The Earl's Bargain (Historical Regency Romance) by Cheryl Bolen Page A

from Lord Wycliff. The
audacity! He really expected that she would allow him to sleep in
her room! The man was completely insufferable.
    He held an umbrella over her as they ran to
the inn.
    Once inside, he bespoke a private parlor
"for my wife and me."
    Louisa was about to protest when she felt
very strong hands squeeze at her arm. Then, she realized a scene
would attract a great deal of attention. She would merely shake it
off for now, then later insist the obstinate man obtain separate
sleeping rooms. Right now all she could think of was her desire to
plop down in front of a bright fire and drink a cup of warm
milk.
    Since they were the only occupants of the
private parlor, she and Lord Wycliff were at liberty to take a seat
immediately in front of the hearth. Soon the chill in her bones
faded, and she felt her cheeks growing hot. She also felt Lord
Wycliff's eyes on her and finally looked up to meet his gaze.
    "Really, Mrs. Phillips," he said, "you
mustn't worry about your virtue. I assure you the last thing I want
is to share a bed with a man-hating reformer."
    Even though the last thing she wanted was to
share a bed with a man, she was oddly piqued by his remark. "Then
how would you suggest we share a room without sharing a bed?"
    "How do you know I couldn't lie with you
without wanting to make love to you?" he asked.
    She hoped he would mistake her blush for
flush from the fire. "I know that you're a man, and all men want
the same thing."
    "I assure you, Mrs. Phillips, the thing you
allude to I can have whenever I want. It has not been so long since
I was with a woman that I would lower either my preferences or my
expectations."
    Now she was really
mad. Lower his expectations
indeed ! She took a long drink from her mug
of milk and avoided eye contact with the conceited, arrogant,
obnoxious peer of the realm.
    Before long the innkeeper's wife brought
each of them a plate of mutton and hot bread with freshly churned
butter.
    Lord Wycliff cut, but did not eat, his
mutton. "I see I have offended you," he said. "I thought you would
be pleased that I do not find you desirable."
    She lifted her chin haughtily. "I am."
    "Then we can sleep together?"
    She bit into a thick slice of crusty bread
and slowly chewed it before answering. "I can scream quite loudly,
you know."
    He smiled before biting down on a forkful of
meat.
     

Chapter 8

    Butterflies danced in Louisa's stomach as
she and Lord Wycliff mounted the steep, ill-lit stairs to the
bedchamber they would share.
    He inserted the key into the iron lock and
eased open the door. A candle already burned beside the bed, and a
fire blazed. The room's wooden ceiling was low, which together with
the warmth, gave the room a comforting feel.
    She stepped into the room, a chill inching
down her back despite the room's warmth. Her portmanteau had been
placed beside the bed.
    Lord Wycliff stood in the doorway. "I go to
the tavern now. I have the key and will let myself in later." His
voice dropped to a husky whisper when he added, "I daresay you'll
be asleep when I return."
    Louisa looked at him with surprise, but he
was already turning away to descend the stairs. She crossed the
room and locked the door, then began to remove her wrinkled
traveling clothes. First the pelisse, then the gown. And still she
wasn't really cold. She decided the innkeepers must keep a fire
burning even when there were no guests. She would have to ask Lord
Wycliff to give the innkeepers an extra sum in appreciation of the
accommodations. Lord Wycliff could obviously afford such a trivial
expense. After all, he was going to settle her for life, merely for
accompanying him on this journey.
    Her chest suddenly tightened. What if he was
not a man of his word? Did he truly plan to recompense her so well
for a few days of her time? As she had so thoroughly been reminding
herself all day, she knew not what manner of man he was. In spite
of the many hours they had spent together over the last few weeks,
he had