The Mistress Enchants Her Marquis by Christina McKnight

Author:Christina McKnight
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, Regency, Victorian, Historical, Historical Romance
ISBN: 1945089121
Publisher: La Loma Elite Publishing
Published: 2017-02-21T00:00:00+00:00

“M athers!” Eli pounded on the side of the coach. “Stop the conveyance. I am in need of air.”

It was a bit of an understatement—in need of air. Elijah needed far more than air to turn is life right-side up once more. He desired Samantha Pengarden…at his side and in his home, forevermore. Had this been the affliction his father had faced when meeting his mother? He’d given so much thought to Alice Watson, and rarely thought of the man he’d only known through the musings of his grandfather.

The coach rumbled to a stop only three short hours after departing Hollybrooke. That time was all Eli could spend locked in the conveyance alone, with only this thoughts—filled with remorse and regret—as company.

He’d stood outside Sam’s bed chamber door for as long as possible before guests began stirring and preparing for the late morning wedding in the gardens. He’d flipped through the thin volume he’d taken from Cummings’ private study. He’d debated returning the book to her, allowing her to gain the knowledge he could never share with her, but that she so desperately longed to know.

He could not do this to himself. He’d made the correct decision. The only decision that would benefit everyone involved.

“My lord?” Mathers asked, opening the door wide.

Eli jumped from the confines of the conveyance, happy to do away with the restrictions imposed by the enclosed coach.

“Shall we turn about and start back to Hollybrooke?” Mathers’ brow rose in question, and a spot of hopefulness shone in his tone. “We can arrive before the meal is served—“

“No.” Eli slashed his hand through the space between them before pivoting to pace alongside the road. “Give me a few moments, and we will continue on our way.”

“Very well.” Mathers averted his glare before climbing back up onto his perch and taking the reins in hand to await Eli’s next command. Blast it all, but Eli hadn’t meant to be harsh with his servant. The man was loyal to a fault, and one of the few men Eli considered a friend despite the fact that he paid Mathers’ salary. It was something Mathers rarely forgot and because of it, he made himself available to Eli but rarely spoke of himself.

Eli turned and strode to stand below Mathers’ perch. “My apologies.” When his valet—and occasional carriage driver—only nodded but refused to meet Eli’s eyes, he climbed up next to the man, rubbing his open palms down his face. “I did not mean to speak harshly. My troubles are my own, and I know this.”

“May I speak freely, my lord?” The man’s hands tightened on the reins, his knuckles turning white with strain.

“Of course,” Eli sighed.

“I do not believe you wanted to leave Hollybrooke,” Mathers confided.

“No, I did not.” Truly, he hadn’t wanted to leave Sam and whatever the draw between them was. “Originally, I came to Derbyshire to escape the strain from Grandfather’s passing and the regret of failing to bring my mother home. Unfortunately, my troubles followed me here.”

In

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