Read The American Earl for Free Online

along.”
    “I don’t like port,” he replied, “and I’ll be happy to join you.”
    The fire in the drawing room was still going so the room was pleasantly warm when we went in.  I looked sadly at the empty spot in front of the hearth where by dogs had always lain.  Merlin, my last spaniel, had died just before I found my father and I hadn’t replaced him.  Once the business of Stoverton was settled, the first thing I would do would be to acquire some dogs.
    We settled into the chairs that were still placed around the fire and Flora said, “Would you care for some music, Evan? Maria is a very good pianist.”
    “I would like that very much,” he said, smiling at Maria.
    The piano had originally been in the drawing room, but we had moved it into the library when we closed off so much of the house.  Then we had dragged it back in here before Evan arrived.  Maria had been so worried about its being out of tune from the moving that I had paid someone to tune it properly.
    She stood up gracefully and went to take her place at the piano. She turned and said to Evan, “Is there anything particular you would like to hear?”
    I waited to hear what he would reply. Did Americans know anything about real music?
    “Something by Mozart would be wonderful – if that suits you, Maria.”
    My sister is an enormously gifted musician. She merely smiled back, turned to the piano, placed her fingers on the keys, and began to play.
    I closed my eyes and listened. Maria usually played for Flora and me after dinner and it was the most peaceful part of my day.”
    When she had finished Evan said in surprise, “Where did you learn to play like that?”
    “I used to have a piano teacher,” Maria replied softly. 
    He frowned. “Used to? What happened to him?” Then, as Maria looked upset, he lifted his hand. “Don’t bother answering. I can guess. Your father ran out of money.”
    Maria nodded.  She looked so lovely sitting there, with her golden curls and her blue eyes and her black funeral dress.  I felt a surge of fierce protectiveness. 
    “Of all of my father’s transgressions, this was the worst.” I said fiercely.  “He knew how much music meant to Maria, but he didn’t care.” 
    “Well that is something I can easily rectify,” Evan said. “When I get back to London I will look about for a music teacher for you, Maria.”
    The look of radiance on her face brought tears to my eyes.  At that moment I almost liked Evan Marshall. 
    “Thank you, Evan.”   Maria’s voice trembled with emotion. 
    He looked embarrassed. “It will be my honor,” he replied.
    It was the right answer for a Marshall.  Too bad he isn’t English , I found myself thinking. 
    He was speaking to me. “I understand that your father had two sons to succeed him. What happened to them?”
    All my good feelings toward him died. I said in my most clipped voice, “My brother Charles died of a lung infection when he was young. Two years ago my brother Philip was sailing in the Channel with friends when a fog came down. His yacht was hit by an American privateer and all on board drowned.”
    Evan looked grave. “I’m so sorry.”
    “We heard that you were a ship’s captain. Did you fight in the war?”
    His blue eyes held mine steadily. “Yes, I did. I had my own ship, the Bonny Jean.”
    “So you were a privateer then, not in your country’s navy?”
    “Yes.”
    “Did you ever sail in the Channel?”
    He replied in a level voice, “No. Most of my prizes came from the Caribbean.”
    My back was ramrod straight as I glared at him. “Those ‘prizes’ you speak of were non-combatant merchant ships, not ships of war. It was an act of cowardice to attack them.”
    “Julia!” I heard Flora say warningly.
    Evan glared back at me. 
    “There wouldn’t have been a war if your government had not continuously stopped American merchant shipsand impressed our seaman – most of whom were American citizens – into your navy.”
    I