Wanted: An Earl for Hire: Calling all Rakes by Tammy Andresen

Author:Tammy Andresen
Language: eng
Format: epub

That evening, Tate sat in his study, noting the settee’s faded fabric. He ran a hand across the shabby cloth and shook his head.

What was he going to do about Charlotte Pennington?

He cared about her.

Hell. He was fairly certain it went far deeper than caring. If he was going to be honest, at least with himself, he was falling in love.

For the first time, he’d found a woman with whom he could imagine spending his entire life.

Rather than boring, life with Charlotte would be full of excitement, passion, and a bit of maddening obstinance that was sure to drive him wild with irritation and desire.

But he wasn’t free to marry Charlotte. Not anymore.

That same anger he’d been ignoring bubbled up inside his chest. If only Alfred hadn’t died. But then, he’d have never answered that ad.

He knew Charlotte had some dowry.

Perhaps it was enough.

He should speak with her father. Glean the answers. He was a solicitor, after all. While he couldn’t make something from nothing, even a small sum might do the trick. If he could spin it into the right investments.

They wouldn’t have much, but they might be happy.

Would Charlotte be content with that?

He relaxed at that.

She didn’t give a whit about balls, parties, or society.

He’d have a harder time keeping her away from crime scenes. That last thought made him chuckle.

Though, the joy of it quickly evaporated. Because that was his second realization. He could not allow her to continue to endanger herself. That was also abundantly clear.

He looked down at the book she’d given him earlier, his hand spreading out on the cover. He didn’t open it, he just looked.

It reminded him of her words. I can’t help you find a bride.

Leave it to Charlotte to express her feelings in such roundabout terms. No flowery declarations of love or affection. She’d let him know just the same, of course. Which made him smile.

“Excellent choice in reading, my lord,” James said as he poured Tate another whisky.

When had his butler entered? He’d been so lost in thought, he hadn’t noticed. “Thank you.”

“Did you purchase the copy?” James cleared his throat as he straightened. “I only ask because you needn’t have bothered. I own it already.”

Tate rubbed at the spot between his eyes. Of course his butler owned the book. And why hadn’t he thought to ask the man? He’d been in service of an earldom for more than thirty years. “You’ll be pleased to know I did not spend a shilling of our meager funds on the book. I borrowed it.”

“Borrowed it? Who are you acquainted with that you were able to do so?”

Tate frowned up at James. The man would have never asked such a question of his uncle or even his cousin. But then again, neither James nor Tate himself really saw him as the actual lord of the manor. And besides, perhaps James was a valuable asset that Tate had overlooked. “If you must know, I’ve recently met a woman from a good family. Daughter of a second son.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.