Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas Page A

Annabelle had wasted no time in beginning a determined flirtation with him when they had first met. However, Westcliff was inured to such attentions from eager young women and had immediately labeled her as a husband hunter — which had stung, even though it had been the truth.
    Ever since Annabelle had been rebuffed by Westcliff, she had made an effort to avoid him. She did happen to like his younger sister, Lady Olivia, a
soft-hearted girl who was of an age with Annabelle and had been tainted by scandal in her past. And it was thanks to Lady Olivia’s kindness that Annabelle and Evie had been invited to this party. For the next three weeks, both the four-legged and the two-legged varieties of prey would be under siege at Stony Cross Park.
    “My lady,” Annabelle exclaimed, as Lady Olivia came to welcome them. “How kind of you to invite us! London was positively stifling — the refreshing climate of Hampshire is precisely what we needed.”
    Lady Olivia smiled. Although she was a small and rather unassuming girl with average features, she seemed extraordinarily pretty on this occasion, her face glowing with happiness. According to Lillian and Daisy, Lady Olivia was betrothed to an American millionaire.
“Is it a love match?”
Annabelle had asked in her last letter to them, and Lillian had written back that it reportedly was.
“However,”
Lillian had added wryly,
“my father says that the alliance between the two families will certainly be to Lord Westcliff’s financial advantage, which is why he gave his approval.”
To the earl, romance was not nearly as important as practical considerations.
    Bringing her mind back to the present, Annabelle smiled as Lady Olivia took her hands in a welcoming clasp. “And you are precisely what
we
needed,” Lady Olivia exclaimed with a laugh. “The place is overrun with males in search of sport — I informed the earl that we simply
had
to invite some women to keep the atmosphere reasonably civilized. Come, let me accompany you to your rooms.”
    Picking up the skirts of the new salmon pink muslin from Lillian, Annabelle followed Lady Olivia up the front steps into the entrance hall. “How is Lord Westcliff?” Annabelle asked as they ascended one side of the grand double staircase. “In good health, I hope?”
    “My brother is quite well, thank you. Although I fear he is driving himself to distraction with plans for my wedding. He insists on overseeing every detail.”
    “A reflection of his great affection for you, I’m certain,” Philippa said.
    Lady Olivia laughed wryly. “It is more a reflection of his great need to control everything within his reach. I’m afraid that it won’t be easy to find a bride who will be strong-willed enough to manage him.”
    Catching her mother’s meaningful sideways glance, Annabelle shook her head slightly. It would do no good to encourage Philippa’s hopes in that direction. However… “I happen to know of a strong-willed and quite charming young woman who is yet unmarried,” she commented. “An American, as a matter of fact.”
    “Are you referring to one of the Bowman sisters?” Lady Olivia asked. “I have not yet made their acquaintance, though their father has stayed at Stony Cross before.”
    “Both sisters are delightful in every regard,” Annabelle said.
    “Excellent,” Lady Olivia exclaimed. “We may yet find a match for my brother.”
    Reaching the second floor, they paused to glance at the people milling about the entrance hall below. “I’m afraid there are not as many unmarried men here as one could wish for,” Lady Olivia commented. “But there are a few… Lord Kendall comes to mind. If you like, I will introduce you to him when the opportunity presents itself.”
    “Thank you, I would enjoy that
very
much.”
    “I’m afraid he is somewhat reticent, though,” Lady Olivia added “He may not appeal to someone as high-spirited as you, Annabelle.”
    “On the contrary,” Annabelle said quickly,