Page 8 of Loving an Earl
*
Edmund spun around,his eyes riveted on Lilly as she exited the room with the grace and ease of someone much older. What game was she playing? It had started during dinner and continued in the library, and he didn’t yet understand it.
He may have apologized for his accusations and hurtful words he’d spoken that afternoon, but he hadn’t meant them. Every single person in this house was hiding something from him. He’d spent the afternoon drilling the servants, trying to get a view on his uncle and Lilly’s marriage. The only thing anyone said was that it was a love match. “Bloody hell,” he mumbled. They lied to his face. His household lied to him so easily. It was so obvious they were keeping secrets. And damn it if they weren’t completely devoted and loyal to Lilly, as he supposed it should be.
But he was the new earl, and he also deserved their loyalty. Only a few members of the household knew him, but the others would learn soon enough he was loyal, too, hardworking, and devoted to the earldom. As for Lilly, she had his insides tied up in knots. There was no denying she was beautiful and alluring, even dressed in dreary black. If he’d met her under different circumstances... he moaned and raked his hands through his newly cut hair.Do not think about her in that way.She was his uncle’s widow and off-limits to him. The best thing for him to do to keep the peace between the two of them was to complete all his estate business as quickly as possible and go back to London. They would barely have to see each other. His hand rubbed his chest to ease the sudden tightness.
When he’d arrived today, he’d expected to be greeted by an elderly, kind widow who would be happy to retire to the dower house. And if Langford Manor didn’t have one, he’d build one for her and she’d live out her remaining years there. For some reason, he no longer saw that happening anytime soon. Nor should it. Lilly was too young to retire from life. He picked a tome off the shelf without even reading the title and strolled up to his rooms, wondering what tomorrow would bring.
On the pillow on his bed was a sealed letter that hadn’t been there before dinner. It was addressed to him and was sealed with the Langford seal. The hairs on the back of his neck rose as he knew, without a doubt, that this was a letter from Uncle Henry written to him before his death. He tore it open, his eyes widening as he read the letter in his uncle’s handwriting.
My Dearest Nephew,
When this letter reaches your hand, I will be dead and you will have taken my place as the Earl of Langford. I have faith in you that you will be a fair and honest landowner to your tenants and will do the names Weston and Langford great honor. I’m so very proud of what you have made of yourself and your business enterprise.
I have a great favor to ask, though. I married the lovely and young Lilliana. I ask you to look out for her, as we kept mostly to ourselves when in London, and I’m afraid London Society will eat her alive. She is kind, honest, and smart. But she is inexperienced with members of theton.Please help her navigate Society. As she is so young, my greatest wish for her is to make another love match for herself, one that can produce children. Please take my request to help her and see her happily married to an honorable gentleman very seriously. I am relying on you, Edmund.
From the other side,
Henry
After reading the letter three times, he folded it and placed it on the bedside table.From the other side.Edmund shivered. Did Henry have to make it sound as though he were watching him from the grave, making him feel guilty for how he’d treated her today when they first met? Putting that thought aside, he had to come to terms with his uncle’s two requests. He had the feeling that after today, Lilly would not welcome his assistance in entering London Society or help with finding herself a suitable husband. He shuddered. A love match. Did they even exist? Yes, of course he knew they did. But they were rare.
*
Having tossed andturned around in her bed, the sheets tangling up with her limbs, and unable to sleep, Lilly was up and dressed before Daisy came to wake her. “I don’t need your assistance with anything this morning, Daisy. I’m going to take my breakfast in the morning room.”
Daisy bobbed her head. “Yes, my lady.”
The thought of having a tray brought up to her room and hiding from Langford tempted her, but if they were to coexist in the same house, she’d better get used to him. Although, he never said he would be staying at Langford Manor. He would seek a bride now that he was an earl and would, no doubt, return to London in the hope of finding one. Also, he may insist she move to the dower house. Lilly wrinkled her nose. The dower house was a lovely large cottage not far from the main manor house, but she had no intention of living there. The dower house was for older widows. Not someone of her young age. Besides, she hadn’t really lived a life outside of the country in Kent. As much as the idea of London’s polite Society still frightened her, a part of her was excited to experience it firsthand. What little she’d taken part in when Henry lived was nothing that she imagined a widow would experience.
When her year of mourning concluded, she wanted to experience new things and perhaps find a husband not three times her age. Henry’s cousin, Emmeline Fitzpatrick, had already invited her to stay with her and her mother. As soon as she felt ready, she would write her and take her up on her offer.
Lilly entered the morning room, found it empty, and sighed with relief. She relaxed her face, which hurt from the forced smile she had adopted to greet Langford with if necessary. After fixing a plate at the sideboard, a footman helped her sit and poured her a cup of hot chocolate. “Thank you, Stevens.”
Just as her first forkful of egg made its way into her mouth, Langford swept into the room with dark circles under his eyes. So, it appeared she wasn’t the only one who hadn’t slept.
“Good morning, Langford.”
“Good morning,” he mumbled as he fixed a plate.
Even though she’d lost her appetite with Langford’s arrival, she forced herself to eat, knowing she would be hungry later if she didn’t. It was the method she adopted for supper as well, and every meal she found herself sharing with the new earl.
Mrs. Pemberton reported to her, every day for a fortnight, that his lordship was still drilling the servants for any tidbits surrounding her marriage. He tore apart Henry’s study several times, seeking papers. Lilly’s heart dropped with the knowledge. It was a good thing Mr. Beauregard possessed the banking and legal documents for the trust Henry had set up for her. And as far as she knew, Henry didn’t have a copy in the house.
Langford continued to treat her with disdain and indifference. He didn’t come out and accuse her again of stealing, but he still implied it. They sat together each night for supper per his request. A request she chose not to ignore as it would only make things worse between them. Tension swelled thick in the air as they ate in silence, making her question why he would torture both of them. Eating separately would ease both their constitutions. She didn’t know about him, but she felt sick each night when she climbed in bed. What food she consumed felt like a rock in her stomach.
Each morning, she woke up exhausted, knowing it would be an exact repeat of the day before.
Edmund was an insufferable bore. And after two weeks she decided she’d had enough of living this way. Sitting at her small writing desk, she grabbed paper and dipped the quill into the inkwell and penned a letter to Henry’s cousin.
Dearest Emmeline,
I hope this missive finds you well. I would like to take you up on your offer to visit you in London. I will arrive in a few weeks, if it is agreeable to you.
Your Humble Cousin,
Lilly
