Embracing The Earl

by Aston, Alexa

  “It has the plate glass windows that I requested,” she noted. “They will make it easy to display books and wares from Madame Toufours’ shop.”

  On the way there, Caroline had explained to the men her plan to offer the modiste’s merchandise. Since the goods would be exclusive to Evie’s—and since the modiste designed for the Duchess of Everton—the merchandise would move quickly. She’d also explained how she’d made an arrangement with Catherine’s publisher so that Evie’s would be the sole carrier of her children’s books for the first month of their release. Luke found his admiration growing for her business sense and knew his friends felt the same way by their enthusiastic responses.

  “Lord Mayfield!” called Sanderson as he stepped from a hackney.

  Luke bent and said into Caroline’s ear, “This is Sanderson, my solicitor. He helped find the property we’re visiting.”

  When Sanderson joined them, Luke introduced everyone. He saw the way the solicitor eyed Caroline and didn’t like it.

  Moving slightly in front of her, he said evenly, “Tell us about the property and area, Sanderson. I hope you brought keys so we could see inside.”

  The solicitor received the unspoken message and didn’t glance in Caroline’s direction again. He indicated the position of several nearby, well-to-do shops and then explained how the entire row was for sale.

  “Originally, four business were located here. As the leases began to run out, my client had recently passed. His widow wishes to leave London for a quieter life in the country. I feel you could get a very good deal here.”

  Caroline spoke up. “Please take us inside, Mr. Sanderson. And from now on, speak to me directly. I will be the proprietor and will pay the bulk of the money for the land and its buildings. These kind gentlemen are simply minor investors. I plan to make all of the decisions.”

  Luke saw Sanderson was taken aback but recovered quickly. “Of course, my lady. If you’ll follow me.”

  He led them to the door in the center of the block and inserted a key.

  “After you, Lady Caroline,” the solicitor said.

  She entered the building, Luke following closely behind.

  “The windows allow good natural light but we would need additional lighting,” she said.

  Their party walked every inch of this store and Caroline began laying out plans aloud, telling them where she would place things. She asked to see the store to the east and decided it would be ideal for the tearoom, indicating where she would want part of a wall knocked down in order to allow bookstore patrons easy access to the tearoom. She showed the men where she would set up reading areas and how she would divide books.

  “This area would be for books to be sold, both new and used. You’d be surprised how many people buy used books if they’re in good condition. Over here would be all the shelves containing those that would be lent to subscribers.”

  “How will you know the difference?” Alex asked.

  “I can request certain binding to be used. Clerks can also mark books accordingly. I have a plan in place. Don’t worry. There won’t be any confusion. If I hire the right staff with the correct knowledge, things will flow smoothly.”

  Caroline wanted to see the shop to the west as well. Once again, they went outside and into it.

  “If I have enough funds, this could serve as a warehouse. Inventory could be delivered here. Catalogued and marked. Repairs to binding could occur. The space is small but could be extremely useful.”

  “What about the small store on the other side of the tearoom?” Evan said. “Ovens could be brought in there for baking and racks set up to cool the baked goods. Also, supplies such as sugar and flour could be kept there.”

  “That’s an excellent idea, Evan.” Caroline smiled broadly.

  Luke wished he would have thought of that.

  They returned to the main store and Sanderson looked at Caroline expectantly. “It does seem to meet all of your needs, my lady. Do you think you’d be interested in purchasing the entire row? You couldn’t ask for a better neighborhood.”

  “What is the widow asking for the lot?” she asked.

  Sanderson quoted her a price.

  “Bloody hell,” she murmured, endearing her even more to Luke. “I wasn’t thinking to pay that much.”

  “Mayfair property doesn’t come cheap,” the solicitor pointed out. “My client is asking below market value because of her desire to leave London. If you don’t snatch up the property, it will go quickly to another.”

  “I will offer ten percent less than the asking price,” Caroline stated. “In cash. No banks need be involved. Surely, your client could put all that cash to good use?”

