Invitation

by Burke, Darcy

  Fiona had just picked up a biscuit and promptly dropped it into her teacup. “I already have invitations?”

  “Not yet. No one knows who you are, and the Season has barely begun. Lady Pickering will see that you receive invitations. Once you’re presented, there will likely be a flood.”

  Fiona picked up her teacup and frowned into the contents where the edge of the biscuit was visible just above the liquid.

  “Let’s just pour you a new cup.” He reached for the third cup that was likely for Mrs. Tucket, who wouldn’t be needing it. After pouring the tea, he added a bit of milk and sugar then swapped it with her cup with an efficiency and care she would not have expected from an earl.

  She couldn’t help but smile at him. “You’re quite jovial.” She didn’t recall his father being so likeable. He’d been rather serious.

  “I try to be.” He finished the rest of his biscuit while Fiona sampled her new cup of tea.

  “Better?” he asked.

  “Much, thank you.” She set her cup down just as he picked his up.

  “THE BLOODY QUEEN?”

  The outburst from Mrs. Tucket caused the earl to spill his tea right down the front of his cravat and waistcoat. His eyes, wide with shock, darted toward Mrs. Tucket, still slumped in her chair. “Is she all right?”

  “Oh, yes. She does that.” Fiona picked up her napkin and went to the earl, dabbing at the tea on his front without thinking.

  “Er.” His gaze met hers—they were rather close—and Fiona realized this was highly improper.

  “Sorry!” She dropped the now-soiled napkin in his lap and dashed back to her chair, heat rushing up her neck and cheeks.

  He plucked the napkin up and continued where she left off. “It’s fine. I appreciate your quick reaction. Mrs. Tucket often shouts in her sleep?” He looked toward her again, one brow arching. “She is still asleep?”

  “Most certainly. At this time of day, she typically naps an hour or two. And, yes, she is known to call out. Usually with a profanity.”

  His hand stopped wiping at his waistcoat as his gaze fixed on her. “Truly?” At her answering nod, he let out a wonderfully warm laugh. Fiona couldn’t help but join in.

  When their laughter subsided, he set the napkin on the edge of the table. “Well, it’s good that I’ve enlisted additional help. You will require a chaperone who does not fall asleep and make exclamations using inappropriate language.”

  Fiona leaned forward slightly. “You can’t dismiss her. I won’t allow it.”

  The earl studied her in silent a moment. “I’m afraid it’s not up to you to allow things,” he said with a subtle edge of steel. “However, it was never my plan to dismiss her. I understand she’s been with your family quite some time. She will simply take on a new role.”

  His plan. It wasn’t up to her. Perhaps Overton wasn’t as likeable as she thought. “Thank you, my lord,” she said as sweetly as possible. “What role is that?”

  “Whatever you deem it to be. Just know she will not accompany you to Society events. That will be Miss Lancaster’s responsibility.”

  “Miss Lancaster?”

  He stood. “Come, I’ll introduce you now.” Looking toward Mrs. Tucket, he pressed his lips together. “Should we wake her? I can have Mrs. Smythe, the housekeeper, see her upstairs.”

  Fiona went to assess Mrs. Tucket’s situation. She didn’t look particularly comfortable, but Fiona knew that didn’t matter. What did matter was not interrupting this most important afternoon nap, particularly after their long, arduous journey over the past week. “She’ll sleep another hour at least. Would it be possible to have a maid check on her periodically so she doesn’t startle when she awakens? She may not recall where she is.”

  The earl looked alarmed. “She’s forgetful?”

  “Occasionally, but so is anyone nearing seventy. This is a new place and we’ve only just arrived. I fear I might not recall where I was.”

  “Fair enough.” He gestured to the door. “Shall we?”

  The tea had stained the folds of his cravat, and parts of his maroon waistcoat were darker than the rest because the fabric was wet. She would feel bad if his clothing were ruined, but then he could surely afford to replace both items without a second thought.

