Read A Most Unsuitable Earl (Regency Collection Book 3) Online
Authors: Ruth Ann Nordin
A Most Unsuitable Earl (Regency Collection Book 3) (2 page)
He waited for a few seconds before
Agatha Lyons, the
Lady
of
Richfield
,
opened the door. She gasped and pulled him inside. Before he had a chance to greet her, she shoved him into the drawing room and motioned for him to hide behind the door. He obliged and waited as the footman walked down the hallway.
“My lady,
why did you answer the door?
” the footman asked in a baffled tone.
Agatha
cleared her throat and laughed. “
I wasn’t answering the door.
I thought I saw a rat and
ran
to go outsid
e. I opened the door and it scurried right on
out of here. I got so scared that
I tripped and fell against
the door.
That’s why you thought you heard someone knocking.
”
“A rat was in this townhouse?”
“Yes. A big, hairy one. It was disgusting. I still get shivers when I think about it.”
“Hmm. Perhaps I ought to do a search to make sure there’s not another one.”
“Yes,” she replied. “That would be best.”
Ethan had to bite down on his tongue so he wouldn’t burst out laugh
ing. Leave it to Agatha
to come up with such a silly story.
Her footsteps approached the drawing room, and the footman called out, “Shall I check that room before you go in there?”
“Oh,” she began, “t
here’s no need. That room is fine.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because it came out of there. Everyone know
s that only one rat will be in one place
at a time. If there are any more rats, then they’ll be
in other rooms
.”
“I haven’t heard that rats go alone in rooms. I’m sure they can travel in groups,” the footman argued.
“No. The latest research
proves otherwise.”
“The latest research?”
“This was a ‘loner rat’. It’s a different type of rat. You can tell them by the white streak on their backs.”
“A white streak
on their backs
?”
Ethan pressed his hand over his mouth, hoping his laughter wouldn’t expose her lie. Not only was she lying, but she was horrible at it. A ‘loner rat’ indeed! Thankfully, she was better at writing for the
Tittletattle
than she was lying about rats.
“Yes,” Agatha
insisted. “I demand you go look for
the other rats
in the other rooms
.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Once the footman headed down the hallway,
Agatha
hurried into the drawing room, startling Ethan who nearly tripped as she shut the door. “Why are you here?” she whispered. “Aren’t you supposed to be at the Duke of Rumsey’s ball?”
“I’m on
my way there,” he whispered
.
“You couldn’t talk your mother out of it?”
He caught the sympathy in her voice and groaned. “She’s determined that I marry someone.”
“I don’t know what else I can do for you. I thought for sure that bit about you and Lord Hedwrett’s mistress would’ve given your poor mother a heart attack.”
“She didn’t like it,” he admitted, “but it hasn’t dissuaded her from the lofty dream of seeing me married off and having an heir.”
“I still don’t understand why you protest the idea so much.”
“It’s complicated.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m sure.”
“Well, I don’t see you rushing off to get married since your husband died three years ago.”
She shrugged and crossed her arms. “A widow is offered more freedom than a married lady, and I happen to like it.”
“Then it seems we are in agreement that freedom is important to both of us.”
“I hate it when
you
make sense. All right. What else do you want me to do?”
He thought over her
question carefully. “I’m not sure.”
She
grumbled
.
“
What would be something about a gentleman that would convince you he’s not worth marrying?”
With a sigh, she paced the floor, her hands behind her back and her head bowed. “Well, you have a title, and as much as you try to lose your wealth, you can’t.”
“No, I can’t
.” And he tried—oh how he tried
!
—when he gambled with the other gentlemen. “I
don’t know how I get so unfortunate
.”
“Unfortunate
?” She shook her head.
“You, my lord, are not unfortunate
, and that’s part of your problem.”
“What if you put in the
Tittletattle
that I really don’t have any money?”
“Lack of money won’t dissuade some ladies from
pursuing you.”
“Even if I have to forage for food from nearby farms? Write in the
Tittletattle
that I eat pigs’ slop.”
She giggled but clasped her hands over her
mouth so she wouldn’t arouse the servants’ suspicions. When her la
ughter died down, she swatted
his arm. “I can’t do that, and you know it.”
“Of course you can. The more absurd something is, the more it’ll scare ladies everywhere.”
“Some ladies wouldn’t mind eating pigs’ slop if it meant they could be a countess.”
“Surely, you jest!” What lady in her right mind would agree to live like a filthy animal? He shuddered. If he was a lady, he’d go off running in the other direction from such a gentleman. “It’ll work. Mention that I borrow my clothes from a family member who pities me.
I have to beat the clothes on rocks because
I can’t afford enough soap.
You can even mention
that my hair is fake.”
“No
one will believe any of those things
. You’re one of the finest dressed gentlemen around.”
