Free A Lot Like a Lady by Kim Bowman, Kay Springsteen Page B

of the glass that had been in his family since before his birth and imagined snapping it in place of his uncle’s wretched neck. Would the unseemliness of this cursed evening never end?
    Instead of breaking the glass — or Lucien’s neck — Grey sipped the dark sweet liquid and waited for the mild burn of the alcohol to wash his palate.
    “Your sister’s a lively one.” Jon sampled his own drink.
    “Stepsister,” Grey corrected, and scowled. “Perhaps.”
    Jon regarded him with one raised eyebrow. “Perhaps she’s lively or perhaps she’s your stepsister?” He chuckled and sipped again.
    Looking over the rim of his glass, Grey studied his lifelong friend. Jonathan’s darker Spanish-influenced complexion and black hair gave him an air of the sinister at times. But just now, his glittering dark brown eyes held mirth.
    “I am… unconvinced the chit who showed up on my doorstep is, indeed, my stepsister,” murmured Grey, quite aware that he sounded as insane as his uncle undoubtedly was.
    Lord Jon’s eyes lost their mirth and his brow furrowed. “That sounds serious.”
    “It might just be. I need to ascertain whether I’m correct, and if I find it so, determine the whereabouts of my stepsister.” He set his glass on the buffet. He needed to see to his remaining guests. “It might call for a trip to the country to see what in deuces is going on.”
    Jon angled his head. “If you find it inconvenient leaving, I wouldn’t be averse to a trip into Haselmere.”
    Grey let out a heavy sigh. “I would appreciate that, Jon. Until I know what’s going on, I would like to stay close to my, er… houseguest .”
    His friend raised his glass in salute. “I’m sure you would; she is a striking creature.”
    At the gaze Grey leveled on him, Jon cleared his throat.
    “Um… I can leave for the country first thing in the morning.”
    With a curt nod, Grey headed to the door. “I must attend to freeing my guests from Lucien.” He paused then turned back to his friend. “Jon, thank you.”
    Jon bowed. “You would do the same for me. I shall send word as soon as I learn anything.” Setting down his glass, he followed Grey. “If you will make my excuses, I’ll go home and prepare for my departure.”
    As he watched his friend leave, Grey’s thoughts drifted to the beautiful houseguest who had turned his dinner party upside down.
    Who are you? And what game are you and my real stepsister playing?

Chapter Five
     
    Juliet glanced out the parlor window for the tenth time in as many minutes. The sun was high in the sky and the rays streaming through the window only heightened her frustration at being stuck indoors reading The Mirror of Graces when what she longed to do was see the new horse the duke was working.
    With a heavy sigh, she stood and walked the perimeter of the room, admiring the paintings and portraits, running her hand on the ivory keys of the pianoforte as she passed it. She hated the horses being so far away. She'd sneaked a look at the townhouse’s stables and the renovations underway would make them grand. But it would have been much nicer if she could visit the horses the way she'd been able to at home. In the country she'd spent much of her free time with them. Horses made the best friends sometimes. They listened to her when she thought out loud and never laughed when she got too dreamy.
    The new horse sounded magnificent. Spanish, she thought the duke had said. Juliet wanted to take a peek at him.
    Oh fluff. You want a good peek at his grace.
    No I don’t. He’s overbearing and cynical and—
    She sighed as a picture of him formed in her mind, with glinting eyes and that lock of hair spilling over his forehead.
    And amazingly handsome, and completely gallant when he came to my rescue at that disaster of a dinner party three nights ago, and gracious — well, maybe not too pleasant about it, but—
    Stop that!
    Well, you’re the one who thought it.
    I most certainly did not. You di— Oh