Page 16 of One Night with an Earl

That response received his full attention, and he settled back in his chair. “Pardon?”

“A lovely young lady, the daughter of Lord and Lady Malvern, is making her first Season. I spoke to her mother and arranged everything. You are to arrive at Lady Penelope’s home this afternoon.”

He frowned. “You expect me to court a lady sight unseen?”

Her blue eyes flashed a gentle but firm warning. “I expect you to do your duty. A stroll in the park is a simple start.”

“And if I dislike the girl?”

“Then I will respect your wishes. We will find another.”

Oliver pondered this request. If it would buy him time, he was willing to go along with his grandmother’s matchmaking efforts. He could take Lady Penelope for a spin around Hyde Park, talk nonsense, and then drop her off at home and never look back.

Meanwhile, he would continue his search for Lady Scarlet.

“Fine,” he said. “Lady Penelope it is.”

Chapter Seven

“I fear I’ll faint,” Lady Penelope said.

“You’ll do no such thing. Everything will go well. I promise,” Ana said.

“But how? Mother is a dragon when it comes to finding me a rich, titled husband from the upper aristocracy.”

Ana’s thoughts were disquieting. The two were in the drawing room awaiting the arrival of the gentleman caller. Her young charge was right about her mother. Lady Malvern was not a woman to be trifled with, and that was even more reason to tread carefully when the earl arrived.

A light knock on the door made Ana start, and she glanced at the mantle clock. Four o’clock.

The gentleman caller may be unwanted, but he was certainly punctual.

Penelope’s breathing was ragged, and she was on the verge of tears. Ana feared she’d vomit, then faint. Ana clutched Penelope’s hands and forced a smile. “Do not fret yet.”

“You will not leave me, will you?” Penelope asked.

“Never.”

The butler opened the door, and voices sounded from the hall—a man’s and Lady Malvern’s higher-pitched greeting.

Something about the deep timbre of the man’s voice was familiar, and Ana’s brow furrowed. It reminded her of…of the man from last night.

Impossible.

She needed to force him from her mind and focus on Penelope.

The girl’s grip tightened almost painfully on Ana’s hand. “Remember to smile,” she instructed as she prodded Penelope forward. “Your mother must not suspect a thing.”

Footsteps sounded down the hall.

She stepped to the back of the room and did her best to be inconspicuous—precisely as a respectable chaperone was expected to behave. If all went according to plan, the earl would visit once and never again.

The drawing room door opened. Lady Malvern entered first. Then the earl.

A sharp intake of breath crossed Ana’s lips when he came into view. Tall, dark, and ruggedly handsome, there was no mistaking him.

Oliver.

Awareness thundered through her like an awakened river. Her skin tightened with memories of their shared pleasure, and her stomach tumbled wildly.