The Earl's Intimate Error Read Online Free PDF Page A

the flushed, smiling Miss Canton out into the garden right now. There was no telling what shameful things they could get up to out there! And with the girl’s proclivity for unbridled passion…well, he knew he’d better move quickly.
    Miss Holycroft complained as they pushed their way through the crush until finally they made it closer to his friend. Archer still had his hand on the girl, he noticed. And she was still smiling.
    “Ho, there, Woodleigh,” Archer said as they approached. “It appears you are towing something behind you.”
    Woodleigh realized that he was, in fact, dragging Miss Holycroft, so he paused to give her a moment to catch up. She was not smiling.
    “Good evening, Archer,” he said. “You seem to be having a good time.”
    “Indeed I am. Your friend Miss Canton is a most excellent partner.”
    “So it would appear,” Woodleigh said with a scowl.
    “She’s delightfully, er, innovative in her dancing,” Archer said.
    She flushed an adorable pink. “We didn’t dance much out in Beldington. Lady Woodleigh has been most gracious to bring me a tutor, but I fear I’m just making things up as I go along.”
    “Well, however you do it, I like what you do,” Archer said, bowing over her hand as if he had claim to it.
    The man was a cad, fawning this way in front of everyone. Woodleigh cleared his throat.
    “I’m sure after the waltz we could all do with a rest.”
    Miss Holycroft piped up. “I’m not winded at all. But of course, we must think of Miss Canton. At her age, exertion can be difficult, so I’m told.”
    Miss Canton acted surprised to suddenly notice the other female. “Oh, Miss Holycroft, are you here? I hadn’t seen you under that gown.”
    Woodleigh threw himself into the breach. “Very well then, ladies. Now that we’ve all acknowledged one another, perhaps we should adjourn to another room? We could attend cards, with my mother and her friends.”
    “Miss Canton had promised me the next dance,” Archer announced. “In the meanwhile, I was just going to get her refreshment.”
    “Ah, that’s a capital idea,” Woodleigh said. “Refreshment. Miss Holycroft, would you like something? More lemonade, perhaps?”
    “Well, I had planned to dance more, and—”
    “Excellent. You need lemonade. Archer, thank you, my friend. How kind of you to offer. I’ll keep the ladies company while you go. Away. To fetch some.”
    Archer looked confused and muttered under his breath as he wandered off in search of lemonade. Or to leap over a cliff. Woodleigh really didn’t care which.
    “So…a lovely ball Mrs. Fitzmonger has put on, isn’t it?” Miss Canton said when it appeared no one else had anything to say.
    “It’s passable,” Miss Holycroft said. “I suppose in Bamford you hardly have much to compare.”
    “Beldington,” Miss Canton corrected, enunciating carefully. “But I understand; that’s a long and difficult word to remember.”
    Miss Holycroft shrugged. “Fortunately I have no reason to remember it at all.”
    “How lucky that you are so pretty, Miss Holycroft.”
    “Why thank you, Miss Canton. I suppose in Bubbleton you don’t have much to compare to that, either.”
    “Oh, we have plenty to compare,” Miss Canton said, her smile even brighter than before. “My father’s grooms shovel it every day.”
    How fortunate that Miss Holycroft had never set foot in a stable and had no idea what Miss Canton could mean. Woodleigh thought it best to distract them.
    “Perhaps we should sit down somewhere?” he offered.
    “But I want to dance,” Miss Holycroft whined.
    He found himself shuddering again but was saved by an uninformed puppy who apparently didn’t realize Miss Holycroft was about to be engaged. He moved into their circle and greeted her nervously.
    “H-hello, Miss H-Holycroft. It’s l-lovely to see you.”
    “Ah, Mr. Fish-Finglet. How pleasant.”
    Woodleigh wondered how something called Fish-Finglet could in any way be pleasant, but he