brightly.
Just then, a carriage came rolling up the drive, past the menacing stone lions that crouched by the gated entrance to Edward’s estate. All three of the ladies glanced out the window; the sun glinted off the spotless coach as it clattered to a halt in the courtyard just outside the mullioned windows.
“I wonder who that is,” Mrs. Clearwell murmured.
The footman’s return interrupted them, his clomping steps echoing under the great hall’s vaulted ceiling.
He stopped and clasped his hands behind his back. “The master wishes me to say he’s about to go into a meetin’ with an associate, madam. He gives his apologies and says he’ll come as soon as possible. He told me to say that it shouldn’t take long, but he does not wish to inconvenience the ladies.”
“Bring us refreshments,” Mrs. Lundy ordered the brawler. “Tea, biscuits. Chocolate, ladies? Lemonade? Something stronger? Fortunately for my son, we still have a few more details to iron out about the party. Tell him to hurry,” she commanded her servant. “He’s welcome to bring his ‘associate’ to take tea with us, as well. As long as the person’s respectable, of course,” she amended hastily.
“Aye, mum.”
Mrs. Clearwell arched a discreet brow at Lily that seemed to inquire whether Edward actually knew anyone respectable other than the two of them.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Lundy had turned toward the window. “Oh! Oh, my. My goodness,” she murmured admiringly.
Lily looked at her hostess in question, but now Mrs. Clearwell had also turned toward the window. Her eyes were wide.
“Heavens,” her chaperone breathed, “if I weren’t thirty years younger!”
“My word, that’s a lovely piece of man-flesh if I ever saw one,” Mrs. Lundy agreed with a lusty grin.
Astonished by their reaction, Lily looked at both women in shocked hilarity, then glanced out the window to see this “lovely piece of man-flesh” for herself.
The second she clapped eyes on him, she nearly shrieked and fell out of her chair—except that she couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move. Couldn’t even blink.
Derek Knight.
All color drained from her face.
Oh, good heavenly God, what could he possibly be doing here?
Sixteen different explanations barreled through her mind. Few made sense, and one was even more dire than the next. Her heart was pounding, her face had gone ashen, and the only clear words that kept tumbling through her brain were,
Oh, no. Oh, no! Why is he here? I’m doomed!
He was in civilian clothes and ten times still more handsome than she remembered from last night, but as many times as she blinked, willing this certain hallucination to disperse, it proved to be no illusion.
It really was he; he was here, and she was doomed.
Obviously, her transgression had been found out. But how? How was it possibly—possible?
If his arrival wasn’t bad enough, her terror turned to pure dread when, beyond the window, she saw Edward walking out warily to meet him.
Neither man smiled; they did not shake hands.
Good God! she thought. They can’t resort to violence!
There was no question in her mind who would win that fight if they engaged in base dueling, but she needed Edward alive! He was no good to her dead!
Oh, this was terrible.
They walked away together, their faces inscrutable. They headed toward the stables, leaving Lily to try to decipher what was going on. Her overactive mind wasted no time in offering up a few choice, dreadful notions. Someone must have seen them together last night and told Edward. Maybe the other lady who had come to meet with Derek in the garden had witnessed the kiss and told others what she had seen. What if Edward had summoned Derek here to punish each of them separately—or, wait!
Something worse.
Far worse.
They both had spent time in India. What if they already knew each other from there—Derek and Edward? What if the major’s light blue eyes and angel face hid the soul of a demon? What if he and
Just then, a carriage came rolling up the drive, past the menacing stone lions that crouched by the gated entrance to Edward’s estate. All three of the ladies glanced out the window; the sun glinted off the spotless coach as it clattered to a halt in the courtyard just outside the mullioned windows.
“I wonder who that is,” Mrs. Clearwell murmured.
The footman’s return interrupted them, his clomping steps echoing under the great hall’s vaulted ceiling.
He stopped and clasped his hands behind his back. “The master wishes me to say he’s about to go into a meetin’ with an associate, madam. He gives his apologies and says he’ll come as soon as possible. He told me to say that it shouldn’t take long, but he does not wish to inconvenience the ladies.”
“Bring us refreshments,” Mrs. Lundy ordered the brawler. “Tea, biscuits. Chocolate, ladies? Lemonade? Something stronger? Fortunately for my son, we still have a few more details to iron out about the party. Tell him to hurry,” she commanded her servant. “He’s welcome to bring his ‘associate’ to take tea with us, as well. As long as the person’s respectable, of course,” she amended hastily.
“Aye, mum.”
Mrs. Clearwell arched a discreet brow at Lily that seemed to inquire whether Edward actually knew anyone respectable other than the two of them.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Lundy had turned toward the window. “Oh! Oh, my. My goodness,” she murmured admiringly.
Lily looked at her hostess in question, but now Mrs. Clearwell had also turned toward the window. Her eyes were wide.
“Heavens,” her chaperone breathed, “if I weren’t thirty years younger!”
“My word, that’s a lovely piece of man-flesh if I ever saw one,” Mrs. Lundy agreed with a lusty grin.
Astonished by their reaction, Lily looked at both women in shocked hilarity, then glanced out the window to see this “lovely piece of man-flesh” for herself.
The second she clapped eyes on him, she nearly shrieked and fell out of her chair—except that she couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move. Couldn’t even blink.
Derek Knight.
All color drained from her face.
Oh, good heavenly God, what could he possibly be doing here?
Sixteen different explanations barreled through her mind. Few made sense, and one was even more dire than the next. Her heart was pounding, her face had gone ashen, and the only clear words that kept tumbling through her brain were,
Oh, no. Oh, no! Why is he here? I’m doomed!
He was in civilian clothes and ten times still more handsome than she remembered from last night, but as many times as she blinked, willing this certain hallucination to disperse, it proved to be no illusion.
It really was he; he was here, and she was doomed.
Obviously, her transgression had been found out. But how? How was it possibly—possible?
If his arrival wasn’t bad enough, her terror turned to pure dread when, beyond the window, she saw Edward walking out warily to meet him.
Neither man smiled; they did not shake hands.
Good God! she thought. They can’t resort to violence!
There was no question in her mind who would win that fight if they engaged in base dueling, but she needed Edward alive! He was no good to her dead!
Oh, this was terrible.
They walked away together, their faces inscrutable. They headed toward the stables, leaving Lily to try to decipher what was going on. Her overactive mind wasted no time in offering up a few choice, dreadful notions. Someone must have seen them together last night and told Edward. Maybe the other lady who had come to meet with Derek in the garden had witnessed the kiss and told others what she had seen. What if Edward had summoned Derek here to punish each of them separately—or, wait!
Something worse.
Far worse.
They both had spent time in India. What if they already knew each other from there—Derek and Edward? What if the major’s light blue eyes and angel face hid the soul of a demon? What if he and
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