Philip thought her question a strange one. “Yes. As you’ve seen by attending balls and dinner parties, those of us in my class rather stay to ourselves. The same people, same faces. We don’t need the gossip columns as we already know most everything about one another. And some of it, we hide to protect one another, too.”
“I see. If you’ll excuse me, my lord. I have a letter to write.”
Philip took a step back. “You cannot possibly be dismissing me over a letter once again. This is too important. Besides, your cousins are here.”
“I assure you this is equally important. Necessity compels me to correspond with a friend at once.”
And with that, the irritating female dashed away from him and disappeared back inside the house.
MIRANDA RACED UPSTAIRS to her room where she had a small writing desk. Quickly, she penned a letter.
Dearest Lady Harriet,
It has come to my attention that I might be causing not only distress but even danger to those whom I had no intention of harming. Please do not continue with the publication of my book. While I appreciate all you have done to bring it to light, I fear you and thus I were both misinformed as to its happy reception.
Sincerely,
Miranda Bright
Folding the paper, she sealed it with wax and addressed the plain outside. Racing back downstairs, feeling choked with worry over Lady Sarah, whose barely disguised dalliance had made it into the book, Miranda paid a stableboy to take it as far as the next inn. From there, it would be picked up by the mail coach and continue its journey to London. Luckily, it was merely a few hours away.
Then she breathed a sigh of relief although she would have to tell her uncle she’d sent off one of his servants without asking. That was the least of her worries.
Back indoors, she found Philip in conversation with Peter, and left them alone to take her place by Helen.
“Is everything well?”
“I pray so.”
“And has Lord Mercer come to ask for your hand?”
“What?” Miranda’s gaze shot to the baron who turned to look at her as if he felt her watching him. “Why would you ask that?”
“Because a notorious rake followed you from London and cannot take his eyes off you.”
“For entirely selfish reasons, I assure you. My father wants him to take me back to London and find a husband. Lord Mercer wants me to go back to protect him from Lord PerrinandMiss Waltham.”
“What doyouwant?” Helen asked.
“To stay here with you, of course.”
“That is not precisely what I meant.”
Miranda nodded. “I do not believe my wishes are important.”
Helen sighed. “Well, that may be true, but at least you can enjoy the man’s company while he is here. I assume he will stay the night, and then you will send him on his way.”
“Yes,” she agreed lightly.
At dinner, Philip was the perfect guest, conversing on many topics and earning his meal and his bed for the night with his entertaining discussion.
When he found out Peter knew something about the world of business and had successfully invested his small savings, turning a profit as his father proudly pointed out, Philip asked him questions. He was completely respectful despite her cousin’s invalid status and his lack of worldly travel.
Impressed as always by the baron’s manners, Miranda thought she hadn’t seen Peter that animated and happy in a long time.
“Enough talk of business,” her aunt declared. “You are all ignoring Cook’s delicious apple cake. And I would like to hear my daughter and Miranda give a recital after we’ve finished.”
Immediately, Philip’s glance locked on Miranda, and she was carried back to their first assembly and the two sisters’ varying talents. Sadly, that would be the same case with her and Helen.
