A dare too far, p.27
A Dare too Far, page 27
But he was the very devil. At least these days he was.
And she’d wanted him.
More than usual, and that was saying a lot.
Then, she’d become more than a little enraged at the wanting since she’d determined not to want him any longer. So, she’d given him a much-needed bath.
But that had merely driven her desire higher. The contouring, you know, the water droplets sluicing over a sharp jaw and down a corded neck.
She’d have to call in a maid about the rug.
In a moment. For now, there were the books. She ran her finger along the spines. Anne Radcliffe, Henry Walpole, Sir Walter Scott. Now these, these were stories worth hearing.
Her own story? Not so much.
She was only an invisible debutante in love with a duke’s charming younger brother.
A tragedy, not a romance. Not even worth a single page of narrative. She pulled a slim copy from the end of the shelf. Charles Perrault. It fell open to the obvious page, Cindrillon, in the original French. She could read French. Barely. But she did not need to read it to know the story. Her father adored it and had told it to her often throughout her childhood, referred to it often even now. A little orphan girl elevated to royalty through hard work and patience. And a little magic. His exact life plan without the magic.
Lillian rolled her shoulders one, two, three times and shoved the book back between the others. She had no desire to be Cinderella, the girl whose survival depended on the goodwill of others. She hissed air between her teeth. So helpless.
Wasn’t that what she was doing? Existing, letting good float her way when it willed and not when she willed it? A disaster of a first London Season with another approaching. If only she had a fairy godmother to turn things around.
No.
If only she could be her own fairy godmother.
Hm. Excitement thrummed through her. Why not? She had already determined to play the role with Lord Devon. She dropped her face into her hands with a groan. What had she been thinking? Bother. She should never have given him that letter, never meant to give it to him. She’d written it for herself alone, an attempt to purge the man from her heart and mind.
But drenched in liquor, asleep where he shouldn’t be, his utter magnificence in complete disarray and pitiful deterioration, he’d looked like he needed a kick in the arse.
Hopefully, her letter would be a well-aimed and forceful kick. She’d not signed it, thankfully. He did not know her handwriting. He’d never guess.
Her eyes widened, and her legs wobbled. There’d been no postage on the letter. She’d said it had come from beyond the manor, but he’d know otherwise. She clutched her racing heart. No, no, no, no. Perhaps he’d think it was Katherine who’d written it or Jane. Or even Jane’s young, flirtatious stepmother.
She forced her heart to calm and her muscles to relax. He’d still never guess it was her. He barely saw her. Never had. They had shared a dance during the Season, a single minuet in heaven during which he’d barely registered her presence, looking over her head and winking at every woman who passed his way.
Lillian was invisible. He’d likely forgotten her as soon as he’d left the room. He’d never know the letter came from her hands.
It had been a daring risk to give him the letter, but it would be worth it if it could turn the pickled pumpkin of a man back into a prince.
If she could do that for Lord Devon, why not do it for herself?
She could change the invisible wallflower into a… not a princess. She’d never aim so high. Maybe… an incomparable.
“Ha.” She waved the thought away. Impossible.
Still… she strode back to the window, hope rising warm and thick like steam in her chest. Jane could set her own rules, forge her own destiny. Why not Lillian?
She might as well try. It was better than waiting and being ignored.
She settled into the window seat and watched as another man entered the maze in search of Lady Jane.
Lillian would become her own fairy godmother, and then she’d transform herself into next Season’s incomparable.
Read on!
ALSO BY CHARLIE LANE
The Debutante Dares
1 Daring the Duke
2 A Dare too Far
3 Kiss or Dare
4 Don't You Dare, My Dear
5 Only Rakes Would Dare
6 Daring Done Right
Christmas novella: A Very Daring Christmas
London Secrets
A Secret Desire
Sinning in Secret
Keep No Secrets
Secrets Between Lovers
The Secret Seduction, A London Secrets novella
The Cavendish Family Series
Leave a Widow Wanting More
Teach a Rogue New Tricks (coming April 2022)
Bring a Boxer to His Knees (coming July 2022)
Three Kisses Till Christmas
ABOUT CHARLIE
USA Today bestselling author Charlie Lane traded in academic databases and scholarly journals for writing steamy Regency romcoms like the ones she’s always loved to read. Her favorite authors are Jane Austen (who else?), Toni Morrison, and William Blake, and when she’s not writing humorous conversations, dramatic confrontations, or sexy times, she’s flying high in the air as a circus-obsessed acrobat.
Connect with Charlie:
www.charlielaneauthor.com
Charlie Lane, A Dare too Far
