Page 108 of Brave New Earl (The Way to a Lord's Heart 1)

“Wouldn’t that be a leopard, my adorable biologist?”

Jean nodded. “My metaphor, er, metamorphosed in midsentence.”

Laughing, he kissed her. And kissed her again. After that, there was no further conversation for quite some time.

“When you kiss me, I just melt,” Jean murmured.

“We must get married at once,” Benjamin declared. “If we could go down to the church right now—”

“We must post the banns.”

“Weeks too long!”

“I need some time to get ready for my one and only wedding day,” she told him.

“One and only indeed!”

Benjamin was kissing her again when the library door burst open and Geoffrey scampered in. “They’re hanging my picture. Come and see.” He danced from foot to foot in front of them. “They’re doing itnow.” When they had disentangled themselves and stood up, he ran out again.

“I must check the locks on all the bedchamber doors,” said Benjamin as they followed him to the stairs. “Do you suppose he can pick locks?”

“No.” Jean considered and added, “And if he can, you must tell him it is a matter of honor not to do so.”

“Good idea.”

Arm in arm they walked up to the gallery where the ancestral portraits of Furness Hall hung. Tom’s portrait of Geoffrey was being placed next to his mother’s.

No one, looking at the two, would doubt that they were related, Jean thought as she gazed at the two pictures. The red-gold hair, the celestial-blue eyes, the piquant shape of their faces. “Cousin Alice was so very beautiful,” she said quietly. That glowing perfection was a bit intimidating.

“She was, but not quite as beautiful as that,” Benjamin murmured near her ear. “The painter improved on nature. I think he was a little in love with her.”

“Why is my picture lower down?” Geoffrey asked the crew placing his portrait.

“We want an equal distance at top and bottom,” answered Tom, who was overseeing the process. “Looks best that way.”

“That lad is a treasure trove of hidden talents,” said Benjamin.

“I’m glad your uncle has taken him up.”

“Indeed, I’m eager to see what he makes of himself.”

“Where is Lord Macklin?”

Benjamin shook his head. “He received an urgent letter. And then he had to speak to Mrs. Thorpe at once. I have no idea why.”

“Another benevolent mystery?”

“Very well put.”

The picture was hung, adjusted, and approved. Everyone stood back to get the full effect.

Jean felt small fingers curl around hers. She looked down and found Geoffrey holding her hand. “She’ll be up here, and you’ll be downstairs,” he said.

“That’s right,” she managed, her throat tight with emotion.

“Are you going to sleep in my mother’s room?” the boy went on.

“Not if you don’t like it.”

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