The Englor Affair Read Online Free PDF Page A

squishy wiggled between his toes. “I rescued Lady Eleanor Pimpernickle’s new puppy from the Serpentine in Hyde Park.”
    “Ho there, out of the way, Si. What’s the hold up? It’s cold out here.” Roc jostled Simon aside and stepped onto the polished green marble foyer of Simon’s townhouse with sludgy, pond-mucked boots.
    Simon let go of his own boot to keep from falling on his arse and caught his balance on the balustrade of the porch steps. “Roc…”
    “Outside, Major Bennett. If you track up this mansion you will clean it.”
    Roc’s shoulders slumped and his head drooped as he backed out of the foyer. He frowned at Simon, his tawny brows pulled together, looking for all the world like a petulant child.
    Simon bit his bottom lip to keep from laughing. At least Dunston was an equal opportunity tyrant. “Dunston, send Henderson out after them.”
    “Damned butler is worse that an IN drill sergeant,” Roc grumbled as he used his right boot to toe off his left.
    “I can hear you from outside, Major,” Dunston said. “Henderson is on his way with some towels.”
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    The Englor Affair
    Roc’s mouth dropped open and a piece of brown pond scum slipped down the shoulder of his gray morning coat and went splat on the concrete steps.
    Simon couldn’t hold it in. He chuckled and returned his attention to his other boot. It came off with a slurping sound and he held it upside down. A piece of brownish green slime and what looked like a couple of tadpoles fell onto the steps. The moldy smell intensified. Ewww… What was in that lake water? He wiped his dirty hand on his trousers and grinned up at Roc.
    “Oh laugh it up. That’s the last time I let you talk me into playing the hero. Stupid dog was only taking a swim. Don’t know why the silly chit was shrieking like a harpy.
    She shouldn’t have let go of his leash.”
    “You wouldn’t be the least bit out of sorts if it were a pretty little lord.” Simon tugged off one stocking, then the other. Roc was all talk. He was always up for a good heroic adventure.
    Thunder clapped, startling a hop out of both of them.
    Roc frowned up at the sky. “Looks like we’ll be taking a lift to White’s.” He reached for his other boot. “I’m not walking bare arsed into the house, Si.”
    “I doubt that will be necessary. And she did thank us.”
    “She thanked you .” His Hessian came off and Roc started on his stockings. Glancing up at Simon, Roc fluttered his eyelashes. “Oh thank you, Your Highness,” he mocked in a high voice.
    Simon threw his sock, hitting his friend in the chest with it.
    “That is disgusting.” Dropping his own soaked stocking, Roc peeled Simon’s off himself with his finger and thumb. He looked up at Simon with a wicked gleam in his eyes.
    Oh shit. Simon laughed and hightailed it into the townhouse. The beeswax and lemon scent of furniture polish washed over him before the putrid pond odor overpowered it. He dashed toward the stairs and nearly knocked the armful of towels out of his footman’s arms. “Sorry, Henderson.”
    Henderson sputtered, “Colonel,” then there was a spat and a loud shriek.

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    J.L. Langley
    Simon turned around, his hand slipping on the polished banister. Thunder cracked outside, echoing in the marble and wood foyer.
    The stocking Roc had intended to throw at Simon slid down Henderson’s face before falling to the marble foyer with a splatter.
    Simon burst into laughter as Roc raced forward, apologizing profusely. And Aldred wonders why I have a hard time keeping servants since I moved out of military housing.
    He was going to have to give Henderson a raise again.

    As Simon stepped out of the shower, Roc entered the room, brushing a towel over his chestnut hair. They’d never been more than friends, nor did Simon want to be, but Simon still took the time to admire the view.
    Roc wore black trousers, his shoes and an unbuttoned white shirt, with a