Page 69 of Ruined by the Wrong Earl

Ralston blinked. ‘My wife?’ What did Nora have to do with the vote?

Weber picked up his discarded robe. ‘She can be most persuasive.’

With that cryptic response, Weber departed the room, leaving Ralston alone with more questions than answers.

Chapter Twenty

Ralston found Nora in the storeroom with Mrs Hanning cataloging soap and dried herbs. The scent of mint and parsley filled the room. Large bars of soap were ready to be cut into smaller cakes and delivered to each chamber. He also caught a whiff of lemongrass, Nora’s unique scent.

‘Ralston!’ Nora’s eyes were large. ‘You are home early. How did the vote go?’

Both women looked at him with expectant expressions. His gaze lingered on his wife. She wore a plain blue gown, devoid of decoration or a single scrap of lace, with a simple apron. A kerchief covered her auburn hair. If there was guile in her brilliant, wide eyes, he did not see it. He was still processing his political win and his confrontation with Lord Weber afterwards in the robing room.

He addressed Mrs Hanning. ‘May I have a word alone with my wife?’

The woman bobbed a curtsy. ‘Of course, my lord.’ She wiped her hands on her apron then left the storeroom.

Nora began to remove her apron. ‘Shall I meet you in your study?’

‘No,’ he said, stopping her. ‘Here is fine.’ He stepped inside and closed the door. A small overhead window offered sufficient light so that a lamp was not needed. The room was lined with shelves full of preserved jars and bags of flour and salt. Dried herbs hung from hooks in the ceiling.

Nora’s brow furrowed. She looked lovely with whisps of curls escaping the simple kerchief.

‘The second reading of my bill went unexpectedly well and passed in the House,’ he said. ‘It’s now scheduled to go to the Commons. There it will assuredly pass.’

Her lovely face blossomed into a smile. Again, there wasn’t a hint of trickery. ‘Congratulations!’ She came forward to kiss him on the cheek. ‘I had every confidence in you.’

His heart pounded from her closeness. ‘Did you?’

She pulled back. ‘Of course! Why wouldn’t I?’

‘I had a most unusual conversation with Lord Weber outside the House chamber. To my surprise, his arguments against the bill were lackluster at best. When I confronted him and inquired, he told me to ask my wife. Is there something I should know.’

Her eyes widened and she bit her lower lip. It was a habit, he had noticed, when she was nervous, and he had an insane urge to kiss her, to lick the fullness, then suck it in his mouth.

She visibly swallowed. ‘I… I may have given Lady Weber something in exchange for her influence.’

His gaze snapped back to her. ‘What do you mean by something?’

Her fingers tightened before her. ‘When she’d attended my science salon, I noticed her interest in my father’s Armenian bowl. When you told me her husband was your opponent, a plan hatched in my mind. I invited her for tea and gifted her the bowl. In exchange, she promised to persuade her husband to not stand in your way.’

He stood stunned. Never could he have imagined she would go to such lengths. For him.

Again.

He knew she was intelligent, but he also recognized her cunning. She took time away from her own work to invite Lady Weber, strategically displaying what the lady most desired, and using it to carry out a plan. His wife had many talents and would make a fabulous politician.

And a perfect politician’s wife.

She continued to bite her lip. ‘Are you upset with me?’

‘Good God, no. Do you have any idea what type of true corruption occurs in politics? A gift of a bowl that a lady desires to add to her collection is not even close to bribery. I consider it resourceful and clever.’

His wife was his ally. He was grateful, not angry. ‘I’m only concerned with your sacrifice. The bowl was a gift from your father. Did it mean much to part with it?’

Her mouth curved in a smile and she shook her head. ‘Oh, no. He would have been happy to help.’

‘Then my thanks to you and to your father in heaven.’ Unable to resist her any longer, he swept her into his arms and kissed her.