Read Online The Sins of Lord Easterbrook by Madeline Hunter - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Madeline Hunter
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ask for a reason. I have a small publishing house that I inherited from my father. I have decided to publish a lady's journal. I intend to have it be more literate than the others. It occurs to me that you might describe these distant lands as you saw them, and educate my readers in the customs and important matters of these places.”
It was a novel notion, and one that captivated Leona's interest. “Would you only want descriptions of clothing and food and such?”
“It could be about anything you choose. Events that you witnessed. Problems that you perceived. Of course you should not ignore fashion and society totally. That will always be of interest to most women.”
Not so much to the woman who would publish that journal, Leona thought. Lady Phaedra was lovely, but unusual in the simplicity of her pale green dress and her unbound hair. No other woman in Hyde Park looked like that.
“Say that you will consider it,” Lady Phaedra urged. “Your letters will make the first issues of this journal distinctive.”
“I will see if I can write one that you find acceptable. If you like it, we can talk further.”
Easterbrook approached with his brother by his side. “It appears that you have formed an alliance, Miss Montgomery.”
“One that promises to be beneficial to us both, I hope,” Lady Phaedra said. “Please call on me soon, Miss Montgomery.”
Easterbrook watched Lady Phaedra stroll away with her husband. “She is not the wife I would have chosen for him, and the story surrounding their marriage caused a scandal, but he is more than content.” He spoke as if Leona had invited his opinion.
“I found her very amiable and interesting. Why would you not have chosen her?”
He began escorting her back to the carriage. “Amiable to be sure. And interesting. But also willfully peculiar and deliberately unconventional. That did not recommend her initially.” He looked over at her. “I have said something that amuses you.”
“Not at all, Lord Easterbrook. It was generous that you reconciled yourself to her willful peculiarity. What an open mind you have.”
Upon returning to her house, Easterbrook accompanied her and Isabella to the door. Then he entered it behind them.
“Leave us,” he said.
Isabella bowed and scurried away.
Leona refused to invite him into one of the other chambers. Whatever he had to say could be communicated in this reception hall.
He regarded her a long while, as if he expected her to speak first. It unnerved her, to suffer his gaze like this. The chamber seemed to shrink, bringing him closer even though neither of them moved.
“This plan, to make introductions and such,” he said. “It will be much more effective if you move to Grosvenor Square.”
She had not expected such a blunt overture so soon. “I am content here, and I would never impose on your aunt.”
“She would not consider it an imposition, I guar antee.”
“All the same, joining your household would be too much intimacy with a woman I barely know.”
“There would be no intimacies that you did not agree to. It is a very big house.”
“I must decline your generous offer.”
He took it well enough. He paced aimlessly around the shrinking chamber. “The introduction to my brother Hayden will have to be delayed a week or so. His first child will be born any day now.”
“I am sorry that you even raised the matter with him under that circumstance.”
“He did not mind. In the meantime, invitations will begin arriving for you tomorrow—more than you can accept. If you have any questions regarding which should take precedence, I will gladly help you with that.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you have the necessary wardrobe? If not, I will—”
“I cannot allow that, so please do not offer.”
He took the second rejection very well too. Leona stood her ground and tried to ignore how he managed to dominate what had become a tiny space now, one where she stood in the center and his casual stroll
It was a novel notion, and one that captivated Leona's interest. “Would you only want descriptions of clothing and food and such?”
“It could be about anything you choose. Events that you witnessed. Problems that you perceived. Of course you should not ignore fashion and society totally. That will always be of interest to most women.”
Not so much to the woman who would publish that journal, Leona thought. Lady Phaedra was lovely, but unusual in the simplicity of her pale green dress and her unbound hair. No other woman in Hyde Park looked like that.
“Say that you will consider it,” Lady Phaedra urged. “Your letters will make the first issues of this journal distinctive.”
“I will see if I can write one that you find acceptable. If you like it, we can talk further.”
Easterbrook approached with his brother by his side. “It appears that you have formed an alliance, Miss Montgomery.”
“One that promises to be beneficial to us both, I hope,” Lady Phaedra said. “Please call on me soon, Miss Montgomery.”
Easterbrook watched Lady Phaedra stroll away with her husband. “She is not the wife I would have chosen for him, and the story surrounding their marriage caused a scandal, but he is more than content.” He spoke as if Leona had invited his opinion.
“I found her very amiable and interesting. Why would you not have chosen her?”
He began escorting her back to the carriage. “Amiable to be sure. And interesting. But also willfully peculiar and deliberately unconventional. That did not recommend her initially.” He looked over at her. “I have said something that amuses you.”
“Not at all, Lord Easterbrook. It was generous that you reconciled yourself to her willful peculiarity. What an open mind you have.”
Upon returning to her house, Easterbrook accompanied her and Isabella to the door. Then he entered it behind them.
“Leave us,” he said.
Isabella bowed and scurried away.
Leona refused to invite him into one of the other chambers. Whatever he had to say could be communicated in this reception hall.
He regarded her a long while, as if he expected her to speak first. It unnerved her, to suffer his gaze like this. The chamber seemed to shrink, bringing him closer even though neither of them moved.
“This plan, to make introductions and such,” he said. “It will be much more effective if you move to Grosvenor Square.”
She had not expected such a blunt overture so soon. “I am content here, and I would never impose on your aunt.”
“She would not consider it an imposition, I guar antee.”
“All the same, joining your household would be too much intimacy with a woman I barely know.”
“There would be no intimacies that you did not agree to. It is a very big house.”
“I must decline your generous offer.”
He took it well enough. He paced aimlessly around the shrinking chamber. “The introduction to my brother Hayden will have to be delayed a week or so. His first child will be born any day now.”
“I am sorry that you even raised the matter with him under that circumstance.”
“He did not mind. In the meantime, invitations will begin arriving for you tomorrow—more than you can accept. If you have any questions regarding which should take precedence, I will gladly help you with that.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you have the necessary wardrobe? If not, I will—”
“I cannot allow that, so please do not offer.”
He took the second rejection very well too. Leona stood her ground and tried to ignore how he managed to dominate what had become a tiny space now, one where she stood in the center and his casual stroll
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