Loving Lord Egleton
Laura Beers
Contents
More Romance by Laura Beers
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Epilogue
About the Author
Text copyright © 2021 by Laura Beers
Cover art copyright © 2021 by Laura Beers
Cover art by Blue Water Books
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, copied, or transmitted without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
More Romance by Laura Beers
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A Clever Alliance
The Reluctant Guardian
A Noble Pursuit
The Earl’s Daughter
A Foolish Game
1
England, 1813
Miss Hannah Blackmore awoke to the sound of birds warbling outside her window. She groaned as she rolled over and put a pillow over her head to muffle the sound. Blasted birds! How she detested their incessant chatter. Every morning it was the same, and she tired of waking up to them. Why had they found the tree outside her bedchamber so enticing? It always baffled her. They were the most vexing little creatures.
She removed the pillow and rolled onto her back. The sun streamed through the open window, and the thin, blue drapes blew in the breeze. A bird landed on the windowsill and chirped. She sat up in bed and grabbed her pillow. In a quick motion, she reared back and threw it. Sadly, the bird took flight before it was hit, and her pillow sailed through the window.
Hannah groaned again and put her feet over the side of the bed. She walked to the window and looked out. Her pillow had landed on top of a rose bush in the courtyard. She had no doubt her lady’s maid would not be pleased by her antics.
The door to her bedchamber opened, and the petite girl in question, Sarah, walked into the room. “Good morning,” she greeted cheerfully. “I see that you are finally awake.”
“The birds woke me up,” Hannah grumbled.
“They do every morning.”
Letting out a puff of air, Hannah said, “I don’t know why Cooper won’t shoot them like I requested.”
Sarah laughed. “I don’t believe that is a usual job for a butler.”
“No, I suppose not,” Hannah replied. “Although, I have no clue how the whole household is not vexed by them.”
“Most people find birds’ chirping charming.”
“I find it annoying.”
With a knowing look at the bed, Sarah asked, “Did you throw your pillow at the birds?”
“I did.”
“I will go and retrieve it from the courtyard,” Sarah frowned disapprovingly, “again.”
“Thank you.”
“Are you ready to dress for the day?” Sarah asked as she walked to the armoire.
“I suppose I am.” Hannah stepped over to her dressing table and sat down.
“You don’t seem sure,” her lady’s maid commented.
“I’m tired.”
Sarah shook her head in amusement. “You slept in so late you have nearly missed breakfast.”
“Have I?” Hannah asked as she reached for a bottle of lotion.
Removing a yellow muslin gown from the wardrobe, Sarah laid it out on the bed. “I saw your sister leaving her bedchamber a short time ago. I assume she was heading down to the breakfast parlor.”
“Kate does enjoy eating breakfast with her husband.”
“I think that is sweet,” Sarah said.
“I think so, as well.”
Hannah rubbed the lotion on her arms. “Sometimes I feel like I am an interloper in my own home.”
“Why do you believe that?”
“Ever since Amelia left and married the Duke of Harrowden, I just feel as if I am encroaching on Kate and Edward’s home.”
“This is your home, as well.”
“I know, but it still feels that way.”
“Has Lady Berkshire said anything to you?”
Hannah shook her head. “No, my sister would never say something so disparaging, but they have only been married for two months. I can’t help but think that they need privacy.”
Sarah started brushing Hannah’s long blonde tresses. “Where would you go?”
“I’m not sure,” Hannah replied. “It is not as if I could go to Amelia’s country house, since she has only been married for a month.”
“I must admit that I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Harrowden Hall a couple of weeks ago. It was enormous.”
“I agree,” Hannah admitted. “I got lost multiple times in the manor when we were there for the ball to celebrate her marriage.” She giggled. “The duke even found me in the conservatory one time when I was searching for the morning room.”
“Your sister seemed happy with the duke,” Sarah commented as she twisted her hair into a tight chignon.
Hannah smiled. “That she did,” she replied. “I don’t think I have ever seen my sister smile so much as she does when she converses with Edmund.”
Sarah stepped back and asked, “Are you pleased with your hair?”
“I am,” Hannah acknowledged as she admired her reflection in the mirror.
“Let’s hurry and get you dressed so you can have breakfast with your sister and Lord Berkshire,” Sarah said.
After Hannah was dressed, she stepped out into the hall and walked towards the breakfast parlor on the main floor. The delicious smell of food wafted out as she approached the door, and she eagerly stepped into the room.
“Good morning,” she greeted.
Kate glanced up from the paper she was reading and replied, “Good morning.”
Edward had risen when she walked in and acknowledged her with a tip of his head. “How are you this fine morning?”
Hannah let out an unladylike grunt as she waved him back down. “The birds woke me up again.”
“That is sad to hear,” Edward said as he returned to his seat, but his tone was anything but sincere.
“I don’t know why you won’t let me shoot them,” Hannah remarked as she approached the buffet.
Kate smiled at her. “You can’t go around shooting innocent birds.”
“They aren’t innocent,” Hannah challenged. “They intentionally wake me up every morning.”
“They do?” Edward asked as he picked up the morning newspaper.
Hannah placed two pieces
