Bedding Lord Ned by Sally Mackenzie Page A

is not the problem.”
    â€œHe is if Ellie decides to have him.” Drew grimaced. “What a thundering bore. You didn’t really think he’d be a good match for her, did you?”
    â€œOf course not. My plans are far more complicated than that. I invited Mr. Humphrey to serve a purpose.”
    â€œAnd does he?”
    â€œI’m not certain.” She met Drew’s eyes in the mirror. “When one involves oneself in matters of the heart, nothing is clear.”
    â€œThat I can definitely agree with.” He frowned. “And why did you invite Lady Heldon? She’s little more than a light-skirt, though I’ll grant you that’s never kept Ophelia off the guest list. But at least Ophelia limits herself to Percy. Lady Heldon looks to have designs on Ash”—his frown deepened to a scowl—“though what those designs could be is rather a mystery.”
    â€œShe has her purpose, too.”
    â€œIf you say so. You are far too deep a player for me. Just tell me what you want me to do.”
    Venus put down her brush and turned to face him. “Keep an eye out for poor Jack. I’m afraid Miss Wharton was a mistake. She is far more desperate than I’d guessed.” And then she grinned. “And help me cut out and hide a dozen paper hearts.”
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    Ned frowned at his boots. He was sitting in the drawing room, waiting for the rest of the party to assemble so Mama could reveal the first activity of the day. And there would be an activity. Mama did not believe in letting people find their own amusements.
    It would have to be something inside. There was no going out. The snow was still tumbling down in thick flakes which the howling wind slapped against the windows and swept into deep drifts.
    He slid down on the settee. Why the hell had he chosen this piece of furniture? It was damned uncomfortable. He could sit anywhere he wanted; everyone else was still at breakfast.
    He surveyed the available choices. The truth was all the seating options were uncomfortable since Mama had changed the furniture last year. He could switch to a stiff, straight-backed chair, but he should leave those for Jack and Ash. They were the ones seeking to keep females at a safe distance; Ned was supposed to be welcoming women. One particular woman—Lady Juliet.
    He closed his eyes, trying to picture the girl, but the only female who popped into his mind was Ellie.
    Damn those red drawers.
    He’d come down early to give Mama the things Reggie had stolen. At first he’d thought to bring them to the drawing room himself and let their owners simply pick them up off a handy table, but then he remembered the salacious snuffbox and the false calf. The people who belonged to those items might appreciate some discretion. Not that Mama was the soul of that virtue, but it was her party and her thieving cat, so it was her problem.
    But the silk drawers ... He knew whom those belonged to.
    He shifted in his seat, but there was no comfortable position to be found.
    Perhaps he should have given them to Mama with the rest of the articles. At least then they’d be out of his hands—and he’d had them in his hands rather more than he should have last night. There was something about the smooth, slippery silk—
    Blast it, Ellie would be horrified if she knew he’d been fondling her underwear. He was horrified. He’d stuffed them into one of his cabinets as soon as he’d realized what he was doing.
    How the hell was he going to give them back?
    As though his thoughts conjured her, Ellie stepped through the doorway, stopping abruptly on the threshold when she saw him. She looked appalled, damn it. What had happened to their easy, comfortable friendship?
    She glanced around the room as if looking for someone—anyone—else to speak to. When she observed they were the only two present, she lifted her chin and approached him.
    She was wearing another