Page 5 of Discovering Her Earl

Lainey only suffered the slightest twinge of guilt as she rushed away, just before the man had stepped up to their group. She only needed to delay long enough that he offered his greetings and moved along. Then she could return to her aunt’s side with a cup of lemonade, and no one would think anything of it.

She stood at the edge of the room, watching as the guests, dressed in colorful gowns and black eveningwear, perused and pointed at the artifacts with excitement.

Her aunt had done a beautiful job of incorporating the splendor of their London townhouse with hints of Egyptian décor. Even the underlying scents of cinnamon and myrrh made her think of her home away from home. Egypt.

She may not have to worry about sand or scorpions here, but there were plenty of other dangers.

She glanced over at the biggest one, who was still speaking with her uncle. She’d finished the first glass of lemonade, and started on the second, determined to wait him out.

She kept her smile in place as she nodded to the few guests who acknowledged her where she hid behind a potted palm. She wasn’t comfortable with people. She didn’t know how to start a discussion or keep it going. Unless someone asked about antiquary or archaeology, she was rather lost.

But when she was engaged in conversation on her favorite topics, she often forgot to stop talking about dirt until the other person began searching for some way to escape her ramblings. Because of that, it was best if she stayed clear of conversation altogether.

Glancing over to her aunt and uncle, she realized her plan wasn’t working as it had in years past. Lainey had finished her second cup of lemonade as well as the one she’d retrieved for her aunt. However, the earl still stood next to her uncle chatting with him, while her aunt was now searching around the room.

Most likely for her.

Any second now, Aunt Rose would spot Lainey hiding by the wall behind her and wave her over. She might have taken refuge outside, but it was terribly chilly out, despite it being June.

“Good lord,” Lainey muttered when the inevitable happened and she was found. Getting another cup of lemonade, she returned to her aunt, hoping to hide. But due to her aunt’s small stature, it was like a rhinoceros hiding behind a shrub.

“There you are, dear,” her uncle said when she was close. “Let me introduce you to Lord Melville. Lord Melville, our niece, Miss Bantham.”

As if she had not been introduced to him at several balls in the past. She needed no introduction, but as she curtseyed, he bowed and said, “It is a pleasure to meet you.” Just as he had every other time they’d met. His rumbling brogue did odd things to her stomach.

“Your aunt and uncle have told me what an asset you are in the field. I hope to learn much from ye when I join the expedition next year.”

Lainey blinked as her mind struggled to piece his words together in a way that made sense.

“Isn’t it wonderful? Lord Melville will be joining us in Egypt,” her aunt explained as if Lainey hadn’t come to that conclusion on her own. And maybe it was taking longer than it should have, but the thought was preposterous.

Wonderful? No, it wasn’t wonderful at all. It was impossible.

Before she had the chance to consider her response, panic took over and she uttered words that made her aunt and uncle gasp as the earl flinched.

“You can’t possibly allow this bored dandy to accompany us on an active expedition. He’s untrained and will only injure himself or someone else. He’ll no doubt wish to come home minutes after we’ve disembarked because the heat is intolerable.” And even the heat wouldn’t be as intolerable as having this man spend more than a minute in her presence.

Her rant had gone wide from the rule of keeping the donors happy, but she could not allow this man to join them, for she hated him with her entire being.

All these years, and he probably didn’t even realize how much she despised him. But the cat was rather out of that bag now.

*

Julian stood still in the awkward silence following the woman’s outburst. He’d seen her at these functions in the past but had never spoken to her. For whatever reason their paths had never crossed.

He’d always thought her quiet and shy, but he realized now he’d been quite wrong on both counts. She’d practically yelled her disapproval, and the way her brown eyes blazed at him in anger, he knew she was not so shy she wouldn’t take a step closer and plant him a facer.

He was glad her aunt had placed a calming hand on Miss Bantham’s arm to keep that from happening.

Lord Darlington looked around and smiled at the people closest to them who had turned curious gazes in their direction while Lady Darlington offered a strained laugh.

“Oh, Lainey, you are too funny.”

Julian studied the taller woman hoping to see some sign that she was indeed joking, but her glare had not wavered as she stepped toward him with her fingers clenched into fists.

“You can’t do this. You won’t ruin this too.” With that, she turned and rushed away.

Though the situation had been quite unpleasant, he barely fought the urge to follow after her and… do what exactly? Ask her why she was so angry with him? Or angry at the world in general?