Page 55 of Ruined by the Wrong Earl

Her breath caught, and she felt a curious swooping pull at her stomach. Did he know the effect of his words? ‘I… I—’ Why was she finding herself speechless around him? She stared in shock and confusion as her heart galloped in her chest. How on earth could she show her gratitude for his thoughtfulness?

For some reason, she thought of how fortunate she was to be with Ralston rather than Baron Umbridge. Ralston shared her interests whereas she had no doubt that Umbridge would have forced her to give up on hers. The baron would never have escorted her to the museum, never paid to gain entrance to this room. The thought was laughable. An image of young wife, who’d been cut off from her passion of reading, resulted in a pang of guilt in Nora’s chest. Her heart went out the woman. But the thought of Umbridge again put Ralston in stark contrast. He was turning out to be a good husband.

‘No need to thank me.’

Yes, there is. Her next cooking lesson could not come fast enough.

‘I’d like to host an intimate dinner party,’ Nora told Ralston the following morning in the breakfast room.

She wasn’t ready to cook for him herself and she needed one, maybe two more lessons with Ani. This dinner was for a different reason. Something had been bothering her since their visit to Hookham’s library and Nora needed to see it through.

He looked up from his newspaper. ‘And the guest list for this dinner?’

‘My sisters, of course. Lord Adler.’ She hesitated. ‘And one more couple. The Baron Umbridge and his new wife, the Baroness.’

Ralston’s eyebrows drew together as he lowered the paper. ‘I did not know you were friendly with the Baron and his wife.’

‘I’m not.’

‘Should I be concerned?’ he asked.

She rose from the table and came around to his side and kissed him. ‘No. I have my reasons. You should know that I am immensely pleased that I married you and not the Baron.’

He placed his napkin on his plate and stood. ‘Then invite them. I trust your reasoning.’

Her heart buoyed at his confidence. ‘And you? Would you like to invite anyone else other than Lord Adler?’

‘Yes, come to think of it. Add the newly minted Duke of Huntington. He’s a political sympathizer to my agenda.’

‘Perfect,’ she said. ‘I’ll speak with Mrs Hanning and Cook.’

He grasped her arm as she moved past him. ‘Oh, and one more thing. Baron Umbridge better look at his new wife and not you.’

Rather than be alarmed, she felt a thrill at the outrageous possessiveness in his words and heated gaze.

Chapter Seventeen

‘We were pleasantly surprised at the invitation,’ Baron Umbridge said from his seat at the dining room table. His young wife sat beside him. Lady Umbridge was a pretty, petite blonde with cornflower blue eyes. She was shy and had barely spoken since the main course had been served.

Nora’s sisters and their mother were present. Adler had arrived as well as the Duke of Huntington. His Grace was handsome, tall with brown hair and striking emerald eyes. Both her sisters noticed. Sara smiled shyly as she addressed His Grace.

Candace, on the other hand, had a different reaction. Her eyes widened, then slightly narrowed when the Duke had first joined them. Nora didn’t think Candace had previously met the Duke and she made a mental note to ask her about him later. Nora was soon distracted, however, as the evening began awkwardly.

‘I ran into your wife at the circulating library.’ Umbridge’s pale blue eyes settled on her.

‘Oh?’ Ralston’s lifted his wine glass. ‘I didn’t know.’

‘It was a brief moment,’ Nora said. ‘When I returned to request another book, the Baron was in the vestibule.’ A tingle of nerves ran down her spine at Ralston’s look. Was he upset she hadn’t mentioned it? They were seated at opposite ends of the long table, and she longed to reassure him that he had nothing to fear. The Baron was inconsequential to her. His wife, on the other hand, meant more. She lifted her wine glass and smiled at Ralston across the expanse of the table.

He raised his own glass and the tension in her gut eased.

Adler and Huntington began speaking of politics while Nora and her sisters conversed with the shy Lady Umbridge.

‘What is your favorite pastime?’ Nora asked the lady.

‘I like to read and—’ She stopped short, daring a look at her husband beneath lowered lashes. ‘I enjoy nature and to walk in the park.’

‘I like both as well,’ Nora said. ‘Walking and reading, that is.’ Her voice was firm, and she intended for the Baron to hear it but at that moment he was occupied with the men.