Engaging the Enemy Read Online Free Page A

much. He is such a dear little lad.”
    Mercy held in a sigh of relief. “Good. Let’s see what Hamilton & Gambrill Booksellers have sent to us. It was a very large crate that arrived yesterday, wasn’t it?”
    Blythe smiled, too.
    Yet, as Mercy sorted through the stacks of books arranged in the library for her perusal she could not help but wonder what thoughts swirled inside Blythe’s mind. Blythe had once been a daring, vivacious, and determined young woman. Out of all the Hunt girls—Mercy, Blythe, and their younger sister, Patience—Blythe had married first at just sixteen years of age. She had accepted a proposal of marriage from the darkly handsome widower, Lord Venables, a man seventeen years her senior. The match had set tongues wagging in decided shock. Despite all the whispers about the match, Mercy had liked Lord Venable because he had doted on his second wife quite sincerely. He had enjoyed a good laugh with their family, too. But Blythe did not laugh now and Mercy fervently hoped that the woman she once was still lurked beneath her grief.
    Selections made and arms stacked with new entertainments, they retreated to Edwin’s playroom.
    “Auntie Bly, Aunty Bly,” Edwin called as he ran across the room, all arms and wildly swinging legs. “Did you not go home today?”
    Blythe dropped her books and scooped Edwin up into her arms. “There you are my little duke. How could I leave you for long?”
    Edwin kissed her cheek noisily and then wriggled to get down. “Come see what I did. Wilcox said I was very clever and even helped me knock down the tower we built. He’s genius.”
    Mercy rolled her eyes at her son’s language as he dragged Blythe away to the far side of the chamber to admire the messy corner of toys. He was growing up so fast that she could almost see him grow out of his clothes.
    Blythe set her hands on her hips, foot tapping. “ That is a mess. Clean it up, Your Grace.”
    Edwin’s eyes widened but then he stomped his foot. “No. I’m still playing.”
    “Now, Your Grace. You cannot expect others to clean up everything after you.” Blythe gestured to the toy strewn floor. “You can play without making a mess. Be good for your mother.”
    Edwin peered at Mercy from around his aunt. “I am being good, mama.”
    Mercy grinned. “I can see that. But you will tidy them up later, won’t you, and not rely on Wilcox to do it? The butler has other work than cleaning up after one messy boy.”
    Wilcox was indispensable. But Edwin was coming to rely on him too much. Her son shuffled uncomfortably. “Do I have to?”
    Mercy nodded. “Later.”
    Edwin reluctantly nodded and then dropped to the floor to return to his play.
    Blythe crossed the chamber, picked up her books, and chose one. “You spoil him.”
    Mercy settled on the chaise and lifted her feet to the cushions so she could stretch out comfortably. “He is my child to spoil. I will be the one to decide what needs to be done, and when, Blythe. Which book are you going to read?”
    “I picked up Fabulous Histories by Miss Sarah Trimmer. I want to see if it will be suitable for Edwin’s studies,” Blythe murmured. “I think he needs educating rather than spoiling and allowing him to make a mess from such a young age is setting us all up for trouble. One day you will see that I am correct.”
    One day, with luck, Blythe would have her own family to fuss over again. That day could not come soon enough for Mercy.

 
    Chapter Three
     
    Leopold did his best to settle his nerves as he set off for the abbey alone. This time he would not be denied the information he sought. This time he would argue until he received exactly what he had come here for. He followed the road until he reached the entrance to Romsey, pausing as a grand carriage rattled through the vast gates. The occupants scowled at him, but Leopold was used to the ill mannered guests of the Duke of Romsey and put them from his mind easily.
    As he resumed his ride, a hundred