Free When Only a Rake Will Do by Jennifer McNare Page A

Lady Chesterfield’s ball,” she confirmed, glancing toward the aforementioned couple.
    “Yes, quite right,” Brendon affirmed with an answering smile.
    “Daphne, how lovely to see you again,” Tiffany said warmly.
    Only a few years older than she was, Tiffany Warrene was as kind-hearted as she was beautiful, and since marrying into the Warrene family she had become a good friend as well.  Looking at her now, in her form-fitting satin gown of sapphire-blue, one would never suspect that she had recently given birth to her and Alex’s first child.
    “Yes, Lady Daphne, it’s lovely to see you again,” Alex seconded.  “My mother and sisters send their felicitations, as well,” he added with a friendly smile.  “They would have been here themselves but for a prior engagement.”
    “Please let them know that I shall call upon them soon.”  Normally she would have welcomed their company, but not tonight, for their presence would likely have made the execution of her plan all the more difficult.
    “I will indeed.”
    Their conversation was interrupted then by a discreet cough from one of the Leighton’s footmen as he came to stand just inside the parlor doors.
    “Shall we move into the dining room,” the duchess suggested; her voice carrying as she glanced about the room.  “I believe dinner is ready to be served.”
    “Shall we?” Brendon asked, extending his elbow to Daphne.
    With an agreeable nod, she looped her arm through his.
     
     
    Once they had all been seated at the Leighton’s magnificently set dining table, Daphne turned to Brendon as they waited for the initial course to be served.  Despite her nervousness, she was doing her best to appear outwardly confident.  “So, my lord, have you had further occasion to make use of the park since I saw you last?”  Though she’d been hoping to see him riding there again, she hadn’t spotted him within the boundaries of the park since their initial encounter.
    “Regrettably I have not,” Brendon replied with a rueful expression.  “I was called away unexpectedly to attend to a business matter in Ipswich earlier this week and I have only returned to town this very afternoon,” he expounded.  “Perhaps tomorrow if the weather holds I shall have the opportunity to take Samson out, for I’m certain that he is longing for a good run.”  Regarding her expectantly he then asked, “Will I see you there?”
    “I would imagine so, if the weather holds,” she responded.  In all honesty, however, her presence in the park the following morning would likely depend not upon the weather, but upon the outcome of the proposal she intended to present him with later in the evening, given that she was somehow presented with an opportunity to speak with him alone.
    “Well then, I shall certainly hope for clear skies upon the morrow,” Brendon replied with a rakish grin. 
    “As will I,” she said with an answering smile.
    They were distracted then as the first course was brought to the table and they were each served a steaming bowl of Vermicelli soup.
    “It smells delicious,” Daphne said as a mouthwatering aroma filled the air around her.
    “Trust me, it tastes even better than it smells,” Brendon replied with an easy assurance.  “My brother’s chef is one of the finest in the country.  In fact, Nicholas and Ashleigh have been called upon more than once to thwart the efforts of another Society host or hostess daring enough to try to lure the man away to his or her own kitchen,” he continued with an amused expression. 
    “Surely no one would do such a thing,” Daphne proclaimed, eyeing him dubiously.
    Brendon merely grinned as he lifted a spoonful of the aromatic soup to his lips.
    Daphne followed suit, taking a spoonful from her own bowl and placing it delicately against her lips.  Her taste buds exploded in the very next instant.   Brendon hadn’t exaggerated, the soup was absolutely scrumptious.
    “Do you believe me now?”