Page 12 of Educated By the Earl (Second Sons of London 1)

“I gather he specifically wants you included, Tessa, else it wouldn’t be worded in such a way. Have you met Lord Middlefield? I can’t say that I have.”

She swallowed. “It is possible I have, Uncle. When I was out walking this morning. I was talking with Abra when a tall man appeared and spoke to us briefly. He never introduced himself, nor did I, seeing as it wasn’t really proper. I brought Abra home and supposed he might have followed us at a distance in order to see that we arrived safely.”

Uncle Uxbridge chuckled. “It seems you made quite an impression upon him, Tessa. He refused my invitation but now is eager for my company—if it includes you.”

“Are you going to accept?” she asked hesitantly.

“I most certainly will. He is a neighbor. I want to be on friendly terms with all my neighbors. Besides, I am curious about him. I knew his father and his older brother, who died some years ago. I also know the new earl was formerly in the army. I am interested to see the kind of man he is. Tell Adalyn of the invitation, if you will. I will tell your aunt.”

They finished breakfasting and Tessa excused herself, returning upstairs to her cousin’s bedchamber. She knocked and heard Adalyn call out.

Entering, she crossed the room and perched on the bed, seeing Adalyn had already finished eating.

“You look incredibly pale, Tessa,” Adalyn commented. “Are you having second thoughts about hiring an orphan from the streets as your maid?”

“Not a single one,” she said. “The family has received an invitation to dine tomorrow evening with Lord Middlefield.”

Adalyn’s’ brows arched. “You mean the rude man who lives across the way? Papa wasn’t pleased that his offer of friendship was slapped down without explanation. I wonder why the earl would invite us to dinner. Perhaps he regrets his previous behavior and this is the olive branch he offers.”

“I think I met him this morning, Adalyn,” Tessa confessed.

“What does he look like? I have yet to catch sight of him. Where were you?”

“He slammed his fist into Abra’s face.”

“He . . . what?”

“He thought she was attacking me,” she said. “She was trying to rob me—”

“Are you joking, Tessa?”

She explained the situation and how the earl had charged up, knocking away Abra’s knife and punching her.

Adalyn smiled. “I don’t know whether to laugh at the incident or flutter my eyelashes at him. It’s very romantic, Tessa. A hero emerging from the early morning mist, rescuing a damsel in distress.”

“I wasn’t in any sort of distress,” Tessa said defensively.

“But Lord Middlefield did not know that,” her cousin pointed out. “Oh, I think you may have already stolen his heart, Tessa. You will have a suitor before the Season even begins.”

Adalyn began talking of which gown each of them should wear to tomorrow evening’s dinner.

Tessa listened with half an ear, the image of the tall, broad-shouldered earl distracting her. She made up her mind not to like him. She didn’t think him especially brave as the others seemed to believe. He was overbearing and uncivil and much too smug for her tastes. If she were a man, she might have challenged him to a fight at Gentleman Jack’s.

“You haven’t heard a word I have said,” Adalyn pouted. Then her cousin grinned. “You are thinking of Lord Middlefield, aren’t you?”

“Of course not!” Tessa denied, her cheeks growing hot.

“You think he is attractive.”

She shrugged. “Others may find him so. Not I.”

Adalyn tossed the bedclothes aside. “Then I will be the judge of that. I will also be able to tell if he is interested in you or not. I am good at that sort of thing. Others come to me for romantic advice.”

“But you haven’t even wed,” Tessa protested.

“That may be the case but I have been out for a good while now. I am quite popular with the gentlemen of theton, Tessa. I aim to make certain you, too, will be popular. I want you to have your choice of suitors.” She paused. “I wonder how we can make Lord Middlefield jealous,” she mused.

“Stop!” Tessa said. “I don’t want him jealous. I don’t want anything to do with him.”

Adalyn’s eyes gleamed. “We’ll see.”

Knowing her cousin as she did, Tessa knew to remain silent. The more she objected, the more Adalyn would dig in her heels to make a point. She better change the subject. Quickly.

Tessa smiled sweetly. “I have another dress fitting this afternoon. Would you like to go with me?”

As Adalyn chattered happily about their new gowns and the upcoming Season, Tessa hoped the subject was now closed.

At least until tomorrow dinner at the Earl of Middlefield’s.

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