Free How to Wed an Earl by Ivory Lei Page B

I to know you’d come galloping to Bouth?”
    “I’m pleased to find you didn’t mean to cause any inconvenience,” he replied with sarcasm. “But the deed is done, and my name has been bandied about without my consent. Thus, I’m afraid I have to insist we modify our bargain’s terms.”
    “What did you have in mind?”
    His smile was thoroughly wolfish. “In return for participating in your scheme, you will agree to let me court you, and you will seriously contemplate accepting my suit.”
    Penelope blinked. “That’s it?”
    Something akin to pride lit his eyes. “Yes, nymph, that’s it,” he confirmed, his voice gentle, light. Caressing.
    She stood up abruptly. “Well, that settles it then. If you would kindly wait here, I’ll go upstairs to fetch my pelisse, and we can leave for our walk.”
    It was time to put on a show for people. A show — nothing more — but she vowed it would be the best one this village had ever seen.
    • • •
    Penelope was not oblivious to the looks the gentry were giving her and Lucas as they promenaded through the village green that afternoon. Everyone smiled at her, as always, but their gazes would skitter to the earl and then dart away.
    For heaven’s sake, she knew he had a reputation, but it was silly for people to act as if they expected him to explode into a fit of temper without any provocation.
    It had been much better this morning, when they were going through the shops, buying supplies for Highfield Manor. The merchants did not care who bought their wares as long as they had enough blunt to pay for their purchases, and they were very happy to entertain the business of someone who looked like he could buy the entire shop.
    Lucas’s presence did make it harder to bargain, however. Mr. Wilkes, the butcher, had taken one look at the earl and gave her full price for the meat order. “Well, if that doesn’t butter the crumpets,” she muttered to Lucas as they left the butcher’s. “Your presence is making the merchants less flexible with their prices. The meat cost me a third less the last time I visited here.”
    A corner of the earl’s hard mouth curved into a half smile. “My apologies, nymph. Had I known you had a reputation for bargaining in these parts, I would have dressed in my jarvey attire.”
    She looked up at him with a hopeful expression. “Do you really have simpler clothes?” She paused. “Oh, I see. You find this funny. Well, laugh away, but don’t blame me when we run out of candles before the week is through because your presence made the tallow more expensive.”
    “Since I seem to be the reason for driving the prices up,” he murmured as he nodded his head to acknowledge a villager who crossed their path on the pavement, “it is only fair I shoulder the fee for the supplies purchased while I lodge with your family.”
    She gaped at him, overwhelmed by the generosity he was showing to an unwanted fiancée’s stepfamily. “We are not destitute, my lord. I assure you, I manage our accounts very well. I would not have agreed to invite you to stay with us if I could not find a way to afford it.”
    The look of amused indulgence disappeared from his eyes. “Call me Lucas.”
    “Lucas,” she said softly, noting that the muscles in his arm relaxed under her hand. “I do not want to cause you any more trouble than I already have.”
And I won’t let you bribe me into marrying you
, she added silently.
    “It’s no trouble.” He stopped walking and turned her to face him. “I have neglected my duty to you for two decades. Let me make up for it by making it easier on you and your family while I stay with you.”
    “But — ”
    “Penelope,” he said in a quiet but firm tone as they started walking again. “If you do not let me pay for these purchases, I will make the orders myself and have the bills sent to me.”
    “Well, if you plan to be that way about it — ”
    “I do.”
    “Suit yourself.” She looked around the village