Free Lady Laugherty's Loves by Laurel Bennett

 
    One
    There were two of them.  Yes, two
of them.  Two of the most debauched and talked-about gentlemen
in all of Britain. And they were staying under her roof.  When
Olivia Ragland had volunteered to host the weeklong house-party at
her estate in Hampshire, she’d known one of them would be there.
She was married to him, after all. But not that he had invited his
cousin and best friend to attend as a guest.
    Neither Olivia nor Avery had seen
Ellis in more than two years, not since he’d left for his tour of
the continent. Or his “whore-mongering journey through America” as
her husband liked to refer to his cousin’s trip. They’d only been
married for a few weeks when Ellis had announced he was departing.
But she knew Avery missed him terribly. They’d grown up together
almost like brothers, after all.
    The coach rumbled to a stop with a
jingle of tack and the door flew open before the tiger could even
dismount. Ellis tumbled out, landing solidly on his feet just
before he flew at Avery.  Avery grunted as Ellis wrapped him
in a crushing hug. Ellis’ arrival had been all Avery could talk
about for weeks.  
    They had very similar builds, the same
sun-kissed skin, and similar full lips. But that was where their
similarities stopped. Ellis’ father had unexpectedly passed away
when he was a boy, so he and his mother had gone to live with his
uncle, Avery’s’ father. Ellis had been raised with almost every
privilege Avery had, aside from the fact that he had no title like
Avery’s. Nor a huge inheritance to call his own.  But Avery’s
father was a generous sort, and Ellis hadn’t done without anything
else. Their upbringing was reflected in the way they moved and the
way they spoke. But Avery had a sparkle in his eye that Ellis
lacked. And Ellis’ brown eyes were in direct opposition of Avery’s
blue ones. 
    When they finally released one
another, Ellis cocked his head to the side and regarded her with a
quirky grin. “Hello, Olivia,” he said quietly. Her belly fluttered
involuntarily. Oh, dear.
    Then he held his arms out to her as
well. He’d never been one for formalities. He'd always preferred a
masculine, back-thwacking hug to a handshake with her husband. But
she’d never been so improperly propositioned before. And not before
servants, of all things. Yet when Avery gave her a small push at
the middle of her back, she found herself falling right into Ellis’
arms.
    His hand snaked around her waist and
pressed her to him, scandalously close. Olivia placed her hands on
his chest and pushed. Yet he held her firmly within his
grasp.  “You feel like heaven,” he said quietly in her ear.
Then he gave her one final squeeze and leaned back to look down at
her. She opened her mouth to scold him soundly, but he tipped her
chin up with one finger and placed a quick kiss on her lips. Then
he released her.
    “How was your trip?” she heard her
husband ask as they turned toward the manor.
    Olivia was stunned. So stunned that
her feet refused to take a single step. All she could do was stand
there and gape like a complete ninny.
    Avery turned back toward her. “Are you
coming, Olivia?”
    Obviously, he didn’t see anything
wrong with his best friend’s display of affection. There wasn’t a
scowl on his face. He didn’t stand up for her honor. In fact, he
looked more light-hearted than he had in months.
    “I’ll be along in a moment,” she
finally croaked. “I need to see to something.”  And figure out
how to take a full breath. Or any breath at all.
    As they ambled inside, Olivia fought
to direct the servants with Ellis’ trunks.
    “You can put them in her ladyship’s
room,” her husband called out from the doorway.
    “My room?” Olivia asked. Granted, she
rarely used it. But still…
    “We’ve a full house planned, Olivia.
And I can’t think of anyone I’d trust to have the room adjoining
ours.” He made a final motion to the servants which put them in
action.
    Olivia