  “You drive a hard bargain, my lady, but I will suggest to her that she accept your offer. I will go and see her now. I’d already sent a message that a prospective buyer was looking over the property this afternoon. She is expecting a report from me. If she agrees, I can draw up the papers and they can be signed first thing tomorrow morning.”

  “I’m agreeable to that, Mr. Sanderson,” Caroline said.

  “Very good then. I’ll take my leave. You’re welcomed to keep the keys and look around a bit longer if you choose. I can always collect them tomorrow if we cannot come to terms.”

  “Good day, Sanderson,” Luke said. “Thanks for your help.”

  The solicitor left. Evan and Alex continued to wander about, discussing Caroline’s ideas, and then Alex thought to measure the size of the other shops so they would know how much room they had to deal with for storage, ovens, and the tearoom itself. Luke preferred to stay by her side.

  “Do you have enough funds for the sale?” he asked quietly once his friends had left.

  “Barely. It will take almost everything I have, especially once I place my order for books and buy up stock from other local sellers. I will depend upon my investors to help with renovations. Removing walls. Paint and cleaning. Ordering furniture for the reading areas. Helping to pay the staff for the first few months. It will most likely take a year or more before I can turn a profit.”

  Disappointment flashed across her face. “I’d hoped there would be an upper floor. I’d planned to make those rooms into a home for Davy, Tippet, and me.”

  “Rachel and Evan are more than happy to host you indefinitely,” he pointed out.

  “I know. They have been most gracious. Still, I’d hoped I could do more.”

  Luke placed his hands on her shoulders. “You have accomplished more in a handful of days than most women do in a lifetime, Caroline. You are a force of nature. A woman to be reckoned with.”

  He saw how his words pleased her as a slow smile lit her face. Suddenly, the urge to kiss her proved greater than his willpower. Luke felt drawn to her mouth like a moth to a flame. Slowly, he moved toward her, giving her a chance to stop him.

  She didn’t.

  Chapter Eleven

  Caroline knew the instant Luke decided to kiss her. The air surrounding them changed, suddenly charged with energy. His emerald eyes darkened with hunger. His fingers tightened on her shoulders. As his mouth gradually sought hers, she knew he was giving her time to turn her head. To say no. To shrug away.

  She did none of those.

  She wanted this kiss. Her first kiss. She’d been drawn to Luke St. Clair since she’d seen him from a distance when she’d arrived in London. Caroline instinctively knew that this moment had been destined to come. She wasn’t one to fight fate. Besides, her natural curiosity had her yearning to learn what it would be like for a man like Luke to kiss her.

  And then he did.

  It was nothing Caroline thought it would be. She thought a man pressed his lips to a woman’s and, after a few moments, they separated. Luke’s kiss was far different from her expectations.

  First, his mouth hovered over hers, not touching it, merely building the anticipation between them. When he did make contact, he slowly brushed his lips against hers, increasing her longing. Then the exploration began. He would kis
s her and then his tongue would come into play. Caroline had no idea tongues were involved in kissing but what Luke did caused her body to come alive. His tongue slowly outlined her mouth, causing her to shiver. He nipped lightly at her bottom lip and then licked away the sensation, soothing her. Her hands moved to his chest, her palms pressed flat against the hard mass.

  Suddenly, he changed the game they played by dragging his tongue along the seam of her mouth, urging her to open to him. Caroline had no idea why but she trusted him enough to respond as he wished. His hands released her shoulders and moved up to cradle her face as his tongue entered her mouth.

  Heaven . . .

  The kiss now heated up considerably as his exploration continued. His tongue swept inside, tickling the roof of her mouth and gliding along her tongue. Her breasts grew heavy and she felt her nipples tightening. She latched on to his waistcoat to anchor her as she responded, allowing her tongue to mimic what he did. Luke emitted a low groan and his hands slid from her face and seized her waist, drawing her near.

