Enticing the Earl

“Of course. Hart would like to visit with you. Are you up to it?”

“Not right now. I would prefer to be alone.” And wallow in self-pity. Something she almost never did.

Katherine Featherstone walked out of the bedchamber and sighed. She had given birth to the two most stubborn girls in the world. But she was just as determined not to see either one hurt.

She walked down the marble steps to speak with Hart. “Where is the earl?”

Thomas, the youngest of the earl’s footmen, turned away from his post at the door. “He is in the study.”

“Thank you.”

“Shall I announce you?”

Katherine shook

her head. “No, he is expecting me.” She walked down the long corridor to the earl’s study. She knocked on the door and waited to be allowed in.

“Come in.”

She strolled into the large room and nodded to the earl. “She is not in a good mood.”

“Oh?”

“She is quite petulant this morning.”

Hart smiled and then took a seat across from her. “And why is that?”

“She wants to leave.”

“That is not happening until we find Allan Davies. Did you tell her that?”

“No,” Katherine replied. “I believe you should be the one to inform her.” A footman brought tea in and placed it on the table between them. Katherine poured two cups and handed one to the earl.

“Thank you.” He took a sip and then said, “So you would like her to be angry with me?”

She looked up at the coffered ceiling. “I think she would take the news better from you than I.”

“I understand.”

“Do you?” Katherine couldn’t understand why he hadn’t talked to Mia about staying before now.

“What exactly do you want me to do, Mrs. Featherstone? The last time we talked you told me to do whatever it takes to protect her. How far do you want me to go?”

She liked his directness. He was a strong man but one who would never hurt her daughter. She had always known they belonged together. “What are your intentions?”

“Marriage.”

Katherine sighed softly. She had expected an arrangement, not marriage. It was highly inappropriate to ask a woman of Mia’s station to be his wife. “She will never agree to that.”

“Yes, she will. We will be wed before the end of September.”

Katherine rose slowly from her seat. “Good luck, my lord. I will be happy to have you as a son but I don’t believe she will allow it.”

“We shall see.”

After meeting with the Bow Street runner that afternoon, Simon decided it was time to speak with Mia again. She needed to hear what the runner had said about Davies. She needed to know the danger she was in so she would realize why she needed to stay at Hartsfield Park.

“Miss Featherstone, may I come in?”