Page 13 of Tempting the Earl

The earl turned first to reply. “I shall endeavor to accommodate any condition you require.”

His tone was so bloody reasonable and calm. Not at all the hard, heated command he’d employed only moments ago.

Ainsworth had never wanted to punch someone as badly as she did in that moment. She managed to refrain only by focusing intently on Caillie’s face. Her sweet, soft-cheeked face with her clever but innocent gaze and her smiling mouth currently pressed into a firm line.

Those hazel eyes turned to Ainsworth. “Worthy.” Her voice was gentle but firm, mimicking a tone Ainsworth had often used when trying to calm and direct the child in moments of temper. “His Lordship is right. I deserve an opportunity to learn all I can about my father and the world he came from. And I’d like to meet my brothers and see London.”

Caillie turned to the earl as she continued, “But I willnae agree to stay indefinitely. Consider it an extended visit. If I decide I wish to leave, I’d like your promise you willnae prevent me from doing so.”

Ainsworth’s heart leapt forward in pride at her girl’s foresight and boldness. She glanced to the man beside her.

Despite a barely perceptible tension in his profile, he clasped his wrist behind his back and bowed his head in acknowledgement and acceptance. “I promise. You shall be free to return to Faeglen at any time.” He lowered his chin. “But I hope you’ll be willing to give it a fair shake.”

“Shall three months be sufficient to start?” Caillie promptly responded.

His brows lifted. “I believe so.”

“And,” Caillie continued with a stubborn tilt of her chin, “Worthy must accompany me.”

Ainsworth felt the earl’s gaze shift swiftly to her before leaping away again, but she didn’t bother acknowledging his reaction as she eyed her young ward with a narrowed stare.

Not only had Caillie decided to prove her daring nature, she’d apparently also decided to demonstrate her cleverness. The girl was no doubt well aware that half of Ainsworth’s objections were essentially rendered irrelevant if she were included in the earl’s invitation.

“And Bramble,” the girl added quickly into the moment of stunned silence.

The earl would refuse. Surely, he wouldn’t want Ainsworth’s caustic presence (and she had every intention of keeping up her current attitude) hanging about in his life for three long months.

But then he gave a short nod and replied with firm conviction. “Agreed. On both.”

Caillie’s eyes sparked with undeniable excitement, but she looked to Ainsworth first. “Worthy?”

Thinking through every possible reason for denial she could come up with, she quickly realized that after the earl’s gracious acceptance, any further objection from her would make her appear unreasonably bullheaded. And she couldn’t ignore that, although she doubted Caillie would go if she didn’t have Ainsworth’s blessing, it really wasn’t required for the earl to force the issue. Ultimately, she’d rather be with Caillie wherever the girl was than away from her knowing she might be needed.

She had no choice. With an audible sigh, she finally replied. “For three months only.”

Caillie’s mouth widened into a grin of undeniable anticipation as she danced a lively little jig. “We’re going to London!”

“But...” Ainsworth interrupted in a sharp tone as she finally turned to address the earl. “We cannae possible be ready to undertake such a journey today or even tomorrow,” she added sternly as he opened his mouth as though preparing to argue. Then he pressed his lips together and allowed her to finish. She began ticking the items off on her fingers. “We must settle things here with Mr. and Mrs. Norris. Make arrangements for someone from the village to care for Roy and the girls. We’ll need time to pack.”

“How much time?” he asked in a way that suggested he could be reasonable.

She gave a tight smile, knowing he wouldn’t like her answer. “Two weeks.”

A furrow formed between his brows and a glint of cool fire lay banked in his bright blue stare. “I’ll have a carriage sent back for you.”

And that was that. Whether she liked or not—she bluidy well did not!—Cailleach Claybourne and Ainsworth Morgan would be going to London as guests of the Earl of Wright.

Ainsworth waited until after the earl bade a stiff good-bye and Caillie dashed outside to run off her excitement before she retreated to her corner bedroom and had a good, tension-releasing cry.

Unfortunately, it didn’t release much tension at all. When she finally caught her breath and splashed her face with water, she sat down to look in the oval mirror hanging over her vanity table.

Puffy red eyes. Blotchy skin. Hair a mess. She always looked a fright after a strong cry.

Not that she cried very often. In her life there had only been a few occasions which had brought on such a strong surge of emotion.

The day her father died in a carriage accident coming home from Edinburgh. She’d been naught but a babe when her mother had passed so he’d been her entire world.

The night Caillie had been born. Tears of extreme, unfiltered joy.

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