The Earl's Secret Read Online Free PDF

collected his inheritance, he lit out for America. He’s been there ever since, running an import business.”
    She waited for Christopher to go on. Something in the halting way he had spoken told her that he wasn’t accustomed to talking about his family. When he didn’t continue on his own, she prodded gently. “Do you often travel to visit your brothers?”
    â€œI have obligations here,” he said, casting her a sharp, sidelong glance.
    That was it then. He was ending the conversation.
    â€œI see,” she murmured. But she didn’t, not really. What was more important than family?
    Elbia, she mused, as her clients chatted happily among themselves in the seats behind her. She tried to envision a simple map of Europe. Wasn’t that the tiny alpine country about the size of Monaco? How difficult could it be for a man with Christopher’s means to jet across the continent for a quick visit with his brother? Traveling to the States was a little more difficult but surely the business that kept him tied down in Scotland would allow for a few weeks off now and again to see his own family.
    â€œWhat are your plans for the rest of the day?” Christopher asked after a long silence.
    â€œEdinburgh Castle, of course, then Queen Mary’s Bathhouse and the Royal Mile for shopping and house tours.”
    He glanced up at the sky. “The rain should hold off long enough.”
    She nodded, then let a grin slip out.
    â€œWhat is it?” he asked, glancing at her curiously as he pulled over a lane to let a lorry pass.
    â€œQueen Mary of Scots. Legend has it, she bathed in white wine and goat’s milk. I wonder if that mixture really is good for the complexion.” She held her arm out to inspect it as the truck sped past them.
    â€œI’ll bring the wine and milk, you try it out and—” he lifted a dark brow aimed toward the dip in her neckline “—I shall be the judge.”
    She laughed, thinking she wouldn’t put it past him. Stand ready for inspection, miss! He’d insist on seeing every inch of her. Fat chance she’d let him!
    Christopher accompanied Jennifer’s group to thecastle and sixteenth-century cottage known as the queen’s bathhouse, which, more likely, had been a simple summerhouse or dovecote. He then asked her to drop him off at his car and arranged to meet them after lunch.
    Jennifer watched him drive off in a bottle-green Jaguar, weaving expertly through the noonday traffic. She promised herself that when he returned she would find out one more thing about him. Just one more thing before she let herself like him any more than she already did.
    So far, she had been careful. She had done nothing wrong. It was all just talk and a little flirting, the way strangers do—particularly when one is from out of town. Talk, harmless glances, a few touches. That was all.
    But she felt in her bones that he wanted more. And, in truth, so did she. She wanted him to run his thumb in those little circles on the back of her hand. She wanted him to call her “luv,” in that playful, un-aristocratic, bad-boy way. She wanted him to touch her where his eyes had suggestively rested as they discussed Queen Mary’s baths.
    All this, even though she knew in her heart that they had no more than a few days to share. But first she had to know if there was another woman in his life.
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    As Christopher drove out of the city in the Jag, his thoughts turned from one female to another. Lisa was the most precious thing in his life. Yet she had never really belonged to him. Ever since he had learned he was to be a father, eight years ago, he had set asideall else for the child. Whatever was best for her came first.
    When a woman he had had a brief affair with told him that she was going to have his baby, Christopher initially had been shocked and troubled. He immediately offered to marry her, only to discover she wasn’t interested in