Mad About the Earl by Christina Brooke Read Free Book Online Page A

that.
    The answer came to him: old. But then, the guardianship and care of six children tended to age a man, didn’t it? Regardless, he absolutely refused to act the role of grandfather to Jane and Constantine’s progeny. Damn it all, he was in his forties, not his dotage.
    Montford’s correspondence awaited him at the table, as did a crisp, pressed copy of The Morning Post .
    He leafed through the large stack of letters and cards. “Hmm. I wonder what threats I shall receive from Tregarth today.”
    The earl’s demands that Rosamund marry him forthwith had become a running joke in the family. All eyes fixed upon Rosamund.
    “We are out of chocolate,” she said, lifting the lid of the silver pot to peer inside. “I’ll ring for more.”
    Before she could rise, Lydgate demanded, “Tregarth? What’s the fellow got to say for himself now?”
    Sinking down again, Rosamund sighed. “He commands me to travel down to Cornwall so that we can be married.”
    Montford observed her keenly. Rosamund’s face, however, remained a beautiful blank.
    “ Commands you?” Xavier’s sleek black brows rose. “One might suppose the man to be deranged.”
    “Not deranged,” said Montford. “Rather … lacking in polish, perhaps.”
    “Which is quite as bad in its own way,” murmured Xavier.
    “No matter,” said Rosamund. “I have told the earl he must come to Town and court me properly or I shall have nothing to say to him.”
    “Quite right, my dear.” Montford was in no hurry to lose Rosamund. Certainly, it would be to everyone’s practical advantage for her marriage to proceed, but until Rosamund had schooled her affianced husband to her liking, Montford was prepared to wait. He’d rattled deVere’s cage to see if he might move the process forward. However, he had no intention of terminating this betrothal if Rosamund was content to have the Earl of Tregarth.
    It rather baffled him that the new earl had remained recalcitrant when every other red-blooded male in Rosamund’s vicinity tumbled over one another to worship at her feet. Yet Tregarth had ignored her for nearly three years.
    Montford didn’t believe in love within marriage, but he did believe in loyalty and respect between spouses. Until Griffin could show Rosamund those things, Montford would not countenance their alliance. He was not unduly concerned, however. He did not doubt Rosamund’s ability to bring Griffin to heel.
    The duke leafed through the various invitations and some correspondence to do with the Ministry of Marriage, which he set aside for later.
    He sniffed one elegantly addressed missive, grimaced at the cloying sweetness of its scent, then handed it to Lydgate. “Do you mind telling me why your billets-doux are addressed care of my house?”
    With a flashing grin, the young man took the note and tossed it down beside his plate without so much as glancing at it. “Oh, didn’t Rundle tell you? I’m moving back in.” He shrugged. “Why keep rooms in Town when I’m never there? Dashed expensive practice.”
    “I see,” said Montford. “Instead, you intend to live at my expense.”
    “Well, you did tell him he should economize,” said Xavier.
    Montford’s lips twitched. “I have only myself to blame, in fact.”
    Truthfully, he welcomed Lydgate’s company. But that was something he preferred to keep to himself. Lydgate’s conceit was part of his charm, but Montford saw no cause to inflate that quality further.
    Montford turned his attention to Rosamund. “My dear, are you at liberty this afternoon?”
    “I am promised to Mama,” said Rosamund. “Do you wish me to send my apologies?”
    He could imagine the marchioness’s reaction. “No, no. You must not disappoint Lady Steyne.” He glanced over at Xavier, who looked more like a satyr than ever. “Do you accompany your sister to Steyne House?”
    “No.” Xavier’s face—never expressive at the best of times—seemed to slam shut.
    “I myself am engaged this