Read The Seduction of an Earl for Free Online

him permission to court Lady Hannah. “May I ask why it is you’re allowing me to court your daughter?”
    The gleam of mischief still in his eyes, the Marquess of Devonville regarded Henry with a slight grin. “You’re an earl and yet you work your land. Most of the idiots in the ton would find that offensive, but I do not. You’ve done right by your son. I expect you’ll do right by my daughter. And whatever grandchildren you manage to produce.” He straightened. “By the way, you’ll find Lady Hannah in the parlor.”
    Henry nodded, surprised at the man’s candor. “May I call on her now?”
    “Of course. Her earlier caller, Lady Bostwick, left a bit ago. She’s Hannah’s other best friend, by the way,” he said in an off-hand manner, but Henry got the distinct impression the information was provided to help him in his quest. “Oh, and Harold is with her. Let me tell you a bit about my daughter’s pet. Just so you’re ... prepared.”
    And for the next few minutes, the Marquess of Devonville described the abilities and antics of the Alpenmastiff that had been with the family for ten years.
    Allowing a smile at Devonville’s descriptions, Henry realized the dog had become equivalent to another child in the Slater household. And he was obviously near and dear to Lady Hannah.
    “Now, off with you,” Devonville said with a wave as he indicated the study door.
    Henry grinned. “I will not disappoint you.”
    The marquess regarded him, his eyes narrowing. “See that you don’t.”

Chapter 4
    Lady Hannah Meets Lord Gisborn
    Standing to the side of the front window of the Devonville House parlor, Lady Hannah Slater watched as the unmarked coach pulled up into the semi-circular drive and deposited its rather handsome occupant onto the crushed granite. A coin was tossed to the driver, who nodded and set his crop aside once he’d climbed back onto the box. So ... the coach was no doubt hired and expected to stay put for the duration of the gentleman’s visit.
    But who was the fare?
    She watched as the tall man approached the front doors, his gaze directed straight ahead. His top hat was well suited to his height, his dark topcoat and buckskin breeches tailored to fit him precisely. There was a shine on his boots that suggested his valet had seen to them that very morning.
    Hannah wondered why he didn’t seem to direct his gaze to the rest of the house as most did when they approached the Palladian mansion in Park Lane. Perhaps he had already caught sight of her staring out the window and did not wish to embarrass her by looking in her direction. She stepped back and to the side a bit more, to keep his figure in view until he passed one of the Grecian columns that flanked the entry. Dark hair, long sideburns, a square jaw – he looked familiar, but Hannah could not be certain she’d met him.

Oh, if only Lady Charlotte were still in town . She would know the man who was now being let into the vestibule by Hatfield. Charlotte knew all the gentlemen of the ton and several cits, besides. Having been betrothed nearly her entire life, Charlotte had no need of considering every man she met as a potential suitor. As such, she made friends with men for the sole purpose of having dance partners at balls. For Hannah, though, two Seasons lost to mourning meant she was still becoming acquainted with the available bachelors of the ton . Although she’d had six suitors her first year out, none were particularly interesting, and all but one were clearly angling for her dowry more than for her hand in marriage. The other was barely eighteen and apparently wanted to get married so he could escape his domineering mother.
    Already twenty-one, and with one best friend married and, in Charlotte’s case, another almost so, Hannah had decided she would have to be settled before summer or die of boredom. She could only hope this Season would present some better prospects.
    Moving to the parlor door but making sure she stayed