Page 30 of To Heal a Broken Earl (The Rakes of Mayhem #7)

“Surprise!”

As he entered the gaming room, the curtains were dramatically pulled back and a burst of sunshine flooded the space, revealing the large group of well-wishers standing in a large semicircle.

Michael stood still, stunned as his gaze took in the jubilant gathering of friends and family.

Their eager faces sparkled with anticipation, especially the small girl bouncing on her toes, eyes wide with excitement, and the red-and-white spaniel happily wagging his tail beside her.

Standing behind them with her hands on the little girl’s shoulders was the woman who’d completely upended his life since the moment he laid eyes on her.

Above them, a sign crafted in blue and red letters in a child’s scrawl read, Happy Birthday .

“Woof, woof!”

Realizing his mouth hung open and he was staring, Michael closed it and looked to his two friends who had entered the room with him. “Wright, Armstrong… Are either of you celebrating a birthday today?” he quipped, his brow arched even as he felt his face flush at all the attention.

“No, not me. Are you, Wright?” Armstrong said, his expression neutral.

“Um. I suppose, looking at the spread of treats and food on the table, I should claim it, but my birthday’s still several months off. Could it be yours , Michael?” Wright asked innocently.

“It’s your birthday, Lord Michael!” Katie shouted with a happy squeal of delight, clapping her hands. “We fooled him, Auntie!”

“ Woof! Woof! ” Finn barked.

Michael looked at Emma. Her glowing smile nearly took his breath away.

She was wearing a blue muslin gown that made her violet eyes shimmer, and her lush hair was up in a simple style that only enhanced her beauty.

“You did all of this for me?” He took in everyone, realizing Emma couldn’t have done this without help. “All of you? You did this?”

Cheers and well-wishes echoed from the group.

“I don’t know what to say,” he said.

“Say thank you and let’s get on with it,” Wright said. “Just looking at all this food has my mouth watering—oh, are those deviled eggs, Mrs. Pepper?”

The short, rotund woman smiled, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she nodded knowingly. “Ah, your favorite, I see. But patience is a virtue, dear Lord Wright; you’ll have to wait a little longer before indulging.”

Michael laughed at the cook’s deft handling of his best friend.

Wright was known for indulging in a few favorite foods when he visited, and Michael suspected he’d had a hand in getting his cook to make deviled eggs—admittedly, a tasty treat.

“Thank you…all of you. This is a surprise…a wonderful surprise,” he said, his voice husky with emotion.

He was moved by the efforts they had gone to in planning this surprise.

Hell, he’d even forgotten it was his birthday.

“Can we cut the cake?” Katie asked. “Oops, I forgot.” She looked up at her aunt, who looked at Wright.

Wright smiled and plucked glasses of champagne from a footman’s tray for Michael, Armstrong, and himself. Other footmen had circulated champagne among the rest of the guests gathered in the room, while Katie was given a glass of lemonade.

Lifting his glass high, Wright launched into a toast:

“Happy birthday, my dear friend.

May good health and everyday cheer,

Be with you every day and every year.

May fortune smile upon you with every new day.

And blessings surround you, whether you’re blond or gray!”

“Where did that blessing come from?” Armstrong teased. “Especially the last line.”

“Just another one of my many talents,” Wright said, flashing a sly smile. “I’ve been known to craft a poetic line or two. I’m not just a pretty face, you know.”

“Do you like your surprise, Lord Michael?” Katie said, hopping up and down with excitement.

Michael crouched down, barely wincing, thanks to the salve that Hastings had been massaging into his leg over the past few days. “I loved it,” Michael said, kissing the top of Katie’s head and scratching Finn behind the ears.

“Finn was really good at keeping the secret, weren’t you, Finn?” Katie said, patting the dog’s head.

Finn gave a woof of agreement.

“Indeed,” Michael said as he picked up the little girl. “You were all very good at keeping the secret.” His eyes met Emma’s, and he winked at her, enjoying the pretty blush that tinted her cheeks.

“Did you see my sign?” Katie asked, pointing up.

“I did, Katie,” he said, chuckling. The sign was so big it would be visible from the other side of the estate. “It’s truly a masterpiece. I’d love to leave it hanging here for a while, if that’s all right with you.”

She hugged him. “It’s a present for you. Well, one of the presents.”

Michael hugged the little girl back. “Thank you, Katie. I will cherish it.”

“Come, Katie, let’s get you something to eat,” Doris said, taking the girl off his hands.

“What is your most favorite gift that you’ve ever received?” Emma asked him cheekily.

