Page 17 of The Earl Next Door
“Then let me give you another,” he said softly, his gaze sweeping down to her lips. “I appreciate and commend how you’ve come to the girls’ defense.”
For a moment her face softened and she looked as if she might take his praise as he intended. But then, as he suspected she might, considering her propensity to boldness, she spoiled it by saying, “Perhaps you should try drinking a little more while you are spending all night with your cohorts at the gaming halls. That way it won’t be so easy for you to awaken in the morning at the lovely sound of girlish laughter.”
Lyon wasn’t sure if he grimaced or grinned at her comment. Today she was clearly not interested in the modicum of a truce that had been struck between them.
Fine.
“That idea has merit, Countess. I’ll only have to decide which gives me the greater headache. Too much drink or shrill merriment exploding into my bedchamber.” He stepped closer and looked right into her eyes.“I will allow that I’m not a patient man and that I like order and calm, but I’m not a wild ogre out to harm children.”
“You are just heartless.”
“No,” he insisted, not that it seemed to matter to her. “I want them to play. Just quietly. This is a neighborhood. If the little chicks can’t play quietly, then you should move your boarding school to the country and give them all the ground they want to run around.”
The countess looked aghast at what he said. Fearing she might tempt him to say more and disprove his staunch oath that he wasn’t an ogre, Lyon turned and stomped off. He’d never met a lady with such a fearless spirit. One who stood her ground no matter the odds or the situation in which she found herself.
The devil take it. A brothel would have been easier to deal with and far more quiet.
His temples were throbbing like a thumb that had been caught in a slammed door, and worse, his stomach was cresting up and down like a huge wave. Nevertheless, he thought he’d been quite good controlling his temper toward the willfully strong widow, considering his splitting head. He needed a splash of brandy and breakfast. In that order.
And coffee.
Lots of coffee.
After that, he needed to talk to his solicitor. He wanted to see what could be done to move Lady Wake and her school out of the neighborhood to somewhere more appropriate.
Like the northern coast of Scotland. That should be far enough away to suit him nicely.
Chapter 7
Adeline paced in her garden until she wore herself out. All because of the tempestuous earl. He had the gall of the Prince himself. And then some. Lyon simply wasn’t worth all the effort she was putting into thinking about him time after time. It was exhausting.
Yet, she couldn’t seem to stop.
They’d had what she thought was a respectable, neighborly conversation just two or three days ago. Except for the carriage traffic his visitors caused in front of her house, she was beginning to believe they might dwell in peace as good neighbors. Now he was back to his old tricks of storming over without just cause and distressing her.
Still too agitated and not ready to go inside, Adeline wandered over to an old wooden bench that stoodagainst the back wall of her house and plopped down. That he’d upset the girls so terribly, after all they had been through, angered her beyond words. Their tragic losses, and getting used to living with strangers in a boarding school under the strict environment of learning skills, were frightful enough for them without him adding to their fears.
Rushing over half-dressed to chastise them for being too noisy was unforgivable. Calling themchicks! In fairness, she knew it had been a rash comment he made in the heat of the moment. It’s not that a baby bird was such an appalling name to call the girls. Chicks were actually extremely soft with their downy newborn fluff before their feathers appeared. They were warm, cuddly, and quite precious to hold in the palm of one’s hand. Perhaps they made a little squeak from time to time, but it wasn’t a repulsive noise. It was high-pitched, but sweet and innocent sounding.
Besides, as far as she was concerned the earl’s erratic actions showed he was more undisciplined than girls at play.
Suddenly Adeline blew out a soft laugh. Maybe in retaliation she would have the girls come outside at eleven o’clock every morning and scream to the high heavens. That would be fitting for the late-sleeping earl. To bother him as much as he had her would bring sweet satisfaction.
It felt good to think of the possibility of such an action, but she would never do it. That wouldn’t be advantageous. Adeline was rational enough to know that if Lyon was disturbed by the girls playing, others might be, too. It was important that the school become a partof the neighborhood and blend in. Not disrupt it and cause problems that would be difficult to settle. It was best she take care of this now. She would speak to Mrs. Tallon and tell her to take the girls to St. James Park three times a week to play and run to their hearts’ content. And she should come up with another respite they could do each day. Singing would probably be a good pastime. That shouldn’t annoy anyone, including the earl.
She laid her head against the siding of the house and closed her eyes. Maybe if she shut out the light of day, she could also resist the temptation to foster more thoughts about her infuriating neighbor. How many times would she have to tell herself there were more important things to dwell on than a man who not only jumped to conclusions before he had the facts but also disliked children?
Peace wouldn’t welcome her.
She kept seeing his intense gray eyes searching hers and the way his uncombed hair fell attractively around his forehead and face. The light stubble of beard on his cheeks and chin had enhanced his roguish good looks. He really should have had on a collar so she couldn’t see his strong neck and the intimate hollow of his throat.
Dash the man. Did he follow any of the acceptable rules of proper behavior?
Adeline knew her knowledge of men in general was limited, but she was fairly certain disagreeable, insufferable aristocrats weren’t supposed to be as attractive as the earl. Lord Lyonwood made her feel anger and outrage, but he also made her want to explore the warmand delicious feelings he caused inside her. Whenever she looked at him she felt as if her insides were melting into a hot swirling pool of anticipation and she didn’t understand why.
It was obvious he didn’t like her. She didn’t like him. He didn’t like children, and he probably didn’t like dogs or cats, either.
She smiled to herself. It might be going a little too far to think Lyon didn’t like animals, but he clearly had no patience when it came to children. And no respect for a lady’s privacy.
