“To chance, that fickle servant of fate, but I could use your help.”
“In what way can I serve you, Captain?”
“Is it true that you are now the Duke of Menhiransten?”
“Yes.”
Captain Arnault opened his mouth, then closed it. “Pray excuse my boorishness, You Grace, but I’m flummoxed as to whether I should congratulate you or offer condolences on your loss.”
“I believe condolences would be correct, Captain, since I only just came from my father and brother’s funeral this morning. And for acquiring the title as well, since I suspect that having it will be a dead bore. Again, how is it that I might serve you?”
Captain Arnault reddened slightly at the rebuke. “Begging your pardon, Your Grace, I’m just a plain army captain come up through the ranks. It was not my intent to give offense.”
“Roger, that is a bit too ripe. You’ve never been ‘just’ anything. Tell me now, what is it that you need?”
“Horses, sir. I’ve caught wind of an estate that is being auctioned off, and that has some prime ‘uns. What with battles and all, my cavalry unit is all but riding on each other’s shoulders. But if I go nigh it, the prices will shoot sky-high because they know that the army is a reliable buyer.”
“Now it all begins to make sense. Well, Captain, for such a cause I am yours to command. When do you want to make a dicker for these steeds?”
“Tomorrow, sir, ah…that is, Your Grace. The auction is to be tomorrow. Down in Cheapside. They are putting up a temporary paddock and auction tent. Some merchant or other went bankrupt, and all his goods are being put on the block to pay his duns.”
“It will delay me a day, but I understand your desire to get mounts for your men and not leave it to chance. I’ll be glad to meet with you in the morning. For now, I’d like to pay my respects to Queen Charlotte and be on my way to my bed.”
“Of course, Your Grace. I am in your debt.”
Leo’s stiff expression softened a little. “Think nothing of it. I am glad to see our brave men well mounted if it is possible to do it.”
Chapter 4
Sir Hoskins was waiting for Emma when she arrived at home. He was sitting in his study, swirling brandy about in a large snifter. “Making an early night of it, daughter?”
“I am not feeling well, Father. Something happened tonight, and I am more than a little distraught.”
“Could that something be that the Earl of Cleweme has asked for your hand in marriage?” her father smiled jovially.
“I have no idea. He approached Aunt Alicia, and she told him he must approach you.”
Gilbert Hoskins took a deep swallow of his brandy and made a face as the strong spirit went down. “He already has. I have been trying to recover our fortunes. Sadly, the horse lost, and I had bet my grandfather’s signet ring. I tried to recover it by challenging the winner to cards, but I lost.”
“What did you bet, Father?” Emma’s voice was low and intense, her eyes blazing.
“You, Emma. I bet your hand in marriage to the Earl of Cleweme.”
She looked at him in horror. “You bet me in a card game?”
“Emma, Emma, it is not that bad. The man is rich. He will cut me in on his business, and I can recover all my losses and put Calber back into trim.”
“Not that bad! Father! You bet me in a card game! To recover a ring, that you yourself know has been paste for this year or more.”
“It’s not like that, my girl. I’ve bartered you into having a future.”
“No. No, you haven’t. You’ve sold me like a slave, like a broodmare to a man with a bad reputation, a man who is rumored to poach on other men’s marriages when they are at war. Well, I won’t do it. I’m nineteen years old, and I do have some say in who I will or will not marry. You will simply have to find some other way to square your debts with the Earl.”
“Listen to me, girl. Where do you think the money I give you comes from? The money that you were supposed to use to buy yourself something to make yourself beautiful in the eyes of the world. Well, let me tell you, young lady, I won that money and I gave you half of it. And what do you do? You pay the butcher bill and the greengrocer. And here you are, in a borrowed gown, yes, I do know where you got it, and slippers that are showing where your dog gnawed on them.”
“Let me tell you, Father, I have been paying the household bills so that we can manage to eat. You were out and about, dining at your club, but what were we to live on? Air?”
“And what else was it you bought, young woman? Paper and colors, I’ll be bound. And books. Why do you want to read books? I told your aunt that a girl doesn’t need to do more than sign her name to her marriage papers, but no. No, she insisted that you be educated. Well, no man wants to marry a bluestocking.”
“Education is not what is hurting my chances, Father. What is hurting my chances is being the daughter of a tyrant who has run his estates into the ground, gambled and plundered his way into ruin. Now you want to marry me off to a Bluebeard, a pirate . . .”
“Privateer,” her father corrected.
“A pirate,” Emma insisted, “who takes advantage of other men’s wives while they are serving king and country. No, I won’t do it. I won’t!”
The Baron of Calber then did something he had never done in all of Emma’s life. He lifted his hand and slapped her across the face. For a moment, father and daughter stared at each other.
“Go to your rooms!” he thundered. “Get out of my sight, you ungrateful little wretch. You stole my wife from me, and now you won’t even give back security for yourself and for my old age.”
Emma put her hand to her face, in utter disbelief and horror. Then she picked up her skirts and fled to her room.
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Thank you very much!
Also by Emma Linfield
Thank you for reading An Unbending Lady for the Desperate Earl!
I hope you enjoyed it! If you did, may I ask you to please write a review HERE? It would mean very much to me. Reviews are very important and allow me to keep writing books that you love to read!
Some other stories of mine:
His Duchess in Disguise
The Art of Catching a Marquess
The Remarkable Myth of a Nameless Lady
The Rise of a Forsaken Lady
A Duke Under Her Spell
Her Duke in Shining Armor
Also, if you liked this book, you can also check out my full Amazon Book Catalogue HERE.
Thank you for allowing me to keep doing what I love!
Emma Linfield
About the Author
Emma Linfield has always been passionate about historical romances. Ever fascinated with the world of Regency England and being utmost inspired by Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s work, she decided she wanted to write her own stories. Stories of love and tradition being mixed in the most appealing way for every hopeless romantic, much like herself.
Born and raised in Southern California, Emma Linfield has a degree in Creative Writing and English Literature, and she has been working as a freelance writer for the past 10 years. When she isn’t writing, Emma loves spending her time with her own prince charming and two beautiful children, all the while enjoying the famous Californian sun and ocean.
So, hop on to this exciting journey of Dukes, Earls and true love with Emma and find pleasure in the old fashioned world of Regency - an Era of pure romance, elegance and high fashion!
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An Unbending Lady for the Desperate Earl: A Historical Regency Romance Novel Page 29
