The Seduction of an Earl by Linda Rae Sande Read Free Book Online Page A

for a ride in Hyde Park, you’re welcome to take my phaeton, Gisborn,” he offered as he took the teacup from Hannah. “I’ve got a groom seeing to it now. Of course, there really isn’t room for Harold, but I trust you’ll get her home in one piece.”
    Working hard to hide his astonishment, Henry nodded. “That is very gracious of you. I was just asking her ladyship if she would join me for a ride.”
    Hannah was sure her face was bright red. Her father had never offered such liberties to her other suitors. Nor had he ever offered his high perch phaeton!
    “Henry here is the new Earl of Gisborn,” the marquess said, directing his comment to Hannah. “And the new owner of Ellsworth Park,” he added, a bushy eyebrow cocked in a manner that suggested his daughter should be impressed. “Seems Lady Charlotte will be marrying her duke any day now.”
    Her mouth opening in astonishment, Hannah quickly changed her expression to one of delight. “I am so happy for her,” she said, the sound of relief in her voice. “She has wanted no other than Joshua Wainwright since she was sixteen!”
    Fighting back the urge to wince at her comment, Henry merely nodded. “I just came from Wisborough Oaks late yesterday,” he said as lightly as he could manage. “Lady Charlotte is already settled, and has taken on the responsibility of overseeing the decoration of the rebuilt portion of the estate,” he added in a tone of voice that was all business. “I believe she has already become Wainwright’s chatelaine.” His words were obviously important to Lady Hannah, though, as her face brightened and she gave him a smile that was so glorious, he wanted nothing more than to repeat whatever word it was that made her so happy.
    “Did you have occasion to speak with Lady Charlotte?” Hannah wondered, leaning forward as she made the query.
    Henry nodded, keeping his eyes on hers in order to avoid the urge to stare at her suddenly more apparent décolletage. He hadn’t noticed that last night as she cavorted with Harold in the park. “Yes, I ... “ He paused, realizing he couldn’t tell her he’d been there to claim Lady Charlotte as his wife. “I had business there with the duke,” he amended quickly. “But I made Lady Charlotte’s acquaintance many years ago. The estate I just ... acquired belonged to her father. It sits directly to the west of the Gisborn earldom,” he explained, hoping he wasn’t boring the poor girl.
    “If you have acquired the estate, Gisborn, you must have plans for the land,” she supposed, hoping her barely hidden query wasn’t too personal. She only meant to keep up her end of the conversation.
    Hearing his name spoken in her voice made something shiver deep inside Henry. Gisborn . She had said it as if she was put on the earth for the sole purpose of speaking that word. Henry gazed at her, remembering a bit too late that she had hinted he had plans for Ellsworth Park. “I ... I mean to add it to my existing farmlands and modernize the entire tract,” he finally got out, hoping he didn’t sound like a dullard.
    “And what will modernizing entail?” she countered, the tilt of her head suggesting she was truly interested in the topic. She refilled his teacup and followed it with a bit of cream.
    Henry watched her hands as she saw to his tea. She had elegant hands – smooth, pale hands with long, perfectly shaped fingers. He could imagine those fingers traveling over his body, gripping his shoulders as he kissed her senseless, teasing his manhood into hardened steel, digging into his back as he rode her during intercourse, the fingernails leaving little half-moon brands in his skin as he brought her to ecstasy.
    What the hell? Mentally pinching his swelling manhood, Henry swallowed. Hard.
    He dared a glance in Devonville’s direction. The marquess seemed quite interested in farm modernization, as well. “My lands border the River Isis. It’s my intention to have irrigation ditches dug on