Earl's Well That Ends Well (The Way to a Lord's Heart #5) - Jane Ashford Page 0,79

irresistible,” he murmured. “But I must.”

The ever-articulate aristocrat spoke in disjointed phrases. Teresa reveled in it.

“When this visit is done…” With one searing look at her, he strode out.

Lord Macklin did not appear at dinner that evening. Nor in the drawing room afterward. Teresa assumed that he slept in his bedchamber, a few doors down the hall from hers, through the night. She was tempted to find out, but she knew he would not like it. So in the end she too resisted.

Rising early the next morning she found no one else in the breakfast room when she went down. The earl had gone out, she was told, and it appeared that the girls were taking advantage of the unaccustomed luxury and sleeping as long as they liked. She was glad; they needed the rest after their ordeal. Having eaten, Teresa sought out the housekeeper and talked with her as she’d planned. Mrs. Garting was stiff at first. But she gradually unbent as Teresa told her tale—all true but carefully tailored to her audience. By the time she’d finished, the atmosphere had lightened, and she thought the earl’s staff would be less prickly from now on. She went to sit in the drawing room, not sure quite what to do with idleness after the recent intense activity.

The butler came to her there to report that she had callers.

“But no one knows I’m here.”

“These ladies appear well informed, madam.”

She hadn’t expected the rumors to begin quite so soon. Teresa sighed. She didn’t feel like fending off curious gossips, coming to pry all the details out of her. All alone. Then she remembered that she had a high-nosed butler at her command. “Tell them that no one is at home to receive them.”

“Yes, madam.” Chirt looked as if he would enjoy it.

But a few minutes later Teresa heard a chorus of voices approaching, and in the next instant three young ladies burst into the drawing room. Chirt followed on their heels with an outraged expression.

“I cannot believe you would deny us,” said Miss Charlotte Deeping.

“You left us out of everything,” complained Miss Sarah Moran. “It’s not fair.”

“Tom told us what you’ve been up to,” said Miss Harriet Finch, in response to Teresa’s startled expression. “Part of it, at any rate. I suspect he left out a good deal. No, I’m certain he must have.”

“And so we have come to hear.” Miss Deeping plopped down on the sofa next to Teresa. She looked as if it would take several strong footmen to remove her. “And if you think you can fob us off, you will find you are mistaken,” she said, confirming this impression.

Miss Moran and Miss Finch also sat. They looked like fashionable debutantes, decked out in gowns and bonnets for morning calls, but the stares they fixed on Teresa were worthy of a wolf pack.

“It’s all right, Chirt,” said Teresa. “Thank you.”

The butler turned away, clearly incensed. He walked out, somehow managing to express profound disapproval with his back.

“He thinks we’re dreadfully rackety,” said Miss Moran.

Miss Deeping made a dismissive gesture. “Tell,” she said to Teresa.

She didn’t care to be commanded. But more than that, she wasn’t sure how much the young ladies should be told about the sinister house in the country.

A movement at the door caught her eye. The earl looked in and then ducked back out of sight. “Lord Macklin!” called Teresa.

After a moment he reappeared. His expression made it obvious that he had intended to escape. Teresa laughed at him. He smiled ruefully when he saw it.

A clamor rose from the three visitors, accusing the earl also of leaving them out of the adventure. They began to sound like children deprived of a promised treat.

“Enough!” said Teresa. She looked at Lord Macklin and pointed to an armchair. He sat down. She stood up. “You have no actual right to information, you know,” she said to the young ladies. “You are not owed an explanation.”

They looked surprised, hurt, offended, according to their various personalities. Teresa felt a mixture of weariness and compassion.

“We helped investigate,” said Miss Deeping.

“We asked all sorts of questions,” said Miss Moran. “How can you say that we…”

“We are not speaking of a pet raven stealing trinkets here,” interrupted Teresa.

Now she had provoked them all. A row of frowns confronted her.

Teresa suddenly felt far older than these young ladies. “Evil exists in the world, you know.”

“We are well aware…” began Miss Deeping.

“You don’t know what real evil is, and perhaps you shouldn’t have to,” Teresa