Now, when Lucy had a party, half the ton clamored for an invitation. What a difference a year made. But true to her character, Lucy had kept her dearest friends, Cassandra Monroe and Jane Lowndes, close to her and the three remained inseparable. Yes, Garrett could abide Miss Lowndes if he had to. She made Lucy happy, and that was what mattered.

As for the scheme the two were cooking up, Garrett would have to get to the bottom of it sooner rather than later. A scandal couldn’t end well. How could they believe otherwise? Those two women, always so certain of themselves. Damn it. He’d had enough experience with Lucy’s schemes to know that they often lacked preparation and ended poorly or at least caused a great deal of havoc before ending happily. The Mrs. Bunbury plot alone sounded as if it were quite enough trouble. What else could they possibly dream up in the way of a scandal? Garrett scrubbed his hand through his hair again. Best not to answer that question.

He turned from the window and walked to the bed where he slid onto the mattress and lay facing the wood-beamed ceiling. He rubbed his temples. Sleep had long been a jest to him. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually slept through an entire night. He hadn’t made it through a night in the last ten years without waking in a cold sweat, hearing Harold Langford’s screams.

Garrett closed his eyes. He was tired, suddenly, exhausted. Isabella would be arriving tomorrow. She’d come and meet his friends. What would it be like to have his two worlds together? He’d spent the last ten years ensuring they remained far apart. His past in the army in Spain, his present as the heir presumptive to the Earl of Upbridge. They were entirely different circumstances populated by entirely different people. Well, except for Claringdon and Swifdon, that is. Both of them had been in the army in Spain with him. Good men.

Garrett had spent a great deal of time wishing he’d died in Spain. He probably should have. He’d had no business buying a commission and leaving for war. Not since his cousin Ralph was dead and the Upbridge title would pass to some unknown cousin or revert back to the Crown if Garrett died as well. But he’d done it, just the same. Done it and lived. Lived with his regrets.

He groaned. The prospect of the house party had been mildly amusing before. He was happy to see his good friends Swifdon and Cassandra marry. Marriage wasn’t something he’d given much thought to before but he didn’t begrudge others from making a happy match.

Speaking of marriage, Lucy had said she would turn her sights to finding him a suitable wife after she finished with Miss Lowndes. He rubbed his temples again. It made his head hurt to think about that. Cassandra was lovely and accomplished and would make a fine wife, but she wasn’t his sort. Not that he had a sort, but if he did, she would be more of someone who stood up for herself, argued a bit, was spirited …