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A surprising crow of amusement from the old lady interrupted his speech. It quite made the occasion.
She smiled. I am sure my dinner party was the talk of the ton today. Are you going to repudiate the
engagement? Do you wish me to give another dinner party so that you can beg off?
Unaccustomed color burned in the earl s cheeks. My dear Lady Bowser, he began stiffly, that is the
farthest thing from my intention
Again his hostess uttered her crow of laughter. I am glad to hear it! For a moment I feared that your
mama had gotten to you and forced you to change your mind.
Lord Glendon favored her with a hard look, and then gradually his expression softened.
You really liked them, didn t you? he asked softly. The way you insisted upon champagne to celebrate
the announcement; your kindness toward Lady Floss and my fiancée, he added quickly.
His brief hesitation had not escaped the keen perception of his worldly-wise hostess. She raised her
eyebrows almost up to her white-powdered wig. So that is the way the wind blows? she said quietly.
Asked the wrong female, did you?
For a moment, the earl wore the arrogant expression so well known to his world. And then, under the
stem yet kindly scrutiny of Lady Bowser, his face took on a more appealing cast than even he realized.
I begin to fear that I have indeed done so, he admitted.
And you ve come to me for help, added the old woman crisply. Well, that shows more sense than I d
have credited you with, young man! I may decide to assist you if you ask me nicely.
Not certain whether to be offended or grateful, the earl gave her his most charming, practiced, social
smile. Yes, please, he said meekly.
This piece of flummery hugely delighted Lady Bowser. Oh, you are a charmer; there s no doubt about
that! She laughed. I ve no doubt you get your own way with the ladies quite easily! Now, what s your
plan? I assume you have one?
But by the time Lord Glendon had explained his idea, Lady Bowser was frowning. That is dangerous,
young man, she announced. You risk your good name, to say nothing of the ladies consequence.
I cannot think of anything else, argued the harassed nobleman. Can you suggest a wiser plan?
After some thought, Lady Bowser was obliged to confess that no safer plan presented itself to her.
Lord Glendon stared hard at the elderly woman. Perhaps I should not let you hazard your good name in
my devious schemes, he said reluctantly. I believe we might pull it off together, but I cannot be sure &
Just try to exclude me! Lady Boswer snorted. Idemand to be a part of the most interesting piece of
connivery to come my way in donkeys years! She chuckled. We shall have our work cut out for us,
Michael. You will permit me to speak so informally, I hope? she interjected. I cannot work hand in
glove with a fellow conspirator whom I must address in full state.
The earl found himself grinning at his elderly companion. I shall only permit such familiarity if I may call
you Clarissa. It is such a delightful name.
My name is Amelia, Lady Bowser informed him sternly, and then smiled. But of course you may call
me Clarissa. It is prettier than Amelia, and will thoroughly confuse anyone who hears you address me
so.
In perfect charity, the two conspirators then put their heads together to refine and implement their
scheme.
Another conspirator, this time a solitary conniver, was not as well satisfied with the course of his
campaign. True, Lord Ranulf had created a bit of stir with his bland assumption that the Dearborn woman
had entrapped the Earl of Glendon for her niece, but such commonplace suspicions had little life as
on-dits , he discovered. They were so universally expected to be true that they became accepted as
custom rather than scorned as shocking chicanery. In fact, the latest bit of scandal mongering Lord Ranulf
had heard at the club concerned the fact that Lord Glendon was seen with the two ladies so frequently
that bets were being offered that he intended marrying both of them!
Lord Ranulf wondered if he should try the gabble-mongering trick once more. In truth, he was a little
revolted at the looseness of tongues in the metropolis and longed to be back in his own windswept,
fresh-smelling keep. His nature, he finally decided, was to act rather than to talk, but acting against two
ladies as well-sponsored as Florence Dearborn and Cleanthe Bradford might be difficult.
Acting against them?His heavy golden brows came down in a fierce frown. What had gotten into him?
Why was he pursuing this greedy female with berserker fury? Was he a throwback to his Viking
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