than Aunt Louella.” Jocelyn’s tone jerked Marianne’s attention from the unfinished thought. Mischief sounded in the younger girl’s tone. “And we both know she cannot watch more than one of us at once.”
The music drifted to a close and Thomas and Becky started toward them across the long ballroom.
Jocelyn leaned closer to Marianne, her voice low but insistent. “Well?”
A faint flush colored Becky’s cheeks, from the exertion of the dance no doubt or perhaps Thomas’s charms. It was he who fully captured Marianne’s at tention. He moved with a fluid, masculine grace, and the oddest sensation fluttered in her stomach.
“Think of the adventures.” Jocelyn’s voice carried a tempting note.
Becky said something to him and he laughed, a fascinating, male sound that resounded in her blood.
“And you do need adventures to write about,” Jocelyn added.
Thomas and Becky drew closer.
“And I do want them to be my adventures,” Marianne said softly. Adventures with Thomas? A thrill raced through her at the thought.
Thomas caught Marianne’s eye and grinned and she noted once again that it was an extremely nice smile. The kind of smile a woman could lose her head over.
“Excellent, Becky.” Aunt Louella’s voice sounded behind them.
“I must say, Lady Louella, she has learned her lessons well.” Thomas chuckled. “Why, we scarcely trod on one another’s toes at all.”
Becky laughed and bobbed a curtsy. “Thank you, my lord. I had an excellent partner.”
“As well as an excellent teacher,” Aunt Louella said. “Now, then, Marianne—”
“I believe it’s my turn.” Jocelyn stepped toward Thomas and cast him a dazzling smile. “My lord?”
“My pleasure.” Thomas nodded and extended his arm. Jocelyn placed her hand on it and he escorted her onto the dance floor.
Marianne stared after them. What would be the harm? She had no intention of marrying anyone and she certainly wasn’t what Thomas had in mind for a wife. Thomas’s efforts to find her a match would surely be entertaining and it would provide endless possibilities for her writing. Why, hadn’t he already unwittingly helped her write her first story? A story she had every confidence would soon appear on the pages of Cadwallender’s Weekly World Messenger .
Besides, she wasn’t at all averse to his company even if he was more than a little arrogant. Although he certainly was charming enough today. And there was always the possibility of another kiss. Or two. Or more.
She should have thought of it herself. After all, wasn’t Thomas Lord W to her country miss?
Jocelyn glanced at Marianne over her shoulder and raised a questioning brow.
Marianne shrugged in feigned resignation and nodded. Jocelyn winked then turned her full attention to Thomas.
If it wasn’t for the sense of anticipation bubbling up inside her, Marianne would almost feel sorry for him. His plan to marry them off quickly was doomed before it began. His efforts would surely provide her with all sorts of interesting experiences to spin into The Adventures of a Country Miss in London . In addition, the poor man wouldn’t have so much as a minute to spare to search for a bride of his own.
It was curious, though. At the moment Marianne wasn’t sure which result of Jocelyn’s plot she relished more.
Chapter 4
. . . and every afternoon those members of society who wish to indulge in gossip and flirtation take themselves to Hyde Park, where they ride in carriages or on horseback or stroll the paths in a unique display of fashion and manners. It is a most impressive parade.
Lord W has taken me once and I do hope he does so again, for I quite enjoyed myself, although he was reticent to introduce me to anyone. For a moment I feared he was ashamed of my country-bred bearing. Then I noted the odd gleam in his eye, gone as fast as it had appeared.
Dear cousin, it was a look of possession such as I have never seen in man nor beast. Terror filled me at the
The music drifted to a close and Thomas and Becky started toward them across the long ballroom.
Jocelyn leaned closer to Marianne, her voice low but insistent. “Well?”
A faint flush colored Becky’s cheeks, from the exertion of the dance no doubt or perhaps Thomas’s charms. It was he who fully captured Marianne’s at tention. He moved with a fluid, masculine grace, and the oddest sensation fluttered in her stomach.
“Think of the adventures.” Jocelyn’s voice carried a tempting note.
Becky said something to him and he laughed, a fascinating, male sound that resounded in her blood.
“And you do need adventures to write about,” Jocelyn added.
Thomas and Becky drew closer.
“And I do want them to be my adventures,” Marianne said softly. Adventures with Thomas? A thrill raced through her at the thought.
Thomas caught Marianne’s eye and grinned and she noted once again that it was an extremely nice smile. The kind of smile a woman could lose her head over.
“Excellent, Becky.” Aunt Louella’s voice sounded behind them.
“I must say, Lady Louella, she has learned her lessons well.” Thomas chuckled. “Why, we scarcely trod on one another’s toes at all.”
Becky laughed and bobbed a curtsy. “Thank you, my lord. I had an excellent partner.”
“As well as an excellent teacher,” Aunt Louella said. “Now, then, Marianne—”
“I believe it’s my turn.” Jocelyn stepped toward Thomas and cast him a dazzling smile. “My lord?”
“My pleasure.” Thomas nodded and extended his arm. Jocelyn placed her hand on it and he escorted her onto the dance floor.
Marianne stared after them. What would be the harm? She had no intention of marrying anyone and she certainly wasn’t what Thomas had in mind for a wife. Thomas’s efforts to find her a match would surely be entertaining and it would provide endless possibilities for her writing. Why, hadn’t he already unwittingly helped her write her first story? A story she had every confidence would soon appear on the pages of Cadwallender’s Weekly World Messenger .
Besides, she wasn’t at all averse to his company even if he was more than a little arrogant. Although he certainly was charming enough today. And there was always the possibility of another kiss. Or two. Or more.
She should have thought of it herself. After all, wasn’t Thomas Lord W to her country miss?
Jocelyn glanced at Marianne over her shoulder and raised a questioning brow.
Marianne shrugged in feigned resignation and nodded. Jocelyn winked then turned her full attention to Thomas.
If it wasn’t for the sense of anticipation bubbling up inside her, Marianne would almost feel sorry for him. His plan to marry them off quickly was doomed before it began. His efforts would surely provide her with all sorts of interesting experiences to spin into The Adventures of a Country Miss in London . In addition, the poor man wouldn’t have so much as a minute to spare to search for a bride of his own.
It was curious, though. At the moment Marianne wasn’t sure which result of Jocelyn’s plot she relished more.
Chapter 4
. . . and every afternoon those members of society who wish to indulge in gossip and flirtation take themselves to Hyde Park, where they ride in carriages or on horseback or stroll the paths in a unique display of fashion and manners. It is a most impressive parade.
Lord W has taken me once and I do hope he does so again, for I quite enjoyed myself, although he was reticent to introduce me to anyone. For a moment I feared he was ashamed of my country-bred bearing. Then I noted the odd gleam in his eye, gone as fast as it had appeared.
Dear cousin, it was a look of possession such as I have never seen in man nor beast. Terror filled me at the
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