When the Earl Falls in Love (The Secret Matchmaker Series Book 1) by Jessie Clever

Author:Jessie Clever [Clever, Jessie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781737212027
Publisher: Someday Lady Publishing LLC
Published: 2021-10-20T18:30:00+00:00

“I can only assume you wrangled an invitation to this madness because of Lady D’Arcy.”

Dash was not surprised Hawk had sought him out. He was only surprised that he’d done it so quickly.

Dash found no point in lying to his friend. “Yes,” he said simply.

Hawk crossed his arms over his chest as he took a position on the stone terrace overlooking the gardens where Hawk’s grandmother was giving some of the guests a tour of her roses.

“I thought you said you had honorable intentions in regard to Lady D’Arcy.”

“I do,” Dash said, his eyes picking out the woman in question with little trouble. She lagged behind the others, her arm linked with Lady Hodge’s as she attempted to propel the woman forward and not dash off to find Philip.

The man had disappeared some hours ago, and Dash wondered if he were hiding in his rooms.

Slowly he turned his gaze to Hawk. “I’m here to look after her if you must know. Her mother doesn’t seem inclined to the task.”

Hawk’s features loosened, and he dropped his arms, moving to perch against the stone balustrade of the terrace.

“The Countess of Dartford has never been overly interested in her daughter’s life, I’m afraid.” Hawk looked out to the gardens at the meandering guests. “Do you honestly think you can protect her though?”

Dash raised both eyebrows. “Do you think I can’t?”

Hawk’s gaze turned pensive. “I saw you earlier in the drawing room when Grandmother was making introductions. You two seem…close.”

Dash remained silent, waiting for his friend to say what it was he suggested.

Hawk leaned on the balustrade now with his hands flat against the stones.

“One would almost say the rumors are correct. You plan to wed Lady D’Arcy.”

Dash turned his back on the guests to face Hawk as he shifted back against the stone wall.

“Are you suggesting I shouldn’t ask Lady D’Arcy to marry me?”

Hawk met his eyes directly. “How long have you known Audrey?”

Dash recalled that first encounter in the cloakroom, his blood thrumming in his veins at the thought. Could it have been nearly a month since that night? How had time passed so quickly?

“Long enough I should think.” He couldn’t stop the way his tone hardened. He had never before felt defensive when engaging in a debate with Hawk, and he wondered now what drove the emotion. He felt the tangled web of his past tightening around him.

Hawk must have sensed it because he relented, straightening away from the balustrade. “I’m not trying to suggest you’re being rash because of what happened with Lady Wilson. I know these circumstances are a great deal different. It’s just—”

But his friend stopped, his gaze moving out over the gardens. The guests had wandered farther onto the grounds, and the hedges immediately below the terrace were now empty. Only the wind passing through their branches made any noise.

After a length of time, Hawk looked back at him. “It’s just I hope you are seeking Lady D’Arcy’s hand for the right reason. Your own reason, Dash, and not because you feel some kind of vendetta against what has happened to you in this world.

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