The Seduction of an Earl Read Online Free PDF Page B

Henry wanted nothing more than to disappear into the expensive Turkish carpeting that covered the floor of the drawing room. The marquess had voiced the very question Henry had asked of Sarah the last time he proposed marriage to her. “She was not born to our class. She has known I would inherit the Gisborn earldom since we were in our teen years,” he explained quickly, wanting the marquess to know he had tried to legitimize the son. “She feels it is my duty to seek a wife at least equal to my station, so she has rebuffed all my offers to make her my wife.” Although he had given a very similar answer to Lady Charlotte just the afternoon before, somehow it seemed a rather lame excuse when he was saying it to a marquess.
    There were several instances of viscounts and earls who had married women from outside the aristocracy. Some of their wives had done just fine in assimilating themselves into the life of the ton in London. Some others, however, were never accepted by the fickle aristocracy. They spent their lives on their husband’s country estates, never to be seen in London.
    The marquess seemed impressed by his answer – or impressed by the mother of his son – Henry could not be sure which. “So, she is your mistress, then?” Devonville half-asked.
    Again, Henry remembered his conversation with Lady Charlotte from the day before. He had never considered Sarah his mistress , and yet, that’s exactly the role she had played over the years. He intended to continue their relationship even after he wed. He loved her. “I ... Yes,” he finally agreed, a bit embarrassed at having to admit to keeping a mistress when he was there to ask for the man’s permission to court his daughter. “If we suit and if you allow me to wed your daughter, my lord, I promise I will provide protection and the very best of everything for her and our ... children,” Henry stammered again, cursing at himself for losing his confidence in the middle of the exchange with the marquess. “Lady Charlotte implied ...” He stopped then, wondering if he should tell the marquess what Lady Hannah’s friend had told him about the younger woman’s opinion of husbands.
    “Lady Hannah has rather peculiar ideas when it comes to men,” the marquess interrupted, realizing Lady Charlotte had probably shared Hannah’s odd opinion of men with the earl. When he noted Henry’s arched eyebrow, though, he wondered if she had explained it in terms the earl could understand. “It is my daughter’s opinion that men only really love their mistresses and merely need their wives to bear them children,” Devonville admitted with an exaggerated sigh. He recognized the earl’s discomfiture for what it was. “Although I kept all those mistresses for several years, I know now I was a fool to do so. I loved my wife. And I have tried in vain to convince my daughter of that fact for the past couple of years ,” he insisted then, his ire increasing with every word.
    “I do not require she love me,” Henry stated then, his head shaking a bit. “And, as long as she loves the children she bears, I should consider myself a very lucky man, my lord.”
    The Marquess of Devonville stared at the Earl of Gisborn for several moments, his features set in an unreadable expression. And then a bit of mischief appeared in his eyes. “Then I suggest you get on with the business of courting her,” Devonville stated before rising to his feet. “To the extent she can be ... courted,” he added with a grin that seemed to indicate more mischief. “The third time is the charm, they say,” he murmured, referring to his daughter being Gisborn’s third wife apparent. “I wish you luck, Gisborn,” he added as he extended his hand to the earl.
    Henry stared in disbelief at the marquess. What was the man not telling him? He finally took and shook the proffered hand. The third time . “Thank you, my lord. I ...” He stopped as he considered why the marquess would even give