Scandalously Yours (Hellions of High Street 1)

“Unlike a great many other gentleman, Lord Davies is capable of conversing on subjects other than himself, or his hunters and hounds,” explained Anna. “We had quite an interesting discussion on books. He says that the author of Pride and Prejudice is rumored to be a female.”

“Given the keenness of its perception and the honesty of its observation, that would not surprise me in the least.” The scratch of Olivia’s pen stilled for a moment, and she slanted a quick glance upward. “So, what else did you talk about?”

“Oh, I don’t know—any number of things.” Anna began to toy with the piece of crumpled foolscap that had been batted to the far end of the desk. “I—I don’t really recall the specifics.”

“You don’t sound like a feather-brained peagoose very often,” remarked Olivia dryly. She rubbed at her nose, leaving a smudge of peacock blue ink. “But this is one of them. I trust that over the course of an hour, you managed more than a few chirping noises.”

“I don’t think that I appeared completely bird-witted.”

A high-pitched clucking sound floated up from the overstuffed leather armchair by the hearth.

“Oh, do put a cork in it, Caro. Little sisters aren’t supposed to eavesdrop,” groused Anna. But after a moment, she, too, flashed a grin. “He did say he found the ostrich feathers of my new shako quite fetching.”

Caro snapped her book shut. “So you like him?”

“He is nice,” said Anna after a slight hesitation. “And in truth, it is refreshing to be spoken to as if my brain were not the least important part of my anatomy.”

“Ah.” Olivia decided to refrain from any further teasing concerning Lord Davies.

“Mmmm.” Apparently just as happy to let the subject drop, Anna started to smooth the crinkles from the discarded paper. “What’s this?”

“Oh, er—nothing.”

“Clearly it is something, seeing that both the front and back are covered with your distinctive scrawl.” Anna peered closer. “Oh, good Heavens! You didn’t…this isn’t…” Reading rapidly, her sis

ter flipped to the other side.

“Oh, I couldn’t resist,” muttered Olivia as Anna began to laugh. “Lady Catherine and her sister were so earnestly serious in their intention of writing a reply to the ad, the prospect for parody was simply too wickedly tempting to resist.”

“It’s really quite funny,” wheezed her sister. “What are you going to do with it?”

Olivia shrugged. “Consign it to the flames—what else?”

“Ah.” Anna casually folded the paper. “By the by, are you make any headway on your essay for Mr. Hurley?”

“A bit.”

“Isn’t it due the day after tomorrow?” demanded Caro.

She nodded.

“Well, you had better stop dawdling and get on with it,” warned the youngest Sloane “Especially as you have to attend Lady Battell’s ball this evening.”

“Drat. I forgot all about that,” grumbled Olivia. “I wish you could go in my stead.”

“So do I,” replied Caro. “It’s cursedly boring being stuck in the schoolroom while you two have all the fun in Town.”

“It’s not fun,” said Olivia.

“Well, neither is being treated like a child. How can I write decent poetry if I never get out and experience…Life!”

Olivia repressed a wry smile. With her penchant for drama, Caro would discover for herself when she made her debut into Society that Life was not always as wildly exciting as she imagined it was. So often it was more a muddle of compromises. But knowing it was pointless to try to explain that, she merely heaved a disgruntled sigh.

“Speaking of writing, I really need to make another trip to Hatchards first thing in the morning. The newly published collection of Hingham’s political writings that I ordered from the University at St. Andrews has arrived and I really need to double-check a certain reference before I can finish this dratted essay…”

Intent on explaining the problem to her sisters, she didn’t notice Anna slip the discarded paper into her reticule.

Chapter Five