Page 11 of Discovering Her Earl

Was this the reason she wasn’t married already?

He knew how some men got flustered in his presence when he towered over them. Their insecurities pricked. He imagined a short man, or even one of average size would be intimidated by a woman who looked down at them.

He thought it ridiculous, but then he wasn’t in their position, so who was he to say how he might think if he’d matured to be short of stature rather than the giant he was.

While she was taller than many men, she was quite clearly a woman. There would be no mistaking that. Her breasts filled out the neckline of her serviceable green gown. While the waistline was elevated, it hinted at her narrow waist before sloping outward again to caress her hips and luscious backside.

And, of course, he was now thinking about her backside. Isn’t that where his thoughts always strayed?

At the sound of her throat clearing, he snapped his gaze up to find her scowling as always, but with a hint of confusion this time.

Good. He’d baffled her. It was only fair because she had certainly perplexed him.

He didn’t know what it was about her that both intrigued and irritated him, but it was no matter. She was merely a means to an end. He needed to get through her to earn his place on the expedition to Egypt.

He would charm her into agreeing. He was charming after all. He only had to make sure she noticed.

How difficult could it be?

*

Lord Melville made Lainey want to growl, but she didn’t wish to frighten poor Mr. Harper. The tailor was already wary of her since she was possibly the only lady to come into his shop to purchase clothing for herself.

But today’s visit was not for her.

“Mr. Harper makes the finest clothes for everyday work. Over the years he has modified a few things for warmer climes.” Not that Lord Melville would be needing those, because he would not be going to Egypt. So far it had been a cool spring, and Scotland was sure to be even cooler in the North.

“Lord Melville needs clothing for working outside. We will be working on a site in the Highlands. We leave next week. Can you outfit him properly by then?”

“Of course, miss.” The man looked Melville up and down and swallowed. “Don’t know that I ever had a right lord in my shop afore.”

“I assure you he is no one special,” she said, earning a smirk from Melville.

“I am built the same as other men, I assure you.” Melville held out his arms as if to prove his statement, and then added, “Just much larger in every way.”

He quirked a brow at her which made her think he’d made some jest, but she couldn’t be sure. What he’d said was true. He was larger than any other man she knew. But he was also wrong. He wasn’t the same in any way.

She’d noticed he was tall years ago. It was the reason he had first caught her attention. But now she knew it was more than his height that made him different than other men.

He’d no doubt never worked a day in his life, yet his shoulders were broad, his chest wide. His stomach was without the swell or softness other lords covered with straining, brightly-colored waistcoats.

She conducted her evaluation of his frame with quick glances rather than staring as he had done to her. Whatever had he been looking at when he’d watched her walk away? Perhaps he sought evidence of a pointed tail to match her evil behavior when it came to dealing with him.

Standing by the door, she watched quietly as Mr. Harper took Melville’s measurements. With the lord’s gaze turned away from her, she was able to study him more closely. Without fear of him knowing.

His near-black hair was short. It no longer touched his collar as it had five years ago. Perhaps this was part of his disguise to seem less like a rogue and more respectable. She would not fall prey to that trick.

She looked up from the enticing way his buttocks sloped at the sound of a chuckle and found him watching her in the reflection of the looking glass.

Instantly her cheeks went hot, the heat quickly rushing down her neck and chest. He’d caught her looking at his…

Just as she’d caught him.

However, her reaction was completely different than his. While she had glared at him, he seemed to preen in her attentions. His blue eyes flared in excitement.

Men were strange creatures. Lords even more so, apparently. This one, clearly the strangest of all. He made her equal parts angry and fascinated.

When he winked at her she decided it was perhaps not quite equal parts. And she was appalled to find the spark of excitement meant she was more fascinated with the man than angry.