Authors: Cheryl Dragon
Always His Earl
Always His Earl
Cheryl Dragon
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Always His Earl Copyright © February 2016 Cheryl Dragon
Edited by Editing by Rebecca
Cover: Kris Norris
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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NOTE: This title was previously published as Neighboring Affairs.
Blurb
Back in London, and free from the navy, Lieutenant Myles Harris is now a wealthy man of property. His late father separated Myles from his lover, the Earl of Thistledown, George Hardwick. Years apart have hurt both men, but their feelings haven’t disappeared.
George believes he has put the past behind him and has no interest in seeing Myles again. However, the Earl can’t turn away Myles’ little sister, the sweet girl he watched grow up next door, when she runs from her abusive husband. Hiding her in his London home, George must also have Myles as a guest under his roof. The duo must work together for their common good. Passion reignites and soon the men are breaking laws! The options are few, but they’d much rather defy the law than deny their hearts and abandon their honor.
L
ondon, May 1815
George Hardwick, the Earl of Thistledown, disliked parties. For him, the Season was a time of business not fun. Still, he had responsibilities, and his brother needed a dose of Society. He paced the gleaming pine floor of the Mayfair ballroom, impatient for escape. Single ladies on the hunt for a husband did their best to gain his attention.
A wife was the least of his problems. He searched the gilded halls for his younger brother. Basil needed the diversion of London and a wife to settle his future, but old wounds refused to heal for the Hardwick men.
Raised voices caught George’s attention. One was Basil’s, and George barged into the room without knocking. His brother stood between two people dressed to overshadow everyone in London—one face was familiar and the other repulsive. Tension hung in the air, but talking ceased as George stepped next to his brother.
“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Lady Philips.” George smiled at Basil’s childhood sweetheart. Claire’s father had married her off to a baron unexpectedly and ruined their plans. George sympathized but couldn’t change the past. “I was very sorry to hear about the deaths of your father and brother.”
The frail blonde beauty smiled and bobbed a quick curtsy. “Thank you, Lord
Thistledown; I owe you added thanks for looking after their estate.”
“Not at all,” George replied.
“Stop with the pleasantries, Thistledown, your brother was speaking to my wife alone behind closed doors. He has no respect for what belongs to another man.” Philips snapped his walking stick on the floor.
Claire cringed. “My dear, I was only informing him of my brother’s arrival. Both Lord Thistledown and his brother have put tremendous effort into my father’s estate. Myles is back from the navy. It took longer than I’d hoped, but he should arrive in London tonight. While they’re all in town, Myles can be brought current on the state of Thrushton Manor.”
Philips glared at Basil and grabbed his wife’s arm. “You think that message needed to be delivered in private? To the brother and not the lord himself? You and Hardwick were so close smoke couldn’t fit between you. If it were the earl, I’d have nothing to worry about.”
George glanced at the baron. A knowing look on that ugly little face sent icy fear through the higher-ranking man. Philips had been the choice of Claire’s father. What secrets had Philips learned from old man Harris before his death? George shoved the uneasy feeling away and focused on the situation.
The short baron irritated George on a good day. The man was loud, pushy, and demanded every courtesy because of his title. He drank too much and waved that walking stick about like a sword.
The arrogance turned George’s stomach, but the mention of Myles unsettled George more than anything else. The two men had been inseparable growing up. So close and then such a sudden separation—an old wound opened deep in George. If Philips knew about George’s proclivities, or his history with Myles, it could be very dangerous for them both.
“Clearly, Lady Philips was being kind to us. I’m sure she’d rather be reunited with her brother than endure this little scene.” George nodded to his brother. “Let’s go. I’ve had enough of Society for one night.”
Fear filled Claire’s eyes. “I can’t wait to see Myles again. Thank you so much for looking after Thrushton Manor.”
“You’re far too interested in your history. You are a baroness and should introduce your brother to a better caliber of women. Focus on getting him married rather than your childhood neighbors,” Philips ordered his wife.
Philips’ grip turned his wife’s arm white beneath his fingers. George saw Claire flinch when Philips snapped his stick on the floor and then pointed to the door. “We’re leaving.”
“Thank you for your message, Lady Philips. I’m sure your brother and I will conclude the necessary business at his earliest convenience,” George said.
George wanted to stop Philips and protect Claire as much as he knew Basil did. Clearly, she feared her husband. Her elegant but modestly cut gown didn’t reveal any signs of abuse. When Basil opened his mouth, George shook his head. “In the carriage. I don’t care to be overheard,” George said.
In the privacy of George’s best London carriage, Basil punched the cushions. “We weren’t doing anything.”
“Don’t lie to me. I know you still love her. I wish I could change the world for you. You simply must stay away from Lady Philips while we’re in London,” George said.
“Claire spoke to me. I didn’t approach her. Do you honestly think I can forget?” Basil leaned against the side of the carriage as he caught his breath.
George saw the heartache and wrestled with the helpless frustration an earl shouldn’t have. Basil loved Claire more than anything and their mothers had always planned on those two marrying. After their mothers died, Claire’s father took a very bad turn toward the bottle.
