Read Good Earls Don't Lie for Free Online

gelding. His expression transformed and some of his anger faded. “This isn’t one of our horses.”
    “No. He’s my horse, Darcy,” Iain said. “And I’ll be taking him back to the stables now.” He dismounted and pulled Beau off the horse, still gripping him by the arm. “This lad stole him from me, along with my clothes.”
    With that, he stripped the boy of the coat. The fabric was torn near the hem, and it was filthy. He glared at Beau, folding the coat under his arm. “He and his friend thought it would be a lark to steal.” An idea sparked suddenly, one that perfectly fit the boy’s crime. “And since he stole my horse, I believe he’ll be spending the afternoon mucking out your stables as punishment.”
    The coachman looked uneasy about the prospect. “Well, I don’t rightly know. Is this true, Master Beauregard?”
    The boy lifted his chin. “I didn’t steal anything. I found them.”
    “I’m certain your parents would be wanting to know of your mischief,” Iain remarked. “You and your friend.”
    “As I’ve said before, my father isn’t here.” His tone held a note of triumph, as if no one could hold him accountable.
    “Sir Lester should return within a day or two,” the coachman remarked.
    Iain realized he’d been right about the boy’s family. Beau was either the son of a knight or a baronet.
    Yet at the mention of his father, the boy grew defensive. “He wouldn’t believe any of you. And if I find out anyone has told him, every last one of you will be dismissed.” He stiffened and shot a glare at all of them, fixing his final stare upon Iain.
    “I cannot be dismissed,” Iain said to the coachman. “Can I?”
    The older man’s mouth twitched. It was clear that he found the boy’s threat irritating. “Nay, you cannot.” Especially since Iain was not employed by the household.
    Before the coachman could say anything further, Iain said, “Then there is no problem with him spending the afternoon shoveling horse droppings, as punishment, is there? I will take it upon myself to see that he does a fine job of it.” Without waiting for a reply, he guided the boy back toward the stables. He caught a glimpse of amusement from the servants, and not one of them voiced their protest. Like as not, this was a rare chance for the boy to face consequences.
    As he glanced behind him one last time, he saw a face pressed up to a window of the house. It was Lady Rose, watching them. Iain sent her a smile and bowed slightly, before he escorted the boy into the stables.

    It was nearly sunset when Rose finally got up the nerve to visit the stables. Calvert wasn’t at all happy about it, but he had no choice in the matter. “It’s too dark to be riding, Lady Rose. I can take you in the morning, if you like.”
    But she wasn’t here to ride. She had waited for Mr. Donovan to leave the stables, fully expecting him to be on his way. Yet hours had passed, and no one seemed surprised that he was still here. It was as if he’d bewitched the servants into believing his tale.
    All she knew was that he’d returned with the horse. It seemed that it had been a misunderstanding of some kind, and somehow Sir Lester’s son, Beauregard, had been involved.
    “I want to know why Mr. Donovan is still here,” she said. Calvert shrugged. Her footman had never been much for conversation, and at the moment, it frustrated her to no end. “Well?”
    “He’s supervising whilst the boy mucks out the stables, so I’ve heard.”
    “Why on earth would they be doing that? I thought he’d left hours ago.”
    The footman seemed at a loss for words. When he couldn’t gather up an explanation, Rose waved her hand in dismissal. “Just take me to the stables, and I’ll find out for myself.”
    The footman grumbled about her orders, but he reluctantly obeyed. He carried her through the gardens, and as he walked, Rose tried to think of what to say to Mr. Donovan. She should ask him to leave again, but curiosity