Maggie MacKeever by Lady Bliss Page A

hand once more. Jynx watched with a certain degree of bemusement as he bent his dark head and pressed his lips to the inside of her wrist. Innis raised his head, and noted her startled expression, and smiled. “Are you a coward, my darling?” he asked, so softly that had the others been listening, which they most definitely were not, they still could not have heard. “Give me only half a chance, and I will overcome your indifference.”
    The man was persistence itself! “And beguile me into tossing my bonnet over the windmill?” Jynx raised her lazy eyes to his reckless face.
    “But you wish to speak to my niece.” Innis released her, just as she parted her lips to deliver him another stinging rebuff. “I will leave you to it.”
    Without another word, he departed. Miss Lennox’s gaze followed him, thoughtfully.
     

Chapter Five
     
    Mr. Ashley then returned to the smaller of the two saloons which had been fitted up for gaming, where his sister was engaged in a desultory round of solitaire; and informed her that his quarry had risen, nibbled and swallowed the bait. In no time at all, averred Innis, Miss Lennox would be doing all manner of imprudent things to him and with him, and most happily. He additionally professed himself most delighted by the prospect, which he wagered would be more stimulating even than his recent stay with a certain crony, the object of which had been a delirium of sensuality, and the achievement of which had involved the participation of several maidservants. And he regretted that he had not made the acquaintance of Miss Lennox sooner, for she might have attended with him the Opera Masquerade, and have supped with him behind the scenes, in company with the ballet master, several harlots, and a bawd. Lady Bliss listened to these disclosures, and pondered the sorrow that would inevitably be Sir Malcolm’s upon his daughter’s disgrace, and sniffled dolefully.
    But Lady Bliss lamented Miss Lennox’s downfall a great deal too soon, and Mr. Ashley had counted his chickens before the eggs were even laid. So far was Miss Lennox from succumbing to Innis’s rakish charm that, with his departure, all thought of him had left her mind. She regarded her two companions, who still gazed at one another in that positively sottish way. “Ahem!” uttered Jynx, and seated herself once more in the cane chair.
    Thus abjured, the stricken pair, still staring in a heartfelt—and, Jynx thought, idiotic—manner into each other’s eyes, collapsed in unison upon the settee. “Percy,” said Jynx, rather ironically, “allow me to make you known to Cristin Ashley. Cristin, meet Perceval Phelps, Lord Peverell.”
    “Charmed,” murmured Cristin, soulfully. Stricken speechless by such enthusiasm, Percy grasped her hands and beamed. “We shall go on a great deal more prosperously,” announced Jynx, acerbically, “if the pair of you would stop making sheeps’ eyes! Cristin, what was the purpose of that letter you sent me? Those melancholy and frightful disclosures you hinted at? Because, my girl, you don’t appear the least afflicted to me!”
    “Afflicted?” repeated Cristin, rather vaguely. “Oh no, Jynx. I’m as happy as a grig.”
    Miss Lennox was extremely affected by this little speech. In fact, Miss Lennox was so far roused from lethargy that she ground her teeth. “Then what the deuce did you mean by that note?” she inquired, in tones so severe that both Percy and Cristin gaped. “I warn you, Cristin, that I am sadly out of patience, and I expect an explanation immediately!”
    “Now, now, Jynx! No need to be ripping up at the girl!” Percy patted Cristin’s hand, possession of which he still retained. “Pay her no mind, Miss Ashley. Jynx is feeling a little out of sorts.”
    What Jynx was feeling was an unprecedented urge to strangle this crack-brained pair. “Well, Cristin?” she demanded. “I’m waiting!”
    “Oh, Jynx, it’s been an age since we met.” Cristin’s blue eyes