“Ooh…that’s a hard one. Perhaps I’ve yet to receive it and will get it later tonight,” Michael quipped, waggling his eyebrows. He looked around, hoping they could find an excuse to leave for a few moments so he could steal a kiss.

“Happy birthday, Michael,” Lady Beadle and Aunt Chippie called out from the other side of the room as they approached him.

Masking a sigh with a forced smile, he winked at Emma, knowing that he’d have to wait longer for that kiss.

“Maybe when the party is over,” he whispered, keeping an eye on the two older women who were weaving their way from the other side of the room.

“There’s something I want to speak with you about. ”

“Of course,” Emma said, sounding breathless. She looked up in the direction of approaching pair. “I should check on Katie.” She left to do so.

“Wilton,” Armstrong said, walking up to him, “I believe we were correct in our assessment that the fire at Lady Beadle’s was deliberately set.

I received word from London that the man depicted in Burns’s drawing was recognized by several of Lady Beadle’s neighbors as the fellow watching from across the street when the carriage house burned.

And Headquarters has put out an alert out for Lord Morgrave, but no one has seen him yet. ”

Michael cleared his throat. “Should we discuss this in my study?”

Armstrong nodded, though he appeared troubled. He mouthed an apology to both Michael and Wright, indicating they could discuss it later.

Nearby, Aunt Chippie gasped softly. “My gosh, Millie! Did I hear that right? Someone set your house on fire?” she said kindly, her voice filled with concern and compassion. “I had no idea.” She gently approached her old friend and gave her a comforting hug.

“Yes, Peg, they did,” Lady Beadle said. “I fear it might be the same criminal who set poor Emma and Katie’s house on fire.

He put a torch to my carriage house. Luckily, my footman and ostler saw the flames and were able to contain them and douse them without any of our animals being injured in the process.

So, I decided to check on Emma and Katie. ”

“I’m sorry that your house was damaged, dear Millie,” Aunt Chippie said, gasping softly. “How awful. I even heard an older couple died in a recent fire that was set deliberately.”

“Yes! Dreadful circumstances. Emma and Katie came to me after the fire at Emma’s brother-in-law’s and sister’s home, riding Katie’s parents’ horses. They saw the man.” Lady Beadle visibly shivered and wiped a tear from her face. “The sooner we can find that dreadful man, the better.”

“Ladies, I must thank you for this wonderful party,” Michael said, hoping to change the discussion, moving it away from the discussion of Morgrave. His men were outside, helping to ensure everyone’s safety.

“I must say, this is a fabulous birthday party—and just the perfect size. I prefer parties that provide a chance to speak with every guest,” Lady Beadle said.

From the corner of his eye, Michael saw Emma say something to Wright, who winked at her before she quietly left the room.

A strange wave of jealousy swept over him, making him pause for a moment.

Were they planning some sort of liaison?

As ridiculous as that seemed, even to him, Michael couldn’t seem to help himself.

He wasn’t even sure he had the right to be jealous.

There had been no promises between them. There had barely even been any kisses.

Suddenly, he felt an overwhelming need to remedy that.

But before he could take a step, Burns stepped forward and handed him a large, flat, rectangular package. “It’s a sketch that I think you’ll enjoy. And if you come to Brighton, I’ll be glad to paint it for you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Burns. Shall I open it now?” Michael asked, suddenly getting the feeling that the artist might want him to wait.

“I think perhaps you’ll want to open it when Lady Emma and Miss Katie are with you,” Burns replied, smiling. “Besides, it’s a pencil drawing, and sometimes the soft lead tends to smear. Perhaps it needs a bit more time to dry. I rushed it.”

“I imagine you will be very pleased, Lord Wilton,” Aunt Chippie said. “But I do agree with Mr. Burns. Sometimes a surprise is even more wonderful when we wait.”

“That’s true, Aunt Chippie,” Wright said, biting back a smile that looked more like a smirk to Michael.

Wright’s smirk irritated Michael. Did he know something about the sketch?

Maybe he’d ask when they were alone. He felt another surge of jealousy.

First, he’d seen Wright whispering with Emma, their heads close together, and now he had to contend with his friend knowing something about Emma that he didn’t.

“Pish-posh,” said Lady Beadle. “Honestly, Chippie, you’ve never waited in your life for anything.”

“I thought you two had mended fences?” Wright quipped.

“Well, we have, mostly. But what’s the fun in that, eh, Chippie?”

“Quite right, dear Millie,” Aunt Chippie said with a smirk. “Your penchant for snide remarks is unparalleled.”