“A good reason. Ye’ve a gaggle of females downstairs…”

Her words trailed off. He’d opened the door. He leaned against the frame of it, too, crossing his arms over his bare chest. It was a wide chest, tapered down to a lean waist. Broad shoulders and sculpted muscles went with it. He was put together too fine, he really was. That’s probably why he always seemed so confident. He bleedin’ well knew he was a prime piece to look at.

At the moment he was perfectly relaxed—and amused. She stared at his blue eyes to keep from looking at his chest.

“Having a conversation through a door is rather silly, don’t you think?” he asked.

“ ’Aving a conversation at all is silly, when ye’ve got guests waiting on ye.”

“Who?”

“Yer cousin and two other ladies.”

“I suppose they aren’t stopping by just to say hello?” he asked hopefully.

She shook her head and, for the life of her, couldn’t figure out why a smirk was in her tone when she replied, “They mean to drag ye shopping.” Probably because it was obvious that he didn’t particularly like to shop, or he’d have finished furnishing his house on his own.

And his sigh wasn’t happy. “Bloody hell, I wish Reggie would give some warning when she makes plans for me. Course, then she wouldn’t be our sweet Reggie. Be a love and fetch me a couple pastries while I dress. My cousin won’t want to wait while I eat a decent breakfast.”

Anything to get out of his presence!

But he didn’t move! She had to squeeze past him and didn’t quite manage it without brushing against his arm. That arm shot out across her waist to stop her.

“The next time you want to hide in a closet”—he leaned closer to whisper by her ear—“you might consider some company. You’d be surprised what delights can be found in cozy spots like this.”

Danny didn’t answer, wouldn’t have been able to utter a word even if she’d thought of one. She pushed past him and bolted down the stairs. The last thing she’d heard from Jeremy was his sigh. The only surprise she had was that she made it to the kitchen without falling apart from having been that close to him.

Chapter 17

“IDON’T SEE HOWyou’re going to manage it. He’s a confirmed bachelor, a rakehell even. He only comes to these affairs to please his family.”

Emily Bascomb listened to her friend with only half an ear as she watched Jeremy Malory across the room. He would have stood out in any crowd, as tall as he was, but he was also so sinfully handsome, every single woman in the room had become aware of him the moment he arrived. His black evening togs fit him to perfection. His hair, which fell in thick black waves about his ears and neck, might be worn a trifle longer than was fashionable, but that just gave him a rakish air.

Both girls were debutantes that season, though Emily had been stealing all the attention with her unparalleled beauty. Jennifer was used to that, having grown up in the same shire. With blond hair and light blue eyes, petite, exquisite Emily was a smashing success and basked in so much adoring attention.

But from the moment Emily had clapped eyes on Jeremy Malory last week, she had become entranced with him and had determined he would be hers. She hadn’t expected to have to work at winning him, though, was quite annoyed that he’d barely glanced at her during their too-brief introduction last week, and now that she was finally seeing him again, he was ignoring her completely, as if they hadn’t even met.

It was intolerable. She had every young lord that season in the palm of her hand as she’d known she would, all except for Malory. And she had no interest at all in any of the others now—because of him.

For years she’d been hearing rumors about how handsome he was, but living in the country with her family, and rarely ever getting to London, she’d never had an opportunity to meet him to find out if the rumors were true. They were. His looks were positively mesmerizing.

Her friend Jennifer was still warning her, “And the only women he pays any attention to a’tall are”—she paused to add in a whisper—“those he knows he can take to his bed without risk of losing his bachelor standing.”

“Jen, you don’t get it,” Emily replied impatiently. “Iwill marry him, even if I have to sleep with him first to accomplish it. One way or another, he’s going to be mine.”

“Emily Bascomb, you wouldn’t dare!” Jennifer gasped.

Emily made a moue with her pretty lips and pulled her friend off to the side to whisper, “Of course not, but it wouldn’t be the first time that the rumor of an indiscretion has brought a fellow to the altar, now would it?”

“What rumor?”

“Give me a few moments and I’ll think of one. But I’ll give him one last chance to redeem himself first. Come along. Let’s remind him that he’s met us.”

“I haven’t met him,” Jennifer pointed out, not liking in the least being dragged in on her friend’s scheme.

“Then I’ll introduce you.”

“You can’t be so bold!” Jennifer complained, hanging back.

“You’ve barely met him yourself.”

Emily tsked and let go of her friend. “How do you expect to get what you want out of life if you play the coward?” Then she sighed, “Suit yourself then, I’ll go alone. It’s perfectly appropriate to approach the man you’re going to marry.”

“But you…aren’t…”

Jennifer closed her mouth, embarrassed that she was talking to no one, since Emily had gone on without her. Much too bold, her friend was, but that’s what came of being the prettiest woman in all of England. It lent confidence on a par with royalty.

Jeremy saw her coming, turned around abruptly, looking for the nearest exit, but got caught by Drew, who was coming to join him. “This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind for this evening,” Drew was saying. “I’m much better at socializing after I’ve bedded a few wenches.”

“Aren’t we all.” Jeremy grinned and took Drew’s arm to steer him toward the door. “Shall we then? This ball was Percy’s idea, since he’d promised he’d make an appearance. But we’ve done that, so—”

“Jeremy, you can’t possibly be leaving so soon. We haven’t danced yet.”

He could pretend he hadn’t heard her, should do just that, but he simply wasn’t that rude. With an inward sigh, he turned around.

“Lady Emily, how nice to see you again,” Jeremy said politely if in a somewhat bored tone, hoping she’d take the hint that he wasn’t interested in her.

She didn’t. She beamed at him. Positively stunning when she smiled like that, with her light blue eyes sparkling, Jeremy thought. She was quite the sensation this season. And looking for a husband, which put her off-limits to him.

