The King's Code (The Lady Spies Series #3): A Regency Historical Romance by Samantha Saxon Page A

heirs by age thirty-five.”
    “What do you care if I wish to marry?”
    “Oh, I pray you marry, Ian.” Christian was nodding adamantly. “If only to keep Father off my back. However, you will not court my friends so that you might adhere to some self-imposed schedule.”
    “Thank you for the advice, Christian. I shall consider it as much as I ever do.”
    “I’m quite serious, Ian.”
    His brother raised a brow, looking him up and down. “Are you?”
    “Yes.” Christian held his ground as the door to the sitting room opened.
    “Good evening,” Juliet offered, forcing Christian to turn away from his obstinate older brother.
    “Good evening, Lady Juliet. You look enchanting,” Christian said and this time he happened to be telling a woman the truth. “You’ll be the talk of the ball.”
    “That’s what I’m afraid of, Christian.”
    Lady Felicity threw him a look of admonishment as Ian swept forward, the epitome of gentlemanly sophistication as he offered Juliet Pervill his arm.
    “Your beauty will most assuredly occupy the minds of the ton for weeks to come.”
    Both ladies smiled at his brother’s chivalry and Christian objected, “Isn’t that what I just said?”
    “No, it was not.” Lady Felicity took his arm, which he had thus far failed to offer, and then led them out of her home.
    The brothers assisted the cousins into the marquis’s exquisite carriage, and as the foursome sat, Christian could see Juliet’s anxiety increasing.
    “Countess Pervill wished to convey her gratitude for your escort. She would have come herself but I convinced her that we were late.” Juliet grinned at Christian, knowing how uncomfortable he was with her mother’s probing into his marital ambitions and then she turned to Ian. “I myself wanted to . . . thank you, Marquess Shelton, for . . . offering yourself as escort.”
    Christian’s heart constricted. Juliet Pervill had never been one to ask for help and she absolutely abhorred pity.
    “It is I who should be thanking you, Lady Juliet,” his brother said. “I do not attend functions frequently enough, and when I do, the mamas of the ton descend like a pack of ravenous wolves. However, tonight you will provide my protection from the most dogged of pursuers.”
    They all chuckled and Christian met Felicity’s eye, both of them thankful to Ian for making tonight tolerable for Juliet.
    “A winning situation all the way around,” Lady Felicity said with a quirked brow.
    “Quite.” Ian smiled, full of charm, as their carriage rolled to a stop. “And I shall expect to be saved as many dances as you can spare.”
    “Oh, I believe my dance card will be rather open,” Juliet observed dryly.
    Felicity turned to her cousin and Christian watched as she discreetly squeezed her hand. “You have many friends attending this evening’s event, Juliet.”
    “I myself wished to reserve a cotillion,” Christian asked his dear friend. “As you are the only lady of my acquaintance who enjoys a cotillion without concern for what the ton thinks of you while dancing it.”
    It had sounded better in his head, but fortunately Juliet understood his meaning.
    “I would be delighted to dance with you, Christian.” Juliet smiled, amused. “As I know I could do no more damage to your reputation than you have done yourself.”
    His brother burst into laughter at Lady Juliet’s brutal and unerringly accurate honesty.
    “Quite true,” Ian agreed, adding a condemnatory, “Regrettably.”
    Lady Felicity pulled the loops of her reticule around her delicate wrist, but Christian could see Felicity’s embarrassment at the veiled reference to his many indiscretions.
    The door to the landau opened and Christian changed the subject, quite relieved to do so. “Ah, we’re here.”
    ≈
    Seamus arrived at the Duke of Glenbroke’s ball late. His valet had taken longer than expected to dress him. He was now bathed and clean shaven, his black jacket setting off the dark green of his