Earls Just Want to Have Fun by Shana Galen

her?”
    â€œI don’t even know where Brook is,” Dane said, feeling unaccountably irritated that his sister assumed Marlowe was under Brook’s care. God knew he didn’t want her, but he should at least receive credit for his part.
    â€œYou mustn’t leave until after you’ve finished your breakfast,” Susanna said, taking a seat across from Marlowe. Marlowe glanced at him, then sat too. Dane noted her plate was almost empty, a fact which was, in his opinion, quite astounding, as he did not think two men could have finished all of that food so quickly.
    â€œMore?” he asked Marlowe.
    She nodded, her mouth full and her gaze on Susanna.
    The footman poured Susanna her requisite tea while Dane heaped more food on a plate for Marlowe. He set it before her, and Susanna said, “Would you mind making me a plate?”
    Dane raised his brows. Susanna never ate breakfast. Correction: she rarely ate in front of their mother. Dane had long suspected the countess made her daughter too nervous to eat. He placed a scone and clotted cream on a plate and delivered it to her, then turned to the footman. “Anything for you, Lloyd?”
    Lloyd reddened. “No, my lord.”
    â€œPerhaps Crawford or Mrs. Barstowe might like some kippers.”
    â€œDo not be ridiculous, Dane,” Susanna said. “The servants have already eaten.” She turned her attention back to Marlowe. “And so you are Brook’s paramour.”
    â€œWhat’s a paramour?” Marlowe asked after swallowing. Her hand was beside her plate, and Dane slipped a fork into it. She looked at the implement curiously, then, holding it like a weapon, stabbed another piece of ham. “Is it like a bawd?”
    â€œWhat is a bawd?”
    Dane shook his head. “We are not having this conversation. Marlowe, I’d appreciate it if you did not teach my sister anything. Susanna, do cease asking questions.”
    Susanna frowned at him. “I think I am entitled to ask who it is I am dining with.”
    â€œFine,” he said with a heavy sigh. “Brook thinks she’s the missing daughter of Lord and Lady Lyndon.”
    â€œReally?” Susanna’s eyes widened, and she seemed to study Marlowe even more closely. “Hmm. She does have Lady Lyndon’s eyes and the Lyndon nose.”
    Dane looked at Marlowe’s nose then closed his eyes. What was he doing? He didn’t care if she was Lady Elizabeth or not. He simply wanted her gone.
    â€œHas Brook gone to fetch the Lyndons?”
    â€œI don’t know where he is.” He tossed the note toward her, and Susanna read it quickly. She looked up at Marlowe. “It appears you are to be our guest for a little while longer.”
    â€œGuest!” Marlowe said, almost choking on her third cup of chocolate. “I’m a prisoner. Your brothers abducted me last night and have been holding me here against my will!”
    Susanna’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. Dane had never seen them so large. She turned to stare at Dane. “Is this true?”
    Dane tried to reply, and then sputtered, “When you put it that way, it sounds horrid.”
    â€œIt was horrid!” Marlowe said.
    He rounded on her. “I gave you the bed!”
    Susanna inhaled sharply. “She slept in your bed?”
    Dane held his hands up. “Where else was I to put her? Besides, it was perfectly”—well, somewhat—“innocent. I slept on the floor.”
    â€œIn front of the door, so I could not escape.”
    â€œDane!”
    He crossed his arms over his chest. “I was only doing as Brook asked. He said to keep her here until he returned.”
    â€œBut you cannot keep a person here against her will.”
    â€œExactly!” Marlowe said, pointing her fork at him. Dane scowled, reached down, and swiped the plate away from her.
    â€œNo more for you. Besides, she’s not really a