Free Marry the Man Today by Linda Needham

disturbance of the peace in Whitehall.' "
    "Is that what they called it, Mrs. Ni l es?" Miss Dunaway's brows dipped as she peered over the woman's arm and quickly scanned the article. "That we were merely disturbing the peace?"
    "Let's see, it says, 'Miss Dunaway and her unruly band of wome n —' See! That's us! Unruly!" Mrs. Niles shared a proud giggle with the others, then pushed her spectacles up her nose and continued. "U m . . . 'band of women . . . were not charged and were released into the care of their guardians.'"
    "Guardians!" Miss Dunaway's gaze shot across the room to Ross. As though he had stood over the editor and dictated the copy. "As though we were children!"
    "I see what you mean, Miss Elizabeth!" Mrs. Niles was now frowning at the newspaper as darkly as her mentor was frowning at him. "There's not a word here about the fact that we were marching on Westminster for women's rights."
    "Nothing about our protest signs!"
    "Or our chanting."
    "Of course not." Miss Dunaway's full lips drew into a line of disappointed anger. So the unbiased editor of the Times had obviously failed her. "We shouldn't really have expected to find a word about the sorry plight of women in this country."
    "Oh, but at least your name made the morning paper, Miss Elizabeth!"
    "And the Abigail Adams! That's a good thing."
    Mrs. Ni l es carefully folded the newspaper and tucked it into her reticule. "Do join us in the tea room, Miss Elizabeth. To celebrate. Please!"
    Miss Dunaway's eyes lifted to his again, her mood deeply serious. As though the stakes in this issue were far beyond the understanding of the women who surrounded her with their eagerness.
    "I'd love to, ladies. But I've got so much work to do this afternoon." Which obviously included evicting him from her presence.
    The group sighed as one, happily satisfied with their antics.
    Mrs. Niles grinned broadly, casting a wry glance at Ross. "Then we'll see you at the meeting tomorrow night, Miss Elizabeth."
    "Indeed." Miss Dunaway smiled at the group as they gossiped their frothy way across the foyer then disappeared into what he assumed was the tea room beyond.
    She then turned her attention on him again, that deceptively soft gaze, lighting his senses to the marrow, lulling the unwary.
    It was a damn good thing he was as wary as hell of the woman.
    "You're not supposed to be here in the lobby, Blakestone. The Adams is a club for ladies. We have a visitors' parlor for your type."
    "You mean for men? Afraid I'll learn your secrets?"
    She waved a dismissive hand at him. "Believe me, my lord, if I had any secrets, you'd never get anywhere near them."
    "Indeed." The woman was a bundle of riddles and canards.
    "After all, what if I pushed my way past the footman at your club and planted myself in the foyer like a toadstool? Your members would scream bloody murder and have me thrown out on my ear."
    Ross had to chuckle at the truth of that. At times the men of the club acted just like a gaggle of old ladies.
    "I'm sure you wouldn't have made it past the front door of the Huntsman."
    "In that case, you understand the sanctity of one's private refuge and won't mind if I insist that you leave. You've sent my entire staff into a muddle." She started past him toward the entrance, as though she believed she could actually convince him to leave when her falsehoods had brought him right to the front steps of the Abigail Adams.
    Miss Dunaway was waiting for him at the front door, her impatient hand resting on the latch. "Please, my lord, don't make me throw you out."
    Ross stood his ground and caught back the smile of triumph that was beginning to bunch up inside his chest. "One question first, madam, before you attempt such a feat."
    She gave an exasperated little huff. "Make it quick, Blakestone."
    "Why didn't you tell me yesterday that you knew Lady Wallace?"
    She opened her lovely mouth, whether in shock or to launch into an outright denial, he wasn't sure. But then she closed it again,