Her cheeks warmed. What crossed her mind was impossible. No, not impossible, foolhardy. Reckless. Simplynot done.
But her mind began a dizzying journey, as a plan slowly formed and took shape. She bit her lip in deep concentration. It would require daring. She wasn’t sure she could be so bold. But most of all, it would require the utmost discretion. For if she was found out, she would be completely and utterly ruined.
Chapter One
London, England
One week later
Her mother would absolutely die. Her father would send her away to a convent. And Sebastian and Quinn...she shuddered to think of her brothers’ reaction were they to suspect what she was doing. Yet here she stood, poised to knock on the door of London’s most renowned lover.
Jenna licked her lips and raised her hand to knock. With a sigh, she let her hand fall for the fourth time since she’d arrived on the doorstep of Grayson Douglas’s lavish London home.
She sternly castigated her cowardice as she smoothed nonexistent wrinkles from her yellow silk dress. With a swift motion, she yanked the gloves from her clammy hands and tucked them in her reticule. She wasn’t paying a society call, so it hardly mattered whether she wore them or not. And her errand was hardly lady-like. Let her not add hypocrisy to her growing list of sins. It was just one more thing her mother would have a fit over.
Hardening her resolve, she lifted her hand to knock once more, sure that if she waited a moment longer, someone passing on the street would recognize her, hie themselves straight to Sebastian and tell him where she was. Thetonwas still solidly abed at this ungodly hour, but if she stood here like a knock-kneed ninny all day, she could hardly escape detection.
To her utter dismay, her fingers curled around the knocker and rapped it sharply against the door. Muttering several choice phrases she’d overheard her brothers use, she quickly smoothed her coiffure and waited anxiously for an answer.
Finally the door slid open, and she came face to face with an older gentleman she assumed was the butler. Only he stared rudely at her. She shifted uncomfortably under his scrutiny then shoved forth her calling card. “I, uh, I am here to see Mr. Douglas,” she managed to get out.
The impertinent man smirked at her! Her cheeks flamed, but she drew herself up and pinned him with her most imperious stare. “Do you have a problem with your hearing?” No doubt he knew precisely why she was here. It was probably written in every facet of her face.
The butler eyed her with amusement. “Indeed not, my lady. Mr. Douglas is not receiving callers at this hour of the morning.” He looked pointedly at his fob.
Her discomfort increased. “I realize the hour is early, but I insist on seeing Mr. Douglas. It is of utmost importance. If you would but tell him that Lady Jenna Wycliffe wishes to speak to him concerning a most delicate matter, I am sure he would not refuse to see me.”
Honestly, was she standing here explaining herself to a servant? She’d been meticulous in her research and knew Mr. Douglas to be a habitual early riser. She glared at him, her irritation growing with each passing second. “My good man, are you going to keep a lady waiting on the doorstep all morning?” Did he just sigh? If ever she got to see Mr. Douglas she was going to inform him of his butler’s impertinence.
“Very well, my lady. If you’ll come this way, I’ll inform Mr. Douglas of your arrival. But I make no guarantees of his willingness to see you.”
So hewasawake, she thought with smug satisfaction. As she stepped into the expansive house the only reaction she could summon was a sagging jaw. It was as if she had stepped into another world. Or country, at least. Though she’d only seen pictures, she was sure this was an exact replica of a sultan’s palace. Of course, Mr. Douglas would choose such a theme to accommodate his sizeable harem. A giggle escaped her, and the butler stared inquiringly at her.
Summoning a more stoic expression, she pressed her lips together and continued on behind the man. But her eyes were still drawn to the exotic pieces of art dotting the hallways, the Persian rugs, the dark, rich colors of the walls, and the deeply burnished furniture. It all exuded masculinity, and a tickle of anticipation fluttered deep in her stomach.
She was shown into the sitting room, and the butler took his leave. She walked over to the settee, covered in red and gold brocade, and gingerly sat on the edge. All around her, ornamental pieces were strategically placed in the room, and though this April morning was quite warm, a fire blazed in the hearth. An earthy scent she couldn’t quite identify drifted lazily throughout the room, but it fit well with the atmosphere.
A rug matching the colors of the settee lay sprawled in front of the fire, and Jenna got a mental image of bodies entwined in front of the flames.
A quick shake of her head dispelled the moment of fancy, and she reprimanded herself for her wayward thoughts. Surelyeverythingshe’d heard about Mr. Douglas wasn’t true. A tiny smiled curled the corners of her mouth. But she certainly hoped so.
She looked up as the butler returned to the room, and her heart sank when she saw he was alone.
“Mr. Douglas will receive you in the library.”
She sighed in relief and hurried after the butler. Up the winding staircase they climbed until they reached the second-story landing. The butler then ushered her down a long hallway lit by ornate wall sconces. Obviously red was a favorite color of Mr. Douglas as the walls were covered in decorative red and gold paper.
As the butler stopped and tapped at the door to the library, Jenna took in a steadying breath and wiped her hands on her skirts. The door opened and the butler gestured her in. On shaky legs, she stepped into the room and jumped when the door closed behind her.
Looking nervously about the darkened room, she waited with bated breath for some sign she wasn’t alone.
“Lady Jenna, to what do I owe the honor of your most unexpected visit?” His deep voice resonated off the walls and surrounded her. A shiver raced down her spine as she followed his voice to a seat across the room.
She sucked in her breath as she caught full sight of Grayson Douglas and couldn’t have spoken if she wanted to. Sitting casually in an armchair, he personified the image of a predator. Dressed impeccably in breeches and a white ruffled shirt, he stared at her over the rim of his drink. As she moved closer to him, she took in his intense gray eyes and coal black hair. His right leg was crossed over his left knee, and his polished Hessians gleamed in the soft light of a nearby oil lamp.
She watched in fascination as he sipped his drink then ran the tip of his tongue over his top lip to remove the moisture. He set his glass down and flashed perfectly straight teeth in a knowing smile. “Do I pass inspection, Lady Jenna?”
Heat crept up her neck and warmed her cheeks. “Do pardon my rudeness, sir. Having never formally met you, I was not sure what to expect.”
