Once Upon a Wicked Night by Jennifer Haymore Page A

presence for more than a few minutes to realize how absolutely devoted her sister was to her new husband. Ten days ago, Jonathan had been called away to deal with a crisis concerning the rebuilding of his ancestral home in Sussex. From the moment he’d left, Serena had pined for him.
    “You know he’ll be back soon,” Olivia told her gently. “He said he’d be gone no longer than a fortnight.”
    Serena wrapped her arms around herself. “I know. It’s just that this is the first time we’ve been separated for longer than a day since last summer—almost a year.”
    “You should have gone with him, then.”
    “And leave you and Jessica all alone in London? I think not.”
    Olivia sighed. They’d been over this already. Olivia had even suggested all the sisters accompany Jonathan to Sussex, but Serena would have none of it. Olivia and Jessica had arrived in London late in the Season, and Serena thought it was important to introduce her sisters to as much of the
haute ton
as possible before everyone left London to spend autumn in their country homes.
    “I despise seeing you like this,” Olivia said in a low voice. She hated to see any of her sisters unhappy, but especially Serena, who had suffered tremendously for the past seven years. Only recently had she found happiness again in her marriage to Jonathan, and nothing had lifted Olivia’s heart more than to see the return of Serena’s vivacious spirit. Olivia slipped her hand into her sister’s and squeezed. “I just want you to be happy.”
    “But I am so happy! Happier than I’ve ever been. I have Jonathan now, and to have you and Jessica safely with me in London—nothing could make me more content.” Serena sighed. “I just miss him, that’s all.”
    A deep voice spoke from directly behind them. “Well, that’s good, because he missed you, too.”
    Breaking their grip on each other’s hands, the sisters spun around.
    “Jonathan!” Serena cried. She looked as though she were about to lunge at him, but she stopped short, remembering the crowd of people in the ballroom. There were certain behaviors expected of Serena now that she was a countess, and leaping into her husband’s arms in public would be viewed as gauche, an embarrassment, entirely improper.
    Olivia’s gaze flitted across the room. Serena and Jonathan’s reunion had already caught the attention of several of the guests, who were looking on with interest and whispering among themselves.
    Jonathan smiled at Serena, and in a public display of affection Olivia had not seen in London between any husband and wife, he gathered her gloved hands in his own and brought them to his lips.
    “He missed you so much, he said to hell with acquiring the Italian tiles for the entry hall. Let us walk on dirt. Instead, he came home, leaving a harried Sebastian Harper to take care of it all.” He held her hands to his mouth, his blue gaze twinkling down at her.
    Serena shrugged. “I can’t say I care about the entry-hall flooring in the least. Dirt is lovely to walk upon.” She gave him a wise look. “It is gentle on the arches.”
    Slowly, he lowered her hands, but he still kept them clasped in his own as he smiled over at Olivia. “Olivia, how are you?”
    “Better, now that you’re here,” she answered truthfully.
    “I wanted to be here.” He turned back to Serena, his voice sober. “Especially tonight. Especially
here
.”
    Husband and wife exchanged a meaningful glance. Olivia knew why. This was the Dowager Duchess of Clayworth’s annual ball, and this was the very ballroom in which Serena and Jonathan had been discovered in flagrante delicto seven years ago.
    That discovery had incited a horrible scandal and years of disgrace and unhappiness for Serena. Although she was one of the strongest people Olivia had ever known, Serena had been terrified by the thought of coming here tonight—especially without Jonathan.
    “Have you met our hostess?” Serena asked in a murmur.
    Jonathan