Page 9 of Discovering Her Earl

“I do believe she has recalled her time with Mrs. Kirkpatrick.” Aunt Rose chuckled while Uncle Henry practically hooted with laughter.

“I am so glad my misfortune entertains you so.”

Mrs. Kirkpatrick had been positively awful. She’d tried to contort Lainey into a proper young lady and pointed out every little thing Lainey managed to do wrong, which was basically everything. Including breathing.

Lainey truly didn’t know how she could do something as simple as breathing incorrectly, but she’d managed to and the woman was quick to point it out.

Her aunt patted her shoulder and offered a kind smile.

“We are sorry for making sport of your concerns. You will be pleased to know we didn’t plan to send you off with the earl alone. Lord and Lady Leighton will accompany you.”

Lainey didn’t have anything to say to that. Lord and Lady Leighton were wonderful people and would be suitable chaperones during their travels.

“Very well,” Lainey conceded, because what else could she do? “I will do as you wish and see the earl to Scotland to evaluate his abilities.” She offered a beaming smile and kept it there more naturally when their humor faded into genuine concern. She’d learned a few years ago that when she smiled like that, they grew worried that she was hatching a plan.

In this case she wasn’t, at least not yet. But it didn’t hurt to allow them to think she was up to something. In truth, she didn’t see a way out of this insanity.

At least she wouldn’t need to worry about being in his presence longer than the trip to Scotland. She had only to prove he couldn’t handle an archeological dig, and he would go back to the gaming hells and clubs for his entertainments and be out of her life for good.

“Why do you look so worried?” It was her turn to laugh now. “I will see him to Scotland and teach him the techniques as you ask. But you should not be surprised when it turns out I am right about him.”

“We trust you and will honor your recommendation. If it turns out you are correct about him, and you write to confirm he is not up for the journey, then he will not be permitted to join us in Egypt.” her uncle promised.

“Then I will prepare to leave next week.”

She was going to Scotland with the man who had destroyed her future years ago.

Perhaps she should embrace this opportunity. After all, she now had his fate in her hands, and revenge would be well within her grasp.

Lord Melville would pay for his cruelty.

Chapter Four

Julian looked down at the message in his hand and back to the street where he was to meet Miss Bantham.

Was this a trick?

He worried he’d be rolled for his watch on this street. Surely a lady of good breeding would not be meeting him in a place like this. It would be like her to send him to his demise as a prank. Or to do away with him altogether.

Before he had the chance to get back into his carriage, another conveyance pulled up behind his and the lady in question hopped down on her own without any assistance from the coachmen.

She was dressed in a simple gown of sage green that suited her coloring. If the woman wasn’t scowling every time he saw her, she might be considered pretty. As it were, she was interesting, verging on daunting with the pinched glare on her face.

“Good day,” he said, planning to pretend he came to this part of London every day and wasn’t the least bit apprehensive for their safety.

“Good day to you, my lord.” She pressed her lips together and tugged at her glove before looking him in the eye. “I must apologize for my behavior at the ball.”

He couldn’t help the grin that pulled up one side of his mouth. She had worded it intentionally, probably hoping he was too daft to notice.

“You said you must apologize, not that you wished to. It leads me to believe you are being forced to make the apology and do not actually mean it.”

Her eyes went wide, and her mouth fell open, either with surprise that he had figured her out, or offense. With a huff she closed her eyes and spoke.

“Very well. I apologize for my behavior.”

“Why do I feel you are struggling not to utter the word ‘but’ after that?” He pointed at her. “You are thinking it, aren’t you?”

“Are you going to accept my apology or not? It will be the last one you get from me, my lord.”