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Felicia and Grayson over to Eliza’s house. They’re going there for tea.”
    Grayson thought that was a wonderful suggestion. He nodded in full agreement but stopped mid-nod when Felicia shook her head.
    â€œJeffrey wasn’t invited, nor were you, if you’ll recall.”
    Ruth waved the comment away. “Eliza adores Jeffrey, and he can assume the role of chaperone, or rather, guardian.”
    â€œI’m twenty-four, Mother. I haven’t needed a chaperone for years.”
    â€œNot for you—for Grayson. The poor man is going to need all the guarding he can get, considering your state of mind.”
    Grayson grinned, extended his arm once again to Felicia,who’d begun to sputter, and sent Ruth a nod. “We’ll be fine, Mrs. Murdock, but I do appreciate your concern.” He looked down at Felicia. “Ready?”
    â€œOf course I’m ready, Frank. Lead the way.”
    With Ruth’s voice echoing in his ear, saying something that sounded remarkably like “Your sister has lost her mind and there’s nothing any of us can do to help her get it back,” Grayson helped Felicia down the short flight of steps and then heard the front door shut behind them.
    â€œI like your mother,” he said, patting the gloved hand Felicia had placed over his arm. “She’s very managing.”
    â€œYou should try living with her.”
    â€œI said I liked her, but I don’t think I’d be up for living with her.”
    Felicia laughed, sounding much more like the Felicia he knew, and then she took over the task of steering them toward his phaeton, reminding him of one of the few times he’d danced with her and she’d taken to leading him around the dance floor.
    Felicia brought them to a stop right beside his horses and surprised him when she let out what sounded remarkably like a whistle. “Nice phaeton. Is it fast?”
    Trepidation was immediate. “It has been known to move rather quickly.”
    She moved up to it and trailed a gloved hand along the polished surface. “Will you allow me to drive it?”
    â€œHmm . . .”
    She turned her head and smiled a smile that was just a bit too cunning. “Did you, or did you not, make certain promises today?”
    â€œWell, yes, but those had nothing to do with allowing you to drive my phaeton.”
    â€œDriving such a remarkable conveyance would go far in lifting my flagging spirits.”
    Not only was she captivating at times, it appeared she was also rather diabolical.
    â€œDo you know how to drive?” he heard himself ask before he could stop the words from escaping his mouth.
    â€œMy mother tells everyone how proficient I am with the reins.”
    Five minutes later, as Grayson hung to the seat for dear life, he came to the realization that Mrs. Murdock was not above exaggeration when it came to her daughter’s abilities.

3

    T he next morning, Felicia was somewhat surprised to find herself in a delightful frame of mind. Even though she’d slept little—having spent far too many hours contemplating her future and the disturbing events of the wedding and what had occurred afterward with Grayson—she felt better than she had in weeks, perhaps even months.
    Unfortunately, feeling in tip-top shape was causing her a slight bit of distress, given that she was currently being fitted for a new wardrobe. She was supposed to remain perfectly still while pins were being thrust her way, but her high spirits kept urging her to fidget.
    She needed to think of something distracting, something that would allow her to relax and not get poked with any pins, something that might amuse her.
    The perfect distraction immediately sprang to mind.
    Grayson was worthy of more contemplation, especially since he’d finally proven to her without a shadow of a doubt that gentlemen really were dramatic creatures.
    She’d never dreamed Grayson Sumner would