Free A Little Mischief by Amelia Grey Page A

the confident Miss Winslowe.
    “Lovely party,” Tom said. “Lord Gleningwold and his countess always give a splendid affair.”
    “Indeed. I trust the rest of your family is well, Tom?”
    “In good health, yes.”
    Daniel was certain Thomas had brought his sister over in hopes she would catch Daniel’s eye. Daniel wondered if somehow Tom knew that he was interested in him for Gretchen. He wasn’t the most handsome of men, but he came from a respectable family. He wasn’t much of a drinker, and as far as Daniel knew he wasn’t into gambling, either. That made him a far better catch for Gretchen than most of the acceptable men in London.
    Daniel needed to make sure Thomas knew that a call on Gretchen would be not only acceptable but welcomed.
    “Perhaps we can have a drink at White’s later in the week.”
    Thomas’s face reddened with excitement. “I should look forward to it, my lord.”
    “Good.”
    Over Tom’s shoulder Daniel saw Miss Winslowe talking to Gretchen. He tensed. He’d told both of them to stay away from the other. He wasn’t surprised that Miss Winslowe hadn’t listened to him, but considering all the trouble Gretchen had been in, she should have heeded his warning.
    “Excuse me, Tom, Miss Wright. I see someone I must speak to.”
    Daniel made his way over to where his sister and Miss Winslowe stood. He was stopped three times for introductions to young ladies before he managed to reach the other side of the room.
    Gretchen looked up at him with a big smile. Looking at her tonight no one would ever know that only a few hours ago she’d thought she’d killed someone. Beneath her spectacles he could see that the redness and swelling had faded from her eyes, and the worried wrinkles were gone from her brow.
    “Gretchen. Miss Winslowe,” he said tightly, trying not to sound as adversarial as he felt when he stopped in front of them.
    “Lord Colebrooke,” Miss Winslowe said stiffly, but not without an appropriate smile. “I’m surprised to see you here.”
    “Why so?”
    “I would have thought you’d be out slaying dragons for some damsel in distress.”
    “Distress no doubt caused by some pranks you’ve been up to, Miss Winslowe.”
    She gave him a dazzling smile, and Daniel’s lower body reacted to her. Knowing what trickery she was capable of, it was unbelievable how attracted he was to her.
    “Well, if it weren’t for troublemakers like me… gallant gentlemen like you would have no dragons to slay.”
    “I should love for that day to arrive so I can concentrate on important matters.”
    “Are you two arguing?” Gretchen asked, confused.
    “No,” Daniel and Miss Winslowe said in unison.
    “Gretchen, I want you to come with me,” Daniel said. “I want to introduce you to Mr. Thomas Wright and his sister Amanda.”
    “Oh, Danny.” Gretchen laughed with comfortable abandon. “I already know both of them quite well. Amanda is in our Reading Society that meets at Isabella’s house. You are the one who’s been away, not I.”
    “In that case, just come with me. We don’t want to hold up, Miss Winslowe. I’m sure she has another ruse to attend to.”
    “Really, Daniel, I’m not a child who—” Suddenly Gretchen stopped and her eyes widened as if she’d seen a ghost.
    Isabella and Daniel turned around to see what had caused Gretchen to turn so pale.
    Mr. Boswell Throckmorten walked into the room looking more dapper than any man had the right to look.
    Daniel couldn’t help but smile, and his voice dripped with sarcasm as he said, “It doesn’t appear as if anyone touched a hair on his head to me. Certainly not with a marble statuette of Cupid. In fact, I do believe Mr. Throckmorten is the healthiest-looking dead man I’ve ever seen.” He looked specifically at Miss Winslowe and said, “Don’t you think so?”
    “Must you gloat with so much enthusiasm?” Isabella asked.
    Daniel’s smile turned to a satisfied grin. “It’s not every day a man gets to