Wild Lily (Those Notorious Americans Book 1)(40)

Marianne strode around to face her and her smile was rueful. “You have a look about you that says there was more to the evening than rain and riding.”

Lily wiggled a brow and headed for the door. “Perhaps there was. But I’m not telling.”

“So there’s no need for Uncle Killian to load his shotgun?”

Lily broke into laughter. “None.”

“Well, then, let’s have our breakfast.” Marianne scurried to catch up with her. “One question, though.”

“Of course. What?”

“Did Nora help you remove your corset last night?”

“She did.”

“So the one I saw on your bed was the one she helped you remove?”

“That’s two questions,” Lily noted.

Marianne rolled her eyes. “Which means that when you went out last night—?”

“I didn’t wear one.”

Her cousin’s mouth fell open.

“I assure you without it, I wasn’t cold.” Lily patted her arm as they descended the stairs.

Marianne stumbled, nearly missing a step, but laughing in spite of herself.





In the breakfast room, Carbury and Julian lingered over coffee and their newspapers. When Lily and Marianne appeared in the doorway, both men rose. Carbury looked beyond them, searching for Lady Elanna, Lily surmised. And Julian appeared strained. Lily hoped whatever distressed him was not anything about last night’s midnight ride.

Carbury regained his seat while one footman attended to Marianne’s chair.

Julian came round to hold Lily’s and as he scooted it under her, one finger touched her shoulder. A caress brief and light as an angel’s wing.

“Did you sleep well?” Julian asked the ladies, his gaze drifting to Lily.

Marianne and she agreed as the footman hovered to offer them tea or coffee.

Julian, who had a chair to Carbury’s right, regained his seat and folded away his newspaper.

“What news this morning?” Lily asked him while the footman poured her coffee. Julian was not a man to move rapidly, but purposely and his readiness to put it aside concerned her. “Anything we should know of?”

“The usual.” Carbury shook his head. “The government debates a trade bill.”

“We should have fine weather today,” Julian offered with a twinkle in his eye. “Not a cloud in the sky.”

“The rain we had last night,” Marianne said, “cleared things up, wouldn’t you say?”

Lily gave her a kick under the table.

Julian sat without expression, his notice drawn by their interplay. “I agree. So then. Croquet, perhaps, on the lawn?”

“No cards?” Lily teased.

One of his dark brows dipped low. “So early in the day, Miss Hanniford?”

“No gambling before noon?” She was into the joke now and tsked. “In Texas, any time of day is good.”

Carbury scowled. “You can’t be serious.”

Marianne put down her cup, quirking a brow at their host. “Survival demands you amuse yourself through an Indian raid or a tornado.”

Lily nodded at Julian as if to say, So there.

Julian looked incredulous. “Tell me you haven’t done that.”

“Played poker during a tornado? Yes, I have. You’ve never shaken so hard in your boots until you’ve heard a whirlwind rip through your town and lift up barns and cattle and throw them down hundreds of feet away.”

Julian stared at her. “I say, you’ve been through the worst circumstances.”

Carbury shook his head as if he didn’t believe her. “Incredible.”

“And Indian raids?” Julian asked her.

“Most of our Indians—Apaches they were—fled west before the war, so playing poker during a raid is a tall tale old cowboys tell. And Marianne, too.” She winked at her cousin.

Marianne chuckled and paid attention to her coffee.

“But both of us play to win.” Lily twitched a brow at him. “Still want to give us a turn?”

He laughed heartily. “I look forward to learning new tricks.”

“After breakfast, then?”

“It’ll be my pleasure,” he said.

“Say that after you’ve lost to Lily, my lord,” said Marianne. “I think I’ll examine the side board. You?” she asked Lily with a bat of her lashes.

“You make me sound like a cardshark.”

Rising to her feet, Marianne nodded to Julian as if they were conspirators. “She is. Never doubt. And you, dear sir, are in for it. Do not take your purse.”

“She’s that good?”

Marianne closed one eye. “Better.”

He chuckled. “I love a challenge!”

“Oh, good morning!” Carbury shot to his feet, wiping his mouth, perky as an eager swain as Julian’s mother and sister walked in. “Your Grace. Lady Elanna. Delighted to have you. Delighted.”

Julian followed with greetings to his mother and sister. The two were seated at the table, with Elanna invited to sit to one side of Lord Carbury.

As Lily followed Marianne to the breakfast service on the sideboard, she could not mistake Elanna’s thin smile to the older man. Their banter was hollow. Elanna’s responses lacked emotion.