Bedding Lord Ned by Sally MacKenzie

Author:Sally MacKenzie
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Historcal romance
ISBN: 9781420123210
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2012-06-04T14:00:00+00:00

“Beautiful day, isn’t it, Ned?”

Ned glanced down at Percy. Damn it, his brother-in-law looked bloody happy, always a bad sign. “It’s cold, but at least the sun’s out.”

They were on their way to the pond, following the path the servants had cleared through the snow. Ned had intended to escort Lady Juliet, but Ophelia and Lady Heldon had swept her up with them, obviously so Percy could have this opportunity to accost him.

Ned’s mood, which had not been good to begin with, turned darker.

He looked ahead. Everyone was strung out along the path. Mama and Father led the way, and Ash followed with Ellie—at least she wasn’t walking with Jack or Cox. Cox was a little behind her with Lady Juliet’s group, and, behind them, Jack strolled with Miss Wharton, of all people, and Mr. Humphrey and Miss Mosely. Perhaps Jack felt there was safety in numbers—or that the cold and multiple layers of thick clothing would deter Miss Wharton’s matrimonial ambitions. Ned and Percy brought up the rear.

Ned’s eyes went back to Ellie. She was laughing at something Ash had said.

She’d been right, of course, when she’d told him he had no authority over her. He wasn’t her brother, much as he wished he was.

He frowned. No, that wasn’t quite true. He didn’t want to be her sibling; he just wanted to keep her safe. Which, as she’d pointed out, he couldn’t do even if they were related.

He hoped she’d decide not to sled. Surely Father had persuaded Mama to think better of the idea—the insane, foolhardy, madcap—

“She’s rather beautiful once you know her secret, isn’t she?”

Ned looked back at Percy. What the hell was the man talking about? Oh, right. The woman Ned was supposed to be wooing, though he didn’t understand the reference to a secret. “Lady Juliet is very lovely.”

Percy waggled his brows. “That’s not whom you were looking at.”

This false joviality was a side of Percy Ned hadn’t yet encountered, though it was as unpleasant as all the man’s other traits. “I’m afraid I don’t follow you.”

“Ellie.” Percy’s damn brows jumped up and down again.

“What about Ellie?”

“Oh, come on, Ned.” Percy’s elbow dug into Ned’s side, though not very far. They were both bundled up against the cold. Still, Ned took the precaution of putting a bit more distance between them.

“I really haven’t the slightest clue as to what you might be referring.” Not that he liked the notion of Percy talking—or thinking—about Ellie at all.

“Let’s just say I have something in my possession that I think you’ll be interested in—something you might even be willing to, er, encourage me, in a monetary way you understand, not to mention or show anyone else.”

Ned stopped walking, thus forcing Percy to stop as well. “Listen to me, Percy. I have no bloody idea what you’re talking about, but you’d damn well better not be maligning Ellie or suggesting that she is anything other than the proper, virtuous young woman that she is.”

“Proper and virtuous?” Percy chuckled. “Is that the game she plays when she wears those red silk drawers for you? I do have them, you know.

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