Free Edith Layton by The Return of the Earl

forward to it.”
    “We’ll be sowing soon,” the squire said, changing the subject with a vengeance. “What sort of crops do you grow there in New South Wales?”
    “I don’t,” Christian said. “That is to say, my father went into business rather than farming, so I have much to learn about agriculture if I want Egremont to prosper.”
    This caused another sudden silence.
    It was like trying to make pleasant conversation on a battlefield, Julianne thought. This plan to get to know and learn more about him was ill-advised. He had every advantage. What could they ask him, after all? His future plans were a source of controversy. His past was suspect at best, and shameful in any event.
    The squire cleared his throat and proceeded toplow on in conversation as he meant to in his fields, launching into his spring planting schedule for Hammond’s benefit. Sophie concentrated on her plate, occasionally stealing glances at the interloper who threatened her future, casting her gaze down if he caught her at it. Her mama was busy directing the footman to add more food to her guests’ plates. But Julianne couldn’t forget the warm breathing presence of the man next to her, and good manners and burning curiosity combined to make her decide to speak to him.
    The difficulty was that she’d have to look at him, and it was hard to meet his knowing eyes. Plus, she wasn’t supposed to give her name yet. He had to know it was a deliberate omission because he hadn’t asked for her name. He hadn’t asked her for anything. Maybe he was amused. He could be annoyed. His expression gave away nothing. She wished her cousins had been more subtle and at least hadn’t seated her next to him. She wished she were more facile. But she couldn’t just ignore the man. Especially when he was only an elbow’s length away from her, and she was so aware of him she swore she could feel him next to her.
    She turned her head toward him and saw him turn to her, as though he’d been watching her all along.
    Lord , she thought, he is such an attractive man! Especially when she had his full attention, and those bright eyes were looking at her with interest. This close she couldn’t help noticing how fine his complexion was. Surely a man who been sent to prison in London, then across the world in the company of murderers and to who knew what ghastly placeswould bear some scars? He didn’t look as if he’d ever even cut himself while shaving.
    She scrambled for something innocuous to say and noticed that he hadn’t eaten much of anything on his plate.
    “Aren’t you hungry?” she asked, then added quickly. “The food is very good. Or maybe it isn’t spiced the way you’re accustomed to?”
    “I’m sure it’s excellent,” he said in a low voice that didn’t carry farther than her ear, “but I can’t help but wonder what it’s spiced with. My portion, that is. I wouldn’t be surprised if there wasn’t a sprinkle of poison to liven it up.”
    There were a dozen ways she could and probably should have answered that. But it was so near to what she’d been thinking herself that she brought up her napkin to cover a surprised gasp of laughter.
    That seemed to please him.
    “No, no,” she murmured, when she could. “That would leave evidence. My cousins aren’t fools. No, truly,” she said when he smiled, “whatever they think of you, and you can hardly blame them for their suspicions, my cousins are straightforward, and Hammond seems to be, too. They might meet you in a court of law, or a court of fives, or even in a duel, but I think you can safely eat tonight, I really do.”
    “Well, if you’re sure,” he said doubtfully, eyeing his plate, then hers. “You urge me to eat. But as for you…you’re sure you tried the beef? It does look very good.”
    She nodded. Clearly, he was joking…at least, she hoped so. As she watched, he cut a small bit of beef,slowly brought it to his lips, and, even more slowly, popped it in his mouth. He