What a Wicked Earl Wants Read Online Free PDF

refused to give him up without a fight.
    God forgive me, but I cannot live without my son .
    She drew closer to Bellingham and forced herself to smile. “I suppose we should tell Montclief our happy news.”
    Suspicion flickered in his blue eyes. “I’ll allow you to reveal the particulars.”
    She clasped his arm and faced Montclief. “You mustn’t worry about Justin needing a man to guide him.” She took a deep breath and said, “I have this day accepted Lord Bellingham’s proposal of marriage.”
      
    The woman was mad.
    Bell had sensed her desperation climbing as she’d tried to persuade Montclief to let her keep the boy, but he’d never guessed she would resort to this witless fabrication.
    Montclief folded his arms over his chest. “You have been in London for a very short time, Laura. This engagement is sudden, too sudden.”
    “Montclief, I said nothing before because I did not know our relationship would take such a romantic turn,” Laura said. “Lord Bellingham and I met last fall in Hampshire.”
    Bell suspected the wayward Justin had learned to lie from his inventive mother.
    She regarded Bell with a dazzling smile. “I met him by pure coincidence while visiting one of the shops in the village. Isn’t that right, my dear?”
    He nodded, hoping she wouldn’t get too carried away. The less she said the better.
    “It was raining,” she said, “and we were stuck in the shop. Having nothing better to do, we struck up a conversation. When the rain stopped, we walked outside and he laid his coat over a puddle for me.” She batted her eyes at him. “That was the moment I fell for my Bellingham.”
    She was the worst liar in the kingdom.
    “Laura, this engagement is suspect,” Montclief said.
    Bellingham agreed, but he didn’t like Montclief. From the bits she’d revealed, he gathered Montclief had taken no interest in his nephew until now. Most likely, the only reason he’d intervened was because he’d gotten embarrassed when his friend in London had sent him the letter about his nephew.
    Laura looked quite determined as she gazed into Bell’s eyes. “I would do anything for my Bellingham. Anything,” she added with emphasis.
    He most certainly would hold her to that promise.
    Montclief addressed him. “Is this true, Bellingham? You have proposed to Laura?”
    He almost exposed her as a liar, but he’d seen her hands shake when Montclief had declared he would take her son away. Bell figured the boy’s rebellion would grow far worse under Montclief’s thumb. On the other hand, Bell didn’t want to find himself trapped in a marriage, either. “We are keeping the engagement a secret for the time being.” Why not add one more lie to the growing pile?
    Laura exhaled in obvious relief. “Yes, we are concealing our engagement in order to give Justin time to get to know Bellingham. We wish Justin to feel at ease with him before we exchange vows. Of course, we shall rely on your discretion, Montclief.”
    Montclief narrowed his eyes. “Laura, this engagement rings false.” He turned his attention to Bellingham. “What I cannot understand is why Bellingham would act as your accomplice?”
    Because I despise you for bullying her . Aloud, he said, “Are you implying that our engagement is a criminal act?”
    “You know very well what I meant,” Montclief said.
    Bell had tolerated Montclief long enough. He strode over to the much shorter man and loomed over him. “You dare to question my word?” he said in a low, warning tone.
    Montclief lifted his chin and his nostrils flared. “It is my responsibility to see that my nephew is well cared for and made to behave. I am the best person to see it done.”
    “Really? If your nephew walked in the door, would you recognize him?” Bell asked.
    Montclief’s face flushed. “You have no say in this, Bellingham. You are no relation to the boy.”
    “But when we marry, Bellingham will be Justin’s stepfather,” Laura said. “He will oversee