Page 90 of The Art of Sinning

“No, of course not. I confess I’m rather eager to meet this ladder-climbing sister of yours.”

God help him. Jeremy hurried into the hall. At least he could count on Bonnaud to be discreet in front of the earl. He wasn’t so sure about Amanda.

“Jeremy!” she cried as he entered the foyer.

“It’s good to have you here,” he said as he bent to receive her kiss.

Despite the complications she presented, he wasgenuinely glad to see his little sister. It had been far too long. Which was why he pretended not to notice that she wore a typically unfashionable gray wool dress.

“Why didn’t Mother come with you?” he asked. When it dawned on him that their trip might not have gone well, his stomach flipped over. “She’s all right, isn’t she?”

“She has a cold and is exhausted from the trip, which is why we left her with Lady Zoe. Not that you care.” Amanda sniffed as she removed her antiquated bonnet and handed it to the footman. “We haven’t heard a word from you in months.”

He relaxed. If Mother had been seriously unwell, Amanda wouldn’t be chiding him. She’d be braining him with the nearest fire poker.

“Yes, I’ve been such a bad boy,” he teased her. “Traveling about and seeing the world and behaving as if I were agrown man.Fancy that.” He turned to Bonnaud. “Good to see you, too, sir.”

They shook hands, Bonnaud gazing at him with a meaningful look. But before Jeremy could figure out how to get the man alone, Blakeborough cleared his throat.

“Ah, yes,” Jeremy said. “Lord Blakeborough, may I present my sister, Miss Amanda Keane. Amanda, this is my friend, the Earl of Blakeborough.”

“Friend?” Amanda looked the earl over skeptically. “I thought he commissioned a portrait from you. That’s what Mr. Bonnaud said.”

Blakeborough blinked at her forthright words. “I... er... did indeed commission a portrait from your brother, but we’ve become friends in the meantime, haven’t we, Keane?”

“I hope so.” Because that would make the man more likely to accept Jeremy’s suit. Which hestillhadn’t done.

“In fact,” Blakeborough added, “Keane and I are starting a gentlemen’s club together.”

“I thought you were returning to America any day now, Keane,” Bonnaud said warily.

“Heis,” Amanda put in.

Assaulted from all sides, Jeremy stifled a groan.

The earl smoothly said, “I believe that my friend’s plans aren’t entirely settled. Eh, Keane?”

“Not entirely, no,” Jeremy said noncommittally.

“Well, regardless, I need to speak to you alone.” Bonnaud turned to the earl. “Is there a place where Keane and I can be private, my lord?”

“You may use my study,” Blakeborough said, though his eyes burned with curiosity. He smiled at Amanda. “Miss Keane, I’m sure you’re famished after your journey. I was just going in to breakfast myself, so if you’d care to join me...”

“I’d be honored, sir.” With a thin smile, Amanda took the arm he offered.

As she left, she cast a glance back at Jeremy. He knew that glance. It said,You’re in big trouble, mister. And handing me off to a handsome earl is not going to get you out of it.

One crisis at a time.

He gestured down the hall. “Shall we, Bonnaud?”

“Certainly.”

If Yvette slept as late as she usually did, perhaps he could settle everything before she even arose. Otherwise, between his irate sister, Samuel’s missing son, and an offer of marriage thatstillhadn’t been made properly, this had the potential to turn into quite the Shakespearean drama.

Twenty-Two

Yvette awakened slowly, deliciously. She’d been having the most extraordinary dream. Jeremy had been lying naked between her legs, doing exquisitely shameless things to her that made her feel like a woman. His woman. Even now, thinking about it, her legs fell open—