Page 70 of Discovering Her Earl

It wasn’t done to buy a man undergarments suitable for the desert. It wasn’t done to wear men’s undergarments either. It wasn’t done to spend weeks alone with a man or kiss him. Or want to kiss him again. Even still, knowing how very not done Lainey was in general, Aunt Rose’s reaction puzzled her.

“Actually, I don’t know what you are getting at. Before, you told me to be patient and friendly to the earl. Now you are accusing me of being too friendly? What am I to do?”

Rose let out a breath and put her book to the side.

“I didn’t like seeing you unjustly angry at the man, but you must also protect yourself, Elaina. The man, while pleasant and an enthusiastic donor is still a rogue.”

Lainey stared at her aunt in shock.

“You knew this and still sent me to Scotland with him unchaperoned.”

“That was Henry’s idea. He thought it would get you past your anger, and he assured me, Lord Melville—despite his reputation—was not a debaucher of innocents. We knew you would be safe in his company. And it is you who refuses a chaperone.”

The last was said with the raised eyebrow again.

“I wouldn’t mind a chaperone if they didn’t need to be with me at all times, hovering and watching over me.”

“Perhaps you don’t have a sound understanding of what a chaperone is, for you just described their every duty.”

Lainey smiled tightly. “It is of no matter now, anyway. I will have you with me on this expedition, so I need no cranky, meddlesome, older woman ordering me about and pointing out all the ways I fail as a proper lady.”

“Was he dishonorable?” Rose asked, nonchalantly with her eyes back on her book.

“Of course not. He was a perfect gentleman.” Her cheeks heated when she thought of his kiss and his improper flirtation. When she looked toward her aunt she found the woman studying her. This was not good. Her aunt had the uncanny ability to see into Lainey’s thoughts whether she spoke them aloud or not.

Had Lainey been smiling? She looked away, hoping to prevent the woman’s powers of intuition.

“Anyway,” Lainey paused, as Aunt Rose still scrutinized her. “It will not be the same. The expedition to Egypt will be much larger. I will rarely see Lord Melville on this excursion.”

“I see.”

Lainey refrained from asking her aunt exactly what she saw. Could her aunt see how eager Lainey was to see Julian again? How often she thought about the kiss they’d shared, and the dance, his hand on her back, warming her. The things they’d shared in Scotland. How he’d thanked her for helping him through his attack of anxiety?

No. Aunt Rose couldn’t see any of that. If she did, she’d probably not allow the man on the same continent as her spinster niece.

But he would be on the same continent. The same ship. The same expedition. Just a few tents from hers when they slept.

“The man needed the correct clothing for the warmer climate. That is all.” Elaina noticed how snappish she sounded and tempered it with a nervous smile.

“Of course. Forgive me for suggesting anything untoward.” A few pages later, she added, “You are a grown woman. It wouldn’t be the worst thing to share a discreet kiss with a handsome gentleman.”

“Aunt Rose!” Lainey could feel her eyes widen in shock as her cheeks warmed.

“What?” Rose rolled her eyes. “I was a young woman once. Do you think your uncle waited until after our vows to kiss me?”

“This conversation is unseemly.”

“Why?” Rose barely held back her laughter. “It is the way of men and women when there is a shared attraction. Just be cautious, love. One cannot un-ring a bell.”

“Dear God,” Lainey whispered before saying more loudly, “I assure you there is no attraction, shared or otherwise, between myself and Lord Melville.” Lainey spat the lie from her lips forcefully to help establish it as fact.

And perhaps there was more truth in her words than she thought. After all, Julian had gotten what he wanted from her. Unlike a rake preying on an innocent, it wasn’t Lainey’s virtue he’d wanted. It had been her acquiescence to allow him to come on this journey.

She wouldn’t expect him to pay her any attention at all now that he’d gotten what he wanted.

And why did that thought bring a sting to her eyes?

Aunt Rose had warned her to be cautious and had most likely meant in the way all virgins were told to be cautious. But Lord Melville exposed a far greater danger to her heart. He had broken down her long-standing walls with his kindness and laughter.