Free Only an Earl Will Do by Tamara Gill Page B

far. Within five years such funds would have dried up. His estate in Scotland was large and took a lot of coin. Why did Elizabeth not understand this?
    Henry swore, pushing his way through the throng, and strode down the steps. He’d had enough of watching her be courted for one night. He needed to get a grip on his temper before he lost all decorum and argued with her before the ton. It was bad enough he’d fought with her brother. No doubt with such a show of base manners, the event would spread around the drawing rooms of the ton before noon tomorrow.
    He needed solitude, needed to decide what direction he would take next. Henry rounded the front steps of the home and called for his carriage, cringing at his less-than-polite tone to the footman. He needed a whisky. Drowning oneself in spirits seemed the thing right at this moment.

Chapter Five
    “What do you think you were doing fighting with Henry like that?”
    “So it’s Henry now?” Josh wiped his nose to stem the constant stream of blood. “You would call that debaucher of innocence by his given name?” he asked. “Look at my nose. It’s broken, I’m sure. It will probably be crooked now thanks to your Scottish ass.”
    Elizabeth looked out the carriage window and sighed. She still could not fathom what she’d witnessed. Her brother and Henry fighting it out like ruffians at the Standley ball. Their time would’ve best been spent at Gentleman Jackson’s, an entertainment that was most sought out by the highest of the ton, but not at a ball! And now her brother and the man she’d once adored had fought like common criminals. She masked a shudder over what her parents would say once they heard of this. “Does it matter what I call him? You cannot go about town picking fights with other men of the peerage.”
    “Why not?” Josh asked, looking petulant. “He started it.”
    Elizabeth shook her head, not believing that for a second. “And you didn’t insult him? Why then did he respond in such a violent manner? He was never a violent man.”
    Josh met her eyes. “Well, of course I insulted him, but he deserved it after what he did to you.”
    Elizabeth started at his words. “You did not mention Samuel, did you? Please tell me you did not.”
    Josh shook his head. “No, but what does that matter? He knows of the child and still has not apologized to the family for his slight to you…to all of us.”
    She sighed, wondering how it was that she could get herself into so much strife with very little effort. “I spoke to him about the letter and why he never returned. He stated he has no knowledge of such missive, and he denies ever writing one to us in return in relation to our plight. He knows nothing of Samuel.”
    Josh met her gaze, his face a mask of shock as the streetlamps cast shadows within the carriage. “And you believe such a lie? Do not let him play you a fool again, Elizabeth.”
    “Of course I will not, but don’t you see how odd this is? Should Henry know of Samuel he would demand to see him. To be part of his life and perhaps even refuse my son the chance to inherit Newland Estate. But he has not, which makes me believe he’s telling the truth, and that he does not know.” She sighed. “And do you not see what strife Henry not knowing of the letter has come to? He could ruin me.” Her voice broke on a sob and she sucked in a breath of air, needing to calm down. Tears would not help the situation, only clear, level-headed thinking.
    “Bloody hell, Elizabeth.”
    Her brother’s words summed up her situation quite perfectly. “I know. I don’t know what to do.”
    “Who does he suspect of this interference?”
    “His uncle, and he has written to him. If his uncle is the one to have taken the notes and tells Henry of why I requested him to return in the first place, he’ll kill me.”
    Her brother raised his brow. “I don’t believe it to be of that severity, but still, it’s bad enough. But let’s not get ahead of