An Earl by Any Other Name(2)

I won't let it happen. He would find someone to invest with, and he would bury his father's scandal in whatever way he could by living a life above society's reproach. He was going to marry a good English rose and not make the same mistakes his father did by allowing himself to become obsessed with some exotic beauty. Those sort of women were always trouble.

He had always believed he might marry someday for love and have a wife who was as passionate as he was, but those dreams were dashed now. He had chosen a neighboring viscount's daughter as his future bride for financial reasons. It was a chilling thought that he would soon tie his future to a woman without love, but it must be done.

"Hampton?" A familiar voice shook him from his dark thoughts. Striding toward him was a man he recognized.

"Hadley!" He grinned as relief at his friend's appearance swept through him. He got to his feet and shook Owen Hadley's hand. His dark-haired friend was smiling widely. Once, as boys at Eton, they had been inseparable, but then Owen and their friend Jack had gone off to fight in South Africa in the Second Boer War. When they returned, Jack and Owen had … changed. Leo hadn't been able to leave to go fight; his father hadn't allowed it. The estate was entailed to a male heir and as the only son, if Leo had perished beneath an African sun, some distant cousin would have taken over Hampton.

"Haven't seen you at the club in ages." Hadley sat across from him at the small table beside the window. It didn't escape Leo's notice that Hadley's clothes, while finely tailored, were a season out of fashion. Money troubles were apparently all the rage this season for young bachelors. Leo had enough money to pay his creditors now, but if he didn't find a way to produce new income soon, he would be in trouble.


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"I've been in the country." Leo hastily tucked the banker's letter back into his coat pocket.

Owen's keen eyes missed little but he didn't ask what the letter was about. "You look tired, old friend."

"Do I?" Leo mused glumly. "Since my father died, it has been a trial to set the estate to rights."

"Are you afraid you'll lose it?" Owen asked quietly.

"No … at least not yet." Leo sighed. "But I cannot get a single man in London to let me partake in investments or speculation. The economy of the tenant farms simply isn't what it used to be and we need more stability." He leaned back in the leather armchair, wishing he could stay here in the club and not have to face the world outside.

"Cheer up!" Owen grinned. "Why don't we go find something to entertain us? It's been months and you could use some fun."

Leo shook his head. As much as he wished to throw his cares to the wind, he couldn't. His father's scandal had forced him to live a life of boredom. It was the only way he might find favor with society again, and that was crucial if he was to preserve Hampton House and everyone who depended on him.

"Perhaps another time. I suppose I ought to get back to Hampton at any rate. Lord knows what Mother will have gotten up to while I was away."

His friend laughed heartily. "Your mother is a dear. Any trouble she causes is a delight."

Leo brushed his hair back from his eyes. "You don't have to live with her."

"Touché." Owen shrugged. "At least she's not involved with those suffragettes. You know they're having meetings all over the country right now?"

"Lord, don't even breathe a word of women's rights around my mother." Leo and Owen both glanced around the club to make sure no one was listening. Talking of suffragettes had a way of rousing trouble in a gentleman's club, one of the few places that completely barred women.

"Well, I won't keep you, Hampton, but write to me the next time you're in town. We should have a drink."

"Agreed." Leo shook Owen's hand and they both rose from their chairs. It would have been a fine thing to sit and talk with his old friend. They'd survived much together, but after today with his failures and knowing the talk of scandal was still clinging to his family even after a year, he was ready to run home with his tail tucked firmly between his legs. Tomorrow he would find another way to protect his home … tomorrow.





Chapter 2



Now that your father is dead, I intend to indulge in scandalous behavior." 

Leo choked on the sandwich he'd just bitten into. He'd been back from London for only one day, and his mother was already trying to kill him. His gaze shot to her face. The Dowager Countess of Hampton slid into a chair opposite him at the large oak dining room table where he was currently eating luncheon. She smoothed her lace tea gown over her lap and fixed him with a steady gaze.