Enticing the Earl

“It did nothing. But so far, it is mostly in the evening and driving. And driving is by far the worst. Perhaps I shall just stay here until this baby is born.” Selina laughed. “But only if you stay with me.”

“As you wish, Your Grace.” Mia giggled. “I will be your lady in waiting for you and Caroline.”

“Caroline too?”

Mia nodded. With all that settled, Mia felt ready to face the day. She would ignore Miss Layton and focus on Selina. And she decided Selina was right. Whatever happened in London five years ago was Simon’s business and if he wanted to tell her, he would. She wouldn’t press the issue.

“There you are,” Simon said, finally finding Mia still in her morning gown in the salon of the bedchamber. “Did you go with the other ladies to town?”

“No, Selina and I stayed here to get caught up.”

“And how is she?”

“With child.”

“Indeed.” Simon looked away, wondering how North might feel about that. “Are they happy?”

“Selina is ecstatic. The duke is happy but concerned.”

Simon sat in the wingback chair across from her. “With good reason after what he went through.”

Mia looked away.

“What’s wrong, Mia?”

She explained what she’d overheard about Middleton. “I have a terrible suspicion that woman is Tia. I can’t even say why I feel that way. I just do.”

Simon frowned. His friend had never shown an interest in his wise woman before now. “I doubt it’s her, Mia. He’d had plenty of opportunity to seduce her if he’d wanted. Why go to London to do it? It makes no sense.”

“He’s a rake but can be quite charming at times. Maybe he’d never shown that side to her? Perhaps Jonathon rejected her and she sought solace in Middleton’s arms. I’m her twin and I know something is wrong with her.”

“What do you want to do?”

She stared down at her hands but her eyes blinked constantly as if trying to hold back tears. “Go to London and find her.”

“Then we shall. As soon as the ball is over. We can leave on Saturday.”

She looked up at him with watery eyes, and he was lost. He never wanted to see her hurt in any way. And he would keep his secret to his dying day to protect her from the pain it would bring her.

“Thank you.” She clambered out of her chair and onto his lap. “Thank you,” she said again before kissing him.

Before long, she was leading him into their bedroom and showing him exactly how thankful she was for his answer.

Simon finally dressed again and left Mia napping in the bedroom. He’d been ignoring his mother since that first encounter the day they arrived, but as he walked into the library he found her working on her needlepoint. His grandmother was napping in the wingback chair across from her. A slight snore from her made his lips twitch.

“Good afternoon, Mother.”

“Simon,” she said with

a nod, barely looking up from her needlepoint.

“Are you enjoying the party?”

“Not particularly. I am finding the company rather tedious this year.”

Simon did his best to ignore the barb. “Will you be staying here after the party or returning to Hartsfield Park?”

“I shall stay here until after the baby is born. Caroline will need the help,” she replied.