Read Online Good Earl Gone Bad by Manda Collins - Free Book Online

said. “And we’ll simply convince Lord Saintcrow that your father was mistaken about the true ownership of the horses. I’m sure once it’s explained to him, he’ll see reason.”
    â€œYou saw him this morning,” Hermione said with a shake of her head. “I explained it to him very succinctly.”
    â€œYes, dearest,” Ophelia said softly. “But you said it to him in front of other men.”
    Would Lord Saintcrow be more reasonable when confronted alone? When there was an opportunity for him to do the right thing and save his precious amour propre ? Thinking back on the man’s behavior that morning, she thought it was possible.
    Very well.
    â€œLet’s do it,” she said, placing her hand in the center of their little circle, so that the other two ladies could place their own hands on top of hers.
    â€œIf nothing else, we’ll get an adventure out of it,” Leonora said with a grin.
    Hermione certainly hoped so. And if truth be told, it could hardly be any worse than that morning’s debacle had been.

 
    Five
    When Jasper searched out Hermione for their waltz, he found her in deep conversation with Lord Payne, the current president of the Lords of Anarchy.
    â€œI feel sure we can work something out, Lady Hermione,” Payne was saying with what to Jasper’s eye looked to be an overabundance of solicitude. Payne was married, so there was no question that his intentions, whatever they might be, were honorable. And despite the fact that the fellow had so far as he knew done nothing to disrespect Hermione, Jasper did not like the man.
    â€œThank you so much, Lord Payne,” Hermione said with a bright smile, her eyes shining with real excitement. “I hope there will be a way for me to retrieve my horses from Lord Saintcrow’s possession, but until then I will be very grateful for the loan of your bays.”
    It had not gone without Jasper’s notice that she was looking exceptionally well this evening. For someone who had experienced a very difficult morning, she seemed in good spirits. If his mother or sisters had endured such a setback they’d have taken to their beds. Possibly for a week. Of course none of them would have considered joining a driving club in the first place, but that was beside the point.
    Her gown, which was some shade between red and orange—he was no connoisseur of color—made a striking contrast against her dark hair, which was arranged with a series of wispy curls framing her face. A coiffure that fairly begged a man to brush them away from her cheek for a kiss.
    Seeing the direction of Payne’s gaze, he observed that the other man had not failed to notice the way her gown set off Hermione’s very generous bosom. Time to cut this interview short, he thought with a frown.
    â€œMy apologies for the interruption,” he lied with a slight bow to Lord Payne, “but I must claim Lady Hermione for our waltz. You understand don’t you, old chap?”
    Hermione’s lips pursed at the intrusion, but Lord Payne didn’t seem to mind. “Not at all, Mainwaring,” he said with a nod. “We were just finishing up. Club business, you understand.”
    â€œOne might have thought the club could have done something earlier today to stand up for its newest member,” Jasper said blandly. He did not care for the way Payne had implied that he had some sort of private matter to discuss with Hermione. “I feel sure Saintcrow might have backed down if he’d been faced with the whole of the Lords of Anarchy rather than a single defenseless lady.”
    â€œI wasn’t defenseless,” Hermione said sharply, looking as if he’d betrayed her in some way. “I am quite able to take care of myself, thank you, Mainwaring. And it had nothing to do with the club.”
    Jasper felt her frown like a stinging pinch, but he did not back down. “If that were the case