Page 29 of Discovering Her Earl

“I find you quite maddening as well, Lord Melville.”

He smiled, as she glanced at him again.

“Why are you smiling? It wasn’t a compliment,” she said, clearly irritated.

He affected her. So far, it wasn’t in a good way, but he would try to win her over by being his pleasant self.

He was often praised for his optimistic attitude. And why wouldn’t he be happy? His father, the man who constantly judged him during his youth was long gone. And he was free to enjoy life. Or had been anyway.

“We are going to be friends, Miss Bantham. You wait and see.”

“I fear neither of us have the kind of time needed to wait that long.” Despite her words, she was smiling. If he’d thought the sunrise impressive, it was dim compared to seeing Miss Bantham impressed with her clever quip.

“We shall see. I don’t give up so easily.” Not when it was something he wanted as much as he wanted to win her over. What he would do if—no when—he did so, he wasn’t quite sure.

Chapter Ten

Elaina didn’t need to wait and see to know she and Lord Melville would not be friends. She would allow him to bumble about the site in order to evaluate his abilities as she promised to do. But when the time was up, she would gladly write home to Uncle Henry to inform him she couldn’t recommend the earl for their trip to the pyramids.

She was certain the earl would contest her decision, but Uncle Henry would stand by his promise and it would be over. She only had to get through the next sixty-three days—yes, she had counted—and she would be free of the meddling man.

When they arrived at the site, he seemed to be more alert.

She only felt the slightest bit guilty for how she’d woken him and rushed him through his morning rituals. Obviously, he’d not had time for a shave. His jaw was covered in dark stubble that gave him the look of a pirate.

Why did her stomach flutter so from seeing the man unkempt? She’d seen plenty of men in a casual state during her travels. Some countries didn’t bother with appearances the way the English did. But seeing Lord Melville this way felt too intimate.

She glanced away, unhappy with her reaction.

He unloaded their tools and laid everything out per her instructions.

Occasionally, she caught him staring at her and part of her wished she’d worn something other than her ratty work clothes. He was used to being with beautiful women who wore lovely gowns without fear of getting them dirty. After all, how dirty could one get while embroidering or playing the pianoforte?

Well, she wasn’t there to look pretty, and she knew better than to think a pretty dress would make a difference.

He might charm and flirt with her, but she knew it was all a ruse to win her favor so he could get what he wanted.

He would be disappointed when he realized it wouldn’t work. And even more so when he discovered he wouldn’t be joining them on the voyage to Egypt.

She almost wished she could see the look on his face when Uncle Henry made the announcement at the ball in October. It would go a long way to getting the vengeance she sought.

“According to William Cunnington’s book Ancient Historie of Wilshire we are to do a site report before we start?” he said.

“You read a book on antiquary?”

He nodded. “Of course. How else would I prepare myself for an expedition? I will say, I was a bit discouraged when I engaged the bookseller on acquiring books on the topic and he suggested a book by Johan Joachim Winckelmann. I was sure the man was making a joke. I mean, who would think such a name was real?” He shook his head. “Something to note, booksellers generally take their work quite seriously. Best not to laugh.”

She made sure her mouth didn’t hang open and betray her surprise. He had read a book to prepare himself for this expedition.

Though, of course, she knew the man could read. He’d been educated and wouldn’t have gotten out of Heriot’s without learning something of value. And he’d graced her with his reading on their journey to entertain them.

But he’d read a book on antiquary. Such books are far from entertaining to most people. And not only had he read it, but he had retained enough to know they needed to do a site survey before starting.

She’d thought him a bored dandy who’d thrust himself upon her for his enjoyment.

She swallowed at the odd warmth when she’d thought the words “thrust himself.” Strange.

Shaking her head to clear it, she squared her shoulders as Lord Melville rocked back and forth on his heels before holding out his hands.