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Authors: Tiffany Clare
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You’re sure you are up for it?”
“I’ve long been ready. I just haven’t had any offers.” She bumped her shoulder against his arm, hinting that it was he who should have asked her for a night out. “You and Leo are walking on eggshells when you’re around me. In all honesty, I’m better than I have ever been.”
If she thought herself ready, then Hayden would oblige.
“Perhaps we should have a round of cards tonight? We can go to your favorite gaming hell and cause a stir with your appearance after weeks in seclusion.”
“Cards weren’t exactly what I had in mind.” She smiled at him, the tilt of her hat shading her from any passersby. “Will you be so bold as to allow me to choose the place?”
He raised one eyebrow, intrigued, though the offer shouldn’t completely surprise him. “Are you sure you are ready to be up to your old antics?”
Her smile was anything but innocent. “A few new tricks, too, I should think.”
“Then it’s settled. Should I send a note to Leo and Tristan?”
She tucked a loose curl back up under her bonnet. “No, just the two of us, Hayden. I have something very daring up my sleeve for tonight and the invitation stipulates a plus one.”
He gave her a long, assessing look. It was interesting that she’d extended a plus one to him. Well, perhaps not, since she hadn’t taken his offer for marriage seriously.
That would change after tonight.
“Consider me more than interested in your offer.”
“Perfect.” She pulled them to a stop and looked at the mute swans swimming lazily in the water. “We should head back to my townhouse. If Warren is still waiting for me he’s liable to be quite angry.”
“I’ll be sure to see him off if that’s the case.”
“I have stood him up, so he has every right to be cross with me.”
Jessica turned them around and tugged him in the direction of her home.
“I can’t say I agree with you on that. I’ve always disliked the cad.”
“Have some faith in me. I can handle Warren.”
“I have more faith in you than you can imagine. I know you can handle him, Jez; I just don’t like that you have to face him at all.”
He let her pull him in the direction of her house, wondering all the while what kind of trouble they’d find themselves in tonight. He was glad to have paid her a visit today; otherwise she might have continued to hide in the Fallon residence.
Chapter 6
The infamous dowager countess has finally shown herself to society. It’s no surprise she was around Town with one of her oldest friends. Do you know what this writer is starting to think where those two are concerned now that the old earl has kicked the bucket? Mayfair Chronicles, July 1846What had possessed her to suggest a night out with Hayden? She must be mad to believe she could hold herself together for a whole evening. Had it not been for the fact that she enjoyed Hayden’s company as much as she did, she didn’t think she’d have offered more than a walk in the park. Even after everything that had happened over the past few weeks, she really was starting to feel like her old self. And what better way to test her refound bravado than to get up to some of her old tricks?
Wilson came up to her dressing room to inform her that Mr. Warren was waiting for her in the drawing room. He’d come and gone while she was out and Wilson had told her that he’d conducted an inventory of the household items in her absence. She hadn’t expected Mr. Warren to come back.
Rouging her cheeks at her vanity—she’d give Warren no reason to think she had been ill—she left her room ready to face her current enemy.
“Darling,” she said, her voice animated as she brushed into the room with the grace of a dancer and took Mr. Warren’s hand. He bowed cordially if a little stiffly.
He was tall, hovering just over six feet. He was lean but fit, someone who spent time in an active life. Perhaps she’d find him handsome with his dark hair and sharp
“I’ve long been ready. I just haven’t had any offers.” She bumped her shoulder against his arm, hinting that it was he who should have asked her for a night out. “You and Leo are walking on eggshells when you’re around me. In all honesty, I’m better than I have ever been.”
If she thought herself ready, then Hayden would oblige.
“Perhaps we should have a round of cards tonight? We can go to your favorite gaming hell and cause a stir with your appearance after weeks in seclusion.”
“Cards weren’t exactly what I had in mind.” She smiled at him, the tilt of her hat shading her from any passersby. “Will you be so bold as to allow me to choose the place?”
He raised one eyebrow, intrigued, though the offer shouldn’t completely surprise him. “Are you sure you are ready to be up to your old antics?”
Her smile was anything but innocent. “A few new tricks, too, I should think.”
“Then it’s settled. Should I send a note to Leo and Tristan?”
She tucked a loose curl back up under her bonnet. “No, just the two of us, Hayden. I have something very daring up my sleeve for tonight and the invitation stipulates a plus one.”
He gave her a long, assessing look. It was interesting that she’d extended a plus one to him. Well, perhaps not, since she hadn’t taken his offer for marriage seriously.
That would change after tonight.
“Consider me more than interested in your offer.”
“Perfect.” She pulled them to a stop and looked at the mute swans swimming lazily in the water. “We should head back to my townhouse. If Warren is still waiting for me he’s liable to be quite angry.”
“I’ll be sure to see him off if that’s the case.”
“I have stood him up, so he has every right to be cross with me.”
Jessica turned them around and tugged him in the direction of her home.
“I can’t say I agree with you on that. I’ve always disliked the cad.”
“Have some faith in me. I can handle Warren.”
“I have more faith in you than you can imagine. I know you can handle him, Jez; I just don’t like that you have to face him at all.”
He let her pull him in the direction of her house, wondering all the while what kind of trouble they’d find themselves in tonight. He was glad to have paid her a visit today; otherwise she might have continued to hide in the Fallon residence.
Chapter 6
The infamous dowager countess has finally shown herself to society. It’s no surprise she was around Town with one of her oldest friends. Do you know what this writer is starting to think where those two are concerned now that the old earl has kicked the bucket? Mayfair Chronicles, July 1846What had possessed her to suggest a night out with Hayden? She must be mad to believe she could hold herself together for a whole evening. Had it not been for the fact that she enjoyed Hayden’s company as much as she did, she didn’t think she’d have offered more than a walk in the park. Even after everything that had happened over the past few weeks, she really was starting to feel like her old self. And what better way to test her refound bravado than to get up to some of her old tricks?
Wilson came up to her dressing room to inform her that Mr. Warren was waiting for her in the drawing room. He’d come and gone while she was out and Wilson had told her that he’d conducted an inventory of the household items in her absence. She hadn’t expected Mr. Warren to come back.
Rouging her cheeks at her vanity—she’d give Warren no reason to think she had been ill—she left her room ready to face her current enemy.
“Darling,” she said, her voice animated as she brushed into the room with the grace of a dancer and took Mr. Warren’s hand. He bowed cordially if a little stiffly.
He was tall, hovering just over six feet. He was lean but fit, someone who spent time in an active life. Perhaps she’d find him handsome with his dark hair and sharp
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