Page 57 of Ruined by the Wrong Earl

So, what was going on?

The blonde baroness was pretty, too young for Umbridge. Still, Ralston didn’t miss the lustful look the baron had cast toward Nora during the meal. His jaw had stiffened and his fists had clenched beneath the table. It had taken him a good five seconds to calm. He was never one to exhibit anger, and his uncharacteristic rush of jealousy mixed with fury had been unnerving.

Slowly, his senses had returned. He had nothing to be jealous of. Nora was his wife.

Instead, he’d focused on Nora across the long table. She looked lovely dressed in dark green gown with a heart-shaped bodice. Her dark hair was arranged in curls that framed her oval face. She’d become an elegant countess, a brilliant hostess who charmed their guests, and at that moment, he couldn’t have been prouder to have her as his wife.

Now, as he sipped his brandy and watched Umbridge across his study, Ralston once again suspected his presence had something to do with the young baroness. He grew intrigued.

What are you up to, sweet Nora? There was only one way to find out.

Nora addressed the delicate blonde. ‘Lady Umbridge, will you join me for a moment?’

The Baroness followed Nora from the drawing room, two doors down the hall, to the library. The lady’s eyes widened as she took in the shelves of leather-bound books. ‘I was surprised at your invitation tonight,’ Lady Umbridge said. ‘I understand the Baron had visited your family home before your marriage to the Earl.’

Nora explained their brief courtship that her mother had arranged, dismissing it. ‘That was long ago. We are both married ladies now.’

‘Yes, we are.’

A flash of sadness lit her eyes. Regret? Distress? Nora couldn’t tell. Nora did not want to upset the lady and she quickly changed the topic. ‘The library is my favorite room in this house.’

‘It is lovely. The baron has a library, but there are a few books, and he’s sold many.’

‘Earlier you said you enjoy reading. What genre is your favorite?’ Nora inquired.

The lady let out a long sigh as she ran her fingers over the spines of a row of books on a shelf. ‘I have a fancy for penny romance novels. Silly, I know.’

‘Romance novels are not silly!’ Nora’s voice rose an octave. ‘They are full of excitement, adventure and most importantly, hope. What could be more inspiring?’

The Baroness’s lips parted in surprise. ‘I feel the same way. But Lord Umbridge does not, and he disproves. He calls them drivel and says they will give me false and dangerous ideas. He banned my books from the house. He insists upon an heir before the end of the year.’ Her voice choked at the last statement.

There was a sourness in the pit of Nora’s stomach and she felt ill. She couldn’t imagine what the young woman was going through, in and out of the bedchamber. In contrast, Ralston encouraged her interests and had not forced himself into her bed.

‘What does reading have to do with conceiving an heir?’

The lady’s voice lowered, as if in shame. ‘He says he wants me to focus on childbearing and nothing else.’

A spark of anger burned in her chest as Nora pulled books off the shelf. ‘His ignorant opinion does not matter, only yours does. I want you to have these. I will box them and send them to you. Hide them if you must and read when he’s out of the house. You are also welcome to visit this library and read whatever you wish without disturbance. Tell Lord Umbridge we are having tea.’

Lady Umbridge’s blue eyes watered with tears. ‘Thank you! May I ask is this why you invited us tonight?’

‘Yes, it’s true. I cannot fathom the thought of a woman denied the simple pleasure of books.’ If fate had gone another way, she could have been in Lady Umbridge’s shoes. After only a few weeks of marriage to Ralston, she couldn’t imagine such a stifled existence.

The lady hugged her, and Nora returned the embrace. And that’s when she noticed Ralston standing in the doorway.

Ralston wanted a reckoning with his wife, and he refused to wait until their guests had departed.

He pulled her aside and tugged her down the hallway until they were alone. Her full breasts brushed against his chest, and his heart hammered from holding her close. It was getting harder each day to resist her. ‘You gave the lady books because her husband took them from her?’

She looked up at him, her lovely face half lit in the dim corridor. ‘Yes. I should have told you. I shall pay for the books.’

‘I don’t care about the cost.’ His voice sounded gruff. She assumed he was angry. He was. Just not at her.

She bit her bottom lip. ‘And what about my subterfuge for inviting them?’

He stared at her mouth as her teeth worried her full lip. He began to sweat. He wanted to suck that lip into his mouth, kiss her hard. ‘You should have told me you saw Umbridge at the bookshop. But either way, your gift of books to the Baroness was kind.’

She let out a sigh of relief and touched his sleeve. ‘I’m relieved and thankful.’