Enticing the Earl

“It still hurts, that is all.”

Simon watched the interplay and wondered why Mia seemed so tense around her mother. Mrs. Featherstone appeared to be only concerned about the welfare of her daughter.

“Let’s go upstairs where I can examine you,” Mrs. Featherstone demanded.

“Mrs. Featherstone, when you are finished, I would like a word,” Simon said as the women started for the door.

“Of course, my lord.”

Once th

e women left, Simon sat back down at his desk and looked at the ledger pages Mia had written. They were extremely neat and as he calculated the figures, he realized her numbers were correct. Far more correct than his were. Not that there was anything she could do about the state of his finances.

Hiring Burton as his steward has been the biggest mistake of his life. Simon had accepted the man’s references without verifying them with his previous employers. He found out later that all the documents had been forged. Burton hadn’t worked for any of the men he’d stated. Simon had never felt like such an inept fool. The man had embezzled thousands of pounds from him and then disappeared. Mr. Tanner had told him Burton had most likely left the country for America.

Now, Simon was close to bankrupt with only himself to blame.

He glanced back down on the figures in the ledger. Mia’s calculation left him in a little better position than he had determined. Perhaps if the crops came in well this year, he could raise the tenants’ rents just enough that they wouldn’t be angry but enough that it would help him out of this hole he’d dug himself.

His mother had told him to go back into Society and find a wealthy bride. Only he didn’t want a wealthy bride, he wanted Mia.

A knock on the open door made Simon look up from the books. “Yes, Mrs. Featherstone, do come in.”

Mrs. Featherstone sat down in the chair across the desk from him with a sigh. “She can be an exasperating child sometimes.”

“Mia?”

“Of course, Mia. That fool girl has it in her head that you will teach her how to protect herself.”

Simon smiled at her. “She is correct. I promised I would teach her some things to help her if something similar should happen again.”

“She is not ready for that,” Mrs. Featherstone said sharply. “Her ribs are still bothering her though I’m sure she won’t admit it. The bones haven’t had time to heal properly yet. If she does something too strenuous she could reinjure her ribs.”

“I told her I would not begin to teach her until you gave your approval on her health. From what you are telling me we need to wait a few more weeks.”

“Yes, at least a fortnight, possibly two.”

A month! Would he have to wait that long to bed her? Mrs. Featherstone had said nothing too strenuous. He would go mad if he had to wait that long. Kissing her today had almost done him in. He wanted her desperately. Insanely. All he seemed capable of doing lately was think about making love to her.

“My lord, are you all right? You seem a little flush.”

“I am well. When you say nothing strenuous, exactly what do you mean?”

Mrs. Featherstone let out a hardy laugh. “As long as you’re careful she should be fine. Just don’t lie on top of her.”

Simon felt heat scorch his cheeks. How could he be having this conversation with her mother?

“Has she let you into her bedchamber yet?”

He raised a brow at her. “I don’t believe that is your business, Mrs. Featherstone.”

She laughed again. “She is my daughter. I would like to know if I should be ready to deliver an heir in nine months.”

“She will not agree to marry me until after she’s had her monthlies. She won’t stick me with someone else’s child.”

Mrs. Featherstone’s face turned pallid. “She hasn’t had her monthlies while here?”

“Not that she’s told me.”