  He deepened the kiss, delving more into her, causing her heart to beat erratically and her bones to melt. If he hadn’t held on to her, Caroline feared she would have puddled at his feet. His intoxicating cologne filled her senses. From her scalp to her toes, a tingling sensation erupted. The place between her legs tightened and began to pulsate.

  What was happening to her?

  She couldn’t fall for him and be the woman she wanted to be. She wasn’t a typical woman of the ton. Her experiences in America had changed her in ways too numerous to name. Her father losing all of his money and virtually turning his back on his family had also shaped her outlook. She didn’t know if she could trust a man. Any man. Even one who held her so lovingly.

  Caroline released her hold on Luke and nudged him away. Reluctantly, he broke the kiss and stared deep into her eyes. She saw raw need burning in them.

  “This can’t happen again,” she said, her breathing rapid and shallow.

  “Why?”

  “I must focus on opening Evie’s. It will be my livelihood. I can’t throw away the opportunity I’ve been given to use Aunt Evie’s inheritance. I don’t want to disappoint my investors. I need to do this for myself.”

  He gave her a crooked smile, stealing her breath—and a bit of her heart.

  “Don’t you want more than a business, Caroline?”

  Before she could answer him, Evan and Alex returned. She heard them come through the door and wheeled away from Luke, hurrying to meet them. Immediately, she peppered them with questions about the dimensions. Anything to ignore Luke and what had just happened between them.

  “We can finish talking about business in the carriage,” Luke told them and exited the store.

  The three followed him after he locked the door. The footman saw them coming and set the stairs down and helped Caroline into the carriage. Evan followed behind her and took the seat next to her. She blew out a long breath, relieved that Luke wouldn’t be sitting beside her.

  Unfortunately, it proved worse because he sat opposite her. She averted her glance and focused on her other companions, who’d asked to be dropped back at their club.

  “You should consult Rachel on the renovations you wish done,” Evan volunteered. “She redid our London townhome and has experience directing a crew. I’m sure she can recommend a manager to you to oversee what little construction you need.”

  “I’m eager to share the details of today with my man of business,” Alex said. He looked as gleeful as a small boy who’d stolen cookies from a jar without being caught.

  “We haven’t gained the property yet,” she reminded them. “If Mr. Sanderson’s client doesn’t accept my offer, we will be back on the hunt again.”

  “She will,” Evan said with confidence. “If she’s that eager to leave London and you’re offering all that cash, she won’t have a choice. And Sanderson said it had just come on the market. You’ll be the first bid. He’ll encourage her to take it and save them both time.”

  “I should hear from him soon,” she said. “He mentioned being able to sign papers in the morning. If so, I’d like all of you to be at the signing with your solicitors or business managers.”

  They pulled up at White’s and the pair exited the carriage, Evan promising to see her later at home. He closed the door and she was left alone with Luke, who hadn’t contributed to their conversation the entire ride. She averted her gaze and looked out the window, wondering if he would kiss her again. Wishing he would. Hoping he wouldn’t because it would further complicate things between them.

  When they arrived at the Merrick residence, he jumped from the carriage and handed her down.

  “Let me see you in.”

  “That’s not necessary,” she said quickly.

  He gave her a long look. “It is to me.”

  Reluctantly, she placed her hand on his forearm, knowing how her body would react. Even though her hands were covered by gloves and he wore both a shirt and coat, she could feel the heat generated between them. Idly, she wondered what it would be like to glide her gloveless fingertips up his bare arm. Heat filled her cheeks at the thought and she kept her head down, not wishing for him to see her blush.

  Kent admitted them and after he closed the door he said, “Lady Caroline, a Mr. Morrow is waiting to speak to you. He knows he doesn’t have an appointment but he was most insistent, claiming he has urgent business with you.”

