The Reluctant Earl Read Online Free Page A

learned nothing of interest other than that he liked well-made but unostentatious clothing.
    She slid the last drawer shut and leaned back on her heels as she surveyed the room. His greatcoat hung on a peg, the sheer size of the garment covering a large portion of wall. She moved closer, catching the smells of still-damp wool and the outdoors. And that same elusive scent of...male? As she ran her hands along the fabric, she fought back the array of memories that assailed her mind and conscience—of assisting her father into his cloak, of threading her arm through her fainthearted suitor’s elbow.
    Of struggling against another man’s smothering strength.
    Just as the maudlin thoughts threatened to overwhelm her, the coat crackled beneath her fingers. She searched pockets and located her first success, a folded piece of foolscap. Her heart raced forward even as she warned herself it was probably nothing more exciting than an invitation from an actress or a bill from Chambelston’s tailor.
    Leah edged closer to the low-burning fire, unfolded the parchment and scanned the contents to learn who had sent the missive. No signature at the bottom. What did that signify? She started at the top again, more slowly, her interest growing as she realized the note’s import.
    Murder.
    Her pulse pounded against her temples, shutting out the gentle snaps and sizzles of the fire.
    Did her cousin Alec know the movement was accused of such a heinous crime against a peer of the realm? To judge by Chambelston’s words to his sister, he believed the allegations. Such a personal note, anonymous or not, would be missed should she confiscate it. Her cousin would have to be satisfied with her word on the matter. She read the letter again, determined to commit its contents to memory before—
    “Learn anything interesting?”
    Leah’s heart fell to her stomach and the note fluttered to the floor. She whirled to face the owner of that acerbic baritone as he latched the door shut behind him. Lord Chambelston blocked her only escape.

Chapter Two
    T rapped—again—in a gentleman’s bedchamber. Nausea churned in Leah’s stomach and hurtled to her throat, propelled by an onslaught of terrifying memories. Would Lord Chambelston take advantage of her person or see her dismissed? Or...worse? And what would happen to Phoebe? A frisson of fear shuddered along Leah’s spine as she stared into the deadly calm on the earl’s implacable face. As he folded his arms across his chest, the fabric of his fine blue sleeves bunched over a sinewy strength that alluded to his previous livelihood as a sea captain. He leaned against the door, feet braced apart as if still on his ship’s deck. “Dear me. Don’t say I’ve mistakenly entered the wrong chamber.”
    “I...I...” Leah’s mind spun, but the pounding of blood in her temples drowned out even her nonsensical excuse.
    “I believe at the very least, introductions are in order. Chambelston at your...service, Miss...”
    She willed her dry mouth to speak. “Leah Vance.”
    “Have you come to stoke the fire? You seem rather well spoken for a maid, Miss Vance.”
    Surely even Leah was not so insignificant he’d forgotten the awkwardness of witnessing Lady Sotherton’s public censure of her only hours ago. Despite an urge to lie, she gathered what courage she could find. There was no point misrepresenting her position in the household. Not when he held her livelihood and her very life within his power. “I am Lady Teresa’s governess.”
    He arched a patrician brow of the same tawny hue as his hair. “The education of young ladies must be quite changed from my sisters’ youth. I don’t recall their governess making any similar nighttime forays at our house. Have you long been Lady Teresa’s governess?”
    “Eight years.”
    “Long enough, then, to know my sister’s faults. Probably better than I, after all these years.”
    Their gazes met, clashed—and Leah’s concentration sank into that