West End Earl by Bethany Bennett

Author:Bethany Bennett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2021-06-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Lakeview was a full day’s travel from London, but the day was nearly over. Phee and his servants would overnight at an inn along the way, then arrive the next day. Cal watched the traveling coach rumble down the street from his library window.

She’d asked the question that lingered in his mind as well. What kind of future did they have? Sure, they might continue as they’d began, once they’d dealt with the threat of her uncle. They could be “bachelor friends” who lived together as companions. They certainly wouldn’t be alone in that designation.

Kingston, thus far, had kept mute on the subject, but eventually another servant would find them embracing. Or they’d come across proof that Adam Hardwick was not what he seemed. No matter how much he paid his staff or how loyal they were, keeping Phee’s secret would be like holding water in their hands—eventually, something would leak out and make a mess.

All that assumed there would be a future. That Milton would be in custody or otherwise neutralized and she’d be safe. Everything else remained uncertain. Any version of a future between them came with questions. Big questions.

But he wanted her. Amidst all that unknown, that was something Cal knew down to his bones. Their turn toward romance deviated from every norm and broke every rule of proper discourse.

And he didn’t give a damn.

He, the one who spent so much of his time handling the scandals of others, minimizing the damage, was barreling forward with Phee, heedless of how things might look to outsiders.

This could easily explode in his face.

Higgins cleared his throat from the doorway. “Milord, the Marquess of Eastly is asking to see you.”

Cal didn’t turn from the window, although her carriage was long gone. He’d been staring into the distance, mooning like a green lad, and hadn’t noticed his father’s coach arrive.

“I’m not at home to my father at the moment. Thank you, Higgins.”

“Very good, milord.”

The door closed, leaving Cal alone once more. Hell and blast. The weight of his father’s expectations squeezed another bit of happiness from him.

With a deliberate exhale, he released the worry and his shoulders relaxed. In the end, it wouldn’t matter. Miss Cuthbert wasn’t going to marry him, and they’d already devised a plan to work around their fathers.

This ridiculous situation with Miss Cuthbert nagged at him, and he knew it bothered Phee. He’d asked her to trust him. Things were well in hand. He would juggle this, like a dozen scandals and irresponsible bets made by his father before. Phee had bigger things to worry about than Eastly’s poor judgment. Like staying alive.

There were still unwanted visitors to deal with later that night, and he’d need help. With Father’s carriage at the front of the house, evasive maneuvers were called for. Cal darted across the hall, used a servants’ passage to get to the rear of the house, then took the narrow staircase down to the kitchen. A friendly wave to Cook, then he slipped out the kitchen to the garden.

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