Free Charmed By Knight (The Fielding Brothers Saga) by Marie Higgins Page A

to California? How else will you be able to see how your goldmine is producing?”
    “No,” he replied. “I will leave it to your husband to hire the men needed to run the mine. Besides, he will have the money to do that.” He shrugged. “I won’t.”
    With a heavy sigh, Megan knew she would be the only person to emerge from the situation a loser.
    * * * *
    “I can’t believe this!”
    Edmund shook his head in disbelief as he read the morning’s headlines in the newspaper. With great interest, he leaned forward in his chair, resting his arms on the dining room table. He reread the article, growled and pushed himself away, grumbling. “May the devil take him!”
    Heavy footsteps of his servant echoed out in the hallway before the man hustled into the room.
    “Master? Do you need something?”
    “Yes. Get my carriage ready, posthaste. I will be going into town.”
    Saxton is lower than dirt. Edmund gnashed his teeth. That man actually had the audacity to try and sell Edmund’s piece of land. Growling louder, he crumpled the newspaper. That deed belonged to him, not Saxton. Yet how could the Baron have changed names on the document without Edmund’s signature? Obviously, it was forged.
    Edmund’s heart sank. He’d lost this battle. How could he claim the property himself when he’d won it in a card game? If Saxton had the names changed, there was really no way to get the deed back. Unless…
    Smoothing out the crinkled paper, Edmund read further in the article. Megan came with the piece of land. He shook his head. Poor Megan. She was probably overwrought with embarrassment right now, and rightly so. It wasn’t her fault she had an imbecile for a father. But, if marrying her would get back his goldmine…
    He read further. Only titled lords were able to participate.
    Cursing, he wadded up the paper again. Had Saxton ask for only titled lords just so Edmund could not compete? Saxton must be worried Edmund would try to get his deed back.
    He pounded his fists once on the table before he turned away. Well, two could play at this game, and Edmund played to win.
    He stormed out of the dining room. His manservant followed behind and helped him slip on his over-jacket.
    “Is there anything else, Master?”
    “No.”
    Vengeance boiled through his veins, and his fingers itched to wrap themselves around Saxton’s throat and strangle the very life right out of him. But, honor demanded Edmund control his first impulse. He was no gentleman, although he did play by the rules occasionally.
    Besides, he had something better in mind for Saxton. He wanted to witness the Baron slowly die in his poverty. Edmund wanted to personally see that man wither away from society. The peerage was full of men like Saxton, but this was one lord who wouldn’t get the best of Edmund.
    A scandal was what it would take, and Edmund would create one.
    Unfortunately, Megan would be pulled into this game. She already led a life of embarrassment. She would be better off living with him as his wife. She would be much happier with him. When he remembered how her mouth had responded to his teachings, hope grew inside him.
    His carriage pulled up beside Whites and stopped. He opened the door and jumped down. Keeping his back straight and chin erect, he entered the club.
    The attendant greeted him with a smile. “Good day, Mr. Knight.”
    Edmund nodded. “Good day to you, my fine lad.” He reached into his pocket and withdrew a gold coin, then tossed it to the servant. “Tell me, has the Baron, Lord Saxton been in this morning?”
    “No, sir.”
    “Then I will take a seat and wait for him.” He glanced around the sparse group of men in the club. “Do you know if there’s a good game going on right now?”
    “Yes, Mr. Knight. There’s one at the end table.”
    Edmund flipped the servant another gold coin then strode through the room toward his destination. When the three other men looked up and saw him, he recognized their fake smiles. Would