Loving Lord Egleton: A Regency Romance (Regency Matchmakers Book 3), Laura Beers [ap literature book list .TXT] 📗

“Let’s hope not,” she replied with a small smile.

“Frankly, I find duels to be rather distasteful.”

“As do I.” She gave him an expectant look. “Now it is your turn to tell me something shocking.”

He chuckled. “I don’t believe I have done anything shocking in my life.”

“No?” she asked. “That is a pity, then.”

“My life has been mapped out for me,” he shared. “I was born with a great responsibility, and I have strived to be worthy of it.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

He furrowed his brow. “Why would you say that?”

“Because I know what it’s like to live up to someone else’s expectations,” she said, “and it can be rather exhausting.”

“That it can,” he agreed. “Sometimes I have been overwhelmed by managing all of our investments and properties.”

“That is a fortunate problem to have.”

“Indeed,” he replied. “I have no right to complain.”

She smiled at him. “I don’t think you are complaining,” she said. “I believe it is normal for people to struggle when given a new challenge.”

“I would agree.”

Lady Emma’s gaze left his and roamed the woodlands. “I’m afraid my older brother has not adapted well to inheriting my father’s title.”

“No?”

“Roswell changed after my father’s death,” she shared. “He used to be kind, but now he is just angry.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

Lady Emma glanced down at her gloved hands before sharing, “It has been a source of contention in our home.”

“My father changed after my older sister’s death, as well,” he found himself admitting.

“How have you dealt with it?”

Martin shrugged. “I always hoped that he would resort back to the way he was, but now I have just come to terms that he is a different person.”

“I don’t think I can do that with my brother.”

“Nor should you,” he encouraged. “Don’t give up on him just yet.”

“I won’t.”

“He is lucky to have a sister like you,” he praised.

The sound of Hannah laughing brought his attention back to her, and he narrowed his eyes at Lord Charles. What had he said that was so humorous? He was friends with Lord Charles, and he knew he wasn’t that amusing.

“It would appear that my brother and Miss Blackmore are getting along quite nicely,” Lady Emma commented.

“Yes, it would.”

Lady Emma offered him an amused look. “I can assure you that my brother is harmless.”

“I am well aware.”

“Then why are you glowering at him?”

Martin turned towards her. “I am doing no such thing.”

“You are,” she replied, “but please do not let me stop you. You may glower away.”

Martin chuckled. “I promise I won’t glower at your brother for the rest of our ride.”

“Promises, promises,” she teased.

Martin arrived at his townhouse as the sun was starting to set. He had spent an enjoyable afternoon with Lady Emma and found her to be an enchanting young woman. She was a pleasant distraction from his never-ending work, and he had no doubt that, given time, he could care greatly for her.

The door opened and his butler greeted him. “Good evening, milord.”

“Good evening, Moreland,” he said as he stepped into the entry hall. “I will be in my study until supper.”

“As you wish.”

His sister stepped out from the drawing room. “How was your ride through Hyde Park with Lady Emma?”

“It went well.”

“Will she be my new sister?” Marianne asked with a smile on her face.

He chuckled. “I’m afraid I haven’t decided yet.”

“That is a shame,” Marianne said dramatically. “I have longed for another sister for so long.”

“You shall have to wait a little longer.”

Marianne sighed. “You disappoint me, brother.”

“I assure you that was not my intention,” he said as he walked over to her. “What has been occupying your time today?”

“The usual pursuits, I suppose.”

“Such as?”

“I practiced the pianoforte for nearly two hours, and I embroidered my initials on a handkerchief,” she replied. “Oh, I also wrote a few letters.”

“You have had a productive day, if you ask me.”

Marianne smirked. “But I didn’t ask you.”

“If you will excuse me, I have work I need to do.”

His sister glanced over his shoulder before she lowered her voice. “Father’s home, and he is in a foul mood.”

“Is that so?”

She nodded. “If I were you, I would avoid him until supper.”

“That shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“I am glad to hear that,” she replied. “I am going to have a long soak until then and hide out in my bedchamber.”

“Surely he can’t be that bad.”

Marianne put her hands up in front of her. “You have been warned.”

“Enjoy your soak, sister,” Martin said before he started walking towards his study.

He stepped into the room and walked over to his desk. As he sat down in the chair, he reached for the correspondence neatly tied in a pile on the edge of his desk. He pulled the string off and started looking through the letters.

He had just opened the first letter when his father stormed into his study. “There you are,” he said, his words slightly slurred. “You have been gone for the whole day!”

“Have you been drinking, Father?”

“I have,” his father replied, holding up the nearly empty glass in his hand, “but that is none of your concern.”

“You are drunk.”

His father shook his head vehemently. “I am no such thing.”

“Perhaps you should go lie down.”

“Not until you tell me what you think you were doing with Lady Emma in Hyde Park.”

Martin leaned back in his chair. “I went on a ride with Lady Emma, her brother, Lord Charles, and Miss Blackmore.”

“Don’t you realize that people saw you cavorting with Lady Emma?”

Martin frowned. “I was not cavorting, Father.”

“No?” His father took the last sip of his drink. “You have no decency towards your betrothed.”

“We both know that I am not betrothed.”

His father walked over to the drink cart and placed his glass down. “I gave my word to Lord Whittingham that you would offer for his daughter.”

“That was a foolhardy thing to do, especially since you gave me a month to find my own bride.”

Picking up the decanter, his father removed the stopper and poured some brandy into his glass. “I did