What the Earl Needs Now by Michelle Willingham

Author:Michelle Willingham
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: 0
Published: 2017-10-23T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

Matthew entered his family’s townhouse and gave his hat and gloves to a footman. The servant took them and added, “My lord, Lady Arnsbury is taking tea in the drawing room. She asked if you would join her when you returned home.”

“So I shall.” He crossed through the hallway until he reached the blue drawing room. The wallpaper was the color of a robin’s egg with drapes that were white and blue. He saw his mother seated upon the settee, and her expression brightened when he arrived.

“Matthew, I am glad you were able to join me.” Charlotte poured him a cup of tea and added sugar, offering it to him. “I’ve been wanting to speak with you.”

His first thought was of Miss Carlisle. Had the woman carried out her threat of spreading stories? Matthew took the cup and joined his mother, sitting across from her. “What is it? Has something happened?”

She paused a moment and said, “I wanted to see how you’ve been. . .feeling during the past few months. We haven’t truly talked in a while.”

He understood what she meant now. Ever since the night when he’d fallen into despair, his mother had hovered over him, afraid he would do the worst. And the truth was, after he’d hurt Lily, his own life had seemed useless and wasted.

“Each day grows easier,” he admitted. “Sometimes the nightmares come, but I have found that I am now able to sleep at night.”

“And you are eating again.” Charlotte smiled warmly at him, offering a plate of sandwiches. He took one to satisfy her, though he wasn’t truly hungry. “You do not know how worried we were.”

It had been a dark time, but he did believe Lily’s forgiveness had helped. “It was not easy.”

Charlotte poured herself a cup of tea. “And how are things with Lady Lily? Dare I hope that we can post the banns soon?”

“I have asked her to marry me,” he admitted. “But she has not yet agreed.”

At that, his mother set down her cup. “Why ever not?

Because she does not yet trust me, he thought. But he managed an excuse, saying, “She is studying veterinary medicine.”

Charlotte stared at him as if he’d confessed that Lily was trying to grow wings. “Why on earth would she do that? Is she interested in horses?”

“Lily prefers smaller animals, such as dogs. She saved the life of a Landseer, and she also gave me that Beast of my own.” He nodded toward the kitten who had wandered inside the drawing room and was poised to attack the furniture. Matthew leaned down to scoop the kitten into his lap.

“I hope you will continue to court Lady Lily,” his mother said. “I like the girl and her family. She is good for you, Matthew.”

“She is. And I intend to keep paying calls on her.”

A strange look crossed his mother’s face, one that held a hint of wickedness. “It may sound Machiavellian, but I would not hold it against you if you were to seduce the girl.

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