“Damned if I can say the same of you, ol’ boy.Look at you.You’re definitely wider in the shoulders than I can remember and much more muscular.Where the hell have you been?”Ian didn’t give Jonathan a chance to answer.“Have you been doing manual labor?You do know you left me in a bit of a lurch.I’ve had no one around who enjoys the sports like you do.I even went to Foxmore to find you, only to be told that you’d gone.”
“So you’ve missed me then?”Jonathan chuckled.
“Like a pain in the ass.”Ian laughed, too.
“I went to the colonies to visit Adam Trent, and then I did something I never thought I’d do.I went to sea for a couple of years.”
“Bloody hell.No wonder you look like a pirate.”
“You’re closer than you think,” Jonathan agreed, but he decided not to explain his year at sea.Better not let what he’d done in the colonies get around or he’d never find a husband for Elizabeth.
“How is your father?”
“I’m not sure.He’s bedridden.However, he can still raise hell when he chooses.I’m just wondering how bad he really is.I haven’t gotten a straight answer from Dr.Toogood.”
“I hope you’re home to stay,” Ian said as he paused to take another drink from the tray the waiter had offered.“By the way, you didn’t marry that pretty little Elizabeth when you went to see Adam?”
Ian could have asked just about anything butthat!Jonathan thought.“Yes, I’m home to stay.As a matter of fact, I’ll need to go to Foxmore before long.But first, I have to fulfill a promise to Adam.”
Ian noticed that Jonathan hadn’t bothered to answer his question about Elizabeth.Maybe his friend’s feeling had changed.“The way you’re frowning, I’d say you’re not too happy about making this promise.”
“You could say that.”Jonathan looked down into the drink between his hands."You see, I promised Adam I would find Elizabeth a husband.”
Ian slapped his knee and laughed.“Well, that shouldn’t be too hard.Promise her to yourself.”He punched Jonathan good-naturedly on the arm.
“Elizabeth and I have had a parting of the ways, so to speak,” Jonathan said, his tongue heavy with sarcasm.“And I really don’t want to go into the details.”
Ian stared at his good friend while he took a sip of his bourbon.There was something that Jonathan wasn’t telling him.But if Ian pushed now, he could tell he’d get nowhere.And from the sparks in his friend’s eyes at the mention of Elizabeth’s name, Ian knew Jonathan was denying what he really felt.
Ian smiled to himself.Maybe this Season was going to be a little more fun than the last.
One beautiful girl.
One jealous rake.
Yes, indeed.It could be quite interesting.
Ian cleared his throat to regain Jonathan’s attention.“I’ll be glad to help you rummage through London’s finest and find Lady Elizabeth a proper husband.That’s the least a friend can do.Then you’ll be able to retire to your estate in peace.”
Ian watched the play of emotions on his friend’s face before Jonathan finally said, “Thank you.Our first ball is next week.”
It was all Ian could do to keep a straight face.If Jonathan clutched that glass much tighter, it would break in two.
“I’ll be there,” Ian said as he stood.“By the way, there is a horse race next week, and I’ve got a sure winner.”
“I’d like to see what you’ve picked,” Jonathan said as he stood to leave.“We’ll talk more tomorrow night.”
“Come right this way,”Mrs.Hepplewhite said as she escorted Elizabeth to a private room.“I have another patron in there but she is just finishing up.”Mrs.Hepplewhite opened the door for Elizabeth.
“Tiffany?”Elizabeth squealed with surprise.
A young woman sitting in one of the two chairs looked up from the patterns she’d been examining.Her blond hair was piled neatly on her head, and her eyes were so blue they were crystal clear.
Elizabeth’s childhood friend was as beautiful as she remembered.
“Elizabeth Trent?”Tiffany sprang to her feet and quickly covered the short distance between them, giving Elizabeth a big hug.
“I guess there is no need for introductions.”Mrs.Hepplewhite chuckled.“If you’ll excuse me, ladies, I’ll go and get the material I have in mind for your gowns, Lady Elizabeth.”
