Free An Artful Seduction by Tina Gabrielle Page B

He’d said the place was freezing.
    She removed her own threadbare cloak and went to the radiating grate. Peeling off her wet gloves, she held out her cold hands and tried to calm her racing heart. “What is he thinking?”
    Amelia approached. “Perhaps he’s simply being nice.”
    “First the list, now this,” Eliza muttered.
    “Maybe he’s concerned.”
    “Men aren’t intrinsically altruistic, Amelia. They are a self-serving lot,” Eliza argued.
    Just like Father . The one man they’d believed they could trust above all others—their flesh-and-blood parent—had abandoned them. If her own father was so selfish, how could Eliza trust any man?
    Turning from the fire, Eliza spoke to the footman. “Where is his lordship?”
    “He’s not here, miss. He gave orders to deliver the coal.”
    She stiffened her spine. “Take it back. We’re not in need of his charity.”
    Amelia groaned behind her.
    The footman straightened to his full height. “I have my orders. Lord Huntingdon was most insistent.”
    “Then will you deliver a note to his lordship?” Eliza asked.
    He nodded and Eliza took paper and pen from the counter and hastily scrawled her brief message.
    Lord Huntingdon,
    Thank you for the coal and cloaks, my lord. But as I recall our arrangement did not include gifts of any nature.
    Mrs. Somerton
    She sealed the envelope and handed it to the footman.
    “Wait!” Amelia cried out. “What about the doctor? You cannot think to send him away. You must do what’s best for Chloe.”
    “What doctor?”
    “He arrived shortly after the coach with the coal. He’s upstairs examining Chloe as we speak.”
    Just then a rotund man wearing thick spectacles and clutching a black bag came down the stairs. “Miss Chloe is resting peacefully now.” He handed Eliza a dark bottle. “Cease giving her the tonic from the apothecary and replace it with this instead. If you keep the place warm and have her drink plenty of water, she should recover quickly enough.” He proffered a card with his details. “I shall return in two days’ time to check on her. If she appears worse, I may be reached at this address.”
    Eliza glanced down at the card in her hand, then back at the doctor. “Thank you. I’m afraid I will have to pay you for your services over time.”
    His eyes warmed behind his spectacles. “You misunderstand, Mrs. Somerton. My services were paid in advance by Lord Huntingdon.”
    Amelia handed the man his hat and coat, and he departed with the footman.
    Eliza stood staring at the door, dumbfounded.
    Amelia approached and touched her arm. “For the first time in so long it’s blessedly warm and the cloaks are wonderful. Don’t be a fool, Lizzie. Take what the earl’s offering. How else will we get through this horrid winter until a steady business returns?”
    Eliza’s mind reeled. “I agree we need such things. I’m not a fool. But what does Huntingdon want in exchange?”
    …
    Grayson’s answer to Eliza’s note arrived the next day along with a tin of medicinal tea for Chloe.
    Mrs. Somerton,
    I’m perfectly aware of our arrangement; however, you are useless to me if you catch a cold. Burn the coal and wear the fur.
    Huntingdon
    The arrogance of the man! She knew she should accept what he offered without a qualm. Any woman in her position would do so. He was a wealthy earl; she was a struggling shopkeeper and a forger’s daughter. But she had pride. She didn’t want his charity, hated having to accept it. They’d managed their own affairs and survived just fine for five years without him.
    Yet how could she refuse the doctor’s services or the medicine for Chloe?
    It was all troublesome. She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him since his kiss. Common sense told her he wanted something from her other than what she’d already agreed to.
    But what more could he want? Dorian Reed wasn’t expected back in town for four more days. Why couldn’t Huntingdon just leave her alone until