“And you as well,” she said to him demurely. “We had so little time to talk when we met last week.”

“I was late for an appointment. And I’m afraid you’ve caught me late for another one. We were just—”

Drew jabbed him in the ribs, said, “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”

Jeremy sighed. “Lady Emily Bascomb, meet Drew Anderson, my uncle by marriage.”

“Make me feel positively ancient, why don’t you,” Drew complained, taking the hand Emily had offered Jeremy and shaking it gently. Nor did he let go immediately. “The pleasure is entirely mine, especially if you’ve come here without your husband.”

“Husband? I’m not married—yet.”

Drew coughed, realizing his mistake, though it was understandable. Even an American knew that young, unmarried debutantes, either on this side of the ocean or his own, didn’t approach bachelors without an escort in tow.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Drew replied, baffling the young lady.

Jeremy almost laughed. Drew had been quite interested until hearing that she was a young innocent.

Jeremy saved him having to explain that remark by saying, “Sorry, old chap, but you’ll have to find some other time to further your acquaintance with the lady. We really need to be off. We’re already quite late.”

“Such a shame,” Drew replied. “But if we must…” And this time he did the dragging to get them out of there.

Despite her pleasure with the new furnishings that had arrived that day, a glum mood had settled on Danny and was still present when she went to bed, keeping her from sleeping. She couldn’t figure out what was causing it. She should have been filled with euphoria. She’d gotten through her first day of working at a decent job and hadn’t been fired. She could be proud that she was firmly planted on the straight and narrow. The job was easy. The other servants were nice. The housekeeper was even willing to teach her to talk better. And she had a wonderful room all to herself. She should bleedin’ well be ecstatic.

Her new clothes had also arrived that day. They were plain and serviceable and comfortable to work in, the white blouse long sleeved with small ruffles at the cuff, high-necked, but not tight enough to choke her. The skirt was unadorned black. A short white apron had come in her package to wear over it. It was trimmed with a tiny ruffle, but otherwise was definitely a maid’s apron, with deep pockets on both sides, even a long, tube-shaped one that looked as if it would hold her feather duster.

She’d spent quite a while admiring herself in a mirror. After tucking her curls back behind her ears so they were a little more contained, she’d been amazed at how pretty she looked. No, she was more than pretty, she was every bit as beautiful as those women who’d fetched Malory. Is that what he’d seen all along when he looked at her?

The new footman had shown up around noon, about the time all the new furniture started arriving. Carlton was the new man’s name. He was young, probably only a few years older than Danny, plain looking, though he had some pretty doe-brown eyes. A talkative sort, he seemed good-natured. Danny had paid close attention to him when he was introduced to the staff, a bit too close probably, since it caused him a few blushes. She wasn’t exactly attracted to him, but she realized he was definitely the sort of fellow who would make a respectable husband, so she determined to get to know him better when she got the chance.

She still couldn’t sleep. Finally she got back up and went to make sure everything was still in its proper place upstairs. It was, except for the occupants. The two young nabobs were still out on the town, probably prowling about looking for wenches to bed.

That’s what rich young men did. Was that what was bothering her? That Malory was out trying to find a skirt to toss because she’d put him off? That should please her. It would mean he might leave her alone. The thought didn’t please her at all.

She went back downstairs, just as glum. She’d made it around the corner at the back of the hall when she heard the front door open and the tail end of an ensuing conversation.

“Then what are you waiting for? She’s just a wench,” Drew was saying.

“No, she’s not,” Jeremy replied. “And I don’t want to talk about her.”

“So it’s like that, is it? And what about that pretty little Emily Bascomb who fairly drooled all over you tonight at that ball. Don’t tell me she didn’t prick your interest at all?”

“Did I seem interested?”

“Not a bit, which was my question. Why not?”

“Same reason you backed off as soon as you heard she wasn’t married. In that we’re quite alike, old man. I avoid debutantes having their first season, second season, or any bloody season. Emily was rather obvious that she’s set her cap for me, but all she’s interested in is marriage, which I’m not. I’m sure you know how that goes.”

“Yes, marriage or nothing.” Drew sighed. “That’s too bad. Pretty little thing. And she did seem like she’d offer you a lot more.”

There was a shrug in Jeremy’s tone. “I don’t doubt she would. Some of them don’t mind putting the cart before the horse, but only because they’re confident they’ll get what they want in the end. I’ve seen more’n one lord get leg-shackled over mistakes like that.”

“Eh?” A long pause. “Oh, you mean married. Well, damn, that’s depressing. Think I’ll stick with tavern maids and parlor maids.”

“Did anyone ever tell you that you talk too much when you’re foxed?”

“I’m not foxed. Might be a little drunk though. And why don’t you Englishtalk English? Need a blasted dictionary to understand you sometimes.”

A chuckle. “Accents can get pretty strong in some quarters of the country, but you’re probably referring tocant. Just a passing phase, old man. Could be gone from the vocabulary in a year or two.”

“And get replaced by something just as undecipherable?” Drew complained.

“And you Americans have no slang?”

“Nothing that isn’t perfectly understandable,” Drew said with a smirk in his tone.

“Understandable byyou, old boy, but it would be foreign to me, now wouldn’t it?”

“Try not to be logical when I’m drunk, Jeremy, it gives me a headache.”

Jeremy laughed. Danny even caught herself about to chuckle, which was a good clue for her to take herself off to bed before she was discovered there in the hall. And she went to sleep immediately now that Malory was home.

Chapter 18

“THERE’S GOING TO BE A DINNER PARTY TONIGHT,” Mrs. Appleton announced to Danny and Claire the next morning. “Mrs. Robertson will tell you all about it and what you need to do. I was given warning only last night. Barely enough time to plan the menu and shop for it!”