Page 7 of His Duchess' Wicked List

Jane was waiting for her at the front of the house, near the carriage, as arranged. A footman helped her into it, and then they were off, hurtling through the dark London streets towards Selina’s home in fashionable Grosvenor Square.

Maddie gazed out the carriage window in despair, watching the gas streetlights sputtering furiously. It was so dark that she could barely make out the buildings. She absolutelymustfind that list, but she had no idea how it was even possible.

She could have lost it anywhere in Hyde Park. She berated herself soundly for her foolishness in even bringing it outside the house. Howcouldshe have done such a stupid thing?

Selina will know what to do.She always knows what to do.

The trip seemed to take forever, but in reality, it was only a few streets away. She counted herself lucky that she and her friend were both living in Mayfair. As the carriage drew up in front of the tall, grand house in Grosvenor Square, her friend’s London residence, Maddie started to open the carriage door, even before the wheels had stopped turning.

Bronson, the Huxleys’ butler, looked surprised and a bit disgruntled when he finally opened the door. Clearly, he wasn’t expecting any callers this evening. But he knew her well and didn’t make a fuss when she insisted on entering the house, striding into the grand foyer as if the very hounds of hell were on her tail.

“Stay here and wait for me, Jane,” she barked at her lady’s maid. She then turned to the butler. “I will find my own way, Bronson. I know where Selina will be!”

The butler looked a little startled but didn’t protest.

Maddie knew he was used to them coming in and out of the house on a whim. And shedidknow exactly where Selina would be. At this hour, her dear friend would have sought escape from the claustrophobic dining room and be curled up reading in the study—as well as sneaking a half glass of brandy, for good measure, if the occasion demanded it.

There was no one about in the long hall as Maddie made her way towards the study, flinging back the hood of her cloak so she could see better.

She flung open the study door, letting out a sigh of relief. It seemed her friend hadn’t disappointed and was indeed doing exactly as Maddie suspected she would be doing—sitting in the chair behind the desk, even though the chair was swiveled around, enshrouding Selina in darkness.

There was only one candle burning on the desk, so it was very difficult to see, but Maddie could clearly make out the brandy decanter on the drinks cabinet, top off, with a glass beside it.

Clearly, the occasionhaddemanded a little liquid entertainment.

“Why is it so dark in here?” she demanded, closing the door firmly. “Never mind! Oh, Selina, I am in a dither! You willneverguess what has happened!”

Maddie barely drew in breath. She was so flustered that she couldn’t help spilling it all out to her friend, right this minute. She had no idea how long they would be able to talk privately—someone might come and interrupt them. And she had promised her family that she wouldn’t be long. Her mama would probably send out the Watch to look for her if she overstayed.

“I lost the list!” she cried, her heart skipping a beat. “It must have slipped out of the book in Hyde Park! Oh, Selina, if anyone recognizes my handwriting, I am surely doomed! My mother shall kill me or marry me off to some old baron in the countryside before I can draw breath, or something else equally horrendous.” She managed to gulp some air. “I must find it! Youmusthelp me!”

Selina was oddly silent.

Maddie frowned. She simply didn’t have time for games.

“Do you have any ideas?” she entreated, her heart skipping a beat again. “Any at all?”

On tenterhooks, she waited for a response. Any response.

Irritated, she was just about to entreat Selina again. What was wrong with her?

“Oh, you would be surprised by the ideas I have, My Lady,” a deep, masculine voice responded, sounding amused.

Maddie’s heart hit the ground with a thud. She didn’t know who was sitting in that chair, but it decidedlywasn’ther best friend.

CHAPTER 4

Maddie felt like a cold hand had touched her on the shoulder, turning her to pure ice. The chair finally swiveled around. The figure within was abruptly illuminated by the solitary candle on the desk.

Dear Lord, it was the man from Hyde Park. And he was clutching something in his hand… which looked suspiciously like her list!

Maddie’s mind started to spin at a dizzying rate. Was she imagining it? But shemustbe imagining it! How could the devilishly handsome man whom she had been mooning over for the entire day be sittinghere, in her dear friend’s study, drinking brandy and waving her list around as if it were a victory flag? Was she losing her senses entirely?

The man stood up, slowly unfolding himself from the chair. She watched him, as fascinated as a bird by a snake, as he walked slowly towards her. It was only when he was standing so close to her that she could smell his cologne that she snapped back to reality.

This appalling situation reallywashappening. And he really did have her list!

Maddie didn’t think. She simply reached out, trying to snatch it out of his hand. He laughed, in a lazy way, holding his hand higher still, so she was forced to jump a bit in a vain attempt to retrieve it.

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