Page 68 of Captivating the Earl (Lords and Ladies in Love 5)

Lizzie gave him a stiff nod and climbed the stairs.

He watched her, the pain in his heart so strong it almost brought him to his knees. When had she become his entire world? He broke into a sweat just thinking about her body lying cold and stiff, her laughter forever quieted, the glint in her eyes when she teased him gone, and her moans when he pleasured her silenced.

No, she might view him as overbearing, but if he lost her, he would lose himself.

A few hours later Hawk slouched in Cam’s favorite chair in the darkened library, nursing his not-sure-how-many glasses of brandy when Cam returned. He entered the library and stopped abruptly. “Bloody hell, Hawk, I didn’t see you sitting there. What’s with all the darkness?” He grabbed a taper and lit several candelabras around the room.

“My countess is mad at me.” At least that was what he had intended to say. It sounded a bit garbled even to his ears.

Cam poured himself a drink and sat in the chair across from Hawk, the glass dangling between his spread legs. “Why

is she mad at you?”

He looked up. “I thought you were headed to Scotland?”

“First thing tomorrow, and I repeat, why is Lady Hawkins mad at you?”

Hawk burped and sat up. “Because I won’t let her kill herself.”

“Hmm. That’s quite unkind of her. Care to flesh it out a bit?”

“That bloody Home Secretary had the nerve to ask her to meet with him.”

“That doesn’t sound quite like a reason to kill herself, yet.”

Hawk waved his hand, some of the brandy sloshing out of the glass and spilling onto his pantaloons. He stared at the growing stain for a moment, then looked up. “He wants her to turn over the papers with the name of the man who was working with her father. To him.”

“I thought there were no papers, and to ‘him’ who?”

Hawk sighed as if he were speaking to a young child. “The Home Secretary.”

“I thought there were no papers with the traitor’s name on it?”

“There aren’t.”

Cam stood and walked across the room to refill his drink.

“I’ll have another one.” Hawk held out his empty glass.

“I think you should keep a clear head—though, it’s too late for that—but no more brandy until you tell me something that makes sense.”

When Hawk scowled at him, Cam added, “You are foxed. I don’t remember ever seeing you quite this bad, my friend.”

“Bah. I haven’t had that much to drink. It’s that I don’t want to mess up my clothing with blood. And that would make Lizzie even more mad at me.”

“Blood?”

“Yes, when I beat Sidmouth to a pulp for suggesting putting Lizzie in danger.”

“Let’s get back to that situation. Tell me again about this plan of the Home Secretary that involves the countess.”

Hawk looked at his empty glass. “I don’t remember finishing that.”

Cam stood and moved to the brocade bell pull. When the footman presented himself, he ordered coffee and food.

Once settled back in his chair, he said, “You said something about her ladyship wanting to kill herself. I’m assuming you did not mean that literally, or you would not be sitting here drunk as a lord.” He grinned. “Of course, you are a lord. And drunk.”

“Don’t try to confuse me, Cam. I won’t allow her to do it, no matter what you say.”