“I’m glad Harris and his heir burned in that fire. Gambling, whoring, and drinking their way through London. They simply married off Claire because she was inconvenient. Why not to me? Philips mistreats her.” Basil’s jaw clenched.
“You’ll get no argument from me on Claire’s father and brother. Those two are burning in hell, and let the devil have them. If Lady Philips were free, I’d be happy for you to marry her. As for Philips, we have no authority. I’ll speak to Myles as soon as I can about the estate and make our concerns about Claire’s situation clear. What more can I do?” George wanted to help, but a man beating his wife wasn’t a crime.
As much as George didn’t want to see Myles again, if he kept the focus solely on the estate and Claire’s well-being, he’d endure it. One meeting and done.
“I don’t know why you ran the Harris’ fields for them and kept all the staff on for the house. All that work and money. Myles just up and ran into the navy without saying goodbye to anyone. He’s probably just as bad as his father. The Harrises don’t deserve your charity.” Basil rubbed his hands over his face.
“The servants do. The tenants do. The people who’ll eat that food certainly do. I won’t leave a healthy estate to rot because of some unfortunate timing. Myles will be here soon, as soon as the navy at war could allow. We’ll address the issues, and be done with the Harris family.” George truly didn’t want to discuss Myles, even with his brother. Basil wasn’t the only one to have heartbreak thrust on him by a member of that family.
“I can’t stop my feelings for Claire.” Basil stared out the window.
“Lady Philips would’ve been smarter to give the message directly to me. Nothing can be undone tonight so please try to forget it. There must be another young woman worthy of your interest. Don’t surrender your life because you can’t have Claire,” George said.
“No. No one else will do. I’m in no rush. You’ll be expected to marry first.” Basil gave George an amused look.
“I have no plans at this time.” The idea that Myles was likely in London added a new turn in George’s life. Myles had left for the navy without a word. Never a letter. Nothing in all those years. George’s life was ruined with no explanation. He stared out the window into the night.
When George went to ask Claire what happened nearly a decade ago, he was met with Mr. Harris and his eldest son. Their threats and accusations were George’s worst nightmare.
Somehow, they knew what had been between him and Myles and accused George of forcing himself on the younger Harris. They insisted Myles wanted to be far away from George. A future earl was rarely told no by anyone.
The deal was simple... George never wrote to or saw Myles again, and the Harris men would keep his secret. Men like George were criminals, after all. A second son, Myles needed a career so the navy took him far away from the lustful George—at least according to old Mr. Harris.
George thought he was safe after the Harris men died in that fire, but if Philips knew, anything could happen. Old Harris and Philips were cut from the same cloth.
George would avoid Philips and keep his contact with Myles minimal. It was the only option.
The carriage halted, and a footman opened the door. George exited first and kept an eye on his brother to make sure Basil didn’t detour. In the country, Basil’s spirits would rally as he worked on their horse breeding or other plans. However, any news of Claire and he’d fall into melancholy for weeks. Maybe they needed to cut this Season short?
“Good evening, Davis,” George said.
“A good evening, my lord?” The butler took their coats and hats.
“Tolerable. If Myles Harris comes by, at any time, I need to speak with him,” George said.
Basil fell into an uneasy silence. They’d been close as boys, but since Claire’s marriage, Basil suffered periods of being sullen and angry at the world.
George felt more and more alone by the second. He wanted a partner in life and family around him. Marriage was not an option. Titled and twenty-seven, George was a good prospect for many young women, but he could never do them the dishonor. He concealed his true interests from Society, but wouldn’t lie in a vow. Doing what was right and what Society deemed proper proved hard to reconcile at times, but George tried his best.
The mix of longing and hatred toward Myles gave George a headache. The second son of the Harris family had led George to believe they’d be together forever. George would help him with a business and they could travel. Connected by their younger siblings’ marriage, no one would bat an eye. Instead of going into the world together,
Myles went to war by way of the sea.
“Get some rest, Basil. I sincerely want the best for Lady Philips and you.” George gestured to the stairs.
“You and the law have declared that impossible.” Basil stalked up the stairs but paused halfway up. “You’re not going to bed?”
“I’m going to send a note to Harris at his club so he knows we’re expecting him as soon as he’s ready. The faster the business is done, the better.” George headed for his library.
Two hours later, George had gone through ten drafts of the note and they all fed the fire. Two glasses of port hadn’t helped. If Myles truly believed what his father had accused George of, he might prefer to meet with George’s steward. After so long, it felt like there were no words that fit.
He’d fallen in love and been abandoned...no fighting or cross words. His lover was just gone. George was left behind and accused of seducing and using the lower ranking man. The Harris men had hinted that George used force and intimidation. That was a lie, but
had
Myles felt pressured by the son of an earl?
The pain cut like it was inflicted yesterday. Crumpling another sheet of paper and tossing it at the fire, he gave up. Writing to Myles wasn’t any easier than seeing him.
George felt eyes on him and looked up expecting to see Davis ready to lock up the house and go to bed. Instead, Basil watched from the doorway.