Page 20 of My Wicked Earl
“My word, of course you’re correct.” Donata smiled. “I keep forgetting.” She raised a brow and gave a pointed look to the tome clutched on Miranda’s lap. “Do you approve of such reading material for young ladies, Lord Kilmaire? Lord Thurston! Miranda seems obsessed with this series of books though I cannot imagine being interested in such…drivel.A peer turned pirate by circumstance, as if any man of good birth would do such a thing. Miranda is filling her head with nonsense.”
Miranda shot her a look that could best be described ashostile.
“You do not approve of the Lord Thurston novels?” Colin asked with a mischievous twinkle in his dark eyes, as if he was amused by her diatribe.
"Not in the least." Donata shook her head. “Filling the heads of impressionable young ladies with outlandish romantic notions is irresponsible.”
“I’m given to understand that Lord Thurston and his adventures are all the rage amongst the ladies of theton. I visited Lord Bumont’s box at the opera, and I overheard Lady Bumont professing her adoration.”
“The fact that Lord Thurston isfashionabledoes not mean one should read such,” Donata hesitated to make her point, “tripe. And Lady Bumont is a featherwit.” Donata could not think of anything less entertaining that reading about pirates. “Young ladiesespeciallyshould not read such things. It gives them unrealistic romantic notions.”
“You’ve read Lord Thurston, my lady?” Colin mused, one finger pressed against his lip.
“Good heavens,no. I’m certain there is nothing in those books that would interest me. I’m much more partial to poetry.” Her dear friend Lady St. Claire, in a shocking display of disobedience to her husband, had purchased one of the tomes from a bookstore on Bond Street. She’d been regaling Donata with the shocking details ever since. “Poetry is much more suited to a lady.”
Miranda flicked a raisin off her lap. “I think I’m rather old to have you monitor my reading material, Grandmother. Alex reads Lord Thurston as well. She adores the books.”
“Humph.” Donata’s eyes watched as another raisin made it to the floor. Now it was time to truly set her snare.
“Enough of Lord Thurston. We’ve much more important matters to discuss.” She bestowed a wide smile on Colin. “Lord Kilmaire has asked my assistance in finding the future Countess of Kilmaire. And since you are like a sister to him,” she let the words hang in the air, “I feel certain that your opinions of the young ladies I’ve selected could be crucial. Isn’t that so, Lord Kilmaire?”
Colin’s light mood fled, and his handsome face contorted into displeasure. He appeared as if facing a firing squad. “Yes. Of course.”
Miranda pressed a hand to her stomach. Possibly the pastries she’d eaten earlier were about to join the collection of raisins on the floor.
Splendid.
Now that Donata was certain of her assumptions concerning Colin and Miranda, she refused to acknowledge the flood of guilt that filled her at the look on Miranda’s face.
Time was of the essence. How could Donata allow Miranda to marry either one of the gentlemen vying for Miranda’s hand now that the truth was sitting across from Donata in the form of the Earl of Kilmaire? And, Colin who was notoriously stubborn, would never seek Miranda out of his own accord. He would marry a woman he didn’t want just to prove a point.
“Miranda?” Donata thumped her cane.
“I am happy to help in any way I can, of course.” Her normally dulcet tones were brittle. “As you say, Lord Kilmaire has been like abrotherto me.”
Colin’s face pinked, his nostrils flaring slightly at Miranda’s words. The pads of his fingers pressed into the fabric of the chair. “Then we are in agreement.”
Oh my.
The two glared at each other with such intimate intensity that Donata nearly excused herself from the room. The air between them was filled with a very real animal attraction laced with years of anger. It had been years since she’d seen such a display of emotion. They’d completely forgotten her presence.
Donata cleared her throat. “Now see what I have for you, Lord Kilmaire.” She held up an embossed piece of her own personal stationary.
Two pairs of eyes flew to the creamy paper in her hand.
“Let us proceed, Lady Cambourne.” The broad shoulders shrugged carelessly as Colin retreated, hiding behind those walls he’d built around himself. An icy blast of indifference chilled Donata.
“I sense your lack of appreciation for my efforts Lord Kilmaire.” The cane poked Colin in the calf. “How else are you to find asuitable and wealthybride?”
Miranda’s body went rigid. She sat back against the cushions and attempted to look uninterested.
“Unfortunate tragedies and the madness of your mother,” Donata shot Colin a look of sympathy, “will not aid you in your search.”
“Perhaps I am mad as well. Is that the assumption?” Colin rubbed his chin in thought. “Mayhap I shall pass it on to any future children?”
Donata pursed her lips and gave a short nod. “And, I do not count myself impolite for pointing out that being half Irish …”
“I thought we had agreed when I asked for your assistance that I was only one quarter Irish.” Dryness laced his words. “Although the Irish is of the mad variety and I’m barely considered a Papist these days. I’ve not been inside a church since Thomas died.”
