An Earl in Time by Lisa Kumar

Author:Lisa Kumar [Kumar, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Astraea Press LLC
Published: 2013-08-11T16:00:00+00:00

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Julia entered the dining room, hoping the earl wasn’t eating breakfast. When she saw him, she nearly groaned. Talk about bad luck. He looked up from the newspaper he was reading and smiled. Her mouth went dry. He looked delectable.

His fawn-colored tailcoat molded to his shoulders and chest, and his cravat drew attention to his strong jaw. She ripped her gaze away. It wouldn’t do to stare at him and give his already big head an ego trip.

As she walked to the table, she turned her attention to the room. An exquisitely carved marble fireplace rested against one wall, and gilded friezes decorated the beige walls. From the center of the ceiling, a chandelier hung from a medallion. The hardwood floor gleamed. A poker-faced footman in livery stood in attendance along one wall.

Before she knew it, she stood by the table, where the earl had risen from his seat. Her panicked mind whirled in chaos. Oh dear, why was he standing? She was sure it had something to do with him being gentlemanly. He was so much harder to resist that way, and by the knowing smile on his face, the horrible man knew it.

She dropped her gaze, determined to ignore him and his courteous manner. An assortment of foodstuffs was laid out on a sideboard. The aroma that wafted from that area caused her stomach to growl. Pretty china and silverware sat at two places on the table— one before the earl and the other beside him. She gulped. The place setting had to be for her, and it looked like the earl had been waiting for her to arrive before he ate.

“You may sit beside me if you like.”

It was the only place to sit unless she wanted to move the plates and utensils. She glanced up, wet her lips with the tip of her tongue, but couldn’t think of a good reason to refuse. In the end she settled on a nod.

He pulled out the chair and, with a hand on her shoulder, guided her into it. His touch burned through the white morning gown she and the duchess had picked out that morning at the modiste. She closed her eyes in an attempt to regain control of her runaway emotions as he scooted her forward. A gentleman to the last drop, that one.

“Jennings, you are dismissed,” the earl said. The footman bowed and left the room. “I’ll serve you. Would you like some toast and eggs?”

A man who would serve her, and one who was a lord no less? Her toes curled. Heaven help her, he was too good to be true. “That all sounds delicious. Thanks.” By some great miracle, she managed to keep her voice even.

Behind her, serving dishes rattled, and silverware clanged as James did his thing. Stepping back to her side, he leaned forward to set a plate before her. She froze, intimately aware of how close he was to her. Was it her imagination, or was he lingering a long time

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