Smith Lauren - The Earl of Kent: A League of Rogues Novel and a Wicked Earls’ Club Novel

L ondon, December 1816

Fifteen-year-old Ella Humphrey was caught in a dream as she leaned over the wooden banister overlooking the entryway to her home. Two young men had come in through the door, shaking snow off their Hessian boots and removing their hats as they talked jovially. One was her older brother Graham, and the otherthe other was a man shed never seen before. Tall, dark haired, with a deep rich laugh that sent butterflies fluttering inside her stomach.

Its rather tragic, dont you think?

Ella jolted and turned to find her mother, Violet, the Dowager Countess of Lonsdale, behind her. She looked sad as she too looked down at the pair of young men.

Whats tragic? asked Ella.

Grahams friend, Lord Kent. His parents both died of typhus a month ago I heard, while visiting relatives in Scotland. Hes only twenty-three, far too young to be an orphan. Violet stroked Ellas blonde hair as Ella gazed down at the handsome man in the entrance hall below.

Kent was tall, like her two brothers, Charles and Graham, but where they had hair like burnished gold, this mans was dark. As he turned their way, she caught a glimpse of his blue eyes. He threw back his head and laughed at something Graham had said, but his laughter didnt reach those sorrowful eyes. She saw only pain, a pain she could tell he was trying to bury.

Why dont you go to the library and find a book to read this evening? I must see that Kent is settled for the night.

Ella blushed. Hes to stay here? With us?

Violet nodded. Why of course he is. Graham said he doesnt wish to stay in his family home in the country. It must be painful to see reminders of his parents. He is to stay with us through Christmas.

Ella remained still as her mother walked downstairs and introduced herself to Kent. Ella fisted her hands in her skirts as an odd, almost wild longing made her chest ache whenever she looked at Lord Kent.

What are you up to, little bit? her eldest brother, Charles, the current Earl of Lonsdale, teased her as he came up from behind. She pointed down at Kent without a word.

Ah Nice fellow, Kent. Shame about his parents.

She blushed again and looked at Charles. He was so much older than her, by eleven years, that it often felt a lifetime spanned between them. Their father had died when she was young, and Ella had been raised by Charles and her mother. Her eldest brother was a surrogate father to her in many ways.

Why the blush, little bit? he asked, his gray eyes twinkling. Fancy him, do you?

Ella bit her lip, too shy to admit that Kent was fast claiming her full focus.

Well, hes not for you, love. Youre far too young and too sweet to marry. And any man who wants you will have to answer to me first. Charles chuckled as though his comment was amusing, but she saw nothing funny about it. Having an overprotective pair of brothers was going to be a problem once she came out in society and began her hunt for a husband.

Ella shrugged off Charless hand when he tried to ruffle her curls. She wasnt a little girl anymore, and she didnt like it when he ruined her carefully designed hairstyles.

Never grow up, Charles said in a suddenly solemn tone. I think it would break my heart. He walked back down the hallway to his chambers, leaving her alone once again. When she sought out Lord Kent down in the hall below, he was gone. Kent, Graham, and her mother had all vanished from view.

With a sigh of disappointment, Ella wandered down into the library, where she retrieved a book on the history of Pompeii. The doomed city consumed by fire and ash always caught her attention when she needed a distraction. But she did not stay in the library to read; she instead went to the billiard room and curled up in a large leather armchair facing the fireplace.

The warmth of the fire kept the winter chill outside at bay. Charles had said that this chair had been their fathers favorite. She wished she could remember him more clearly. All she could see of Guy Humphrey was a smiling man with blond hair and gray eyes who gazed down upon her from an oil portrait in the main gallery of their home, a man who looked much like Charles, but her memories of him were hazy. Sitting here in this chair, she felt connected to him, and yet she knew how silly that sounded. When she was younger, shed often imagined he was sitting there with her in the chair, holding her with invisible arms. Shed outgrown such imaginative thoughts now, but she couldnt resist claiming the chair each night as she read.

She opened her book, turning to the first page, even though she had read this book twice already. A quarter of an hour later, as she nearly finished the first chapter, the door to the billiard room opened and someone entered. Ella peeped around the back of the chair to see who it was and froze when she realized it was Lord Kent. He was alone and didnt know she was there. He walked over to the billiard table and placed his hands on the gleaming walnut frame of the table. Then his head dropped forward between his shoulders, and he let out a deep sigh. It was clear he had come here to be alone.

Ella closed her book and tucked it into the seat as she held her breath. She couldnt escape the room without him noticing, and she could not remain here either lest she disturb his solitude. Finally, she summoned her courage and coughed politely.

Kent turned to face her, his blue eyes widening as he spotted her in the chair.

OhI beg your pardon. I thought I was alone. His face turned ruddy as he looked away. For a second Ella thought hed been about to cry. Men didnt cry. At least, shed never seen her brothers cry. No, that wasnt true. She remembered, hazily, Graham crying after their father died. That must be why Kent was upset. He had lost his parents recently.

Im sorry. I didnt mean to disturb you, she said, her heart racing as she left her chair and started toward the door.

Wait. No, dont go. Perhaps I do need someone to be here with me. He chuckled dryly, and the sound tugged at her heart. She had the strangest urge to throw her arms about his chest and hug him. Yet she didnt dare, as that would be highly improper.