Read Online The Toplofty Lord Thorpe by Kasey Michaels - Free Book Online

Rachel had taken charge, sending Mr. Rutherford off with a maid to have his bruised nose attended to, Lord Thorpe was off to his mansion to refresh himself before joining them again in an hour, and Lucy off to her room to do whatever it was Lucy was clearly set to do.
    By the time the small party had reassembled in the drawing room, Lucy’s intentions were clear. She took center stage immediately, only bowing to Lord Thorpe as that belatedly composed man sat glaring at her, clearly wondering how he had chanced to land amidst this gathering of fools. Dexter, seated at a comforting distance from his cousin, and dabbing quite obviously at his oozing left nostril with his lace handkerchief, was all ears as he waited for Lucy to speak, while Rachel, again seated a little away from the rest, took up her tatting and appeared unconcerned.
    â€œNow that we have all had time to compose ourselves,” Lucy began, shooting warning glances at both the Rutherfords, “I think we should review what we know and set about formulating a plan of action.”
    That was as far as Lord Thorpe let Lucy go before breaking in with a word or two of his own. Rising to his full height, his dignity as well as his toilette apparently repaired, he began, “I apologize for bursting in on you ladies this morning. My only excuse is acombination of too little sleep and too many bottles of brandy. I despise myself for my weakness and am here to offer my abject apologies.”
    Lucy could only smile as she looked at the earl. Even when he groveled, he looked and acted like a king. “Please do not apologize, my lord,” she interrupted when it looked as if he were about to launch into a lengthy recitation of his sins. “We are flattered that you trusted us enough to come to us.”
    The earl bowed slightly, then resumed his rigid stance. “Does not the fact that I had nowhere else to turn dampen your enthusiasm even slightly?”
    â€œI say, coz,” Dexter ventured, seeing the sadness flicker in Lucy’s eyes, “can’t you unbend enough to thank the girl properly? God knows I’m not sure I would have let you across my threshold.”
    The earl had the good grace to look ashamed of himself, a thing Rachel found to be as disconcerting as it was out of character. It would be a pity if Lord Thorpe was drawn to Lucy like a waif seeking comfort—for what would happen to her poor niece once the man no longer needed her? “We are only doing the Christian thing,” she pointed out quickly. “Lucy also has a penchant for stray dogs.”
    Rachel’s words served to put his lordship back on his mettle. “I am no stray dog, madam,” he informed Rachel coldly. “I was merely trying to explain my vulnerability, which, upon reflection, was highly exaggerated by my shock at being turned on so decisively by my peers. Your niece, in my confusion, seemed like the safest port in my personal storm.However, now that I have my wits about me once again, I have returned to Portman Square only to apologize and to collect my cousin. Dexter?” he ended, gesturing to the comfortably reclining youth to stand and follow him out the door.
    â€œRather not be seen with you at the moment, cousin,” Dexter drawled, raising his index finger to tenderly stroke his abused nose. “Much as this hurts, you seemed almost human when you were knocking me down. Now you’re back to being an insufferable prig, I don’t believe I care so much for you. Besides, have you forgotten Lucy’s theory? Seems to me we’d better put our heads together before you’re carted off to jail.”
    â€œAre you insinuating that I cannot straighten out this misunderstanding on my own?” the earl questioned, now definitely up on his high ropes. “Moreover, are you really of the opinion that, if I should require assistance, although I do not believe I have alluded to any such eventuality, I would be