Page 74 (1/2)

Author: Anne Stuart 1

“I don’t think this is a good idea,” the honorable Jane Pagett said, wringing her hands “Mr St John isn’t very good ton I don’t trust him ”

Lady Miranda Rohan looked at her dearest friend with a wicked grin They were sitting in Miranda’s bedroo lady of the house prepared for a clandestine night out “Oh, I don’t trust him, either,” she said cheerfully “That’s half the fun Don’t lecture irl for three seasons now, and this is the first tihty They want”

“I don’t think your parents are going to let you marry Christopher St John,” Jane said tartly

“No, I don’t expect they will,” she said with a sigh “I don’t think it’s fair, though They’d probably reject hih for both of us We could live very well on my income ”

Jane looked at her strangely “Would you really want to marry Mr St John?”

Miranda shrugged “He’s as good as anyone, I suppose It’s not as if I were a great beauty and could take my pick Certainly there are a number of men who’d have me, and I expect I’ll end up with one of thee in a tiny bit of wicked flirtation ”

“You’re very pretty, Miranda!” Jane protested

“Well, I’m not a complete antidote,” Miranda admitted “I’m just ordinary I’m neither tall nor short, plu brown My face is inoffensive Nothing for anyone to take a disgust of But nothing to induce a wild passion, though Christopher St John seeh I expect he’s probably more enthusiastic about my money than my person,” she added in a practical voice

“Then why risk your reputation by going to Vauxhall with him? Alone!” Jane cried “I’d be happy to come with you, or you could take your maid …”

“Absolutely not,” Miranda said briskly, tying her do it around her Her clothes were far too discreet and ardens, but the douise “I want to dance wildly and drink wine and play cards for high stakes and laugh too loudly I want to kiss and be kissed until I get tired of it, and I want to do it with the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen You have to admit Christopher is beautiful ”

“His chin is too weak,” Jane said in a grumpy voice

“Not as far as I’m concerned,” Miranda said “I’h I doubt I could have made my escape if you weren’t here My sister-in-law takes her duties very seriously sinceis, I don’t want you to have to lie for one ”

“Well, I’ to lie for you,” Jane said “I’ll tell them exactly where you went and ho ”

“With whom,” Miranda corrected absently “And it won’t be a problem It’ll be too late to find me, and ht, uncompromised, and no one need ever know I just want a taste of freedohome Just a few stolen kisses while atch the fireworks at ht, and then I’ll be safely back and chances are no one will even notice that I went out And what can they do to me if they find out—beat me?”