Page 43 of Captivating the Earl (Lords and Ladies in Love 5)

“Are you sure this is a good idea?”

He frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Your mother might not want a disgraced woman living under her roof.”

“Hawkins Manor is my home. As much as I love and respect my mother, I make the decisions regarding the earldom and its various properties.”

Lizzie sniffed. “It is still her home. She might not want a traitor’s daughter as a guest.”

“Enough!” Hawk ran his fingers through his hair, then reached for his hat and placed it on his head. “You will be welcomed.”

The carriage came to a rolling stop. The driver jumped down and opened the door. Hawk exited first, then turned to take Lizzie’s hand and placed it on his arm. He turned his attention to the driver. “I will have my man pay you for your services. If you will go around to the entrance in the back, Cook will provide you with a meal before you set off.”

The driver bowed and touched the brim of his cap. “Thank you, my lord.”

They moved toward the house just as the front door opened and a man in red and gold livery stepped out and bowed. “Welcome home, my lord.”

“Thank you, Connors.” He handed his hat and gloves to the butler. “Lady Elizabeth will be spending some time with us.”

The butler bowed. “Welcome, my lady.” His eyes shifted to Hawk. “Shall I have one of the maids direct her ladyship to her bedchamber, or would you prefer refreshment first?”

Hawk looked at her with a questioning glance.

What she really wanted to do was disappear, but with no resources, and someone trying to kill her, she had no choice. “I would like to refresh myself from the trip first, and then I could use refreshments.”

“Have Cook prepare a light meal for me and her ladyship and set it up in the dining room. Also, there is a coachman at the back door who drove us. See that he receives a meal and have Mannerly join me in the library.”

Connors bowed and turned to Lizzie. “If you will give me a minute, my lady, I will fetch one of the maids.”

“Thank you.”

“I will see you in the library when you are finished. Have one of the footmen direct you.” With those curt words, Hawk walked away from her.

A young maid hurried up to her. “Welcome, my lady. My name is Maggie. Please follow me to your bedchamber.” She looked around. “Where is your luggage?”

Embarrassed at her lack of belongings, she pointed to the small and large satchels on the floor where the driver had deposited them. The maid smiled brightly. “I’ll get them, and then you can follow me.”

Lizzie wondered where Lady Hawkins and Hawk’s sister, Lady Honora, were. She assumed they would be in residence with Parliament no longer in session. Most members of the ton would have retired to their country estates, awaiting hunting season, when they would hold numerous house parties.

She followed Maggie up the stairs and down the corridor. She stopped and opened a door and stepped back to allow Lizzie to enter. It was a lovely room, done in pale rose and light green. A large, comfortable-looking bed sat in the middle of the room, the bed coverings a duplicate of the drapes on the windows. A plush carpet covered the highly polished wooden floor.

Maggie placed the satchels on the floor. “Would you like me to unpack for you, my lady?”

Still embarrassed at her lack of luggage, she shook her head. “Thank you, but I will see to it.”

Maggie walked to the door and gave Lizzie a slight curtsy. “If you need anything else, please ask one of the footmen to fetch me.”

Lizzie thanked her and turned back to the room. She walked to the bed and collapsed on the counterpane, her arms over her head. She gazed at the canopy above her. Well, she was here.

God help her with what came next.

Chapter Nineteen

Hawk looked up at a slight knock on the library door. “Come.”

His secretary, Mr. Mannerly, entered the room, a shaft of files under his arms. As always, his cravat was appropriately starched, his jacket, waistcoat, and pantaloons well brushed. His blond wavy hair had been swept back into a queue at his neck, with no curl brave enough to fall onto his forehead. “Good afternoon, my lord. I have numerous matters for you to take care of.”

“I believe that is always true.” He smiled at the man who had been with him since he first inherited the title. Mannerly traveled among all of Hawk’s properties, following his employer. Once Hawk had determined it was necessary for him to bring Lizzie to Hawkins Manor, he’d dispatched a note to London for Mannerly to meet him here. His secretary was nothing if not expeditious.