In My Wildest Fantasies by Julianne MacLean

did not wish to act too hastily in either direction. There was his father to consider, and his inheritance. He had to keep the old man happy.
    They took their places at the table, and the meal was served. All the while, Letitia continued with her bold tactics to win his favor. She managed to boast about everything from her beautiful singing voice to her superb skills at archery, while her mother openly supported every narcissistic word that spilled out of her pretty mouth.
    "And don't you agree, Lord Hawthorne," she said, when her dessert was set down in front of her, "that any lady of good breeding must have superb conversational skills? That she should have some experience moving about in society? A good hostess cannot hide away in the country, after all."
    God help him, her chattering voice was like some kind of nightmare from which he could not awaken.
    "You are quite right," he replied. "A lady of true accomplishments must possess some measure of charm."
    "Oh, yes. That is how a lady can best serve the needs of her husband."
    She gazed across the table at him with amusement in her eyes, as if they were sharing a private intimacy.
    After dinner, the ladies retired to the green drawing room for coffee while the gentlemen enjoyed their cigars in the smoking room. Later they all converged in the blue saloon where one of the matrons took a seat at the piano and began to play for an informal country dance.
    Devon was not in the mood for dancing, however. Nor did he have any desire to laugh and joke with the gentlemen or spend any more of his time with Lady Letitia, listening to her go on about her first-rate education and awe-inspiring travels to Paris and Rome. He was exhausted from all that had occurred over the past two days--the tension he had come home to, his father's madness, Vincent's hostilities, and his promise that he would be the first to marry. On top of it all, he was experiencing a persistent, aching desire to converse with another woman tonight. He'd had enough interruptions.
    At that moment she entered the saloon in a yellow silk gown and pearls, her scarlet hair swept into an elegant twist adorned with sparkling combs. She looked like a welcome ray of sunshine in a room full of thunderclouds.
    Their eyes met. She smiled with genuine warmth and crossed to the window, not far from where he stood. He took the liberty of approaching.
    "Good evening," he said. She turned and smiled again, as if she had been waiting just for him. "Permit me to say, you look ravishing."
    "Shameless flatterer." Her green eyes glimmered with teasing.
    A footman strolled by with a tray of sherry, and Devon picked up two glasses and handed one to her. He leaned a shoulder against the wall and slowly sipped his drink, savoring the potent flavor and the pleasant effects of the vision before him--Lady Rebecca, in all her feminine glory.
    "Did you enjoy the poetry reading this afternoon?" he asked.
    "Yes. I found it very moving."
    "You must not be referring to the comedy, then," he whispered, "which took place, stage left?"
    "My lord?"
    He leaned his head a little closer. "Just so you know, my father hasn't always had a penchant for leafy ferns. That is a recently acquired taste, I'm afraid."
    She sipped her sherry and took a moment to consider her reply, then gave him a quiet smile. "I thought I was the only one who noticed."
    "I hope you were."
    They both shook their heads to refuse the offerings on a tray filled with chocolate cookies and squares, brought round by another footman.
    "May I presume your father is experiencing some symptoms of old age?" she asked, as soon as the footman moved on.
    "You presume correctly."
    "It is not uncommon," she assured him, "but difficult for the family nonetheless."
    Taking another sip of sherry, she looked away and watched the duke for a moment, while he warmed his hands in front of the fire. Devon saw compassion in her eyes, or was it melancholy? He wished to observe everything about her with great