posies tomorrow. Do you consider them inappropriate as well?”
The laughter in his eyes made it very difficult for her to not smile at him and that would not suit her purpose at all. “Of course not. The orchids you sent were much more extravagant than a simple bouquet or posy. As I said, we scarcely know one another.”
“Now that we’ve been properly introduced, we can remedy that.”
“You seem very determined. I’m finding that a problem.” She paused, took in a breath. “Your missive stated you thought you had solved the mystery of Mary’s letters. Have you?”
For a brief moment he frowned. "Walk with me, Miss Hawthorn." He offered her his arm and they slowly made their way through the crowd. "The truth is, I don’t know if I've solved anything or not. I spent some time rummaging around the boxes stored in my study and found a letter that may have come from her. It was signed with only an M. Would you know her handwriting?”
She tried to remember when she had last seen Mary's handwriting and couldn't come up with a single incident. “I don’t know. She never bothers to send notes before she visits me. She just shows up as if I had nothing better to do than wait around for her to arrive. In any case, I can’t recall the last time I’ve seen anything she’s written.”
Embarrassed by the predicament her cousin had placed him in, she added, "I almost wish Mary hadn’t left. She’s the only one who can convince him the matter has been settled.” She smiled ruefully. “Then again, her presence has never inspired tranquility and life is much more peaceful in her absence. There is something to be said for that, though it’s dreadful of me to mention it.”
He smiled at her. “You could never be dreadful, Miss Hawthorn. I’ve brought the letter with me but would prefer to wait until we’re alone to give it to you. Unfortunately, my arrival has drawn some notice and who knows what gossip will ensue if we’re seen passing letters. I have no wish to mar your reputation.”
That Lord Stratton would use the letter as an excuse to get her alone shouldn't have surprised her, but it did. She stopped walking and simply stared at him.
“Are you afraid of me?” he said softly.
She narrowed her eyes and lifted her chin. “Certainly not. But if we’re seen leaving together, people will talk.”
Grinning, he said, “I’ve devised a way around that.”
“Somehow, I’m not surprised,” she retorted. “You’ve likely had plenty of practice at this type of thing.”
He bent his head toward her and whispered, “We will time it so it isn’t obvious. There’s to be a midnight buffet served in the drawing room. It will be a madhouse and no one will notice if we’re gone a few moments. Follow the corridor to the right of the entrance hall. I’ll be waiting for you at the end of the corridor. It’s poorly lit, but lit nevertheless.”
She raised her eyebrows. “We’re to meet midnight?”
“Of course.” A look of amusement flickered in his eyes. “I believe it’s known as the bewitching hour.”
“Should I trust you?”
“I believe that’s a chance you’ll have to take.”
She cast him a withering look. “Really, sir. You can be the most infuriating man.”
He grinned. “I know.”
Chapter Five
T hree hours later, Stratton was completely absorbed in planning the demise of Lord Mallory. Mallory was holding Miss Hawthorne close as they waltzed. Far too close. Mallory had said something to her and she tilted her head back and laughed. He was an arrogant clod who strutted around like a peacock. How could she possibly enjoy the company of someone like that? This was just too much. He had to do something about it.
Priscilla felt his eyes on her, before she saw him. A brief glance told her he was not happy. As she whirled
The laughter in his eyes made it very difficult for her to not smile at him and that would not suit her purpose at all. “Of course not. The orchids you sent were much more extravagant than a simple bouquet or posy. As I said, we scarcely know one another.”
“Now that we’ve been properly introduced, we can remedy that.”
“You seem very determined. I’m finding that a problem.” She paused, took in a breath. “Your missive stated you thought you had solved the mystery of Mary’s letters. Have you?”
For a brief moment he frowned. "Walk with me, Miss Hawthorn." He offered her his arm and they slowly made their way through the crowd. "The truth is, I don’t know if I've solved anything or not. I spent some time rummaging around the boxes stored in my study and found a letter that may have come from her. It was signed with only an M. Would you know her handwriting?”
She tried to remember when she had last seen Mary's handwriting and couldn't come up with a single incident. “I don’t know. She never bothers to send notes before she visits me. She just shows up as if I had nothing better to do than wait around for her to arrive. In any case, I can’t recall the last time I’ve seen anything she’s written.”
Embarrassed by the predicament her cousin had placed him in, she added, "I almost wish Mary hadn’t left. She’s the only one who can convince him the matter has been settled.” She smiled ruefully. “Then again, her presence has never inspired tranquility and life is much more peaceful in her absence. There is something to be said for that, though it’s dreadful of me to mention it.”
He smiled at her. “You could never be dreadful, Miss Hawthorn. I’ve brought the letter with me but would prefer to wait until we’re alone to give it to you. Unfortunately, my arrival has drawn some notice and who knows what gossip will ensue if we’re seen passing letters. I have no wish to mar your reputation.”
That Lord Stratton would use the letter as an excuse to get her alone shouldn't have surprised her, but it did. She stopped walking and simply stared at him.
“Are you afraid of me?” he said softly.
She narrowed her eyes and lifted her chin. “Certainly not. But if we’re seen leaving together, people will talk.”
Grinning, he said, “I’ve devised a way around that.”
“Somehow, I’m not surprised,” she retorted. “You’ve likely had plenty of practice at this type of thing.”
He bent his head toward her and whispered, “We will time it so it isn’t obvious. There’s to be a midnight buffet served in the drawing room. It will be a madhouse and no one will notice if we’re gone a few moments. Follow the corridor to the right of the entrance hall. I’ll be waiting for you at the end of the corridor. It’s poorly lit, but lit nevertheless.”
She raised her eyebrows. “We’re to meet midnight?”
“Of course.” A look of amusement flickered in his eyes. “I believe it’s known as the bewitching hour.”
“Should I trust you?”
“I believe that’s a chance you’ll have to take.”
She cast him a withering look. “Really, sir. You can be the most infuriating man.”
He grinned. “I know.”
Chapter Five
T hree hours later, Stratton was completely absorbed in planning the demise of Lord Mallory. Mallory was holding Miss Hawthorne close as they waltzed. Far too close. Mallory had said something to her and she tilted her head back and laughed. He was an arrogant clod who strutted around like a peacock. How could she possibly enjoy the company of someone like that? This was just too much. He had to do something about it.
Priscilla felt his eyes on her, before she saw him. A brief glance told her he was not happy. As she whirled
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