Read Lost to the Night (The Brotherhood Series, Book 1) for Free Online Page A
Authors: Adele Clee
breakfast, although it was almost twelve when her growling stomach forced her to leave her aunt and go in search of food. There was no sign of him when she wandered through the house. There was no sign of him in the garden when she examined the fountain and sat on the bench. The same bench where he had so shamelessly discarded his clothes.
A frisson of excitement raced through her at the thought.
When the rain came, she rushed inside and almost barged into Mrs. Shaw, who was on her way out to find her.
“His lordship said to tell you that Mr. Sutherby will be calling later today. You’re to make sure your things are packed and waiting in the hall.”
Obviously, the earl couldn’t wait to be rid of her, and she felt anger flare. All of these conflicting emotions were giving her a headache.
“Could he not come and tell me so himself?” she said loudly in the hope he would hear her. “It’s not as though he could offend me any more than he has already. He’s made it clear he wants us out of here as soon as possible.”
Mrs. Shaw bent her head and whispered, “It’s more that he doesn’t want to become acquainted with Mr. Sutherby, for fear the gentleman will call in when he’s passing. I’d prepare yourself. I expect his lordship will be blunt and rather unkind.”
His lordship’s mood did not concern her; she had grown quite used to it in the few hours she’d spent with him. But she refused to be ignored or treated with contempt. He should have consulted her regarding any arrangements made.
“Where is the earl?”
Mrs. Shaw glanced to the closed door at the end of the hall. “In the study … but you can’t go in. No one’s allowed in there.”
Evelyn marched to the door and knocked.
There was no reply.
“He doesn’t like to be disturbed,” Mrs. Shaw said with a look of panic. “Not so early in the day.”
Evelyn shrugged. “He doesn’t give a hoot for the feelings of others. Why should I give a hoot for his?”
Before she could change her mind, Evelyn gripped the handle and burst into the room, despite Mrs. Shaw tugging at the sleeve of her dress.
The earl was not sitting behind his desk, and Evelyn froze in shock as she studied the dimly lit room.
The walls were lined with dark oak panels, the wooden shutters pulled across to block out the light. The timbered ceiling made the room feel small, confined. In the corner, a warm glow radiated from the tall candelabra even though it was the middle of the day.
“What the hell are you doing in here?”
She heard his deep thunderous roar emanating from behind the door and like a frightened animal, Mrs. Shaw retreated into the hallway. Evelyn refused to let fear quash her anger, and she slammed the door shut to find the earl sitting on a stool in front of an easel.
“Get out,” he yelled jumping up to block her view and knocking over the stool in the process.
Stand strong, she thought, remembering Mrs. Shaw’s words that he was a good man beneath the bravado.
Evelyn squared her shoulders. “I am not leaving until you pay me the respect I deserve.”
He stepped forward, his large frame towering above her, his jaw clenched. But she recalled the image of the sad gentleman sitting on the bench. She recalled the image of a man struggling to suppress his pain.
“If you want rid of me, you will have to pick me up and throw me out,” she continued, swallowing down her nerves.
He straightened. “Are you refusing to abide by my request?”
“I am.” Evelyn folded her arms across her chest to reinforce her position.
Uncertainty flashed in his eyes. He was obviously used to people doing what they were told. “Then you leave me no option. I will simply drag you out.”
“No, you won’t. You may be rude and odious, but you would never hurt me.”
Evelyn had no idea what he was capable of, but she would take a chance. His sharp tone did not worry her anymore. She moved to the desk, pulled out the chair and sat down.
“I would like you
A frisson of excitement raced through her at the thought.
When the rain came, she rushed inside and almost barged into Mrs. Shaw, who was on her way out to find her.
“His lordship said to tell you that Mr. Sutherby will be calling later today. You’re to make sure your things are packed and waiting in the hall.”
Obviously, the earl couldn’t wait to be rid of her, and she felt anger flare. All of these conflicting emotions were giving her a headache.
“Could he not come and tell me so himself?” she said loudly in the hope he would hear her. “It’s not as though he could offend me any more than he has already. He’s made it clear he wants us out of here as soon as possible.”
Mrs. Shaw bent her head and whispered, “It’s more that he doesn’t want to become acquainted with Mr. Sutherby, for fear the gentleman will call in when he’s passing. I’d prepare yourself. I expect his lordship will be blunt and rather unkind.”
His lordship’s mood did not concern her; she had grown quite used to it in the few hours she’d spent with him. But she refused to be ignored or treated with contempt. He should have consulted her regarding any arrangements made.
“Where is the earl?”
Mrs. Shaw glanced to the closed door at the end of the hall. “In the study … but you can’t go in. No one’s allowed in there.”
Evelyn marched to the door and knocked.
There was no reply.
“He doesn’t like to be disturbed,” Mrs. Shaw said with a look of panic. “Not so early in the day.”
Evelyn shrugged. “He doesn’t give a hoot for the feelings of others. Why should I give a hoot for his?”
Before she could change her mind, Evelyn gripped the handle and burst into the room, despite Mrs. Shaw tugging at the sleeve of her dress.
The earl was not sitting behind his desk, and Evelyn froze in shock as she studied the dimly lit room.
The walls were lined with dark oak panels, the wooden shutters pulled across to block out the light. The timbered ceiling made the room feel small, confined. In the corner, a warm glow radiated from the tall candelabra even though it was the middle of the day.
“What the hell are you doing in here?”
She heard his deep thunderous roar emanating from behind the door and like a frightened animal, Mrs. Shaw retreated into the hallway. Evelyn refused to let fear quash her anger, and she slammed the door shut to find the earl sitting on a stool in front of an easel.
“Get out,” he yelled jumping up to block her view and knocking over the stool in the process.
Stand strong, she thought, remembering Mrs. Shaw’s words that he was a good man beneath the bravado.
Evelyn squared her shoulders. “I am not leaving until you pay me the respect I deserve.”
He stepped forward, his large frame towering above her, his jaw clenched. But she recalled the image of the sad gentleman sitting on the bench. She recalled the image of a man struggling to suppress his pain.
“If you want rid of me, you will have to pick me up and throw me out,” she continued, swallowing down her nerves.
He straightened. “Are you refusing to abide by my request?”
“I am.” Evelyn folded her arms across her chest to reinforce her position.
Uncertainty flashed in his eyes. He was obviously used to people doing what they were told. “Then you leave me no option. I will simply drag you out.”
“No, you won’t. You may be rude and odious, but you would never hurt me.”
Evelyn had no idea what he was capable of, but she would take a chance. His sharp tone did not worry her anymore. She moved to the desk, pulled out the chair and sat down.
“I would like you