“I was worried you wouldn’t be able to get away,” Mrs. Morgan said with a smile that faded as she spotted Bet. Slowing, she raised an eyebrow. “You brought a friend.”

“You remember Bet, my maid,” Lisa said and grimaced at the apology in her voice. “It seemed best to bring her along. Ladies don’t travel alone or—”

“Yes, of course.” Mrs. Morgan’s smile reappeared, wide and unconcerned. “Well, come along, the two of you then. We shall have tea and a nice long chat. It’s been ages since we last met, my dear.”

“Yes, it has,” Lisa agreed with a smile. All would be well.

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

“You do realize she’s in love with you?”

Robert grimaced at Daniel Woodrow’s words and tossed back his whiskey. Which merely made his grimace deepen. Sighing, he set his glass on the table and then glanced from the Earl of Woodrow to Richard Fairgrave, the Earl of Radnor, and asked with feigned ignorance, “Who?”

“Who?” Richard echoed dryly. “The young lady I just mentioned had come to town for the season. Lisa. Surely you recall her?” he added dryly. “The youngest sister to my wife, Christiana, and Daniel’s wife, Suzette. You grew up next door to them. Played with them when young. Are like a big brother to Christiana and Suzette, but are a hero to Lisa.”

Robert glanced around in search of one of the club servants, thereby avoiding the eyes of both of his companions. While he’d been in school with both men, he’d been a year or so behind them and hadn’t really known either of them well until Christiana and Suzette had got mixed up with the two men.

Although, he supposed, mixed up wasn’t quite the right term. Christiana had married Richard’s brother George while he was impersonating the Earl of Radnor. The man had hired scaliwags to murder his brother so he could take his place. Fortunately, the hired men had failed at their task and Richard had upheld the marriage when he’d managed to return to his life. The Earl and Christiana had fallen in love and theirs was a happy union.