Page 44 of My Wicked Earl
“Humph.” A runaway curl escaped the mass of pins used to restrain her hair and Alex puffed it away with an annoyed burst of air from her lips.
How wonderful to see Cam’s legendary charms having little effect on his wife. Lady Cambourne’s handling of her husband caused Colin to like her even more.
“I am deeply appreciative of your efforts on my behalf,” he thanked her once more.
Alex raised a brow, puffing at the errant curl again. “Yes, I imagine you will be.” She turned with a nod to both men and walked swiftly to the door before Colin could reply.
Mrs. Moore awaited her, the poor woman desperately trying to stay in command of her charges. The small white cap she wore tilted dangerously as she struggled to hang on to Robert and Madeline.
“Once we take the children back to the nursery, why don’t you sit down with a nice pot of tea, Mrs. Moore. I fear you need to regain your strength.” Alex took her daughter’s hand.
Madeline wiggled like a fish on a hook. Her chin tilted at a defiant angle. She appeared to be trying to stomp on her mother’s foot.
“Yes, my lady. That would be most welcome.” Mrs. Moore took Robert’s hand, ignoring his protest and led him from the room.
“I’ll leave you to your discussion, gentlemen. Lord and Lady Cottingham will be arriving at any moment,” she said pointedly to Cam, “and you, my lord, must play host. Lady Dobson and her niece have already been shown to their rooms.”
Alex strode purposefully across the threshhold, pulling the headstrong Madeline with her. “Come, Maddy.”
Madeline turned and blew a kiss to her father.
Cam reached out into the air, pretending to catch his daughter’s kiss, and pressed it to his heart. “A tiny tempest. Just like her mother.” He settled back into his chair and his voice lowered an octave. “You like the Tempest, don’t you, Lady Cambourne?”
“I do, my lord.” Alex replied, never halting as she sailed through the doorway. “Perhaps you’ll read that to me. A bit later?”
“You may depend upon it.”
The door to the study shut with a smart click, and the two men were alone once more.
“Alex adores Shakespeare.”
Colin doubted that Cam actually meant to read to his wife. “Indeed?”
Cam’s shoulders rippled in a careless shrug. “I read to my wife, often.”
“You are truly fortunate, my friend.” Colin lifted his glass in toast. “The fact that you found a woman to tolerate your dubious charm is a cause for celebration.” He took a breath, wondering ifnowwould be a good time to broach the subject of Miranda’sunsuitabilityand theincidentthat seemed to be the cause of it.
“Miranda said something to me in the carriage,” Colin started.
“Let me guess.” Cam rolled his eyes. “Lord Thurston. My sister is quite enthralled with the rather torrid adventures of this mythical man and his lady love. Won’t shut up about them to Alex, who, I may add, nearly swoons every time she picks up one of the damn books. Lord Wently, a friend of my father’s, owns the press that publishes those ridiculous tomes. I informed him I’ve a mind to call Lord Thurston out for stealing my wife’s affection. Except he doesn’t exist. Lord Wently found my frustration quite amusing.”
I imagine he did.
Colin nursed his whiskey relishing Cam’s annoyance. Lord Thurston didexist, in a manner of speaking. It was a lark to find that the great Satan Reynolds, with his mysterious tattoo and his angelic looks, was jealous of a fictional character.
“Refuses to give me the author’s name. I’m sure the books are written by some spinster living in Surrey.”
Actually Runshaw Park.
“No,” Colin shook his head, “she said nothing at all about Lord Thurston, though I did find her reading one of his adventures the other day when I visited the Dowager.” He looked directly at his friend. “Miranda mentioned unsuitability. Namely hers.”
Cam’s whiskey paused halfway to his mouth, then he tilted the glass, draining it in one swallow. The lines around his lips tightened and a shadow darkened his face.
"I thought if I gave no credence to the gossip, never acknowledged that any of it were true, the rumors would simply fade. I assumed the Cambourne name would be enough. That the threat of the Dowager’s retaliation would be enough.” Cam stood and walked to the sideboard and lifted the decanter. “I was wrong on both counts. Terribly wrong. Thetondoes love a scandal, especially one as juicy as my sister’s.”
St. Remy must have broken the betrothal.The knowledge did not give Colin any satisfaction.
“There’s no proof, of course. No witness.” An anguished tone entered his words. “Just the ravings of my stepmother, who no longer resides anywhere near London, thankfully.”
