The Beleaguered Earl by Allison Lane

Author:Allison Lane [Lane, Allison]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 2000-05-20T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Max locked the door to Miss Ashburton’s hallway, then paced his room. He should not have lost his temper. What was wrong with him lately? It felt as if a stranger had crawled into his skin – betting money he didn’t have, organizing this party, becoming so wrapped up in stubborn arrogance that he couldn’t think straight, insisting that Miss Ashburton behave as he wanted.

Dear God. Another trait that mirrored his father. His hands gripped his head lest it explode. Had Montcalm won after all, tricking him into adopting his worst traits?

“No!” he vowed as his feet picked up speed. This wasn’t the same thing at all. He’d demanded that Miss Ashburton obey only to protect her. It was a temporary measure made necessary because he had placed her in danger. Once Dornbras left, she could do whatever she wanted.

He was not turning into his father.

He reviewed all the ways he was different – genuine concern for the helpless, personally handling his responsibilities, eagerly trying new ideas, wanting to help his dependents. None of that was true of Montcalm. The marquess cared only for himself, placing the operation of his estates in the hands of others, then withdrawing into a brooding silence broken only by periodic exhortations to his son.

Max relaxed. He was not like that. When problems arose, he faced them head-on. So maybe he was a little stubborn, and maybe he was a little irritated when people who ought to know better did something stupid. He could fix that. All he had to do was think twice before opening his mouth.

He stopped at the window, again looking over the empty drive. He would be better off deciding how to end this party. He had promised to make the announcement tomorrow, but so far he had not come up with reasons that sounded legitimate. Yes, the house was small, but they were now reduced to seven people spread over six bedchambers – hardly inconvenient.

He did have work that he needed to do, but it was no more pressing than it had been last week, and it could easily be postponed until later. The food was simple, yet it was both tasty and filling. And while the service was primitive, it was tolerable for a little longer. So what could he say that would allay Dornbras’s suspicions?

Every time he thought of Dornbras, he cringed. The man was a more poisonous snake than the one that had infested Eden, particularly since his ultimate goal was no longer clear. In retrospect, acceptance into society’s ballrooms and drawing rooms seemed an inadequate reason to court favor. Dornbras’s own family could have provided such entry. Had they quietly disowned him?

He shook his head, for word would have leaked out. London’s gossips were too good at unearthing every last scrap of scandal. And Dornbras must have known that no one person could counter his drawbacks forever. Even Brummell lacked the power to keep Dornbras acceptable once people discovered his true nature. So why had

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