Surrender to the Earl by Gayle Callen

Author:Gayle Callen [Callen, Gayle]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯)
ISBN: 0062076078
Publisher: Avon
Published: 2013-05-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

As Robert followed Audrey into the entrance hall, he worried about how the arrival of her judgmental sister would affect her. In Rose Cottage, Audrey was the mistress, but her sister’s presence might bring back memories of the woman who was never even permitted to leave her home.

A young servant wearing a shawl and lace cap sat on a bench near the front door, and when she saw him, she blushed and looked at her fingers twined together.

“Shall Miss Collins’s maid go to the kitchen?” Robert asked Audrey.

Audrey paused and sent him a thankful smile over her shoulder. “Charlotte?”

The girl stood and bobbed a quick curtsy. “Aye, Mrs. Blake.”

“Lord Knightsbridge is correct. The housekeeper, Mrs. Sanford, will find you a room and show you about. The kitchen is back through this hall.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Charlotte said, and quickly left the room.

Audrey squared her shoulders and moved briskly into the drawing room, showing no hesitation. “Blythe?”

Robert paused in the doorway to take everything in. Miss Collins stood in the middle of the drawing room, wearing a bright green gown with a matching shaped jacket for warmth during travel, and a little hat perched on the top of her piled brunette curls. He thought she looked nervous upon first seeing Audrey, but when she caught sight of him, she gave that “confident-in-my-beauty” smile, and he found himself distrusting her motives before she even opened her mouth.

“Audrey, this is a lovely home,” she said politely, guardedly.

“I’m glad you came, Blythe.” Audrey reached out her hand, and Miss Collins took it. “Why didn’t you tell me you wanted to visit? I thought you were staying in London.”

Miss Collins shrugged, glancing at Robert again. “It’s not the Season yet, and so many people aren’t in Town. I made my rounds and then . . . I wanted to see the house you inherited. Rose Cottage is the name?”

Audrey smiled and nodded, as if she’d never had a problem with her sister. Robert suspected that Audrey would do anything to improve her relationship with Miss Collins. He felt a rise of anger on her behalf, that she would have to be so desperate for her family’s approval. But was that all it was? He had no family at all but distant cousins, and would give much to have the companionship and shared past of close kin. Perhaps Audrey wanted to preserve that, rather than take whatever abuse her sister handed out.

Robert would make certain that Miss Collins understood that he would not tolerate poor treatment of Audrey.

“Are you just stopping by,” Audrey began, “or might you visit for a while? You’d be my first overnight guest.”

Miss Collins glanced at Robert with speculation. “Lord Knightsbridge did not stay?”

What did the woman think they were doing, conducting an open affair? Not that Robert would have minded for himself, but he minded on Audrey’s behalf.

“My home is only eight miles away,” Robert said coolly. “It would be inappropriate for me to spend a night here, do you not think?”

Miss Collins’s eyes widened.

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