that I am not moping around because of Brooks. I don’t care one little bit that your cousin is engaged.”
Ellen’s brows rose over cornflower blue eyes full of doubt.
“Well, I don’t,” Missy reaffirmed.
Chapter Six
F or a few days Brooks went to his old haunts, including the theater and his favorite café, but everywhere he went he met with the memory of Missy’s dark eyes and the unwanted presence of Violet Ashland.
She kept turning up, clinging to his arm. It was all he could do to bite down on the inside of his mouth and remember that he had been given a gentleman’s upbringing. But it didn’t take long to realize that he was a changed man—a man who found the simpering blond beauty of Violet more annoying than intoxicating.
One gloomy morning when the clouds were a great gray frown across the eastern horizon, Brooks was staring into the dark brew at the bottom of his china coffee cup. He largely ignored the conversation of his mother and brother, enjoying a hearty breakfast.
When the doorbell rang, Tilly answered it, then appeared carrying a flat silver dish containing a white envelope.
Brooks barely stifled his groan. He had been expecting a long overdue summons from his eldest sister, Clair. He knew the envelope was going to contain a family invitation that would be unavoidable. Her parties were boringaffairs, attended by dozens of horse-faced girls of marriageable age and doubtful charms—and without a doubt Violet.
He drained the contents of his cup and stood up, ready to beat a hasty exit before Tilly reached him. But the bemused look on his mother’s face as she read what was written on the creamy card stock she’d plucked from the silver tray stopped him in his tracks.
“Mother, what is it?” he asked. “Not bad news?”
She glanced up, as if only becoming aware of his presence. “No, not a bit. It is an invitation to a garden party.” Her voice was soft and slightly bemused.
“Just as I thought,” he grumbled under his breath. Clair was throwing another of her boring dinner parties and wanted him there. Well, he wasn’t going to do it, not this time. He wasn’t going to be there for Violet to use as a crutch to reenter the social set she had left when she was chasing a duke’s title. She had scandalized herself, and he was not about to act as if it all never happened.
Brooks headed in the direction of the French doors and freedom. He was nearly there when Rod’s hearty chuckle stopped him. Against his better judgment he turned and found Rod’s face wreathed in a cunning smile.
“I haven’t seen a smile that wide since the last stock report, Rod.” Brooks crossed his arms at his chest and watched his brother. “What has made you so happy?”
“Read the invitation addressed to you.” Rod returned his invitation to the dish Tilly continued to hold. “Perhaps it will bring a smile to your long face. Lord knows I am tired of seeing you scowl. I swear, you’ve had a frown since the night of Miss O’Bannion’s introductory party.”
“I have not.” Brooks jerked the envelope from the tray and ripped it open. He was disgusted for allowing himself to be manipulated by family connections and social ties.If his father wasn’t such a good friend of Horace Ashland’s, Brooks would simply call Violet a liar the next time she started all that nonsense about rings and engagement.
Hell, he just might do it anyway!
He scanned Ellen’s flowing script and felt the pace of his heart increase as he read. “A garden party…” His voice trailed off as he quickly read the entire invitation. “At Uncle Leland’s house. That might be nice.” He looked up to find Rod studying him, undisguised amusement twinkling in his brown eyes.
“Nice? Missy and Ellen are throwing a party and you think it is nice?”
“Yes.”
Rod grinned. “And what a happy coincidence, brother, that you’ll finally get to see Missy O’Bannion again.” He rose from the chair and pulled on his
Ellen’s brows rose over cornflower blue eyes full of doubt.
“Well, I don’t,” Missy reaffirmed.
Chapter Six
F or a few days Brooks went to his old haunts, including the theater and his favorite café, but everywhere he went he met with the memory of Missy’s dark eyes and the unwanted presence of Violet Ashland.
She kept turning up, clinging to his arm. It was all he could do to bite down on the inside of his mouth and remember that he had been given a gentleman’s upbringing. But it didn’t take long to realize that he was a changed man—a man who found the simpering blond beauty of Violet more annoying than intoxicating.
One gloomy morning when the clouds were a great gray frown across the eastern horizon, Brooks was staring into the dark brew at the bottom of his china coffee cup. He largely ignored the conversation of his mother and brother, enjoying a hearty breakfast.
When the doorbell rang, Tilly answered it, then appeared carrying a flat silver dish containing a white envelope.
Brooks barely stifled his groan. He had been expecting a long overdue summons from his eldest sister, Clair. He knew the envelope was going to contain a family invitation that would be unavoidable. Her parties were boringaffairs, attended by dozens of horse-faced girls of marriageable age and doubtful charms—and without a doubt Violet.
He drained the contents of his cup and stood up, ready to beat a hasty exit before Tilly reached him. But the bemused look on his mother’s face as she read what was written on the creamy card stock she’d plucked from the silver tray stopped him in his tracks.
“Mother, what is it?” he asked. “Not bad news?”
She glanced up, as if only becoming aware of his presence. “No, not a bit. It is an invitation to a garden party.” Her voice was soft and slightly bemused.
“Just as I thought,” he grumbled under his breath. Clair was throwing another of her boring dinner parties and wanted him there. Well, he wasn’t going to do it, not this time. He wasn’t going to be there for Violet to use as a crutch to reenter the social set she had left when she was chasing a duke’s title. She had scandalized herself, and he was not about to act as if it all never happened.
Brooks headed in the direction of the French doors and freedom. He was nearly there when Rod’s hearty chuckle stopped him. Against his better judgment he turned and found Rod’s face wreathed in a cunning smile.
“I haven’t seen a smile that wide since the last stock report, Rod.” Brooks crossed his arms at his chest and watched his brother. “What has made you so happy?”
“Read the invitation addressed to you.” Rod returned his invitation to the dish Tilly continued to hold. “Perhaps it will bring a smile to your long face. Lord knows I am tired of seeing you scowl. I swear, you’ve had a frown since the night of Miss O’Bannion’s introductory party.”
“I have not.” Brooks jerked the envelope from the tray and ripped it open. He was disgusted for allowing himself to be manipulated by family connections and social ties.If his father wasn’t such a good friend of Horace Ashland’s, Brooks would simply call Violet a liar the next time she started all that nonsense about rings and engagement.
Hell, he just might do it anyway!
He scanned Ellen’s flowing script and felt the pace of his heart increase as he read. “A garden party…” His voice trailed off as he quickly read the entire invitation. “At Uncle Leland’s house. That might be nice.” He looked up to find Rod studying him, undisguised amusement twinkling in his brown eyes.
“Nice? Missy and Ellen are throwing a party and you think it is nice?”
“Yes.”
Rod grinned. “And what a happy coincidence, brother, that you’ll finally get to see Missy O’Bannion again.” He rose from the chair and pulled on his
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