"The mysterious, elusive, rumor-cloaked Earl of Dexter."
"And he's handsome?"
"Devastatingly. He's…" Amanda struggled for words, then waved. "Simply better than any other I've seen."
"What else do you know of him?"
"He's intelligent, astute-he actually thought enough to get Mellors to change my wine for water and to do it so no one knew." Amanda flopped back on her pillows; they'd taken refuge on her bed. "In short, on a physical and intellectual level, Dexter's perfect. Add to that he's as rich as Croesus-far too rich, anyway, to be after my dowry-and that, if half the rumors are true, he's led the most amazingly exciting life, far, far wilder than anything I would even think of doing, and his perfection takes on an even brighter gloss."
"Hmm, but there is that old scandal, don't forget."
Amanda waved the caveat aside. "If none of the matrons nor any of the grandes dames consider it worth remembering, who am I to argue?" She frowned. "Did you ever hear what it was about?"
"Only that it involved some girl whom he supposedly seduced who then took her own life, but it was all years ago when he first came on the town. Whatever the truth, he was banished by his own father-"
"And only returned to England last year, a year after he'd succeeded to the title-that much I know."
"How old is he?"
Amanda raised her brows. "Thirty? About that. I think he appears older than he is. He's… serious."
Amelia stared. "Serious?"
"Not that sort of serious. I mean… deep. Reserved-no!-controlled. That always makes men seem older."
Amelia nodded. "Very well-I'll allow he seems just perfect for you, but how are you going to tackle the big problem? Every hostess in the ton has been trying to lure him back into society, but he refuses every invitation."
"Let's be perfectly frank-he ignores every invitation."
"Precisely. So how are you going to meet him often enough to convince him…" Amelia's words trailed away. She studied her twin's face. "You'r
e not going to try to draw him into our world-you're going to go into his world instead."
Amanda grinned. "That's my plan, at least until he's well enough snared so he'll follow me anywhere."
Amelia giggled. "You make him sound like a dog."
"Hardly a dog-a lion, perhaps. A huge tawny beast who delights in lazing in his lair and who hunts at night." Amanda nodded, her expression determined. "That's exactly what I need to do-snare and tame my lion."
She wasn't fool enough to think it would be easy. Amanda spent the day evaluating various approaches. The horse was one, but she didn't want to appear too eager, and besides, if she played that card too early, he might do exactly as he'd said and send a groom with the mount, preserving a cool, sensible distance. Cool, sensible distance was not what she needed.
But she couldn't go back to Mellors, not when he'd warned her away. Aside from being supremely foolish, that would show her hand far too clearly. And he wouldn't approve…
That thought triggered another, and another in quick succession; suddenly she knew exactly how to bring her lion to heel.
"Last night, Mellors-tonight, Lady Hennessy's. Have you taken leave of your senses?" Through the gloom in the carriage, Reggie glared at her. "If m'mother finds out I've accompanied you to such a place, she'll disinherit me!"
"Don't be silly." Amanda patted his knee. "Both she and my mother think we're joining the Montagues at Chelsea. Why would they imagine we're anywhere else?"
As the years had rolled by, she and Reggie, often accompanied by Amelia, had taken to making their own selection among the ton's proffered entertainments. As their choices did not always match those of their parents, they consequently and increasingly went their own way. Not a gossip-monger in the ton would make anything of it; it was common knowledge Reggie Carmarthen had known the Cynster twins from childhood.
The arrangement provided benefits to all concerned. The twins gained an acceptable escort who they could twist around their little fingers, Reggie gained a reprieve from the mamas who would otherwise pressure his mother to have him escort their simpering daughters, and both sets of parents rested comfortable in the knowledge their offspring were safe.
Reasonably safe.
"And you needn't carry on as if visiting Lady Hennessy's will ruin me."
"You're not married yet!" Reggie's tone suggested that event could not occur too soon for his liking. "Every other lady there will be."