To Steal an Earl: Regency Historical Romance (The Sisterhood of Independent Ladies Book 3) by Maeve Greyson

Author:Maeve Greyson [Greyson, Maeve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2024-05-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

“You cannot travel to Calais alone,” Sophie told her mother. “Safety in numbers, remember? How many times have you told me we must never travel alone?”

“I am going. With my maid and an armed footman, I shall be quite safe. I am not helpless nor without my own resources.” The dowager squared her narrow shoulders. Self-assuredness streamed from her like rays of light. “You forget who I am, my child.”

Nash caught hold of Merritt’s arm and stopped him before the fool waded into the treacherous waters of two women in the middle of a disagreement. “Let them sort it,” he advised in a low voice. The lovely ladies had taught him that lesson well.

“Lady Sophie is right,” Merritt said too loudly for his own good. He kept his gaze locked on the dowager countess. “Lady Nia cannot travel to France with merely a footman and a maid. Not under the present circumstances.”

Both women turned and glared at him.

“You are a dead man,” Nash murmured before stepping forward to sacrifice himself in his friend’s stead. “If anything were to happen to you, dear mother-in-law, I should never forgive myself. Why this sudden need to return to Calais? You said yourself the academy was under the exemplary care of some of your former star pupils.”

The woman eyed him as if sighting a pistol for the killing shot. “It is best I return to Calais for several reasons. Sophie will be safe here with you, allowing me to approach this dilemma from another angle.”

“What angle?” He studied her. Something uneasy brewed in the lady’s amber eyes, and it was not merely concern for her daughter’s safety. No, it was more than that, but he couldn’t fathom what. He had always been somewhat awestruck by the powerful woman, and the more he was around her, the more enigmatic she seemed—like a mighty goddess he dared not question. But he would question her for his beloved Sophie’s sake. “What angle, my lady?”

The dowager ignored him. Instead, she turned back to her daughter. “I understand what I am doing. You must trust me.”

“We are in full mourning, Maman,” Sophie countered with a haughty tilt of her chin. “You should not be traveling. It is not proper.”

“I have been in full mourning since your papa’s murder. Do not lecture me on the appropriate behavior while grieving a loved one.” Not sparing any of them another look, she haughtily swept from the room and stormed up the stairs.

Sophie stared after her, looking so lost and forlorn that Nash’s heart ached for his precious wife.

He went to her, took her hand, and pressed a kiss to it, pleased she had honored his request to remain gloveless unless they were entertaining or out for the day. The satin of her skin, even the simple innocence of her bare hand, beguiled him. He couldn’t get enough of touching her. He kissed the backs of her fingers again. “We will convince her to stay, my swan. Somehow.”

“If need be, I will

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