Page 9 of Captivating the Earl (Lords and Ladies in Love 5)

Wycliff grinned. “Calm down, Cousin. I am sure you have no ill intentions toward Miss Moore.”

He settled back in. “You must agree she is an exceptional woman, however. Certainly not of the usual governess ilk.”

Leah glanced at the doorway where Miss Moore had just made her escape. “Yes. I have been flummoxed by her since her arrival.”

“How so?”

“She is an excellent governess, and the children love her. She claims to have been schooled by her father, but her education is miles beyond what one would expect from that sort of learning.”

“Who is her father?”

“He is deceased. When I did the initial interview, she told me he had been a vicar at a small church in Lincolnshire.”

Hawk shook his head. “I would not take her for a daughter of a vicar.”

“Well, in any event, we are quite pleased with her.” Leah stood and shook out her skirts. “If you gentlemen will excuse me, I will also seek my bed.”

“Good night, my dear. I will join you in a bit.”

Once Leah had left the room, Wycliff said, “Brandy?”

“Yes.” Hawk stared at the cold fireplace. The splash of liquor poured into glasses, and Wycliff padding across the room to hand him his glass, soothed him, reminded him of happy times spent here as a youth.

His host settled into the dark leather chair across from him, swirling the brown liquid in his glass. “What is troubling you?”

Hawk almost choked on the sip of brandy. “What?”

“I have asked you for more than two years to visit us here. While I am thrilled to have you, I sense something is not up to snuff.”

“I merely thought a few weeks away from London would be a good thing. Sometimes the Season can be a bit arduous.”

“For a young, titled, wealthy man-about-town? Very difficult having all the ladies falling at your feet, eh?”

“Hardly falling at my feet.” A bit of a lie there, since at his mother’s house party, Lady Spencer had purposely tripped in front of him to garner his attention. Never one to disappoint a lady, he had arranged to visit her bedchamber that evening since Lord Spencer had opted to stay in Town. Most likely in the bed of his current mistress.

It had not been the best of decisions, based on the screaming fit she’d subjected him to a month later when he’d told her he wished to end their liaison. Within days he had decided to visit Wycliff.

“You know, right before I met Leah, I had decided to offer for a lovely young lady whose parents, as well as mine, were very much in favor of a match between us. When I saw my wife for the first time across a ballroom, all thoughts of the other woman vanished.

“I realized later—after we were happily married—that my decision about that young lady had been made because I was so very tired of my mother pushing me toward the ‘perfect’ bride.”

“What is it you are trying to tell me, Cousin?”

Wycliff swirled the brandy in his glass, studying the movement intently. “I’m not quite sure, actually. Only that I see myself in you when I had spotted Leah across that ballroom.” He shook his head, then took a sip of the liquor and continued. “Maybe I’ve misread you, but I never thought you wanted the typical ton marriage. If that’s true, then don’t return to London and just grab the closest woman in the hope she will fix whatever it is that’s broken inside you.”

Hawk snorted. “There isn’t anything broken inside me.”

“No?” Wycliff laid his glass on the table in front of him and stood. “I will wish you a good night. I believe my wife awaits me.”

Once Wycliff left the room, Hawk continued to sit and stare at his empty glass, his legs stretched out before him and crossed at the ankles, his head tucked into his chest.

There isn’t anything broken inside me.

Chapter Four

Lizzie oftentimes considered how lucky she was. She could not have asked for better employers. Having seen the way some companions and governesses were treated, Lord and Lady Wycliff had been a godsend.

They gave her sufficient time off, the children were a handful, but adorable, and Lizzie was allowed privileges of which she imagined most governesses could only dream.