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His uncle had grunted, and his shoulders lost some of their rigidness. “You mean you’re actually going to take care of someone other than yourself?”
Ethan bristled. Was that supposed to be some backhanded compliment? Not that it mattered. His uncle could not take away the title or the entitled properties that went with it. Those were Ethan’s—not that either did him much good without a fortune to maintain them. But he’d known since he was eighteen that if he didn’t wed by the time he reached thirty years of age, his uncle would take back control of the money, which was when Ethan had concocted his plan: spend the money and then make his own.
And he was nearly done, he just needed to hold his uncle off for a bit longer and then he’d be free forever.
But his near success, and the fact that he’d staved off the ball and his uncle’s matchmaking scheme hadn’t stopped Ethan from getting fall-down drunk last night. And anger still burned from his gut up his throat. Or was that the day-old liquor?
The carriage rumbled to a stop, and he swiped a hand across his mouth, wondering at the interruption.
“You’ll have to pull over,” a voice called. “We can’t both pass.”
His driver snorted as he replied. “The Earl of Somersworth yields for no man.”
He groaned. The driver was a new hire and surely meant well, but Ethan did not draw such lines with anyone but his uncle…
“You’re passing through the land of Viscount Northville, and you dare to suggest that his carriage make way?”
Ethan wrenched himself into a sitting position. While it might be poetic that he die on the road to Upton Falls now, when he was so close to victory, he’d prefer to actually see his own success. So he pushed open the door. “Stand down, Reilly, and let the carriage pass. We’re all friends here.”
But it was too late, a man, a few years older than himself, stepped out from the vehicle, walking toward him. He was handsome but with a hardness that made Ethan pause in for a moment, Ethan swayed, knowing full well he was in no condition for an altercation. Especially not with a fellow like that. “My apologies,” Ethan called, waving a tired hand. “My driver meant no offense and neither do I. We’ll make way for you and your carriage.”
“No offense taken. What I want to know, my lord, is why you pass on this road? Few do unless they are on their way to my neighbor’s home, Upton Falls.”
“Yes. Lord Smith.” He gave a nod, instantly regretting it as pain lanced through his temple. “I am on my way to see him, but I’m sure he’ll be glad to hear of the care you’ve taken to protect his interests.”
Two women emerged from the carriage as well, one older and one… He stopped. Red hair wasn’t normally his preference, but in this case…
The young lady was stunning. Auburn hair loosely pulled back, ivory skin, and pale green eyes, tipped at the corners to give her innocent features just a touch of mischief and provocative appeal. Well, that and her obscenely full mouth. Pale pink lips that looked achingly soft and full, the sort a man could spend hours kissing.
Her dress was the perfect shade of pale green to bring out the color of her eyes, and while the neckline was far too conservative for his liking, the fichu hiding any cleavage her dress might have exposed, the fabric hinted at the sort of curves a man dreamed of.
The gentleman cleared his throat, reluctantly calling Ethan’s attention back. “Lord Smith is not only an excellent neighbor, but his brother just married my niece. We’re family now. Which is why, if you are a friend of his, you are one of ours as well. We must insist you join us for dinner.”
He grimaced. All he wanted was to crawl into a bed and sleep the worst of his hangover off. “Kind offer…” He stopped—what was the man’s title again? Had he shared it?
The other fellow turned back toward the older woman, who gave a quick jerk of her chin. What were they agreeing to? “I am Viscount Northville. And this is my lovely sister-in-law, Viscountess Northville, and her daughter, Miss Natalie Blake.”
He ignored the rolling of his stomach as Red approached, her lips turned into a lovely and kind smile. Funny, but his uncle would like this one. Right title, pretty, and innocent, she had all the markings of a good wife with just a touch of sin mixed in to make her interesting.
She closed the distance between them and gave a small curtsey. If only the dress showed a bit of cleavage. “A pleasure, my lord.”
He bowed in return, the beginnings of a plan forming. She’d be fun to spend a bit of time with. Hold off his uncle until past the deadline…
But he must have bent too far. Because with his stomach compressed, suddenly, it gave a violent roll, pitching wildly like a ship in a storm.
He felt the bile rising and then all the contents of last night’s sins came violently up his esophagus and out of his mouth, landing in a putrid pool at the lady’s feet.
He blinked several times, noting that the vomit had splashed up on her dress a disgusting shade of red in contrast to the pale green.
He swiped a hand across his mouth and straightened, noting her wide, horrified eyes. Clearing his throat, he returned, “The pleasure is all mine.”
Natalie attempted to process what had just happened as a smell so foul hit her nose, her nostrils curled. She took a step back as she yanked up the hem of her gown, but it was already too late. Her dress was ruined, and her slippers…
She could feel the rancid wetness sinking through the shoes and into her stockings. Her own stomach turned, and she brought a scented kerchief up to her nose, attempting to mask the stench.
Her gaze lifted to the man who’d just defiled her favorite gown. Despite the pasty color of his skin and the flop of blond hair on his forehead, she could see that he was handsome. Strong jaw, blue eyes, though a little dull currently, he was tall and a bit thin but still…his clothes were expertly cut. An earl, she’d heard the driver call out.
Which meant her uncle had just invited him to dinner for the express purpose of creating a match for Natalie. That was the only explanation for why they’d have a road altercation with a man and then invite him to dinner.
