Wicked Earl Seeks Proper Heiress (The Husband Hunters Club 5)

Rufus rose to his feet and she stared up at him, probably wondering what he was going to do next. Ravish her, he wouldn’t be surprised.

“I’m sorry we all landed on you like this,” he said. “It was very rude of my son and he will be punished for it.”

“Oh no, please. At least . . . I know it was wrong of him, but please don’t punish him. He can come and visit me any time. Hercules will love it.”

“And I, Averil? Am I welcome at any time?”

Her cheeks were pink. She stood up, brushing her skirts with hands that seemed a little unsteady, and although she was looking down he could see her lips curled into a smile. “Of course, Lord Southbrook,” she said.

He felt rather smug.

And then she looked up, catching him out. “We don’t play favorites here,” she added politely, and he saw that she was aware of his manipulations.

“I’m glad to hear it.” His smile faded and suddenly his face was very serious. “You should order me from your house, Averil. Bar your door to me. I’m not safe to be with you.”

Her cheeks were even pinker but she held his gaze. “I-I don’t think I could do that, Lord Southbrook.”

“Call me Rufus,” he said. “At least when we’re alone. Lord Southbrook was my father.”

“Rufus, then,” she whispered. “I don’t want to bar you from my house, Rufus. I think you are a far nicer man than you pretend. And besides, you’re helping me find my sister. I can’t not see you. It wouldn’t be practical, would it?”

Rufus sighed. “Don’t say I haven’t warned you then,” he told her. “Good-bye, Averil. Until the next time.”

“Your garden is a joy, Miss Harmon,” said James, bending to smell some heliotrope.

“When Averil is so busy with Doctor Simmons, I have to do something.”

She could not believe how much she had enjoyed James’s company. Knowing he was probably an incorrigible flirt, as well as a gambler, didn’t seem to matter. He was good company and he made her laugh. He’d even asked her to go to the ballet with him in a few days’ time and although she’d said she’d think about it, she was inclined to accept.

What on earth would Averil think? Here she was, warning the girl away from the earl, while she went merrily off with the uncle.

But in her heart she knew this was something special. Standing with him in the rose garden, Beth felt happier than she had for ages. As they walked she’d been conscious of his trousered thigh lightly touching her skirts and a little shiver of something very physical tingled through her body.

Desire? Was that possible? Beth had never desired a man in her life—wasn’t she too old for such passions? And yet here she was all aflutter for the Honorable James Blainey. She supposed she should be wary, or at least very much on her guard. She supposed there would come a point when she must draw a line and tell him to leave her alone. But for now, she was content just to let things unfold. This new direction in her staid life was all rather exciting and she certainly wasn’t going to put a stop to it before it became absolutely necessary.

CHAPTER TEN

* * *

Averil had arrived at the Home for Distressed Women to find the place in pandemonium. Another of the women was missing, despite all of Gareth’s precautions, and all the locks on the doors. They’d sent Jackson out to search, and Gareth had even been out himself, but without any success. It was as if she had simply vanished.

“Clearly the girl did not want redemption,” Gareth said, disgruntled. “That’s her loss. There are plenty of others to take her place.”

Averil had been secretly mulling over the earl’s offer, but now it seemed too good a plan to keep to herself. Especially now. Wouldn’t Gareth look more favorably upon it, after what had happened this morning?

She took Gareth aside to speak to him. Disappointingly, he wasn’t at all happy with the earl’s offer. Or with her, either, for suggesting it to him.

“What has the earl of Southbrook to say to anything?” he demanded, eyes flashing with fury. She had never seen him so het up. “Donations are one thing, Averil, but trying to take over my Home is quite another.”

Averil was angry, too, but she reined it in, trying to stay calm, to reason with him. “It isn’t your Home. It belongs to the women who live here, and if they don’t feel safe then they’ll stop coming. Mrs. Claxton told me she’s already seen three women leave in three days because they say they’ve changed their minds. Gareth, I think the reason they’ve changed their minds is that they don’t feel safe, because in every direction they look they are confronted by their past. They might come here with the intention of escaping it, but how can they?”

But as usual Gareth wouldn’t hear of it. “You’re being dramatic,” he said sharply.

“I’m being sensible, Gareth. Please, consider what I’ve said. I know you feel strongly about the Home and I know you want the best for the women.”

He shook his head, his hands clenched on the desk in front of him. There was something so distraught about his expression that Averil was silenced. Gareth could be difficult and awkward but this was different. There was something very wrong.

“Gareth?” She came to his side, resting her hand on his shoulder. “Gareth, what is the matter?”