Page 36 of Discovering Her Earl

She was out of breath as if she’d been running up hill, and even as she shook away the remnants of the dream, she felt the heat fading. She slumped against the pillows; her unsated, restless body writhed unconsciously as instincts she didn’t know she possessed took control.

Tossing off the covers, she went to the wash stand and splashed cool water on her face to gain control.

Restraint was hard won, but eventually she settled back in bed and closed her eyes.

Earlier when she’d told Mrs. Leighton she would only ever look at Lord Melville, it had been a lie.

She would apparently dream of him as well.

Even if she didn’t want to.

Chapter Twelve

Julian made sure he was up with plenty of time to get ready to leave for the dig the next morning. He didn’t want to give Elaina any reason to leave him behind. Nor did he want to hold up the expedition now that they had additional members to their team.

He was the first to the breakfast room and made haste in getting his food in case he was wrong and Elaina was already out pulling the wagon around.

When the Leightons appeared, he relaxed knowing Elaina wouldn’t leave everyone behind.

He accepted a second cup of coffee and chatted with the couple over the fluffiest eggs he’d ever consumed. He tried to hide his distraction the third time he looked toward the door expectantly.

Where was she?

Perhaps she had left all of them behind?

When the dishes were taken away, he was about to suggest they find their own way to the site when Elaina rushed into the room bringing her lemon and sunshine scent with her.

He breathed out a sigh of relief, unsure why he should feel that way in her presence. If anything, he should feel the opposite. For when she was around, she frequently found something to disagree over.

But he found he rather enjoyed it. Maybe even encouraged it.

She was real.

And at that moment she seemed a bit muddled as she poured tea in her coffee instead of cream and was buttering her bacon.

“Miss Bantham? Are you well?” Mr. Leighton was the one to ask the question Julian needed an answer to.

Her hair was already coming loose from its pins and the buttons on her dress were not fastened properly.

“Me? Yes. Of course. It’s only that I overslept. My apologies. I never oversleep.”

As she mumbled her response, he noticed she hadn’t looked at him. Not even the smallest glance in his direction.

Had he done something? He usually knew when he had. Perhaps even did things on purpose to vex her. But he hadn’t remembered doing anything the night before to put her off.

“We have plenty of time,” Julian said. “The artifacts waiting in the ground have been there for some time and won’t mind waiting another hour to be discovered while you break your fast.” He gave a pointed look to the mess on her plate. “Allow me to help you.”

Without a word of consent, he went to the sideboard and arranged her breakfast in the correct way. Once the butter was on the biscuit and the coffee contained the perfect dash of cream, he returned to set down the offerings in front of her.

“I believe you will find this more to your liking, Miss Bantham.”

“How generous of you, my lord,” Mrs. Leighton gushed, but it wasn’t Mrs. Leighton he had hoped to impress.

Miss Bantham pressed her lips together as if deciding whether to cast aside his offerings and continue on with her mutilated breakfast. He guessed hunger won out over her stubbornness.

“Thank you, Lord Melville.”

“Julian, please. We will be working together side by side again today. It is easier to keep things simple.”