when I go again, I’ll be sure to take protection.”
He nodded. “Good. Until tomorrow night, then.” The promise almost rang as a threat.
She mulled that over while she returned to the parlor where Aunt Ruby waited. Her aunt exclaimed over the odd visit and the mystery of Mr. Amesbury. “I almost wish I could be here tomorrow night.”
“Are you setting your sights on Mr. Amesbury, Aunt?”
She smiled. “I haven’t yet decided if I want him for you or for myself…or if he’s so strange he wouldn’t do for either of us. And he carries with him that element of danger. I almost feel as if we should be afraid of him.”
“I think if he wished us harm, he would have let that villain with the knife do it for him,” Jocelyn said dryly.
“Unless he wanted to do it himself.”
“I am persuaded that he’s only dangerous to criminals. But he is very tightly wound.”
“Yes, I’ve never met anyone so intense.” Aunt Ruby smiled. “He comes from a fine family, but even the best families often have a black sheep. He’s nothing like his brothers.”
“No, indeed.”
“Handsome, don’t you think?”
Jocelyn considered. “Yes, but not in the way that his brothers are that make women swoon when they pass by—but he’s certainly finely formed.”
“Too bad about that scar.”
“I hardly noticed it.” Indeed, Jocelyn could barely remember a scar, she’d been so entranced with his edginess and that aura of power and danger that radiated from him.
The puzzle of Grant Amesbury hovered around the edges of her mind as she went through her duties. Late that evening, when her father returned home, she related the day’s events.
Her father stared at her as if she’d lost her mind. “You went without an escort to that part of town, not once, but twice? Jocelyn, what were you thinking?”
“I was thinking her sister would be terrified if I brought a big burly man to her house.”
“He could have waited outside.”
“I know, I just…”
“If you were younger, I would take you over my knee.” He let out a long breath. “Promise me you won’t do anything so foolish again.”
She took his hand and gave it a squeeze. “I vow it, and I’m sorry. But Mr. Amesbury was there and everything turned out all right. So I invited him to dinner tomorrow. I hope that meets with your approval. It gives us an even number.”
“Of course.” He stood and kissed her cheek. “Good night, princess. And for heaven’s sake, no more flirting with danger.”
“Yes, Papa.”
She smiled. Did flirting with Grant Amesbury equate flirting with danger? She highly doubted a man like him would tolerate a little innocent flirting. Which made her actually want to do it, just to twit him.
Throughout the following day, Jocelyn glanced repeatedly at the clock as she saw to the final details. Strange. She hadn’t experienced such nervous excitement since her first season years ago. The knowledge that Grant Amesbury would be present…no, surely that could not be the explanation.
Her maid arranged her hair with great care creating a stunning effect and picked up the evening gown laid out on the bed. After agonizing over her attire, Jocelyn had decided to Lady Hennessy’s advice about wearing blue. The wintery blue evening gown with silver netted overskirt brought out the color of her eyes, and the hem kissed the tops of her new kid slippers in royal blue with silver shoe flowers. A blue and silver band in her hair made a pretty final touch. Avoiding the pearls, she chose instead a sapphire broach and earrings. White elbow-length gloves completed the ensemble. She stood and drew a steadying breath. Tonight was just another dinner party. Nothing more.
When the hour of the dinner party arrived, Jocelyn stood at her father’s side and greeted the guests as they gathered in the drawing room before dinner. She made sure everyone had something to drink and was conversing comfortably. Grant Amesbury had yet to arrive. He’d
He nodded. “Good. Until tomorrow night, then.” The promise almost rang as a threat.
She mulled that over while she returned to the parlor where Aunt Ruby waited. Her aunt exclaimed over the odd visit and the mystery of Mr. Amesbury. “I almost wish I could be here tomorrow night.”
“Are you setting your sights on Mr. Amesbury, Aunt?”
She smiled. “I haven’t yet decided if I want him for you or for myself…or if he’s so strange he wouldn’t do for either of us. And he carries with him that element of danger. I almost feel as if we should be afraid of him.”
“I think if he wished us harm, he would have let that villain with the knife do it for him,” Jocelyn said dryly.
“Unless he wanted to do it himself.”
“I am persuaded that he’s only dangerous to criminals. But he is very tightly wound.”
“Yes, I’ve never met anyone so intense.” Aunt Ruby smiled. “He comes from a fine family, but even the best families often have a black sheep. He’s nothing like his brothers.”
“No, indeed.”
“Handsome, don’t you think?”
Jocelyn considered. “Yes, but not in the way that his brothers are that make women swoon when they pass by—but he’s certainly finely formed.”
“Too bad about that scar.”
“I hardly noticed it.” Indeed, Jocelyn could barely remember a scar, she’d been so entranced with his edginess and that aura of power and danger that radiated from him.
The puzzle of Grant Amesbury hovered around the edges of her mind as she went through her duties. Late that evening, when her father returned home, she related the day’s events.
Her father stared at her as if she’d lost her mind. “You went without an escort to that part of town, not once, but twice? Jocelyn, what were you thinking?”
“I was thinking her sister would be terrified if I brought a big burly man to her house.”
“He could have waited outside.”
“I know, I just…”
“If you were younger, I would take you over my knee.” He let out a long breath. “Promise me you won’t do anything so foolish again.”
She took his hand and gave it a squeeze. “I vow it, and I’m sorry. But Mr. Amesbury was there and everything turned out all right. So I invited him to dinner tomorrow. I hope that meets with your approval. It gives us an even number.”
“Of course.” He stood and kissed her cheek. “Good night, princess. And for heaven’s sake, no more flirting with danger.”
“Yes, Papa.”
She smiled. Did flirting with Grant Amesbury equate flirting with danger? She highly doubted a man like him would tolerate a little innocent flirting. Which made her actually want to do it, just to twit him.
Throughout the following day, Jocelyn glanced repeatedly at the clock as she saw to the final details. Strange. She hadn’t experienced such nervous excitement since her first season years ago. The knowledge that Grant Amesbury would be present…no, surely that could not be the explanation.
Her maid arranged her hair with great care creating a stunning effect and picked up the evening gown laid out on the bed. After agonizing over her attire, Jocelyn had decided to Lady Hennessy’s advice about wearing blue. The wintery blue evening gown with silver netted overskirt brought out the color of her eyes, and the hem kissed the tops of her new kid slippers in royal blue with silver shoe flowers. A blue and silver band in her hair made a pretty final touch. Avoiding the pearls, she chose instead a sapphire broach and earrings. White elbow-length gloves completed the ensemble. She stood and drew a steadying breath. Tonight was just another dinner party. Nothing more.
When the hour of the dinner party arrived, Jocelyn stood at her father’s side and greeted the guests as they gathered in the drawing room before dinner. She made sure everyone had something to drink and was conversing comfortably. Grant Amesbury had yet to arrive. He’d
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