Earl of Gold (Lords of Scandal 7)

The fence still needed a good coat of paint but at least he’d repaired all the broken pickets.

Penny had come out to rake the beds and he’d had a most excellent view of her derriere as she’d worked, kneeling in the garden to brush away all the dead leaves from the fall.

Not that the delectable view was why he’d repaired the fence.

Though if he were honest, he wasn’t certain why he’d done the job.

Except that they needed the repairs. But he hadn’t asked her a single question or learned even a bit of information that might help him with Daring’s intentions.

Clarissa had brought the three little girls out multiple times. At one point, they’d helped to clear the beds, working so hard to copy Penny. At another point, they’d watched intently as he’d repaired the fence. And finally, they’d delivered him water and bread with cheese.

The little one, Natty, who he’d seen doing math, looked so proud to offer him the plate that his chest had actually grown tight.

“Would you like some `freshments, my lord?” She gave him a large smile as she sighed, clearly pleased to have gotten out the words. He didn’t have the heart to tell her the word was refreshment.

“Of course, my lady. Thank you.”

Penny had looked back at him then, from her perch in the garden, the smile on her face, shining through her eyes.

He’d nearly choked on his cheese. Because she looked stunning like that. And because no woman had ever looked so pleased with him before.

Why did that matter?

He didn’t need a single woman’s approval. He was

working toward acceptance from the crème de la crème of society. He wanted…

She shyly looked down as she brushed some dirt from her dress. Penny’s cheeks were flushed with color and her lips soft and so inviting.

Why did his goals suddenly seem less important? Money…who cared?

Society…let them all go to the devil.

A good match for marriage…bloody boring.

This woman. Her approval suddenly meant more than any of it and he took a half step back.

Natty frowned at him. “Was the cheese not good?” She lowered her voice, her little brow drawing together. “I ate bad cheese once. It was awful.”

And just like that, something in him shifted. Well, something else. This little girl was darling and working so hard to have a good life. His sink or swim attitude suddenly held less grit.

His stomach flipped as he thought about the cold cruel things a world like this could do to a child.

“The cheese was excellent. I was astounded by the deliciousness.”

Natty gave him a glowing smile, bouncing on her heels. Penny stood and crossed over to them, the gate creaking as she opened it. “Well done, my sweet,” she whispered as she leaned down close to Natty’s ear. “It’s time for your rest now.”

Natty nodded and leaned up on tiptoe to kiss Penny’s cheek. “I love you,” she whispered before turning back to head toward the house.

“I love you too.” Penny answered, watching the child leave.

“How old is Natty?” he asked, more to break the silence that suddenly seemed awkward. Or perhaps it was just him who felt uncertain. Watching the little girl toddle up the stairs made him shake inside. She was so small.

“I’m not certain,” Penny said. “She looks about four or five, but she might just be short from malnutrition. Her intellect makes her seem more like six.”

Those words rumbled in his chest. He wanted to ask a hundred questions. Who would starve such a baby? How could no one even know when she was born? But the questions stuck in his throat. “How long has Natty been under your care?”

“A year,” Penny answered, turning back to him. “She’s come a long way already. But she still suffers from terrors at night.”