The Earl's Envy by Madeline St. James

Author:Madeline St. James [James, Madeline St.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-02-06T00:00:00+00:00

***

James was surprised to see the carriage pull into the Estate so soon after seeing them off. He expected them to be gone for weeks, if not an entire month if things had gone as they had planned. But the look of hesitation of Beatrice’s face, paired with the fury behind William’s eyes, caused James’s stomach to clench.

What could have possibly put that look in such a patient and optimistic gentleman’s eyes? Beatrice waved William’s help away as she lifted his mother into her arms. James was always impressed by the strength she possessed in her petite frame. He then noticed how her arms trembled as a result of the cold rather than the weight she carried.

Beatrice wrapped his mother snuggly in her coat, leaving nothing but the bare skin of her arms to ward off the cold winds. He bit his lower lip in anger even as gratitude filled his heart. She often cared far too much about the needs of others, often to her personal detriment. It was confusing to be irritated by, and thankful for, one person all at once. But nothing about Beatrice was simple.

She waited for William to open the front door before she rushed past him and headed for the staircase. He attempted to go after her, but was stopped by William’s insistent hold on his arm. “My Lord, may I have a moment of your time?” he asked as he dropped his arm to his side.

James nodded, using this as an opportunity to learn what he could about their brief trip, knowing that neither Beatrice nor his mother would confide in him. There was only one place in the manor that no servants or guests were allowed to enter. “Follow me to the study. It will be more private there.”

They walked up the stairs to the last room at the far end of the main corridor. James barely resisted leaning his ear against the door to his mother’s bedchamber to hear the muffled voices more clearly. Once they entered the study, William paced across the floor.

James gestured for the young man to take a seat and poured him a glass of brandy to sooth his nerves. Neither man spoke for approximately twenty minutes, according to the clock that ticked in the corner. William released a quivering breath and said, “there was a man in London who frightened Miss Haddington. She appeared ghostly, too shaken to move or speak. I must admit that when I caught sight of the man I too experience a moment of raw fear…”

Unreasonable, possessive and protective anger began to simmer beneath his ubiquitous display of indifference.

William stuttered for several seconds but hastened to continue once he found his composure. “He had…these scars on his face; dreadful, horrific scars. And he stared at Miss Haddington as though he recognized her. She insists that she has never seen the man before and I believe her, but the…desire in his eyes was quite alarming, My Lord.”

“What else did you see?”

“He was dressed quite smartly, My Lord.

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