  She could think of no business that would bring her in contact with her father’s solicitor. He’d already gruffly booted her from her family home and let her know she had no rights to be there or the ability to take even a trinket to remind her of Mama or Cynthia. Yet something told her that it would be in her best interest to meet with the solicitor to hear what he had to say. Though he’d been rude during their only encounter, Caroline determined she would act with civility.

  “Very well. I’ll see him.”

  “He’s in the small greeting parlor,” the butler shared.

  “I’m going with you,” Luke said.

  She nodded her acceptance, thankful that she wouldn’t have to see Morrow on her own. She believed him to be one of those petty men who enjoyed running roughshod over women. She doubted he would be so tyrannical toward her with a peer of the realm present.

  Kent led them to a small room off the foyer and Luke escorted her inside. Caroline saw Morrow pacing nervously. He looked up and started, seeing Luke with her.

  “Mr. Morrow, I believe you requested to see me on some matter.” The solicitor approached and she added, “This is Lord Mayfield.” She didn’t bother identifying her relationship with him.

  Morrow nodded deferentially and said, “Lady Caroline, I bring interesting news to you. You know your father’s title and country seat have reverted to the crown, while an estate sale was held yesterday in order to auction off the London property and all its contents.”

  “What does that have to do with me? You’ve told me that all monies will be used to pay off my father’s debts and that my dowry was protected since it came from my mother and her marriage settlements. What more do we have to discuss?”

  “Something most unusual occurred at the auction.” Morrow presented her with a sheaf of papers, pressing them into her hands. “The first buyer became the only buyer,” he continued. “A single offer was made for the residence and all its contents. This included everything on the grounds, even the coach and horses. Frankly, I’ve never seen anything like this during my many years of practice.”

  His lips twitched nervously. “The offer was so great that I immediately closed the sale. To have sold everything in one fell swoop is unheard of.”

  She frowned. “I still don’t see what this process has to do with me, Mr. Morrow.”

  “The documents you hold give you the answer, my lady. The papers I drew up did not name the purchaser, who wishes to remain anonymous, as the new owner. Instead, he demanded that you be named on the deed.”

  Caroline’s ey
es dropped to the pages she held. She skimmed the first one and quickly saw that Morrow told the truth. The property her father’s house sat upon, along with the residence and everything contained within it, were hers. The notion flabbergasted her.

  Who could this anonymous benefactor be?

  “Thank you, Mr. Morrow,” she said, trying to keep both her hands and voice from shaking.

  “If you have any further questions, my lady, please do not hesitate to contact me.” He withdrew a key from his pocket. “You’ll need this.”

  The solicitor left the room, closing the door behind him. Now that they were alone, Caroline turned to Luke.

  “Are you responsible for this?” she asked.

  He shook his head, dumbfounded. “I had no part in this. I am as clueless as you appear to be. Though I must say, my admiration has grown for you, Caroline. Any other woman of the ton would have fainted at the news.”

  The last thing she needed was for him to admire her. She needed to put distance between them.

  Before she flung herself at him and begged him to kiss her senseless.

  *

  The first thing Caroline needed to do was locate Stinch. In the whirlwind of activity, she had neglected to write a reference for the butler. She only hoped he would be willing to work for her in a different capacity. She’d sent Luke home and gone to her room to write a message, asking the former butler to come to the Merrick residence to speak with her. She rang for a maid and asked that a footman see immediately to its delivery and then sat down and read through the papers Morrow had left with her.

  It was all there. She owned everything. She had a place for her and Davy to live. Tippet, too. He could return to sleeping with her, warming her when she longed for someone else to be doing that very job. No, she wouldn’t think of him. She couldn’t. She had too much to do and he would never be a part of her life.

  She didn’t have the funds to live as grandly as her father had, though. Too much was tied up in her new venture. For now, she would limit the rooms she used. A bedchamber. A small parlor for seeing others and possibly dining in. The kitchen. That would be all she required. From the state of the foyer, she imagined many of the other rooms had already been stripped of their contents and those items sold. This way, she wouldn’t have to refurnish them but instead live frugally.