  He led her from the sitting room back into the foyer. A liveried footman stood near the door like a statue. They turned to the right, and there was an actual statue in the corner, a life-sized rendering of a muscular young man in a brimmed hat, winged sandals, and a cloth draped in an artful fashion, covering his most intimate parts.

  “Is that Hermes?” she asked.

  “You know your Greek gods.” He sounded impressed. “My father liked Greek mythology in his youth. Or so my mother said.”

  He led her into a large hall in which a wide staircase climbed up the right side. Portraits lined the wall ascending to the first floor.

  “I seem to recall that about him when he visited my father. They discussed Greek philosophers too.” She looked at the paintings as they went up. “Are these your relatives?”

  “Yes.” He pointed to the one at the top. “That’s my grandmother. She lives at the dowager house at Deane Hall. She rarely comes to London anymore.”

  The likeness was of a woman past the blush of youth, but not yet in middle age. Her gray-blue eyes were very similar to that of her grandson, including a certain sense of exuberance, as if she were ready to meet whatever came her way. “She looks lively.”

  “She has many opinions and will share them whether you want to hear them or not.” At the top of the stairs, he continued onto the next flight. “Your room is up one more.”

  The staircase up to the second floor was not quite as grand, and the paintings were of landscapes. There was also one of a bowl of fruit.

  “Just to the left here.” He led her to a doorway and stepped into a small, well-appointed sitting room decorated in pale pink and green. Once inside, he gestured to the right. “Your chamber is through there. And here is Miss Lancaster.”

  The woman who was to be Fiona’s companion walked into the sitting room from a door on the wall opposite the one to Fiona’s chamber. Miss Lancaster was taller than average with dark blonde hair and a narrow face. Her pale, gray-green eyes were wide, however, and fringed with long, dark lashes. There was a steel to her, perhaps in the way she stood or the manner in which she held her head, with an air of resolve.

  Fiona moved toward her with a warm smile, wanting to start their relationship off well, even if she did feel a bit like the woman was edging Mrs. Tucket out. “Good afternoon, I’m pleased to make your acquaintance.”

  Miss Lancaster dropped into a gentle curtsey. “I have been eager to meet you, Miss Wingate. And to be of service.”

  “I will let the two of you become acquainted,” the earl said. “Dinner is at eight.”

  “So late?” Fiona asked. “Mrs. Tucket will be quite famished by then, I should think.”

  “We don’t keep country hours here in town,” Overton said. “But we’ll do our best to accommodate Mrs. Tucket. I’ll see she has whatever refreshments she desires. As soon as she wakes,” he added.

  “Where is her room?” Fiona glanced toward the door from which Miss Lancaster had emerged.

  “Across the gallery overlooking Brook Street. I’m sure she’ll find it more than acceptable. See you at dinner.” He turned and left before Fiona could ask any more questions.

  Instead, she addressed Miss Lancaster. “Is that your room there then?” Fiona inclined her head toward the door that didn’t lead to Fiona’s chamber.

  “Yes. His lordship thought we should share this sitting room so as to form our, er, bond.” Miss Lancaster shifted her weight, and Fiona saw the crack in the woman’s façade. She was nervous.

  Fiona relaxed, for she was nervous too, and it helped to know she wasn’t alone. It also helped that her new companion appeared to be just a few years older than her instead of someone with several additional decades. Fiona love
d Mrs. Tucket, but it would be nice to have someone young to talk to. “How old are you, Miss Lancaster?”

  “Twenty-five.”

  “Is that the age of most companions in London?”

  “Er, yes?” Miss Lancaster sounded uncertain.

  “You don’t know? I thought Lord Overton said you were an experienced chaperone.”

  “Oh, of course. Just not here in London.” Miss Lancaster abruptly turned. “Come, I’ll show you your room. I’m sure your anxious to see it.”

  “Thank you, I should like that very much, Miss Lancaster.”

