Page 59 of One Night with an Earl

“Three cows to each of them, Benjamin and Minerva’s father.”

“You didn’t!”

“It is a simple solution.”

She laughed. “You bribed both men for her freedom?”

“I don’t think of it as a bribe. Not if Minerva and Aidan are free to be together.”

Unexpected warmth surged through her. “You are a romantic at heart?”

“I never thought so. It is my duty to solve tenant disputes.”

“You could have forced Minerva to marry Benjamin. As the lord of the manor, Aidan would have had to accept your decision.”

His gaze darkened. “Then maybe you are right. I believe two lovers should be together.”

Her heart fluttered wildly in her breast. Was he speaking of his tenants or themselves?

Impossible. They could never be together. She may have been the daughter of a baron, but the gap between them now was as far and wide as the river that ran through Rosedown.

A herd of cows would not be sufficient to bridge their differences.

The sound of running water drew her attention to the courtyard fountain. Lady Malvern stood on the front steps staring at them, her expression suspicious, her eyes narrowed.

Ana dropped her hand from Oliver’s sleeve.

…

Ana managed to escape her employer’s questioning gaze to flee inside the manor. Oliver must have sensed her anxiety and urged Lady Malvern aside to engage her in conversation while Ana slipped away.

For once, she was grateful for his interference.

Ana was halfway up the winding staircase when someone appeared at the landing. Ana recognized the stout figure of the housekeeper, Mrs. Hannings.

“Miss Gardner, is there anything you need?”

She kept her head down. “No, thank you. I just was on my way to my bedchamber.”

“Are you sure? Would you like to switch rooms, perhaps to your former one when you lived here?”

Ana’s head snapped up to meet the housekeeper’s probing stare. Her heart thudded in her chest. “How long have you known?”

“As soon as you stepped inside Rosedown. You look just like your mother, Lady Woodbridge. You even share her hazel eye color.”

Ana opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. If Mrs. Hannings knew, would others suspect as well?

“No one else knows, and I haven’t whispered a word,” the housekeeper said as if reading her mind.

Ana felt the need to explain before the woman inquired. “The Malverns have no idea,” Ana said. “I took the name Miss Gardner soon after Papa…” She couldn’t even voice that he killed himself, but thankfully, Mrs. Hannings didn’t mention the sinful act, either.

“And your brother?”

“Away at school.”

“How?”

“I buried my mother’s jewels in a box by the oak in the gardens, then sold them to pay for Adam’s schooling.”