An Earl of her Own (Saints and Sinners 3)

It took but a few moments to return to the garden, and as she predicted, the guests were stirring, ready to go back into the manor for luncheon. With the twins at her side, and Lady Ava following close behind, Rebecca weaved through the crowd until she found Samuel. He was talking with Lady Morgan, and she waited until she had his attention before speaking. “The boys are keen to visit the lake for a paddle.”

Samuel exchanged a wry smile with Lady Morgan. “You don’t have to tell me where you take them, Mrs. Warner. I trust you with them, always.”

Rebecca shook her head firmly. “It would be better if you went with them.”

Lady Morgan moved closer to Samuel, languidly fanning herself. “A paddle by the lake sounds very inviting, my lord. It’s so warm today.”

Did the viscountess intend to join them? That wasn’t what she wanted to hear. Lady Morgan was married. “Perhaps you could ask your husband to take you later?”

“But of course he can come with us,” Samuel agreed.

The smile on Lady Morgan’s face dropped away suddenly.

Rebecca almost laughed at the woman’s change of expression. Her brother really should be more careful of married women with older husbands. Many became bored by the choices they’d made with their lives and looked to others for attention.

Samuel grinned. “The more, the merrier, I always say.”

Rebecca eased back as the boys peppered their father with questions about visiting the lake and it became quite clear that their trip was imminent. She bid them an enjoyable afternoon together and turned for the manor.

Lady Ava’s hand slipped into hers. “What can I do this afternoon?”

“Well,” she began, but stopped when she caught sight of Lord Rafferty coming from the direction of the house. He seemed annoyed to see her, but then the expression vanished when he noticed his daughter. Rebecca approached Rafferty slowly, a little unsure of what to say to him now. She could not be rude to the first man who had wanted to kiss her since her husband’s demise.

Lady Ava’s hand slipped from hers when they reached him.

He stared at his daughter. “What are you doing outside?”

“Forgive me, my lord,” Rebecca cut in before the girl could answer. “I thought Lady Ava might enjoy the party, so I stole her away from her studies.”

His brow rose in surprise. “Is that right?”

“Yes, indeed,” she lied.

Rafferty seemed unconvinced but shrugged. “Are you still playing games with the twins?”

“Oh, no. Not now. The children have taken their father to the lake, and they will all most likely paddle in the shallows until the sun is setting.”

Rafferty glanced past her. “Not invited to go with them?”

She caught Rafferty’s eye. “It was my idea for them to go without me. I thought it about time I joined everyone else.”

Rafferty’s lips twitched. “Done organizing us all then?”

“That is a chore that might never end, my lord.”

“True.” He turned to his daughter. “Back to the nursery for you, my girl. Your luncheon is waiting.”

“Yes, Papa,” she promised. “Thank you for thinking of me, Mrs. Warner.”

Lady Ava dipped into a curtsy and disappeared inside.

Suddenly feeling awkward, Rebecca glanced down. It wasn’t a nice feeling being unsure what to say. Rebecca had no experience flirting with a gentleman.

Rafferty, however, seemed impervious to uncertainty. “Shall we go in together?”

She looked up quickly. “I’d like that.”

“I know you just lied to me to protect Ava,” he murmured after a few steps. “My daughter escaped all by herself, didn’t she?”