Free An Unexpected Encounter ( Half Moon House, Novella 1) by Deb Marlowe

Swallowing,
she looked to Lisbeth. “May we look for something to keep inside
it?”
    “Of course. Your net is over on the bench,
but you must remember to give everyone a chance with it.”
    “We’ll have better luck if we move to that
clump of trees just there,” the baron indicated.
    As a group, the girls swarmed in that
direction. Lisbeth wondered at the look he cast after them.
    “Interesting, how they interact, isn’t it?”
he mused.
    “Is it?”
    “Similar to the dynamics of a large family, I
would think.”
    She gazed after them. “A little different,
perhaps. They use better manners with friends.” She smiled. “Are
you interested in large families, my lord?”
    “I’d say most only children are. I find them
fascinating myself. Almost like clockwork, how each member
interacts with everyone else to make an interesting whole.” He made
to follow the girls. “I’ll help,” he called and waggled his brows
as he went. “If we turn over enough leaves we might even find a
newt.”
    A chorus of shrieks, echoes of terror,
anticipation and joy, rang out at this pronouncement. Lisbeth
followed along, but hung back, wanting the baron to have this
moment with Aurelia.
    She couldn’t take her eyes off of him as he
grubbed about with the girls, admiring their finds, identifying
insects and plants and fungi. Even the shyest of the girls dropped
their reserve and unabashedly brought their treasures for his
inspection.
    If she didn’t think he would crawl back in
his shell, she’d be tempted to tease him about causing a spectacle.
The group of nurses and servants who had hung back from the water’s
edge to gossip now drifted over. Lisbeth watched them watch the
baron, and her annoyance grew as they exchanged whispers and
glances.
    At last a shout of triumph rang out as Lord
Cotwell stood, a tiny newt scrambling inside his cupped hands. The
little creature was proclaimed a darling by all and Aurelia was
given the honor of transferring him to his temporary home.
    They were all startled at the sudden, close
clearing of a masculine throat. Lisbeth started, and as one they
all turned to find a very finely dressed gentleman looking on with
amusement. The young lady on his arm, however, wore an expression
of horror.
    “Margaret!” she scolded. “Whatever have you
done to yourself? Your dress is smeared with grass and your hands
are dirty !”
    One of the girls peeled away from the group.
“Oh, Carina, do stop,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “It’s just
a bit of dirt. We’ve had the most fun.”
    The girl’s nurse rushed forward to brush her
off. Lisbeth offered her a handkerchief.
    “Well, come along, in any case. Mother is in
the carriage. You know how she hates to wait.”
    “I’m coming.” Young Margaret thanked Aurelia
prettily for sharing her fun and prepared to set off with her
family.
    “I’m sure I don’t know what she’s going to
say about your disgraceful appearance.” The young lady swept a
censorious glance across the lot of them. She allowed it to linger
a little longer on the baron.
    Interest or blame? Lisbeth knew she should
hope for the first.
    Suddenly the other servants were collecting
their charges and moving away. Girlish goodbyes and promises rang
out. The imperious young lady turned away, beckoning her sister,
but the gentleman stopped suddenly.
    “I say . . . Sparsebrow? Is that you?”
    Lord Cotwell straightened, his expression
darkening.
    “It is you! God’s teeth, man, it’s been an
age!” The gentleman leaned in. “Do you not know me? I’m
Ashburn.”
    The baron did not appear half so delighted to
renew the acquaintance.
    Oblivious, the other man continued. “Great
Gods, never tell me that you’ve been married long enough for one of
these to be yours?” He gestured to the departing tide of girls.
“How could I have missed that tidy bit of news?”
    Lisbeth sagged a little in relief when the
baron unthawed enough to answer. “No.” He gestured toward