discussing your eyes, by chance?”
It had started that very way. Maddie’s response was an unintelligible grumble.
“It couldn’t be worse than my dinner companions. Your grandmother barked at everything everyone said the entire night. I almost felt sorry for the fellows assigned to my table. By the end of the evening, Mr. Hadley, the smooth-faced one, just stared into his plate like a scolded puppy.”
“Speaking of Mr. Hadley, Soph, I know you said something to Lord Radbourne. What did you say?”
Sophie closed her eyes. “In public or in private?”
In private? Maddie nearly swallowed her tongue. She sat up in bed and stared down at her friend. “You met with him privately?”
“Certain things needed to be said without an audience.”
Maddie massaged her temple. “Please tell me nothing untoward happened.”
“All right. Nothing untoward happened.”
Maddie didn’t believe that for a second. “Heavens, Soph. I told you I would speak to Lady Eynsford. That she’d find a way to straighten all this out.”
Sophie shrugged against her pillow. “Well, I’ll get a chance to talk to Lady Eynsford myself tomorrow. She wants me to call on her… alone.” She let that last word linger on the air. “Very mysterious. I don’t know why you think she’s capable of sorting out my situation. She seems quite odd to me. Bursting out of parlors in the middle of tea for no reason. Pulling me to the side last night and telling me I must visit Eynsford Park in the morning and to come alone. She is more than a conundrum.”
“Lady Eynsford wants you to call on her in the morning?”
Sophie nodded. “Indeed. Though she didn’t even give me a hint as to why.”
“Hmm.” Maddie dropped back on the bed and stared up at the canopy above them. “Perhaps Grandmamma already spoke to the lady and she has a plan to help you.”
Sophie yawned and turned on her side. “I’m sure it’s something like that.” Sarcasm dripped from her words. “Now go to sleep, Maddie. I’ve apparently got a long day ahead of me tomorrow.”
Maddie sighed and settled deeper beneath the counterpane. Thoughts of tomorrow flitted across her mind. From sunup to sundown, she’d be barraged by marriage-minded men who wanted her fortune. All of whom had been hand chosen by her father. Sophie would be going to Eynsford Park in the morning alone , while Maddie was left to fend for herself. She wondered absently if the Hadley twins would be there. She couldn’t even remember the other twin’s name, the one without the scar. But Mr. Weston Hadley was a man she didn’t think she’d forget for quite some time.
***
Wes paced the floor in Dash’s study from one direction as Gray walked in the other direction. Occasionally, they crossed paths.
“If the two of you don’t stop it, I’m going to tell Dash about that prank you pulled last month in Town,” Archer said from where he relaxed in an oversized chair with a newspaper in his lap.
Gray’s head snapped up. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me,” Archer gloated from his position. “Sit,” he barked.
Gray dropped into a chair with a groan. Wes was still trying to remember which prank Archer might have in mind. Gray must have had a better recollection of recent events, since he seemed more than a little concerned about the threat.
“Sit,” Archer growled again. He’d never been a very effective pack alpha. But he did try on occasion when Dash wasn’t around.
Wes landed in the chair opposite his twin. Gray nudged Wes in the shin with the tip of his Hessian. “Do you have any idea why we’ve been summoned?” he asked beneath his breath.
But Wes had no clue and he shrugged his answer. After all, they hadn’t done anything since yesterday. They hadn’t had any time to get into trouble. For God’s sake, the night before they’d been stuck at the lesser table with the Duchess of Hythe. They’d been on their best behavior with her looking down her hawkish nose at them all
It had started that very way. Maddie’s response was an unintelligible grumble.
“It couldn’t be worse than my dinner companions. Your grandmother barked at everything everyone said the entire night. I almost felt sorry for the fellows assigned to my table. By the end of the evening, Mr. Hadley, the smooth-faced one, just stared into his plate like a scolded puppy.”
“Speaking of Mr. Hadley, Soph, I know you said something to Lord Radbourne. What did you say?”
Sophie closed her eyes. “In public or in private?”
In private? Maddie nearly swallowed her tongue. She sat up in bed and stared down at her friend. “You met with him privately?”
“Certain things needed to be said without an audience.”
Maddie massaged her temple. “Please tell me nothing untoward happened.”
“All right. Nothing untoward happened.”
Maddie didn’t believe that for a second. “Heavens, Soph. I told you I would speak to Lady Eynsford. That she’d find a way to straighten all this out.”
Sophie shrugged against her pillow. “Well, I’ll get a chance to talk to Lady Eynsford myself tomorrow. She wants me to call on her… alone.” She let that last word linger on the air. “Very mysterious. I don’t know why you think she’s capable of sorting out my situation. She seems quite odd to me. Bursting out of parlors in the middle of tea for no reason. Pulling me to the side last night and telling me I must visit Eynsford Park in the morning and to come alone. She is more than a conundrum.”
“Lady Eynsford wants you to call on her in the morning?”
Sophie nodded. “Indeed. Though she didn’t even give me a hint as to why.”
“Hmm.” Maddie dropped back on the bed and stared up at the canopy above them. “Perhaps Grandmamma already spoke to the lady and she has a plan to help you.”
Sophie yawned and turned on her side. “I’m sure it’s something like that.” Sarcasm dripped from her words. “Now go to sleep, Maddie. I’ve apparently got a long day ahead of me tomorrow.”
Maddie sighed and settled deeper beneath the counterpane. Thoughts of tomorrow flitted across her mind. From sunup to sundown, she’d be barraged by marriage-minded men who wanted her fortune. All of whom had been hand chosen by her father. Sophie would be going to Eynsford Park in the morning alone , while Maddie was left to fend for herself. She wondered absently if the Hadley twins would be there. She couldn’t even remember the other twin’s name, the one without the scar. But Mr. Weston Hadley was a man she didn’t think she’d forget for quite some time.
***
Wes paced the floor in Dash’s study from one direction as Gray walked in the other direction. Occasionally, they crossed paths.
“If the two of you don’t stop it, I’m going to tell Dash about that prank you pulled last month in Town,” Archer said from where he relaxed in an oversized chair with a newspaper in his lap.
Gray’s head snapped up. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me,” Archer gloated from his position. “Sit,” he barked.
Gray dropped into a chair with a groan. Wes was still trying to remember which prank Archer might have in mind. Gray must have had a better recollection of recent events, since he seemed more than a little concerned about the threat.
“Sit,” Archer growled again. He’d never been a very effective pack alpha. But he did try on occasion when Dash wasn’t around.
Wes landed in the chair opposite his twin. Gray nudged Wes in the shin with the tip of his Hessian. “Do you have any idea why we’ve been summoned?” he asked beneath his breath.
But Wes had no clue and he shrugged his answer. After all, they hadn’t done anything since yesterday. They hadn’t had any time to get into trouble. For God’s sake, the night before they’d been stuck at the lesser table with the Duchess of Hythe. They’d been on their best behavior with her looking down her hawkish nose at them all
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