Page 57 of Educated By the Earl (Second Sons of London 1)

Chapter Sixteen

Spencer tamped downthe hope that sprang within him.

Tessa had not told Miss Allen that she was uninterested in him.

That was progress.

She could have immediately told the younger woman she had no claims on Spencer. No desire for his company. She had told him enough times. Yet she had wasted the chance to do the same with Miss Allen.

He grinned.

She was softening toward him. Kissing certainly helped. He thought of her palm against his cheek. Her fingers pushed into his hair. Desire flickered through him as the door opened and a butler appeared.

“We are here for Miss Allen,” he said crisply. “Lord Middlefield and Lady Tessa.”

The butler looked momentarily confused. “I do know Lord Middlefield was expected. Miss Allen requested that you come to the winter parlor when you arrived.”

“We have no time for that. We are due to leave for the British Museum. Miss Goulding and Lord Wethersby are already outside in the carriage and awaiting us. Please send for Miss Allen. We will meet her outside.”

His carriage pulled up as he finished speaking and Spencer said, “Here it is. Come, my lady.”

He led Tessa away from the door, which the befuddled butler closed.

“She will be furious,” Tessa pointed out as he escorted her to the carriage.

“She will,” he agreed. “Shall we see if her good manners prevail and she hides her anger?”

Spencer handed her up and she entered the carriage with him following. Tessa sat on the empty bench across from her cousin and Lord Wethersby. He took a seat beside her.

“Well?” Miss Goulding asked.

“She is coming,” he said.

Miss Goulding clucked her tongue. “Oh, this won’t be good at all,” she said.

“Am I missing out on something?” the viscount asked, concerned.

“Storm clouds on the horizon,” Spencer said to a still-perplexed Wethersby.

“Miss Allen will perhaps be upset when she joins us,” Tessa said.

“Why?” Wethersby asked.

“Because she has designs on Lord Middlefield and may feel thwarted by my cousin’s and my presence.”

“Oh,” Wethersby said, nodding his head. “Oh,” he repeated, glancing to Spencer.

“I have no interest in the chit, my lord,” he told the other man. “If you do, please let her know.”

The viscount grinned. “I only came into my title eight months ago,” he shared. “I am not looking for a bride. Just a bit of fun.”

The carriage door opened and Miss Allen appeared in the doorway, dressed in light blue. A footman helped her inside the coach and she glanced about, her gaze landing upon Spencer. Despite his decision to have nothing to do with her, he grew warm under her stare and wished he could loosen his cravat.

“Where to sit?” she said, moving toward him and Tessa.

Before Spencer could slide over, Miss Allen stepped between his and Tessa’s feet and turned. As she lowered herself, he saw she might very well land in his lap if he didn’t act quickly and so he pushed himself out of her way and she plopped between him and Tessa.

An awkward silence filled the carriage and then Tessa said, “It is good to see you again, Miss Allen. Our party is now complete.”

---