The Housekeeper's Forbidden Earl by Laura Martin

Author:Laura Martin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-01-18T18:35:42+00:00

* * *

George was fuming. He could not believe Miss Winters had taken the deed, that she’d kept it hidden these past few days. He’d trusted her, opened up to her, even let her see some of his pain and vulnerability.

He was riding hard, bent low over Odysseus’s back, relishing the harsh whip of wind against his face. Only when he sensed his horse was tiring did he slow, his blood pounding in his temples and his breath coming hard and fast.

With a loud, primal shout, he let some of the anger escape through his lips. Her actions weren’t even logical. A delay of a few days was hardly going to make him change his mind on whether he would sell or not.

Slumping forwards, George loosened his grip on the reins, allowing Odysseus to start walking again, choosing his own pace.

The worst part was that he was beginning to trust Miss Winters, to give in to the desire to spend more time with her. He pictured her smiling face and wondered what else had been a ruse. Running a hand through his hair, he knew he was being uncharitable, unreasonable even, but he felt so angry.

It took Odysseus about thirty minutes to pick a path back to the house, and George had lost some of the initial anger by the time he had rubbed the horse down and ensured he was comfortable in his stable. Still he knew he had to confront Miss Winters, to show her how harmful her actions had been.

‘Where is Miss Winters?’ George said as he stomped down to the kitchen.

Marigold eyed him nervously and bobbed into a little curtsy.

‘I think she went to her room, sir.’

Without another word, he stalked along the corridor to the housekeeper’s room and rapped sharply on the door.

Some of the fire in him flickered and died as he saw Miss Winters’s tear-stained face. She looked devastated. He felt a pulse of sympathy and then quickly pushed it down. It was her own fault.

He walked past her into the room, pulling the door closed behind him, and then spun to face her.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said. He was surprised to see she held his eye and spoke with less panic than earlier. Taking the deed was easily a sackable offence, and she must realise her job was on the line. His eyes swept the room and he saw the fabric bag on the bed, already half-stuffed.

‘You’re leaving?’

‘I thought you would want me to.’

He closed his eyes. It would be easy to agree with her. To send her on her way, grab the deed, and leave Crosthwaite House forever himself. That way he wouldn’t have to confront the emotions swirling inside. He could run back to Italy and try to forget the way his heart clenched when Miss Winters smiled or how he found any little excuse to spend time with her. Perhaps he could lessen the guilt he felt rather than adding to it.

‘What were you thinking?’ he asked, to give himself more time to make his decision.

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