As an Earl Desires Read Online Free PDF

value. And while they might be shallow, of little
consequence in the grand scheme of the world, they gave her a
measure of satisfaction and allowed her to fool everyone around
her. No one knew of her heartbreak, shame, or regrets.
    She would do whatever it took to keep things that
way.

Chapter 3
    My dear
Camilla ,
    I must
begin by seeking your forgiveness for my inexcusable conduct this
afternoon. Your actions clearly indicated that you were appalled by
my behavior. I must admit that my actions took me by surprise as
well .
    It is not my
place to find fault with the things which you’ve come to
value or the choices you make in your life .
    I was not angry
with you. Rather I was lashing out against my new situation, which
forces me to consider aspects to a woman beyond love. As you were
quick to point out, I am in need of a wife who can provide me with
an heir .
    I had always
considered love to be the one and only criterion that I would use
when selecting a wife. Although even that isn’t quite true,
because I’d never viewed the finding of my soul mate as a
selection, but rather more of a quiet recognition that would slip
upon me at an unexpected moment: that this one person was mine and
I was hers .
    I know you think
me a silly romantic, but I grew up surrounded by such a love. To
know that it can exist, and not to seek it out, seems rather sad to
me .
    I shall not give
up on the notion entirely, but I shall take your concerns to heart
and keep in mind that there can be nothing between you and me other
than friendship .
    Rest assured,
dear lady, that I’ll not overstep the boundaries between us
again. I shall sacrifice the warmth of your lips against mine, the
scent of your perfume filling my senses, the press of your curves
against my chest, the sound of your whimpers, and the feel of your
arms around me. I shall sacrifice them all because it is what you
desire .
    You have been
most kind to me since I have come to London. I didn’t mean to
reward you by making you unhappy. I understand my place in your
life. And I will not seek to make it more .
    I need you,
Camilla, to help me find a wife.And I will do
all in my power, little though it may be, to help you secure your
duke .
    Your devoted
servant ,
Archibald Warner
The 7th Earl of Sachse
    Camilla sat within her library, gazing out the
window, while Lillian sat nearby reading aloud the latest batch of
correspondence. A countess received an ungodly amount of letters,
was required to send an abundance of replies. When Camilla had
hired Lillian, she’d explained that she believed her eyes
should be spared the constant squinting necessary to read all that
came her way. She also had no desire to get ink upon her fingers,
so left the task of writing to Lillian as well.
    She and Lillian had devised a workable solution.
Lillian first read the letter aloud. Camilla skimmed over it later
if she determined it held any significant information, then
provided the response that Lillian dutifully wrote.
    Camilla was going to have a dreadful time
responding to each of today’s inquiries because she could
barely remember what each person had written. It was so unlike her
not to remain focused on the task at hand. Whatever would Lillian
think when Camilla stumbled along instead of providing her usual
confident responses?
    How could Camilla explain that her mind kept
drifting to the afternoon and the kiss that Archie had bestowed on
her? Even after her refreshing walk in the park, she found that his
bay rum scent still lingered, and memories of the passion simmering
between them wouldn’t be put to rest, but remained to taunt
and tease her with the possibilities of what might have been if she
weren’t so fearful of the consequences.
    She’d never considered herself a coward, but
where he was concerned she certainly was.
    A sound at the doorway had her turning her
attention there, grateful for the distraction from her morbid
musings. The butler stood