Wicked Nights With a Proper Lady by Tiffany Clare Page B

friends … only you might have developed a tendre for the young Lord Barrington. The feeling was not returned, was it?”
    “You’re wrong on so many counts that I can’t even think of where to start to correct your misconceptions.” Was she so transparent to everyone or just her cousin? Genny wiped the nib of her pen off and put the cap back on the Indian ink.
    “I’m not wrong in this. You know you wouldn’t try so hard to persuade me otherwise if I were off my mark.”
    “Fine, Charlotte.” Genny let out a frustrated sigh. “If you are correct, then tell me … do I still harbor feelings for the earl?”
    Charlotte’s forehead puckered in thought. Charlotte had seen them interact and there was no love apparent with their constant bantering, so she couldn’t possibly think Genny wanted to reacquaint with Barrington.
    “It remains to be seen,” Charlotte finally said. “What would you do if Lord Castleigh and Lord Barrington made an appearance at the theater tonight?”
    “Why should it matter?” She refused to believe it would happen. “We will be in Lady Carleton’s box, and I imagine both gentlemen have their own family boxes.” She turned to her cousin once again.
    Charlotte tapped her chin and narrowed her eyes as she assessed Genny.
    “I know that look.” Genny put her elbows on her knees and leaned forward. “It is as though you’ve a bit of the devil in your eyes. There will be no mischief on your part.”
    “You really do try to take the fun out of everything.” Charlotte pouted, tossed her book next to her on the chaise, and crossed her arms over her chest. “When Papa announced that you would escort me around for my debut instead of Grandmamma, I was beyond thrilled to have a confidante. But you play too close to the rules instead of having fun with life. Have some fun with me—I feel as though the opportunity for any excitement is about to run out.”
    Genny stood from the stool and made her way to her cousin. She gave her a hug of reassurance before releasing her.
    “You can have all the fun you desire once you are married.”
    “Oh, I intend to. But at the same time, I will not allow my pending marriage to stop me from enjoying the attentions I am receiving now. Castleigh understands my position and he does not shelter me nearly as much as you. It’s nice to be courted by a man not of my father’s choosing.”
    “It is my duty not only as your chaperone but as a member of your family to keep you away from men of his character.”
    Charlotte leaned back on the cushions with a discontented sigh.
    “Castleigh has ruined more than a few good ladies’ reputations with his antics. Have you told him of your upcoming nuptials?”
    Charlotte shook her head. “I haven’t, but it’ll be obvious to everyone soon enough if Mr. Warren continues to call on me and take me around the park in his barouche. Then again, with the marquess seeking me out, it might look as though I have a few contenders for my hand.”
    Could it be that Lord Castleigh liked Charlotte in more a capacity than friendship? Did he wish to court her cousin? That didn’t seem likely. Leo had asked quite pointedly who the girl was to Genny. There was trickery at play with both gentlemen. And she would not let her guard down, no matter how innocent a scene she’d walked in on with Charlotte and the marquess.
    Her experience had been much different with Leo, and it had happened so many years ago now that she couldn’t be sure if she had instigated the seduction or if he had simply made her believe that.
    “Do you have feelings for the marquess?”
    Charlotte’s grin was everything but innocent. “Castleigh and I are no more than friends. ”
    The butler entered the parlor, cutting off Genny’s reply—not that she was sure what her rebuttal would be. He bowed and presented a silver platter on which sat a small vellum box with a brown satin ribbon tied in a neat bow around it.
    “A present arrived moments ago. A