Chapters (46)
- Front Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Contents
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-one
- Twenty-two
- Twenty-three
- Twenty-four
- Twenty-five
- Twenty-six
- Twenty-seven
- Twenty-eight
- Twenty-nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-one
- Thirty-two
- Thirty-three
- Thirty-four
- Thirty-five
- Thirty-six
- Thirty-seven
- Thirty-eight
- Epilogue
- Author’s Note
- Acknowledgments
- Back Cover
Holding up a hand, she tipped her head and met his look with a frank stare of her own. “Before you break into the ‘Joan, we’re playing a dangerous game’ lecture, please remember that I’m the one who’s anonymous, and you’re the one who takes the risk. So if anyone should be lecturing, it would be me giving the speech to you. And so help me, if you begin one sentence with anything regarding me being of the feminine sex, I will take this letter opener and—”
“There’s no need to threaten me, Joan.” Morgan’s look shifted into one of amusement as he deftly slid the gilded letter opener away from her reach. “You’re right—”
“Say it again,” Joan demanded.
“I don’t think I will.” Morgan lifted the leather folder and smirked. “I’ll be back this afternoon, long before we need to prepare for the ball.”
Joan folded her arms across her chest. “You better not be late. You think my warning with the letter opener was hostile, but I will do far worse—I’ll find you a wife.”
Morgan stilled. “Don’t remind me. But, since you did mention the w-word, I do believe it would be wise to remind you that since tonight is your come-out, less is more.”
Joan narrowed her eyes and tipped her chin lower, as if bracing for a verbal fight. “What exactly do you mean by that?”
Morgan shrugged. “I think you know very well. As it is, I wanted to wait a year, maybe two before you started this whole debacle—”
“I’d be on the shelf before I even had a chance!” Joan retorted. “Nineteen is late enough. There are ladies married at nineteen!”
“Other ladies are not you, Joan.” Morgan’s voice sliced through her argument.
She froze, then slowly nodded. “Exactly. Which is why I will be a sensation. Don’t you think? After all, I’m not simpering, limpid, and boring. I fancy myself to be fascinating, really. And I think others might as well. Having a secret always makes a person more interesting, don’t you think?”
Morgan sighed. “I know. Believe me, more than anyone else in the world, I know. Which is why I’m taking this seriously, as should you. Just…do me a favor, please?” He turned his brown eyes imploringly to her, and some of her bravado faded into affection for her now only brother. They’d lost Percy; all they had was each other now. She might fight Morgan, but in the end, she knew he had her best interests at heart, so with a nod, she waited.