Read Online Her Errant Earl by Scarlett Scott - Free Book Online Page B

at her, catching her gaze upon him. Her heart
jumped into a faster pace at those blue eyes fastened on hers, bright and
seeking. Pembroke cleared his throat, a habit she’d begun to take note of that
happened whenever he was at a loss for words.
    “It seems my father has deigned to write me a letter,” he
said, his tone harsh.
    There must have been something in the contents of his
father’s letter that had upset him greatly. She proceeded with care. “What does
the duke say?”
    William pinned a forced-looking smile to his lips. “He sends
us his regards.”
    “That is all?” It wasn’t precisely that she didn’t believe
her husband, but she was suspicious. Guilt nipped at her. “The letter appears
to be rather voluminous.”
    She could see the letter was of lengthy proportions, the
duke’s dark scrawl visible as her husband held the letter in question up to the
light. She found it curious too that the duke was aware of her husband’s
presence in the country. She frowned as her doubts heightened. Unless of course
it had been sent up from the Belgravia House. Perhaps she was over-thinking it.
    He folded the epistle with care and slid it inside the
pocket of his jacket. “He also prattles on about his falcons or some such.”
    Falcons. Did he think her obtuse? No man wrote an entire
page filled with nonsense about falcons. She pressed on, more convinced than
before that he was hiding something from her. “What has upset you then? Perhaps
you harbor a strong dislike for falconry?”
    “Upset?” He raised an imperious brow. “On the contrary, my
dear, I’ve never been happier.”
    She considered him for a moment. “You don’t appear happy to
me.”
    “But I am. The miserable old codger also writes that he
plans to grace us with his presence.” Bitterness laced his voice.
    The duke had spoken to her on exactly two occasions thus
far, once at a ball given in honor of her betrothal, and once on her wedding
day. All other communication had been strictly conducted with her father.
Victoria had been a bartered commodity, a necessary addition for the sake of the
hallowed family coffers. Perhaps the notion of the duke’s visit had distressed
William. Lord knew it didn’t sit well with her. He was stuffy and had a way of
looking at her that made her feel as if she’d dropped a glob of aspic on her
silk dress.
    Despite her reservations, it was her duty to play hostess to
the man. The duke’s arrival would likely send the household into an uproar.
“When does he plan to arrive? I’ll need time to prepare.”
    “Three days hence.” Pembroke couldn’t have worn a more
disgusted expression had he just bitten into a plate of rotten eggs instead of
Cook’s heavenly creations.
    Three days. Dear God.
    Victoria nearly dropped her fork. She stilled, plastering a
pleasant expression to her face. “How delightful.”
    “How dreadful would actually be more like it.” He muttered
what sounded like a rather rude round of curses beneath his breath.
    “He can’t be all bad.” Could he? She had to admit that as
unflappable as Pembroke seemed in all other matters, when it came to the duke,
he was very much affected. Surely there was a good reason for it.
    “You shall see.”
    She wondered again at what could have rendered her husband
so cold, so hateful toward his father. Perhaps he would never confide in her.
Lord knew he was adept at avoiding serious subjects in favor of other, far
naughtier pursuits.
    Pembroke abruptly dropped his fork to his plate. “I find
I’ve quite lost my appetite. Would you care for a ride, my lady?”
    Victoria wasn’t precisely at home on a horse. Equestrienne
had never been one of her talents. She hesitated. “I’m not certain I’m in the
mood to be jostled about.”
    Of course, the opportunity to spend more time with her
husband was appealing indeed. She very much wanted to continue in their
tentative pax. Perhaps the awkwardness of the morning could be mollified, at
least in