strings.
    Not too tightly, however. It disturbed him just how enterprising Andrew could become when in need of ready cash.
    “How can you think it, sir?” returned the young viscount, his tone a mixture of amusement and indignation. “You know the business that has occupied me these past months.”
    Ah. Yes, indeed. Montford knew all about Andrew’s latest scheme. Or one of them. They would not discuss it in front of the others, however.
    He gave a slight smile. “Then what can I say but that I am honored?”
    The duke returned to the table with a full plate and a sense of anticipation. One might find the presence of one’s extended family a little trying at times. One could not complain, however, that life was uneventful with them around.
    “If only Beckenham and Jane were here, we’d be one big happy family,” said Cecily, clasping her hands at her breast with mock soulfulness.
    Xavier looked up at that. “Bucolic bliss must have kept them at their respective estates this spring.” He sipped from a tankard, his eyes glittering. “But then, Beckenham lost his taste for London, didn’t he?”
    An infelicitous remark that no one cared to answer. Montford reflected that Xavier had always possessed the curious talent of halting a conversation in its tracks.
    Andrew carved himself some ham and transferred it to his plate. “I doubt we’ll see dear Cousin Jane before her confinement.”
    Rosamund turned her head to frown at him. “What is this? Jane’s not increasing.”
    Andrew snorted. “She will be.”
    A general snicker greeted this statement. Montford was aware that such ribald talk ought not to be encouraged in front of Rosamund and Cecily. He let it pass, however. He’d never believed in sheltering young ladies from every stray innuendo.
    He didn’t doubt that Andrew was correct. The excessive passion between Jane and her new husband would probably bear fruit before too long. Montford wasn’t entirely certain how he felt about