Free The Unwanted Earl by Ruth J. Hartman

he alighted from the safety of the carriage.
    Amelia latched onto Conrad’s arm as soon as he made it available. She cared not what Annie thought, as the maid walked behind them. Time was of the essence for Amelia to help Conrad see her for the woman she really was. Annie could go jump in the duck pond for all she cared.
    Now there was an idea. Stop it, Amelia. You must be nice.  
    They walked along a shady path beneath some large oak trees. Amelia inhaled the fresh air and sighed. She turned to Conrad. “Don’t you just love to breathe the wonderful air here at the Sanctuary?”
    Conrad frowned.
    She tugged him closer. “Go ahead. Take a breath. For me?”
    With a shrug, Conrad nodded. “As you wish, Miss Talbot.”
    “ You silly thing. Call me Amelia.” She lowered her voice so Annie wouldn’t hear. “We are to be married after all.”
    “ All right, Amelia.” He took in a deep breath, expanded his chest, and let out a wheeze to rival a donkey’s bray.
    “ Good heavens.” Amelia patted his back. “Can you breathe?”
    “ That is my fervent wish.”
    “ You needn’t inhale the entire Sanctuary at once.”
    “ I’ll certainly try to keep that in mind the next time I require oxygen.” He wheezed again.
    Amelia grinned. So the earl had a wit about him. All the more reason to think she’d picked the right man to…
    Blackmail . The ugly word hung in the corners of her mind. It was wrong, wrong, wrong! But I don’t want to be married to that wrinkled old coot.  
    “ Something amiss, Amelia?”
    She swung her gaze in his direction. Oh dear. She’d done it again. Her annoying habit of having arguments with herself was going to get her in trouble. “No, everything is wonderful. Thank you for bringing me to one of my favorite spots in London.”
    Conrad tugged at his cravat and eyed the tree nearest them. “Yes. My p-pleasure.”
    Why did he seem to be less than thrilled that they were here? She’d never known anyone to balk at a lovely day spent seeing the trees, listening to the birds and taking a leisurely stroll through the extensive grounds.
    A sound, not unlike the purring of a kitten, came from just ahead. “Listen. I hear some turtledoves. Don’t you love them?”
    Conrad mumbled something she couldn’t quite make out. Was that adorable or abominable?  
    She tugged on his arm. “Let’s take a closer look.”
    With his heels dug into to the path, he resisted. Why was he being so stubborn? She gave a yank, this time stronger, which dislodged him from his rut. He stumbled into her and she caught him just as he would have fallen.
    Nose to nose with him, Amelia’s heart raced. How could Lucy not have thought Conrad attractive? Those eyes would be the death of her. And Amelia was relieved that she’d not noticed anything malodorous from Conrad’s breath. Standing this close to him, and having kissed him earlier…
    “ Pardon me, my lord. I didn’t intend for you to stumble.”
    “ Then what was your intent? To tug on me so hard I ended up in that tree?”
    Amelia’s mouth dropped open. At first. Then, a tiny tickle of laughter moved up her throat until her whole person was overcome with giggles.
    Conrad removed his arm from her grasp. “It’s not that amusing.”
    “ Oh come now. It was a little amusing.” She held up her hand, holding her forefinger and thumb an inch apart. “Just a little?”
    One of his eyebrows rose, followed by the other. “Perhaps…” He moved her thumb closer to her finger until no light could be seen between. “That much.” The corners of his mouth lifted in the genuine curve of a smile.
    Delighted, Amelia nodded her head. “Yes, perhaps.” Suddenly anxious to see more of the Sanctuary with Conrad, she grabbed his arm again. With a tug, she started up the path, but again felt his resistance.
    She turned. “What now? Is there something wrong?”
    “ Has anyone ever told you that you are quite bold and forward?”
    A sputter came from her lips. Of