Earl of Gold (Lords of Scandal 7)

“How big is your family?” Fran asked, having scrambled to look out the window too.

“Very small,” he replied quietly.

“So why is your house so big?” Ethel asked. She stayed in her seat with only the smallest squirm and wistful glance toward the window. Penny shifted. Ethel was the eldest of the little girls and trying so very hard to be grown up. But Ethel’s words made her stomach churn. Logan would marry someday and start a family of his own. She hated the jealousy tightening her hands into fists.

He chuckled. “It was the only size the house came in.”

Ethel nodded as though that made complete sense. “How long will we stay?”

His laughter died. “Until we can find a safer home for you.”

Penny’s own throat started to close. Because she’d been so angry, she’d thought some pretty terrible thoughts about him this evening. But the truth was, whatever his motivations had started as, they seemed pure enough to the orphans.

He wanted to keep them all safe. When was the last time a man had stood between her and the world, shouldering the heavy burden?

So long.

She didn’t know how long he planned to stay, and she’d meant what she’d said about the girls needing a consistent presence in their life. But if he hadn’t been there tonight…if he hadn’t taken them in…

Her hands twisted in her lap.

She needed to be nicer.

It was just that somewhere along the way, this infuriating, wonderful man had gotten under her skin.

She’d not allowed anyone to make her angry or upset in ages. Nor had she allowed herself to feel love for another besides Clarissa and the children.

But he was working his way into her heart.

And that was the real reason she was angry. She shouldn’t let him. He was not going to be theirs forever. Even she knew that.

Chapter Eleven

Logan tossed himself into a chair near the fire in an upstairs sitting room. Penny slipped into the chair next to him, sighing as she leaned back.

They’d spent the last hour getting his guests settled. Finally, he had all the children and Clarissa tucked into their beds, and only Penny remained.

She still wore her dinner gown and though it was creased from all the activity, she looked breathtakingly beautiful.

He’d like to press her palm to his lips and kiss her hand. Then her arm, perhaps her neck, ear, and cheek.

“I’m so tired, I could just sleep in this chair.” Her head tilted to one side, her eyes fluttering closed.

“It’s well past midnight.” He watched her breathing slow as her lips softly parted. “We should get you to bed too.”

She waved her hand. “In a minute. I have a few things to say first.”

His gut clenched. What did she want to say now? “Yes?”

“Thank you,” she said as she sat up, her brown eyes opening to look into his. In this light, they appeared to have little flecks of gold. “Now that we’re here, I feel so much safer.” And she took a deep breath. “And the donations you helped secure. They are beyond…” She swished her hand in the air. “Anything I ever dreamed.”

“Your vision is worth far more.” He wanted to reach over and take her hand. He placed his hands on his thighs to keep from reaching out to her. “We’ll keep fundraising. I’m not the most popular lord but surely I can—”

“My lord,” the butler called from the door. “There is someone here to see you.”

Logan’s head swiveled around. Had someone come to call with names of the perpetrators already? “Who?”

“The Earl of Baxter,” he answered. “Should I ask him to return tomorrow? It’s rather late for visitors.”