Married to the Earl (The Wallflower Brides Book 3)

by Samantha Holt

  “You said there were tasks, correct?” Seth leaned back in his chair and waved a hand. “We’ll do whatever it is that Grandfather wanted of us, and that will be the end of the matter.”

  Mr. Barton’s dimpled cheeks reddened. “Well, ah, the instructions are extremely specific. All four grandchildren must complete their tasks within two months of this reading.”

  Seth gave a smug shrug. “Easy enough.”

  “For you perhaps,” said Theo. “You have few commitments.”

  “And I had volunteered to help Lady Whitbury reorganize her library. I can hardly back out now,” cried Minerva.

  Angel rolled her eyes. As if her sister needed yet another excuse to be buried in books. It would do her good to do something different, of that Angel was certain. “I am sure she will survive without you, Minnie.”

  “But—”

  Mama lifted both hands. “Perhaps we should find out what these tasks are before we leap to conclusions.”

  Theo straightened in his seat. “Quite. Yes. Mr. Barton, what exactly did our grandfather want of us?”

  “There are letters for all of you…” Mr. Barton lifted a stack of letters. “Each describes your task.” He handed them out.

  Angel eyed her name written in her grandpapa’s slightly shaky handwriting and her throat tightened. She swallowed the knot and turned it over to press a finger under the seal.

  “But before you do.” The lawyer dabbed his forehead again before thrusting his handkerchief back up a sleeve. “You must understand that no one can know of your task. The only people who may be privy to your task are the people in this room, including me. I will, ah, assess whether or not it is felt you have completed your undertaking.”

  “So we can discuss this with each other?” Theo clarified.

  Mr. Barton nodded. “And your lady mother. But no one else.”

  “Well, let us get this thing done and then we can ensure that awful man does not get a penny of Grandpapa’s fortune.” Minerva flicked open her letter and scanned the contents.

  Angel watched her sister’s brow pucker then her mouth drop open. Her skin turned a strange ashen cast.

  “What is it, Min?” Seth demanded.

  “I…” She waved the letter at Seth. “Perhaps you should open yours.”

  Seth rolled his eyes. “You do not need to be scared of everything, Min. How bad can it be?”

  Angel allowed herself a smile. Whatever was in the letter could not be that bad. After all, Minerva was terrified of most things. She spent most of her time reading or writing and spending time with a limited few friends. Anything out of the ordinary practically petrified her.

  “Bloody hell,” Seth murmured.

  “Seth!” their mother scolded.

  With a heavy stomach, Angel glanced at her own letter. What could these letters contain that would shock even Seth? Her senior by two years, Seth had been playing the rake for enough time to have experienced most of what life had to offer. He was the most fun sibling, and she utterly adored spending time with him, even if he did occasionally take his role of rake a little too far. Angel had thought him impervious to shock.

  “Theo?” Angel nodded to the unopened letter in his hand.

  His shoulders dropped, and he pulled out a penknife to work open the seal. His lips compressed into a thin line.

  “Will no one tell me what theirs say?” Angel asked.

  Her siblings ignored her. Her mother tapped her hand. “Perhaps you should open yours, dear.”

  Aware of her hands shaking slightly, Angel ripped open the letter, ignoring Theo’s disapproving glare of the mess she made of the letter. This was ridiculous. Why was she so terrified of the contents of this letter? Was she not Lady Angel Templeton, sister to a marquis and known throughout London? Nothing scared her. Ever. Life was too short to be worrying about what others thought and what might be hiding around the corner. Their father’s sudden death many years ago had taught her that.

  Chin lifted, she scanned the contents of the letter. Her breath caught in her throat. She grew cognizant of her siblings’ gazes upon her.

  “No.” The word slipped out of her mouth.

  “Well, what is your task?” asked Minerva. “Is it truly awful?”

  Angel examined the letter again before meeting her sister’s worried gaze. She swallowed. “I…I have to get a job.”

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