Ruin and Redemption for the Earl (The Reluctant Lords Book 2) by Andie James

Author:Andie James [James, Andie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: D&G Books
Published: 2023-08-24T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 18

Harvest had been busy, and Elise was glad for a reprieve as November rolled around. There was never quite as much to do in the garden as the cooler weather set in, so she turned her mind to replenishing her supplies of healing treatments. She was busy in the kitchen cooking up a batch of salve when Reid called on her unexpectedly.

“May I come in?” he said, knocking on the doorframe and peeking his head around the kitchen door.

“Of course you may,” Elise replied, wiping her hands on her apron. “Please excuse the mess, I’m in the midst of making some soothing creams and my supplies seem to have gotten everywhere.”

Chuckling in his deep tone that always sent her stomach aflutter in the most pleasant way, Reid stepped inside the kitchen and examined the dried plants that were currently scattered across the space. “I don’t mind a little mess,” he said. “I’m just in awe that you know how to do all this. And I know firsthand how effective your potions can be.”

“What can I help you with?” Elise asked, pleased by his praise. “I assume you came over here for a reason.”

“Seeing you can’t be reason enough?” he said with a teasing smile. When she swatted her dishcloth at him, Reid raised his hands in a gesture of surrender while letting out a bellowing laugh. “I’m sorry, you’re right,” he acknowledged. “I do have a favor I need to ask you.”

“I’m not sure what I may be able to do for you, but I am intrigued.”

“I’m hoping you will agree to come to Cliff House and act as hostess for me and some of my friends for the foreseeable future. A special session of Parliament has been called to try and deal with the fallout from the Peterloo Massacre and will commence in the next few weeks. I’ve invited some of my friends who also serve in Lords and Commons to come for a strategy session. We’ll need someone to organize meals and make sure needs are met while we’re holed up planning. We have a lot to accomplish and will most likely be working late most days—I won’t have the time or capacity to think about creature comforts.”

Elise was interested by the work the men would be doing, but she hardly thought she was the best person for the job. “Would this not be a task better suited for your mother?”

Smiling, Reid quickly disabused the idea. “My mother is not in residence at the moment. She left for my sister’s in London right before harvest and will remain there through the holidays to spend time with her grandchildren. I know I am asking a lot of you, but we must make a plan to combat the Tories offensive to curb rebellion.”

Reid’s voice was becoming agitated the more he delved into the topic at hand, his passion apparent as it always was when it came to politics. “They are taking things too far and are threatening to compromise rights that are the very foundation of what makes England a free nation.

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