The Earl Next Door Read Online Free PDF

to land.’
Luke nodded. ‘Yes. It was fortunate Mr Billingsdale was looking for a tenant. This place makes an excellent base. But that doesn’t solve the problem of Marianne. As things stand, she doesn’t like me. She doesn’t even trust me - though I can't say I blame her,' he said, angry with himself at having so misjudged the situation. 'Even so, if she neither likes nor trusts me she won’t turn to me for help if she needs it.’
‘Oh, well, it could have been worse,’ said Figgs with a shrug. ‘At least you didn’t tell her to call you Luke.’
Luke gave a wolfish smile, which widened into sardonic laughter. ‘That would have put the cat among the pigeons, would it not?’ He sobered suddenly. ‘It goes without saying that she must never learn who I am. If she discovers that the Earl of Ravensford and Luke Somerville are one and the same person, she’ll refuse to trust me altogether. With all the rumours that are flying round she will blame me for leading Kit into temptation and will fight me at every turn. Marianne is no milk and water miss. She would not forgive me if  she thought I had injured her brother.’
'You could always tell her you didn't lead Kit into temptation,' Figgs said practically.
'And you think she would believe me?' asked Luke with a lift of one eyebrow. 'No. Of course not. Not unless I could prove it. Which I can't - at least, not unless I tell her the truth, which would mean telling her that Kit has gone to France . And that is something I have promised not to do.'
‘It’s just a pity Kit couldn’t tell his family what he's really up to,’ said Figgs.
‘He didn't want to worry them. Besides, his father wouldn’t have given him the money to fund the expedition if he had known what it was for. On the contrary, Mr Travis would have done everything in his power to stand in Kit’s way. Which is why Kit had to make up the story about needing the money to cover gambling debts.’
‘The old man would have objected, then? Doesn’t he approve of Adèle?’ asked Figgs curiously.
‘Oh, he likes her well enough. In fact, as Adèle is his god-daughter, he likes her very well. But Kit is his heir, and his only son. He wouldn’t want him to take any risks.'
'Kit is happy to take them,' shrugged Figgs.
Luke nodded. As he did so he was conscious of a twist inside. It wasn’t that he was envious of Kit, but it was something close. Because he realised that Kit, who, at twenty-five, was three years his junior, had found something in life that he himself had been denied. Kit had found a woman he would willingly risk his life for, whereas he himself had found nothing but idle distractions: barques of frailty and bits of muslin with whom he had had a string of unsatisfactory affairs.
It's no wonder Kit's determined to marry Adèle, he thought. If I found a woman I'd risk my life for, I'd marry, too. But it's hardly likely.
‘I don’t like deceiving Marianne – or Miss Travis, as I must try and remember to call her, at least to her face; although it will be hard, when I am so used to hearing Kit talking about her as Marianne.’ He rose and went over to the mantelpiece. Then, standing with his back to it, he turned his eyes towards the window, through which he had seen Marianne leave the house. ‘I never liked the idea of deceiving Kit’s sister, and now that I’ve met her I like it even less. However, to spare her the worry and anxiety she will feel if she knows that Kit is risking his life in a rescue attempt, it’s something I have to do.’
Figgs nodded slowly.
‘There is one thing, though,’ said Luke thoughtfully. ‘Marianne told me she has taken in a man whose leg has been caught in a trap: a stranger, not someone from around these parts. Fortunately, he wasn’t too badly hurt. But the thought crossed my mind that he could be Henri.’
‘Ah. That would be useful,’ said Figgs. ‘If it is him, he may be able to win her trust even if you can’t. And it would explain why he