Free The Surrender of Miss Fairbourne by Madeline Hunter Page A

that he would probably visit once or twice at most, and that his words did not herald the trouble she feared.
    Now she knew differently.
    She was shown to a drawing room, one three times the size of her own. Paintings hung on the walls and she recognized several as having been purchased at Fairbourne’s auctions. It was a very pale room otherwise, which set off the paintings quite nicely.
    The furniture appeared finely boned, except for one rather large-scaled upholstered armchair near the fireplace. It had two gilt griffins flanking its sides, their legs forming the chair’s base and their heads supporting the chair’s arms.
    She did not wait long before the earl arrived. He entered with a servant bearing a tray. Southwaite was dressed informally, as if he were visiting his country estate and had been riding. His circles would know what days he usually received callers, and apparently this was not one of them.
    “Miss Fairbourne, I am happy to see you. Come and sit over here with me.” His arm ushered her decidedly in the direction he required.
    He guided her to the fireplace. She perched herself on an elegant, padded bench. He took the large chair. She realized it was there just for him. He would be uncomfortable on anything much smaller.
    He sat like a king on his throne, with one fine boot forward and his arms supported by the griffins’ heads. If she cared about such things, which she did not, she would have to admit that he appeared very handsome and noble today.
    “You arrived just as I was about to have my afternoon coffee. Please have some too,” he said.
    She had much to say to this man, and intended to speak quite firmly, but she hoped to avoid another row. She heldher tongue until the coffee had been served and the tray set aside.
    She sipped some coffee. While she did the earl got in the first word.
    “As I said, I am pleased you have called. My visit yesterday ended on a peculiar note, and there is no reason for us to be adversaries. You appear to be a sensible woman of some intelligence, and I am sure that we can cooperate instead of always arguing.”
    “I am flattered that you perceived some intelligence. That is rare praise, I am sure.”
    “Not so rare. I have met other women with intelligence. There are men who think the two things never go together, women and intelligence, but I am not one of them.”
    “How enlightened of you. The truth is, however, that I have come here today because our conversation yesterday was not only peculiar, but also incomplete.”
    “It was in several ways, I agree. Most lacking was your acceptance of my apology for the misunderstanding. I hope that you will accept those apologies now.”
    “Thank you. I shall. I have quite forgotten the matter already.”
    “It was also incomplete regarding the disposition of Fairbourne’s, of course. May I assume that is what brought you here? I knew you would see what must be done once you thought about it. I promise you that I will take care of everything involved.”
    “I did not come here to discuss the disposition of Fairbourne’s, Lord Southwaite. That subject is well settled between us. Any disposition is still out of the question.”
    He looked away but she saw exasperation flicker in his eyes. His attention returned to her. A tight smile formed on a face that had turned less amiable. “Then how can I help you, Miss Fairbourne? What other part of our conversation was incomplete? Ah, yes—I did not finish with my romantic proposition by discussing the usual details. Have you come here for that?”
    She could not believe he made this reference to the Outrageous Misconception. He had just apologized a second time, hadn’t he? They should be pretending it had never happened.
    Instead he all but invited her once more to be his mistress, only without any misunderstanding as an excuse.
    He watched her with dark humor. He was not flirting. Surely not. However, he observed her most specifically, as if he were truly