The Rogue: Rogues & Gentlemen Book 1 (Rogues and Gentlemen) by Emma V. Leech

Author:Emma V. Leech [Leech, Emma V.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-04-06T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

“Wherein Miss Morton agrees to play with fire.”

Henri looked at Lawrence’s brother across the imposing oak desk and sighed. Why Lawrence, after spending the last decade cultivating a fine reputation as a thief and a rogue, now - at this particular moment - felt inclined to come over all honourable and self sacrificial was beyond her. It was very bad timing and most irksome, especially when such a simple and effective plan was quite within his grasp.

“So what do we do?” she asked the earl, who was sitting with a thoughtful expression, long fingers steepled together. She watched as he pursed his lips, as though contemplating something rather distasteful, before turning back to her.

“Can you act, Miss Morton?”

Henri raised her eyebrows. “Not to my knowledge, though in truth I have never had cause to discover the talent lacking. Why?”

The cool grey eyes looked her over, curious and apparently considering.”Because I feel we must indulge in a little play acting, a deception, to convince Lawrence that he would be far better off doing as we wish.”

Intrigued, Henri leaned forward over the desk, her arms folded over the polished top. It seemed a most unlikely suggestion from the Earl of Falmouth and she was eager to discover what exactly he had in mind. “What manner of deception did you have in mind, my lord?”

“In the circumstances I think you may call me Alex,” he replied, though his voice didn't imply that he enjoyed giving her the familiarity of his name.

“In what circumstances?” she asked with apprehension, believing she had a vague idea where this was going.

“In the circumstances of our engagement and the wedding that will take place on our return to England.”

“B-but ...”

Alex waved a hand to silence her and glaring, she ground to a halt.

“Miss Morton, Henrietta ... if you will allow the familiarity?” Those grey eyes looked at her as though he was bored to death and wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible.

"I prefer Henri," she replied equally stiff and still glaring at him.

“Henri, you were quite right in what you said to Lawrence. He doesn't know me anymore. I am not the man I was when he left.” She realised Lawrence must have told him her previous description of the earl’s infamous behaviour. A shadow fell over his expression and she could see the weight of guilt that the past years had left upon him. “In truth, I'm not sure I ever was that man, though I did try to be everything that I believed was right and proper for the son of an earl. But his death changed everything, it changed me. Before he ... died, I was ever conscious of honour and propriety and nothing stood more important in my mind than the family name.” He snorted, looking on her with amusement. “And I can see from your incredulous expression how far I have fallen from those lofty heights and just how tarnished that name has become.”

Henri felt her cheeks burn

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