Page 59 of The Scoundrel and the Lady

Agnes frowned. “Her butler told us as much.”

Harriet shushed her.

“I believe we were just finishing up,” Iris said. She stood and held a hand out to the pinched Miss Frisby. “I shall be in touch. Thank you for your time.”

The woman shook Iris’s hand, but gave both Harriet and Agnes looks of deep disapproval.

No, she would not do at all. Iris’s friends were nonnegotiable. If someone didn’t like them, then they weren’t for her.

The three of them stood in silence until Miss Frisby left the room. Once she’d closed the door, they all giggled.

“Tell me that is not who you are considering hiring for your travels,” Harriet said.

“Well, I had been, but now I’m not so certain.”

“She seemed awfully severe,” Agnes said.

Harriet held up her hands. “That’s it. If Agnes deems someone too severe, then they are not qualified to spend travel time with you.”

“Perhaps I should include both of you in the rest of my interviews,” Iris said.

Harriet and Agnes exchanged glances.

“What are you two up to?”

“Nothing,” Harriet said perfectly innocently.

“Mm hmm.”

“Though we do have a favor to ask for this evening,” Agnes said.

“Of course you do. Heaven forbid you come to see me for no other reason than to visit.”

“Not true. But yes, tonight we do need a favor,” Harriet said. “You must say yes.”

“Of course. Anything for the two of you. You know that.”

“Excellent. Let us go up to your rooms, then. There isn’t much time to get you ready.”

It was then that she realized that, unlike her, dressed in an afternoon receiving gown, her two friends were quite obviously ready for an evening out. She stopped walking as they climbed the stairs.

“Wait a moment, what is this about?” Iris asked.

“You already agreed,” Harriet said. “You cannot change your mind.”

“She’s right. A promise is a promise,” Agnes said.

“I don’t recall promising.” But she followed them all the way up the stairs anyway.

“Now then, tonight Lucy is having her debut ball. You have been an important part of her life, and it is crucial that you are there,” Harriet said.

Which meant that Merritt would most certainly be in attendance. She’d have to see him. His handsome face and mesmerizing blue eyes. That scruff of whiskers he never quite freed his cheeks and chin of that made her want to run her fingers along their bristle.

Agnes had already nudged Iris down onto the chair in front of the dressing table and begun taking down her hair while Harriet rifled through Iris’s wardrobe.

“You’ve got to have the right dress in here somewhere,” Harriet said.

Iris turned her head quickly to see how far into her armoire Harriet was digging. Panic seized her heart. She tried to stand to stop her friend. Agnes pushed down on her shoulder, though.

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