The Earl’s Ward

By Elizabeth Reed

This is a steamy historical romance short story (word count 6,141).

Kate is glad the Earl is back after his long travels to foreign lands to approve officially of her marriage to Tom, her fiancé.
Kate thought she had all her life mapped out but she had not expected her warden to be of such an amicable character with him insisting on their first meeting that she call him by his first name, Matthew. Neither had she expected to become so close to the Earl as time goes on and he willingly shares with her his life stories and work.
Even more annoyingly, Kate cannot help but notice how handsome he is with his distracting blue eyes. It is not long before she starts feeling a strong attraction and attachment to him, one she believes is shared by the Earl in return!
Kate will now find that falling for a man who has pledged his life and work to being an explorer comes with its own perils, one that only love may overcome!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elizabeth Reed
• Release date: May 27, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310263491

Elizabeth Reed

As long as I can remember I have always loved everything and anything to do with the romance genre. Enjoying writing, reading and watching a wide range of love stories. I am a true romantic at heart! So after studying for a philosophy degree and then going on to work in a corporate job in advertising, I decided to reconnect with my passion again! I now write mainly romance short stories, with the aim to share all of my ideas with others who also have an interest in romantic fiction. I write in a range of romance subgenres including erotic romance, contemporary, sweet, paranormal/fantasy fiction and historical. I hope to continue writing as long as my ideas keep flowing out from my mind. In early 2014 I experienced my own personal love story, when I married my one true love. I now live together with my husband in London.

Book preview

The Earl’s Ward

By Elizabeth Reed

Published by Elizabeth Reed at Smashwords

Copyright 2015 Elizabeth Reed

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Chapter 1

Kate finally plucked up the courage to knock on the closed study door after waiting nervously, pacing up and down the hallway and going over in her head again and again what she needed to say to the Earl when she finally saw him.

Who is it? Come in, and don’t keep on banging. I cannot hear myself think, came a deep voice almost immediately.

Kate took a deep breath before opening the door and stepping into the one room on the large manor estate that she had never, until now, been given access to.

So, what is it that you are seeking from me so desperately?

Kate turned to trace the direction of the voice. She tried to keep her shock and wonder from her expression as she became faced with peculiar objects spread across the walls and floor, none that she had ever seen the likes of before. There were also several piles of books spread out on several tables.

"I saw you from my window a week ago. I was expecting you to send for me earlier. When you didn’t, I thought I would take it upon myself to see you. I wanted