The Seduction of an Earl by Linda Rae Sande Page A

her possible derision at his intentions. It might also result in her admiration of his forthright manner. At the moment, Henry decided he didn’t have the time for a drawn-out courtship. If Hannah Slater wasn’t interested in becoming the Countess of Gisborn, he may as well find out right now.
    Henry walked to the base of the stairs, his line of sight nearly equal with hers. Regarding Hannah for a moment, he took a deep breath and reached for her hand. “Expectation that you would allow me to court you, in the hope that we could marry next week, so that I might return to Gisborn Hall with you as my countess, and see to it an heir is on the way, and those irrigation ditches are dug, and the gates are built and working before seeds are planted in the fields next month,” he managed to get out quite calmly. “Are you ready?” This last was delivered in a completely different voice, as if his other words were merely spoken in rote, rehearsed over a dozen times to sound nonchalant and wooden.
    Lady Hannah blinked once and considered every word he’d just spoken. She blinked again, realizing Henry Forster was quite serious. A slow smile spread over her face. “I am ready,” she answered as she took his proffered hand and made her way to his side.

Chapter 5
    A Ride in the Park
    “Tell me truly. Are you the least bit interested in irrigation ditches and water gates?” Henry wondered. He had just offered his hand as Lady Hannah made to climb up to the bench seat of the bright red phaeton. She paused in taking the first step up and raised her eyes to meet the earl’s.
    “I must admit, I was not at first. Until you explained them in terms that I could understand. Now I find myself rather curious as to how they will look when they are operating.” She resumed her climb onto the seat, thankful the earl had provided a strong arm for her to grasp for balance as she ascended the equipage. Henry caught sight of an ankle above her silk slipper as she lifted her skirts to clear the side rail. The shiver passed through him again, forcing him to close his eyes and take a deep breath to steady himself.
    What is happening to me ? He’d seen Sarah’s ankles plenty of times, even massaged them while she was in the later months of her confinement. But there was something about Hannah’s ankle that made him want to stroke it, kiss it, hold it between his hands and write poetry ... What the hell?
    Henry Forster had never written an ode to anything in his life!
    Noticing Henry’s reaction, Hannah felt a sense of disappointment settling over her. Had she been too bold in admitting her lack of interest in irrigation ditches? Should she have lied and claimed she was eminently interested and could think of nothing else more important to the future of agriculture in Great Britain? In the few instances where it was easy to speak the truth, she had just done so and now found herself regretting it.
    Before climbing up to the seat and taking the ribbons from the groom, Henry nodded his thanks to the young man and asked if he would see to the coach and driver still waiting for him in the carriageway. Handing him a coin, he told the groom to request the coach return to Devonville House in two hours.
    Once up and onto the phaeton, Henry found the seat didn’t provide much room. He was careful to leave space between the edge of Hannah’s skirts and his thigh. He turned and regarded Hannah with a grin that grew into a brilliant smile. “Someday soon, I hope you will be there to witness the first time I raise the gates on my irrigation system,” he said before turning his attention to the matched greys. As to those other gates ...
    Staring back in surprise, Hannah gave him a tentative smile in return. “I rather hope so, too.”
    He allowed the impatient beast a loose rein and steered the phaeton up Park Lane toward Oxford Street. “I have other plans for the farm, of course. I’m afraid my late uncle – the ninth Earl of Gisborn – was not