A Matter of Temptation by Stacy Reid

Author:Stacy Reid [Reid, Stacy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romances, Historical British Fiction, Victorian Historical Romance, British Historical Literature, Historical Regency Fiction, Women's Historical Fiction, Stacy Reid, Entangled Publishing, Amara, Mass Market Paperback, Single Title Romance, Stand Alone Romance, Boss employee romance, Opposites Attract romance, office romance, Diverse Author, Duke, England, Fencing, Bucket list romance, Humorous Historical Romance, Moody Hero, Clever Romance, USA Today Bestselling Author, Mass Market Paperback romance, Enemies to Lovers romance, Protector romance, Secret Identity romance, London, Witty Romance, Spring roman, Wallflowe romancer, Accidentally Compromising the Duke, Songstress, Gambling, Rich Hero, Sensual Historical Romance, A Matter of Temptation, Victorian, Victorian Romance, Countryside, Bait and Switch, Genre Fiction, new romance book, popular romance book, stand alone romance book, 2022 Romance book, 2022 Mass Market Romance, books with a Happy ending, HEA
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Published: 2022-06-27T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

The following morning, Mina hurried down the staircase and to the office, appalled that she had overslept. After dining with the earl last evening, she had spent almost four hours with him in his library, taking turns reading Persuasion, discussing the merits of Anne Elliot allowing others to influence her against marrying Navy Captain Frederick Wentworth. Of course, the earl had thought it fit to point out the fickleness of supposed love, with her arguing that it was hard to decide to live with another when family and friends were so against the union. Mina had only gone to bed at minutes after one, with a vow that she would be ready for work by six in the morning.

With a groan, she glanced at the clock in the hallway. It was already nine, and she had completed her morning toiletries as fast as possible with the help of her maid.

“Miss Crawford,” the butler said, bowing to her. “I am to inform you that Lord Creswick is not at home.”

It burned on her tongue to ask about his whereabouts, but she only nodded. “I see. Thank you, Milton.”

“The earl informed me that you might oversleep, and breakfast was kept warming for you, Miss Crawford. You may make your way to the breakfast hall.”

“Thank you.”

After eating her fill of poached eggs, thinly sliced hams, kippers in cream sauce, and a few pieces of butter toast, Mina went into the office and answered some letters on the earl’s behalf. The door to his inner office tugged at her attention and lowering the quill, she rose and went over. Opening the door, she examined the smaller inner sanctum that until now she had not dared to enter alone. It was only one story high but was paneled in the warm cedar wood, which she now knew was used in many of the rooms on the ground floor of the house. It had one window that looked out on the gardens, but from which the lake could not be seen. The same blue-and-gold drapes were open. Mina suspected that it was the original document room of the house, as one wall held shelves laden with scrolls, ledgers, and maps of some great antiquity. It was furnished with a smaller desk and three chairs.

A knock on the main door to the office sounded, and she hurried outside to open the door. Milton held out a silver salver. “A letter arrived for you, Miss Crawford.”

“Thank you!” It could only be from Anthony, whom she had written to last week. Mina walked over to the sofa by the windows, sat, and opened his letter.

Dearest Mina,

Forgive me for only just writing since I’ve arrived in London. I received your letter and let me hastily assure you that I am in good health, and you need not worry. My reception in town was not as bad as I imagined. It seems the Duke of Beswick and the Earl of Stannis believe it was me who bested Creswick in fencing.

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