Read Online Seeking Celeste by Hayley Ann Solomon - Free Book Online Page A

Dishwater or whatever.”
    Anne giggled, though she tried vainly to be reproving.
    â€œDanvers, my lord, as I warrant you know!”
    â€œShall I have to have discourse with the dragon countess?”
    â€œVery likely, for she will wonder at the change of arrangements. I have every faith in you, however.”
    â€œThat relieves me, though does not promise for any less tedium. Still, I shall endeavour to earn one of your delightful smiles upon my return.”
    â€œWhich will be ... ?”
    â€œHeaven knows! A couple of months, I should imagine. There are several bills being passed in the house, and I shall be attending the Tattersall sales ...”
    Anne knew a stab of disappointment, though she skillfully hid it. It was no concern of hers what the earl chose to do with his time. He had not mentioned the galas and balls and ridottos, but she was not so green as to consider he would not be attending. She wondered if there was already some suitable young lady picked out for him and decided, regretfully, that there would be. A man of his rank did not go unnoticed about the ton for long.
    â€œI shall stay away, Miss Anne Derringer, for if I did not, I may break my promise to you, and that I could not, as a gentleman, countenance.”
    â€œYour promise?”
    She looked up then and read the tender expression on his face. It was fleeting and replaced, almost at once, with one laden with a teasing irony.
    â€œJust so.”
    Anne blushed.
    â€œFustian! I am no incomparable to hold you enraptured in my toils! You are perfectly free to return when you choose. Stop talking flummery and admit that some other pressing reasons keep you from home.”
    â€œPerhaps.” The earl folded his arms jauntily and grinned.
    Anne wished he did not look so annoyingly pleased with himself. She bit back a scathing comment, half-ashamed that she should be so piqued at his evident desire to set off.
    â€œYou will say farewell to those rapscallions for me. I wish you joy of them, Miss Derringer!”
    â€œYou may be sure I shall take good care of them.”
    â€œBut will they take equally good care of you?”
    The laughter was clearly visible in his eyes. Anne did not have the heart to persist in her disapproval.
    â€œVery likely not! I shall write at once if I find my chamber too overcrowded with slugs.”
    â€œWhat a poor spirit, you are, to be sure. Write to me, indeed! I wager you will spend half the morning crawling across my estate in search of retaliatory bugs!”
    â€œI will not take up your wager, sir, for very likely I shall lose my first quarterly pay. I find your idea inspiring!”
    â€œExcellent, I shall look forward to a lengthy report of the term’s excitements upon my return. By the by ...”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œYou are not to be discomposed if you find the estate battened upon by several of my rather ramshackle acquaintances. They are dear fellows, but persist in the belief that this estate—which borders on Lord Anchorford’s hunting box—is merely an extension of the same. Lord knows how they acquired such a chuckleheaded notion, but there it is. Every year I threaten to turn them out on their ears, and every year it is the same. I find I am too soft hearted by far!”
    â€œIt would appear so, my lord! How many people can one reasonably expect at any time?”
    â€œLord, I haven’t the faintest notion. My housekeeper, Mrs. Tibbet, generally attends to their requirements. With any luck, they should not be a bother to you at all. The gentlemen tend to be a trifle foxed, but have a satisfying tendency to keep to themselves, since they are usually only accompanied by wives and do not have ...”
    He cleared his throat, aware that he was just about to make a horrible faux pas.
    Anne, apprehending that he was referring to the many less respectable female diversions that London had to offer, smiled in quiet understanding.
    â€œJust so, my