When she drew even with the limousine’s back bumper, she lifted her head to gaze down the long empty driveway.Her expression fell.She couldn’t believe it.He’d actually let her down.What was she going to say to Libertine when they arrived?
The driver hurried around the car to where she was standing, then opened the door.
“Watch your ears—and your tail, darlin’.Wouldn’t want either one of them to fall off before you got the chance to shine.”
She looked up, then gasped.“Ryder!”
“Your ride awaits.Now don’t tell me you’re about to change your mind after I went to all this trouble.”
She blinked.It was him.Resplendent in a dark, double-breasted chauffeur’s uniform with more gold braid and buttons than an admiral might wear.
He tipped his cap and held the door ajar.“Ma’am?”
She threw her arms around his neck.“You are going to steal the show.”
He held her close, patting at the fluff of her tail.“I’d a whole lot rather steal me a rabbit.”
“Oh, for Pete’s sake,” Miles grumbled from inside the car.“Let’s get a move on or we’re going to be late.”
Casey quickly took her seat, quite out of place beside a riverboat gambler and an old-fashioned southern belle.
Erica glared.Leave it up to Casey.“I swear, little sister, whatever you do tonight, don’t bend over.You’ll positively spill out of that disreputable thing you are wearing.”
Miles grinned, for once taking Casey’s side instead of his twin’s.“Oh, I don’t know about that, Erica.Even if she is our sister, she looks rather stunning.”
Erica sniffed.“You would say that.After all, you’re just a man.”
The glass door slid open behind Casey’s head.Ryder’s voice drifted out into the uneasy silence.“Buckle up.”
“Have mercy,” Erica shrieked, and grabbed for a seat belt as the limo took off, leaving a black streak of rubber to show where it had been.
Miles needed no warning.He was already strapped and waiting for takeoff when the limo accelerated.He’d ridden with this man before.
Casey laughed aloud, then blew Ryder a kiss as he turned onto the highway.Tonight was just about perfect.
* * *
Of the guests who’d come in full costume to Libertine’s party, nine were in Rebel gray.Of those nine, only Lash Marlow wore the uniform of a southern general, and he wore it with pride.His great-great-grandfather Marlow had been a general during the War of Northern Aggression.It seemed fitting that he carry out the tradition, if only for the night.
But his pride in the past died a humiliating death when the Ruban party arrived.His gaze went past Miles and Erica Dunn.They were Rubans by marriage only.In the grand scheme of things, and blood being thicker than water, it was Casey who counted.But when he saw her and then the man at her side, it was all he could do to stay quiet.How dare she flaunt what she’d done to him?
Libertine Delacroix, who for tonight had dressed as Lady Liberty, was speechless for all of twenty seconds when she saw them, and then broke into peals of laughter.
“Casey, darlin’, I should have known you’d outshine us all.And just look at this man on your arm!Introduce me this instant, you hear?”
Casey grinned.“Libby, this is my husband, Ryder Justice.Ryder, my very dear friend, Libertine Delacroix.”
Libertine held out her hand.Ryder took it, then lifted it to his lips.“I’m real partial to liberated women, Mrs.Delacroix.It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Libertine giggled at his play of words on her costume and name.“The pleasure is all mine, I’m sure,” she drawled, then slipped her hand beneath his elbow.“Come along, you two.There’s a ton of people who are just dyin’ to meet you.”
“I’ll just bet,” he muttered beneath his breath.
Casey pinched his arm.He looked down and winked at her.
“You promised to be nice,” she warned.
“No, I didn’t.I just promised to come.”
