The Earl Next Door Read Online Free Page B

want to stay alive. Usually the landowners hereabouts turn a blind eye to poaching at this time of year, particularly when there is snow on the ground, but Mr Billingsdale's manager is determined there will be no poaching on Billingsdale land. The traps are cruel, and can break a man's leg - surely too high a price to pay for stealing a rabbit in order to stay alive; especially as most of the men have families to feed. I have written to Mr Billingsdale about it but he will not interest himself in the matter. He has every faith in his manager, he says. And so I have come to see you. You are the new tenant, after all. It is in your power to do something about it.’
Lord Ravensford’s eyes narrowed, and he put his hands together, steepling his long, strong fingers. ‘You are sure about this? Under the snow it’s difficult to see anything clearly. Could you not be mistaken?’
Marianne shook her head. ‘We – my groom and I - discovered a man caught in one only yesterday.’
‘Yesterday, you say?’ His tone was penetrating, and an intent look had come into his eye. ‘Who was it? One of the local men?’
‘No. My groom and I freed him, but neither of us recognised him. He is definitely not from these parts.’
‘He will need medical attention,’ said Lord Ravensford, getting up and going towards the bell.
‘He has already had it. I called the doctor as soon as I got him back to the house.’
‘Am I to understand – you have taken this man in?’ His gaze was very direct, and she noticed again how unusual his eyes were, of a brown so bright as to be almost gold.
‘Yes.’
‘And he is not known in these parts, you say?’
‘No. But as I told Trudie, we are in no danger from him,’ she said, misunderstanding his interest. ‘His leg has been badly damaged and although he can hobble around it will be some time before he can walk easily again.’
‘That was good of you,’ he said slowly. ‘To take him in. Particularly if he is a stranger in these parts.’ Then, as if recollecting himself, he added, ‘but not very wise.’
‘I couldn’t leave him out in the snow,’ replied Marianne simply. ‘He was badly hurt, and in too much pain to tell us who he was or where he came from, otherwise I would have arranged for him to have been taken home, so in the end I thought it best to take him back to the Hall. But I am concerned. There are other traps, you see. Tom has seen them.’ She raised her eyes to him appealingly. ‘I don’t want those traps on my – on neighbouring land,’ she said. ‘Will you remove them for me?’
He gave her a mocking smile, his eyes roving over her gentian blue eyes and her delightfully rosy lips. ‘When you look at me like that, I can deny you nothing,’ he said with a quirk of his mouth.
‘Are you never serious, Lord Ravensford?’ she asked in exasperation; but a smile tugged at the corner of her own mouth nonetheless.
‘Not often.’ He paused. ‘But I promise you I will be serious over this, Miss . . .?'
‘Travis.’
His face froze. There was a moment of unnatural silence. And then he said. ‘Miss Travis.’ His smile this time was not mocking. In fact, it seemed forced.
‘Well, my lord?’ asked Marianne, too concerned about the traps to notice his strange expression and response. ‘Will you order their removal?’
He let out his breath. ‘Mantraps are an abomination. Yes, I will. I will give orders that they are to be cleared immediately. You are right, the winter is hard. A little poaching is to be expected.’
Marianne breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Thank you. I knew I could make you see reason. I am only sorry to have troubled you before you have even unpacked.’
‘It was no trouble.’
She looked at his suspiciously, but for once there seemed to be no hidden meaning in his words. ‘Well, now that is settled I will not keep you. I must be getting back to Seaton Hall.’
She stood up.
‘I will see you again before long, I hope?’ he asked as he, too stood up; all