  The taller woman looked back over her shoulder. “Please call me Prudence.”

  “All right, but you must call me Fiona then. Especially if we’re to be friends.” How she hoped they would be friends. Fiona hadn’t had one in a very long time. Not since Abigail Harding had moved to Ludlow after getting married four years ago.

  Prudence’s gaze softened and some of the tension seemed to leave her frame. “I would like that.”

  “Wonderful.” Fiona grinned and then gasped as she stepped into her bedchamber. It was more than twice as large as the one in their cottage in Bitterley on her cousin’s estate, perhaps three times actually, and decorated in beautiful rose and gold. There was a large bed, a writing desk, a dressing table, and a grand armoire along with smaller dressers for her things. What she owned wouldn’t fill even a quarter of everything, but then she supposed her new wardrobe would.

  Turning to face Prudence, she clasped her hands together. “I have so many questions, but let me start by asking, when can we go to Bond Street?” There were so many things Fiona was eager to do and experience. Why not start with something close?

  “I’m not sure, but soon. His lordship said you would require a wardrobe for the Marriage Mart.”

  Halfway to the dressing table, Fiona stopped. If the earl thought she was a biddable young lady eager for the marital yoke, he was going to be quite shocked.

  Fiona would try not to be amused.

  Make Improper yours today!

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  Impassioned

  Intolerable

  The Untouchables

  The Bachelor Earl

  The Forbidden Duke

  The Duke of Daring

  The Duke of Deception

  The Duke of Desire

  The Duke of Defiance

  The Duke of Danger

  The Duke of Ice

  The Duke of Ruin

  The Duke of Lies

  The Duke of Seduction

  The Duke of Kisses

  The Duke of Distraction

  The Untouchables: The Spitfire Society

  Never Have I Ever with a Duke

  A Duke is Never Enough

  A Duke Will Never Do

  The Untouchables: The Pretenders

  A Secret Surrender

  A Scandalous Bargain

  A Rogue to Ruin

  Love is All Around

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  The Red Hot Earl

  The Gift of the Marquess

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  Wicked Dukes Club

  One Night for Seduction by Erica Ridley

  One Night of Surrender by Darcy Burke

  One Night of Passion by Erica Ridley

  One Night of Scandal by Darcy Burke

  One Night to Remember by Erica Ridley

  One Night of Temptation by Darcy Burke

  Secrets and Scandals

  Her Wicked Ways

  His Wicked Heart

  To Seduce a Scoundrel

  To Love a Thief (a novella)

  Never Love a Scoundrel

  Scoundrel Ever After

  Legendary Rogues

  The Legend of a Rogue

  Lady of Desire

  Romancing the Earl

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  Captivating the Scoundrel

  Contemporary Romance

  Ribbon Ridge

  Where the Heart Is (a prequel novella)

  Only in My Dreams

  Yours to Hold

  When Love Happens

  The Idea of You

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  So Good

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  About the Author

  Darcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy, emotional historical and contemporary romance. Darcy wrote her first book at age 11, a happily ever after about a swan addicted to magic and the female swan who loved him, with exceedingly poor illustrations. Join her Reader Club newsletter for the latest updates from Darcy.

  A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her guitar-strumming husband, incredibly talented artist daughter, and imaginative son who will almost certainly out-write her one day (that may be tomorrow). They’re a crazy cat family with two Bengal cats, a small, fame-seeking cat named after a fruit, an older rescue Maine Coon with attitude to spare, and a collection of neighbor cats who hang out on the deck and occasionally venture inside. You can find Darcy at a winery, in her comfy writing chair balancing her laptop and a cat or three, folding laundry (which she loves), or binge-watching TV with the family. Her happy places are Disneyland, Labor Day weekend at the Gorge, Denmark, and anywhere in the UK—so long as her family is there too. Visit Darcy online at www.darcyburke.com and follow her on social media.