“Which you can say is my cousin’s doing
since he buys clothes for me
. He’s a gentleman of great taste
and quite generous
.”
“And you, my lord, are a gentleman who’s utterly charming. Despite yourself, you’re an ideal husband.”
He grimaced. “I am relieved you have no desire to marry again or I’d be in trouble.”
After tapping her foot for a few seconds, she let out a long sigh. “All right. I’ll put something
into the
Tittletattle
about your lack of funds, but I won’t
add in the
pig slop or the part about your clothes being washed with rocks.”
“Thank you. You are the most wonderful lady a gentleman can have the fortune of knowing.”
“You remember that when
I need
you to submit my next book to the publisher
.”
“I will. I promise.” He pulled the hood of his cloak over his head. “Let me know when it’s safe for me to leave.” He hid behind the door.
“
Ethan, in the future, please use the servants’ stairs
.
I might not always make it to the front door before the footman.
”
“
I will do as you request
.” He bowed and motioned toward the door. “Is it safe for me to leave?”
She opened the door and peered into the hallway. Glancing back at him, she waved him forward. Taking his cue, he hurried past her and slipped out of the house as quietly as one of the
rats she claimed to have seen. He breathed a sigh of relief as he made his way down the s
treet. With any luck, this would be the last ball he’d ever have to attend.
Catherine
twirled around then
faced her dance partner
. She had no idea what to say to him. He tal
ked extensively about Hyde Park
, and
she did her duty as a lady, nodding and smiling
at the appropriate times. But it wasn’t good enough. She could see the disinterest in his eyes and knew he was rambling just to have something to say so there wouldn’t be the awful lingering silence between them. All he could do was wait for the music to end so he could find another lady to dance with.
She glanced at her father who stood to the side of the room, mingling with available gentlemen and trying to select a good one for
her. She didn’t know whether to
scream or sigh in frustration.
No matter how many gentlemen he
tried to match her up with
, it wouldn’t do any good.
The dance, m
ercifully, came to an end. S
he curtsied to her partner and took a reprieve at one of
the chairs. She opened her fan, more eager to have something to do with her hands
instead of cooling herself off
. She really hated balls. Everyone else
was having
a wonderful time.
Why couldn’t she?
If
only
she could figure out what to
say,
she might be able to
join in the fun.
Laughter from a group of
gentlemen caught her attention, so she glanced over at Lord Edon and those who surrounded him.
She couldn’t hear
what he was sa
ying, but his audience burst
into another round of laughter. When he bowed and left the group,
she noticed that
the gentlemen were
disappointed he hadn’t stayed longer.
As much as she loathed to admit it,
s
he couldn’t help but
envy
him. He fit
in
so well in a social gathering. How did he do it?
She’d danced with him on several occasions. He was in no way a potential husband. Her father would never approve, and she had no interest in him. She’d much rather
live the rest of her life as a spinster than be with someone
like him
.
But he certainly had a gift for attracting people. Not wishing to dwell on how much she envied him such a gift, s
he turned her attention
away
from him.
“Lady Catherine, why are you
sitting over here where no one can see you?”
Catherine looked up at Lady Roderick who
was smiling at her
. Blushing, Catherin
e waved her fan
. “
I became unbearably warm
.”
Lady Roderick sat in the chair beside her. “I dread large gatherings.”
Surprised, she turned toward her. Lady Roderick was beautiful with h
er dark hair and olive
complexion, and from the few times Catherine had spoken to her, she struck her as a nice lady.
So why would she dread the balls
? “May I ask why?”
Lady Roderick opened her fan and waved it. “For one,
dancing makes me hot, too
.”
“I think it’s because of
all the people in the room.”
“Probably. But at times, it’s overwhelming. Sometimes I feel as if the walls are closing in around me, and when I do, I need to find a quiet place to rest.”
“Like now?”
Lady Roderick nodded.
“Then why do you come to balls
?
” She waved her fan again.
“
You’re already married.”
With a chuckle, she replied, “It’s b
ecause I’m married that I go to them
. My husband enjoys political talk, and when we’re in London, balls are one of the places he can
talk
to
other
gentle
men who share his in
terest. I don’t mind it, really
. My siste
r and her husband love
balls, so it’s also a good way to see her. However,” leaning forward and lowering her voice, she added, “my husband is helping his friend find a wife, but
don’t
tell anyone I told you that.”
“Really? Gentl
emen have trouble finding someone to marry
?”
“Some do. Are you acquainted with Lord Clement?”
Catherine thought of all the gentlemen she’d met that evening, and most were familiar to her but not that one. “I’ve heard the name, but I wouldn’t know him if I saw him.”
“He has a cane.”
“Oh h
im! Yes, I remember him
, but I haven’t made his acquaintance.
”