wanted to attend was some country ball with a pack of curious rustics showing up to ogle him. Then again, it would be an excellent way to put Ned and Miss Vandenhoff together. He hated to admit it, but Miss Langley did seem to have a good idea here.
"Yes, I should think that if you are planning a ball, I will likely attend," he conceded. "When are you to schedule this thing?"
"In three days!" Miss Renford chimed eagerly. "I don't think that is too short a time at all. It does not have to be a fancy ball, and it would be so wonderful to finally have a group of young people all together for such an occasion."
Apparently Miss Langley had doubted the notion of pulling together such an undertaking in but three days, and the earl was tempted to agree. Who would even attempt such a thing? But Miss Langley sighed and gave in to her sister.
"I suppose you are correct," she said with a smile. "We rarely have such friends in our company and I agree that a ball would be just the thing. Somehow we'll make it work."
Miss Renford clapped her hands in excitement, chalk dust flying up in a puff around her. Even Miss Vandenhoff agreed that perhaps a ball would not be the worst thing they could do with their time. Ned clearly approved, and the curate offered to invite some musicians he knew. There would be a ball in three days' time at Renford Hall and, oddly enough, Lord Dovington was actually looking forward to it.
Not only would he have an excuse to dance with Miss Langley, but there could be no better time than a ball to announce an engagement. All his efforts here would pay off and the Vandenhoff fortune would soon be at the disposal of the future Earl of Dovington. The family name would be saved and he could lay down his heavy burden, finally.
He would, of course, have to set Miss Langley straight on one tiny detail. It seemed she was under the mistaken impression that he was hoping to win Miss Vandenhoff for himself. No wonder the chit had been so determined to interrupt every time Ned seemed to be making some headway. He had to hide a chuckle as he thought of the ridiculous misunderstanding.
As if he could ever marry Miss Vandenhoff! What a thought. Once they were back at the house, he'd have to find opportunity to get Miss Langley alone and inform her of the situation.
If he could pry her away from this curate, of course. Dash it all, but the chit seemed absolutely joined at the hip with this man now that he'd turned up. Yes, the dog was a pleasant addition to their little group, but Dovington found he could not enjoy Mr. Skrewd's presence.
Certainly not nearly as much as Miss Langley appeared to.
After surviving the afternoon's outing and arriving home without making the mistake of finding herself alone with the earl again, Mariah escaped up to her room for a couple hours of much needed rest. Not that she'd actually been able to rest. No, her mind had been far too busy, a jumble of planning and concern and, well, memories of certain things she was now desperate to forget.
The earl had kissed her! Indeed, he'd kissed her quite soundly and she'd done nothing to stop him. In fact, she was quite certain she'd made his work easier for him, pressing herself up against him and holding on, letting her lips explore his as if she were eager for whatever more he might offer. Good heavens, but if Mr. Skrewd and Bess had not come along she could only imagine what she might have let herself get up to.
The man was a sorcerer. All her life she'd taken great care never to let herself be swayed by such things. She'd never even dreamed that she might actually enjoy it! Now here it was dinner time already and she still could hardly think of anything else.
Something was different inside her, something deep in her core was humming now and the more she thought of the earl's flashing smile, his penetrating gaze, or the masterful way his lips caressed hers and sent her mind soaring off in a hundred new directions... well, the humming grew
"Yes, I should think that if you are planning a ball, I will likely attend," he conceded. "When are you to schedule this thing?"
"In three days!" Miss Renford chimed eagerly. "I don't think that is too short a time at all. It does not have to be a fancy ball, and it would be so wonderful to finally have a group of young people all together for such an occasion."
Apparently Miss Langley had doubted the notion of pulling together such an undertaking in but three days, and the earl was tempted to agree. Who would even attempt such a thing? But Miss Langley sighed and gave in to her sister.
"I suppose you are correct," she said with a smile. "We rarely have such friends in our company and I agree that a ball would be just the thing. Somehow we'll make it work."
Miss Renford clapped her hands in excitement, chalk dust flying up in a puff around her. Even Miss Vandenhoff agreed that perhaps a ball would not be the worst thing they could do with their time. Ned clearly approved, and the curate offered to invite some musicians he knew. There would be a ball in three days' time at Renford Hall and, oddly enough, Lord Dovington was actually looking forward to it.
Not only would he have an excuse to dance with Miss Langley, but there could be no better time than a ball to announce an engagement. All his efforts here would pay off and the Vandenhoff fortune would soon be at the disposal of the future Earl of Dovington. The family name would be saved and he could lay down his heavy burden, finally.
He would, of course, have to set Miss Langley straight on one tiny detail. It seemed she was under the mistaken impression that he was hoping to win Miss Vandenhoff for himself. No wonder the chit had been so determined to interrupt every time Ned seemed to be making some headway. He had to hide a chuckle as he thought of the ridiculous misunderstanding.
As if he could ever marry Miss Vandenhoff! What a thought. Once they were back at the house, he'd have to find opportunity to get Miss Langley alone and inform her of the situation.
If he could pry her away from this curate, of course. Dash it all, but the chit seemed absolutely joined at the hip with this man now that he'd turned up. Yes, the dog was a pleasant addition to their little group, but Dovington found he could not enjoy Mr. Skrewd's presence.
Certainly not nearly as much as Miss Langley appeared to.
After surviving the afternoon's outing and arriving home without making the mistake of finding herself alone with the earl again, Mariah escaped up to her room for a couple hours of much needed rest. Not that she'd actually been able to rest. No, her mind had been far too busy, a jumble of planning and concern and, well, memories of certain things she was now desperate to forget.
The earl had kissed her! Indeed, he'd kissed her quite soundly and she'd done nothing to stop him. In fact, she was quite certain she'd made his work easier for him, pressing herself up against him and holding on, letting her lips explore his as if she were eager for whatever more he might offer. Good heavens, but if Mr. Skrewd and Bess had not come along she could only imagine what she might have let herself get up to.
The man was a sorcerer. All her life she'd taken great care never to let herself be swayed by such things. She'd never even dreamed that she might actually enjoy it! Now here it was dinner time already and she still could hardly think of anything else.
Something was different inside her, something deep in her core was humming now and the more she thought of the earl's flashing smile, his penetrating gaze, or the masterful way his lips caressed hers and sent her mind soaring off in a hundred new directions... well, the humming grew
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