been formally introduced, and she most certainly did not wish to make that rakehell’s acquaintance.
Another carriage drew up along the street. Oh dear, it must be her friend Lady Atherton coming to call. She would likely encounter the earl as she walked to the door. The situation was terribly awkward, but Laura knew she’d done the correct thing by refusing Bellingham.
Footsteps sounded outside the door and thudded on the carpet. Certain it was her butler, Laura kept her gaze on the street below, expecting to see Lord Bellingham striding toward his vehicle any moment. “Reed, I hope you sent the earl on his way.”
“He tried, but I’m not easily dissuaded.”
The deep male voice startled her. Laura turned around with a gasp to find the earl standing in her drawing room. She pressed her hand to her fast-beating heart. For some reason he seemed taller than last night. One thing was clear; the man was far too bold. “My lord, are you in the habit of dispensing with the proprieties?”
His mouth curved sideways in a roguish grin. “As a matter of fact, I am.”
Her butler arrived, huffing and puffing. “My lady,” he said.
She glanced at Reed. “I will take care of the matter.”
Her butler hesitated, and then he quit the drawing room.
Laura returned her attention to the earl. For a moment, she found herself captivated by his handsome face and artfully disheveled dark hair. In the daylight, his thick black lashes added to the allure of his brilliant blue eyes. Then she recollected her common sense and gave him a withering look. “I made it clear that I am not at home to callers, and yet, you persisted, even though we have not been formally introduced.”
“Lady Chesfield, I am honored to make your acquaintance.” He bowed. “Bellingham, at your service.”
Her temper flared. “How did you learn my name and address?”
“I asked Lady Atherton last evening,” he said.
The news physically jolted her. Lady Atherton was her friend. “I find it difficult to believe that Lady Atherton would give out that information.”
His brows drew together. “She did not wish to tell me, but I insisted.”
“Why?” she said. “We are strangers. You can have no business with me.”
He held up the silver flask. “Actually, my business is with your stepson.”
She tensed, and within moments, a chill ran down her spine. Oh, God, had Justin stolen it? She would not voice the words, because she couldn’t make herself do it. “How do you know him?”
Lord Bellingham shrugged. “I don’t know him, but I have encountered him and his friends loitering on the streets of London more than once. I don’t think they understand the potential dangers of footpads.”
“Thank you, my lord. I will discuss the matter with Justin.”
“Are you aware that he and his friends were drinking in the garden last night?”
She had briefly stumbled upon the earl while looking for her son there. “I did not hear or see them.”
“After you left, they returned to the house,” Bellingham continued. “I followed and saw him push this flask beneath the stairs.”
“My lord, thank you for your concern. Now, if you will give me the flask, I will speak to Justin.”
He arched his brows. “It’s brandy, very fine brandy, in case you are wondering.”
Laura glanced at the sideboard. As soon as she got rid of His Haughtiness, she would check the brandy decanter.
He regarded her with an intense expression. “I don’t make a habit of intervening in other’s affairs, but I heard him lie to you about his whereabouts at the ball. It is clear to me that he’s pulling the wool over your eyes.”
How dare he insinuate that she was too naïve to parent her own stepson? While she was tempted to defend herself, she realized that would serve no other purpose than to delay his departure. “I appreciate your concern and will speak to him.”
He took a step closer. “How well is that working?”
“I owe you no explanations,” she
Another carriage drew up along the street. Oh dear, it must be her friend Lady Atherton coming to call. She would likely encounter the earl as she walked to the door. The situation was terribly awkward, but Laura knew she’d done the correct thing by refusing Bellingham.
Footsteps sounded outside the door and thudded on the carpet. Certain it was her butler, Laura kept her gaze on the street below, expecting to see Lord Bellingham striding toward his vehicle any moment. “Reed, I hope you sent the earl on his way.”
“He tried, but I’m not easily dissuaded.”
The deep male voice startled her. Laura turned around with a gasp to find the earl standing in her drawing room. She pressed her hand to her fast-beating heart. For some reason he seemed taller than last night. One thing was clear; the man was far too bold. “My lord, are you in the habit of dispensing with the proprieties?”
His mouth curved sideways in a roguish grin. “As a matter of fact, I am.”
Her butler arrived, huffing and puffing. “My lady,” he said.
She glanced at Reed. “I will take care of the matter.”
Her butler hesitated, and then he quit the drawing room.
Laura returned her attention to the earl. For a moment, she found herself captivated by his handsome face and artfully disheveled dark hair. In the daylight, his thick black lashes added to the allure of his brilliant blue eyes. Then she recollected her common sense and gave him a withering look. “I made it clear that I am not at home to callers, and yet, you persisted, even though we have not been formally introduced.”
“Lady Chesfield, I am honored to make your acquaintance.” He bowed. “Bellingham, at your service.”
Her temper flared. “How did you learn my name and address?”
“I asked Lady Atherton last evening,” he said.
The news physically jolted her. Lady Atherton was her friend. “I find it difficult to believe that Lady Atherton would give out that information.”
His brows drew together. “She did not wish to tell me, but I insisted.”
“Why?” she said. “We are strangers. You can have no business with me.”
He held up the silver flask. “Actually, my business is with your stepson.”
She tensed, and within moments, a chill ran down her spine. Oh, God, had Justin stolen it? She would not voice the words, because she couldn’t make herself do it. “How do you know him?”
Lord Bellingham shrugged. “I don’t know him, but I have encountered him and his friends loitering on the streets of London more than once. I don’t think they understand the potential dangers of footpads.”
“Thank you, my lord. I will discuss the matter with Justin.”
“Are you aware that he and his friends were drinking in the garden last night?”
She had briefly stumbled upon the earl while looking for her son there. “I did not hear or see them.”
“After you left, they returned to the house,” Bellingham continued. “I followed and saw him push this flask beneath the stairs.”
“My lord, thank you for your concern. Now, if you will give me the flask, I will speak to Justin.”
He arched his brows. “It’s brandy, very fine brandy, in case you are wondering.”
Laura glanced at the sideboard. As soon as she got rid of His Haughtiness, she would check the brandy decanter.
He regarded her with an intense expression. “I don’t make a habit of intervening in other’s affairs, but I heard him lie to you about his whereabouts at the ball. It is clear to me that he’s pulling the wool over your eyes.”
How dare he insinuate that she was too naïve to parent her own stepson? While she was tempted to defend herself, she realized that would serve no other purpose than to delay his departure. “I appreciate your concern and will speak to him.”
He took a step closer. “How well is that working?”
“I owe you no explanations,” she
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