Page 10 of The Scoundrel and the Lady

“Well, yes, of course, but—”

“It is settled.” Harriet interrupted Iris. “I shall bring it up to Lady Somersby and see what she thinks.”

“I can’t imagine this is what she had in mind when she created the Ladies of Virtue,” Iris said.

“Perhaps not, but it is accomplishing similar goals,” Agnes said.

“How is this going to solve my problem with Lord Ashby?” Iris asked.

“He did not see reason when you explained to him how dangerous his articles are, but perhaps he’ll feel differently when you start rehabilitating his prideful nature,” Harriet said.

“That’s quite good,” Agnes said.

Harriet squealed in delight. “I cannot believe you actually agree with me.”

“Nor can I,” Agnes said.

Iris wasn’t so stubborn that she didn’t recognize when her friends had trumped her, both in cards and this discussion. And she wanted to be annoyed, but the truth was, Harriet’s plan might just save Iris’s brother.

…

That morning Merritt worked through his daily tasks at the Daily Scandal. He’d hoped the routine would distract him from his foul mood, but it didn’t seem to be working.

His assistant and oldest friend stepped into Merritt’s office. “What has you so incensed this morning?” Rand asked. “I can hear you slamming things around from all the way in the front office.”

Merritt glanced up from his desk. “I don’t have time for this, Rand.”

“I’ve known you far too long,” Rand said, shaking his head. “So it will do you no good to evade my questions. I’ll get the information out of you eventually. I was trained by the best.”

“Arse.”

Rand smiled. “Earl.”

“Now you’re just being cruel.”

Rand fell into the chair across from Merritt’s desk. “So, out with it, then.”

“It’s this chit.” Normally he wouldn’t have shared such a thing, but he’d known Rand his entire life. Anything less than pure honesty and his friend would badger him. “I met her the other evening.”

“Oh dear.” Rand hid a smile behind his hand.

“No, it isn’t like that.” Though, it wasn’t as if he weren’t attracted to her. “She finagled an introduction then all but asked me to dance.”

“Bold. I like it.”

Merritt rolled his eyes. “You would find that appealing.” In truth, he had found it appealing as well, but then she’d opened her mouth and had ruined his initial reaction. “It would seem she has taken issue with the ‘Gentleman’ articles. Wants me to pull them and print a retraction.”

Rand made a noise of pure indignation. “That’s ridiculous. Why is she even reading them?”

“She isn’t, per se. But her brother is, and evidently, I am leading him off the straight and narrow,” Merritt said.

“How positively awful of you.”

Merritt leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands across his abdomen. “Indeed.”

“How is it possible that women in the gentry still have no notion what their men do when they’re out of eye—and earshot?” Rand asked.

“They see what they want to see, nothing more, nothing less.”

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