Page 5 of Embracing the Earl (The St. Clairs 3)

A satisfied smile lit up her face. “You’re ready to wed.” Then she frowned. “What about Catarina?”

“What? You know about her?” Luke glared accusingly at his brother-in-law.

Evan held up his hands. “It wasn’t from me. You know how thetongossips. Rachel could have heard about your mistress from any number of people.”

“I pride myself on being discreet,” he said testily.

“I’ve known about all three,” his sister proclaimed. “And a few of your lovers, as well. Lady Morton, for instance.”

Surprise rushed through him. “How could you know about her?”

“I overheard her gossiping about you in the ladies’ retiring room last summer,” Rachel said. “You’d be amazed at what you can overhear while you’re adjusting your hair.”

“What did she say?” he asked guardedly, knowing their relationship hadn’t ended well.

“She claimed you were the best lover she’d ever had and that when you decided to end your affair, she threatened to tell her husband. Lady Morton admitted she hadn’t slept with Lord Morton since she gave birth to his spare.” Rachel grinned. “And then she said her husband would challenge you to a duel.”

Luke certainly remembered that conversation. He’d told the woman that she didn’t want to do that because he was a crack shot and would shoot to kill. He convinced his lover that she needed her husband around for the sake of their two sons. She’d considered his words and then screamed for him to get out. He hadn’t spoken to her since. They’d coolly nodded at one another at social events. Luke had heard she’d taken on a new lover—as had Lord Morton.

“Have you gotten rid of them—allof them?” Rachel demanded.

Luke pressed a kiss to his nephew’s forehead. “As a matter of fact, that’s what has occupied my time today. I parted ways with a lovely widow this morning. I think she cared more about the earrings I gifted her with than our time together. As for the fiery Catarina? I just came from her house. That, too, has ended.”

“Youareserious,” Rachel said, approval in her voice. “What changed your mind? The last you told me, you were going to sow your wild oats and worry about a wife and children years down the road.”

He glanced at his nephew. “Seth, for one. And my other nieces and nephews. I can’t seem to get enough of them.” He sighed. “And seeing how batty my brother and sister are for their spouses.”

He rose and handed Seth back to her. “I can’t help but feel there’s something missing in my life. I enjoy being around my family and friends but I want more. Someone to share what happened during my day. Someone that understands me better than anyone else I know. Someone to care for—and love. If I can find her. If she even exists.”

Evan met his eye. “You won’t have to find love, Luke. It will find you.” He put his arm around Rachel and tenderly kissed her brow. “I was the last man who wanted a wife—and I found the perfect one for me.”

Rachel turned and kissed her husband. Luke was used to it by now. Both she and Jeremy never shied away from expressing their feelings for their spouses, despite theton’smixed reactions to their behavior. Luke knew that when Evan had come home from war, he’d suffered not only physical wounds but emotional ones, as well. He’d been prickly, holding everyone at arm’s distance, but he had been irresistibly drawn to Rachel. Seeing their happiness—along with Jeremy and Catherine and Leah and Alex—was what now led Luke to admit how much he wanted to find his soulmate.

“Let’s go riding in the park,” Rachel declared.

“Are you ready for that?” Evan asked, concern crossing his brow.

“The doctor said I could whenever I felt so. Besides, I’ve missed being on Calypso. Let me take Seth to the nursery for his nap and change into my riding habit.”

After she left, Luke teased, “You know my sister only married you for Calypso.” The dapple gray had been a wedding present from Evan to Rachel.

“She is mad for that horse,” Evan agreed. “She spends almost as much time atop it as she does me.”

Luke roared with laughter. “Wouldn’t thetonlike to hear you admit that in public?”

“They already think I’m scandalous enough. I don’t care. I love my wife and adore making love to her.”

Evan rang for Kent and asked for their horses to be saddled. By the time Rachel returned and they went outside, their mounts awaited them. They swung into the saddle as a carriage passed, pulling around and stopping in front of Templeton’s place. Curious, they all turned and glanced over their shoulders before riding from the square and turning toward the park.

“Who could she be?” Rachel asked, referring to the woman they’d all seen leave the carriage. “She had a boy with her. And a dog. I wonder if she’s Templeton’s daughter. She looked a little older than me.” She turned to her husband. “What do you think?”

“I haven’t the foggiest idea. You know we haven’t lived here but two years though the property was mine for years before that.”

“You and Rachel weren’t friendly with your neighbor?” Luke asked.

Evan laughed. “Not in the least bit. Templeton was years older than us. His drinking and gambling were legendary.”

“Well, I thought her quite pretty,” Rachel said. “If she is his daughter, I wouldn’t mind getting to know her. She could certainly use a friend in town, especially after what happened to her father. If he’s her father.”

Luke thought of the glimpse he’d gotten of the woman, whose trim figure looked very fine to him. The sun had struck her hair, burnishing its caramel color. He only wished he could have seen her face. He wouldn’t mind getting to know her, now that he was of a mind to open his heart to the possibility of love.

Wouldn’t it be an odd twist of fate if he’d just seen the woman that might actually be his soulmate?

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