The Geek Girl and the Scandalous Earl by Gina Lamm Read Free Book Online Page A

stretching her bare feet toward the fire. She didn’t say anything, watching the flicker of the fire’s light against the white nightgown.
    Mrs. Knightsbridge stepped behind the chair and began to braid Jamie’s hair. Though the motion startled Jamie at first, the smooth motions calmed her, and she let the housekeeper maneuver the parts into a tail halfway down her back.
    Mrs. K tied the end with a ribbon she pulled from her apron pocket. “There. Now, eat, dearie. You will need your strength for the morrow.”
    Jamie looked over her shoulder. “What’s tomorrow?”
    “More lessons on becoming a countess, of course.”
    Jamie wanted to slap her forehead with her palm. She wanted to scream, “Oh HELL no!” and run out of there. She wanted to tell the nice old lady that she was ape-shit, monkey-nuts crazy, and that she was not going to be a part of her schemes.
    What did she do?
    She grabbed a fork and shoved a bite of chicken into her mouth. She had to play along just enough to convince Mrs. K and Wilhelmina to send her home. Once they saw how not into her Mike was, she’d be on the express train back to the future. Or the present. Whatever. Just, home. She wanted to go home.
    ***
    After a surprisingly tasty supper that Jamie washed down with wine—and boy, did she need that alcohol—Mrs. Knightsbridge left her to sleep.
    Jamie blew out the candle by the bedside and watched the light from the fireplace make odd shadows in the room. What a weird day. What a handsome, incredibly arrogant, and sort of an asshole guy. What a nice, if really meddling, housekeeper. A gigantic yawn escaped her, and she turned onto her side, ready to go to sleep.
    Scritch scritch scritch, whiiiiiiiiine .
    Jamie rolled her eyes and stuffed a pillow over her ears.
    Scritch, scritch, scritch, scritch, whiiiiiiiiiiine. Whiiiiiiiiine. Whiiiiiiii…
    “Oh shut up and get in here already.” As soon as she opened the door, Baron bolted into the room, tail wagging and tongue lolling. He jumped up on the bed and curled up on the pillow she’d been using.
    She climbed into bed behind him and was oddly grateful for the bony dog’s comforting presence. He licked her hand, and together they went to sleep.
    ***
    Firelight reflected through his glass of brandy, making the amber-gold liquor glow as if alive. Micah took a large swallow, grimacing at the sweet burn in his throat. Too close. That had been much too close. Draining the rest of his drink, he crossed to the sideboard to pour another. His estate room, usually a place of peace and solitude, held none of its usual tranquility tonight.
    His hand trembled as he lifted the decanter. In disgust, he set it down and crossed to the window. Looking out into the blackness of night, he gripped his knuckles behind his back.
    His peace had disappeared when she had entered his home. Miss Marten. Her speech was immoderate, her appearance disconcerting, and her manner altogether quarrelsome. She should be repugnant to him. All striped hair and foul mouth and wide eyes and soft lips…How close he’d come to kissing her.
    He paced from the window, agitation bubbling in his gut. Despite his title of earl, his position in society was precarious at best. The ton , while capricious and flighty, had long, vindictive memories. No one had forgotten poor Louisa’s death, Micah least of all. While the thought of pandering to society’s matrons galled him, he could ill afford a scandal the likes of which Miss Marten could cause. Not if he wished to wed Miss Lyons. And he did, he told himself. He did wish to wed the delicate beauty. She would make an excellent countess.
    His decision firmly set, he splashed another dollop of brandy into his glass and sprawled in his chair before the fire. Miss Marten could bait him all she wished. He’d not quarrel with her. Too much passion, he mused , is roused in a verbal joust. That’s why I nearly kissed her. That and nothing more.
    He drained the rest of the brandy and left his