The Countess Intrigue Read Online Free

announced the visitor. Perhaps the earl wanted her mother’s advice on something. Perhaps he had some charity he wanted to involve her in. Elizabeth warmed to this idea. Everyone amongst the ton knew of Lady Castleton’s love of charity projects. That was no doubt the reason for his call. It had been quite ridiculous for her to get herself in a tizzy over it. It really had nothing to do with her. In fact, to make it up to the earl for her previous rudeness, she would volunteer to help with whatever project he was calling about. It wouldn’t hurt her to show a bit of charity. It would help her pass the time as she tried to get through the rest of the Season.

    * * *
    J ustice blinked as he observed Lady Elizabeth’s dazzling smile. He wondered what had gotten into the chit’s head now. She had seemed like such a sensible female when he had observed her over the past weeks. Perhaps a bit too opinionated for his taste, but level headed and calm as she traipsed through the social scene of the Season. Since last night it seemed to him that she flitted from one emotion to another like a hummingbird in an orchard. But he needed information from her and this was the only way to go about getting it. He really didn’t think she had been paying attention as he had been speaking with her mother. It was obvious he had guessed correctly when she almost squeaked with her surprise when her mother agreed for her to accompany him on a drive through the park that afternoon.
    “Oh no, I do not think I could do so,” she sputtered briefly as the color rose becomingly in her cheeks. Justice wondered what was going on in her head as her eyes bounced back and forth between his face and her mother’s. He was too busy gazing at Elizabeth’s mobile face to turn and see what her mother was doing but something must have been communicated between the two of them because a transformation overtook Elizabeth.
    He watched in fascination as her face froze momentarily while her eyes flashed with some sort of warning. Then, in the blink of an eye, she was all pleasant smiles. She stood and he hastened to get to his feet as well.
    “I shall just go up to my room and get my spencer and bonnet if you would be so kind as to wait for me. I will do my best not to keep you waiting over long.” Without waiting for his reply she hurried from the room.
    Justice turned his attention back to Elizabeth’s mother. “Thank you, my lady,” he tried to keep a dry note from creeping into his tone.
    “No, no, my lord, thank you. It will do my daughter good to get out of doors. It looks to be a lovely day. We need to take advantage of the nice days before winter comes upon us.” The lady seemed to be babbling but then the earl tensed as her gaze turned shrewd. “You will have a care for my daughter, won’t you, my lord. It would not do for her to catch a chill.”
    Her words remained politely correct, but Justice sensed a warning in them. It would seem the lady was more knowing than he had previously given her credit for. He bowed politely. “But of course, my lady, I will take every care with Lady Elizabeth.”
    That is, if the lady herself will turn up, he thought with wry humour as the wait became a trifle strained and the silence stretched. Justice cleared his throat, glanced through the window, and strived for conversation. They had already covered some of the chitchat when he first arrived so he had to mentally stretch to come up with something. Even though it had already been mentioned he said, “It is a lovely day out of doors, is it not?”
    “Remarkably lovely for the end of November,” the countess replied. “Will you be spending much time at your estate over the winter, my lord?”
    “I dare say, my lady. If I can get my business in Town taken care of, I would like to spend as much time as possible on my estate. Especially while The House is out of session.”
    “Oh, yes, of course, my lord. Do you take your seat for all sessions?”
    “Not