Free The Earl's Passionate Plot by Susan Gee Heino

desperate for their first meeting to be a pleasant one—he went along with it.
    It was, after all, the perfect day for a picnic. The gentle breezed tossed Miss Langley's skirts playfully and the warm sun made her soft skin practically glow. The butter-cream color of her gown accented the golden tones in her hair, and her green eyes sparkled. They turned to fire, though, when she caught him looking at her.
    "I hope these preparations are up to your standards, sir," she said curtly when she was forced to stand near him and help with the loading of the hampers. "As you know, we did not have much time to arrange things."
    "I'm sure everything will be more than adequate, Miss Langley. My cousin and I appreciate very much that you have indulged us in this."
    "I didn't realize I had the option to refuse," she said, shoving an unruly curl back up into her bonnet.
    "You always have that option, of course. But I am happy you chose to go along with us on this. In fact... I wonder if I can request a favor."
    "Another?"
    "Regarding Miss Vandenhoff."
    They were very much alone together now, standing behind one of the carriages while the servants moved on to the other.
    "And what special accommodation has she requested?" Miss Langley asked with a telling sigh.
    "Er, nothing. Not y et, at least," the earl replied. "I was hoping, though... that is..."
    "Yes?"
    "Well, as you may have noticed, the young lady does not seem entirely comfortable here. I was hoping you might take her under your wing, as it were, and help her to be... help her to enjoy herself a bit more."
    The way she cocked her eyebrow at him and gave a delightful scowl assured him she understood exactly what he meant. And that she had ample doubts about her ability to accomplish such a thing.
    "You've been such a remarkable hostess for her already," he went on quickly. "And I know it cannot be easy to have a family of strangers invade your home this way. But my cousin has not yet met Miss Vandenhoff and... well, I was very much hoping he might not find her off-putting today."
    She rolled her green eyes and nodded. "Of course. And you think I can just magically make her behave. Certainly sir. I'll just wave my enchanted wand and she'll fall directly in line."
    "You hardly need a wand, Miss Langley. You've shown such a kind, understand ing nature that surely Miss Vandenhoff will—"
    "Save your flattery, sir. I will endeavor to shine the best light possible on Miss Vandenhoff, but not because you ask me. It is simply the proper thing to do."
    He liked the way she did not back down even as he stepped closer to her. They were very near one another now, the servants all bustling elsewhere and leaving them markedly alone. He could hardly help himself from taking advantage of the situation. Entertainment had been in short supply for him of late and watching Miss Langley's flashing eyes and dodging her rapier wit had become quite a pleasurable distraction.
    "And you always do the proper thing, don't you, Miss Langley ?"
    "Of course I do. Never doubt it."
    "Doubt it? Oh, I'll never do that, Miss Langley. I'm sure when you do finally decide to abandon propriety, there'll be no doubt about it whatsoever."
    She narrowed her eyes and grumbled at him. "I gladly invite you to hold your breath for that day, sir."
    "Be careful what you invite, Miss Langley."
    Her reply —and it would have been stinging, he was certain—was cut off by the giggling arrival of her sister. Miss Renford appeared in the doorway of the house, being escorted out by none other than Ned. And he seemed quite pleased with his role.
    "I believe I've located one of our picnickers ," he announced.
    "He found me in the hallway fretting over my abominable bonnet," Miss Renford tittered. "There was no one around, so we were forced to introduce ourselves."
    "And a good thing we did," Ned went on. "I was able to rescue Miss Renford from that dreadful chapeau. The abominable thing was vanquished and this adorable bit was procured