The Husband Hunt Page 0,3

the woman might enjoy. Nothing as risque as the volumes Mrs. Morgan had given her during their visits in the country inn. Those had been...well, frankly, they had been rather shocking...and titillating all at the same time. Lisa had found herself fascinated by the tale of the prostitute Fanny and her adventures. The descriptions of what had occurred had quite taken her breath away and left her imagining what it would be like if Robert were to do some of the things to her that Fanny's lover had done to her.

Lisa scowled unhappily at the thought of Robert. Their nearest neighbor at Madison and Lord of Langley. He was also a dear family friend as well. And Lisa had been in love with the man since she was knee high. He was beautiful and strong and smart and...thought of her as nothing more than a little sister. Seeing Christiana and Richard so happy, and Daniel and Suzette so happy had made Lisa long for a husband and happy home too and it had galvanized her to make Robert realize she was not a child and was perfect for him. She'd done everything she could think of the last two years to achieve that end, but the idiot man appeared to be blind and stupid and still persisted in treating her like an annoying, if adorable, little sister. And frankly, she was quite sick of it. Lisa had determined that she wouldn't love him anymore and intended to find someone else to be interested in tonight's ball. Or at least try. Surely there would be someone there she would find attractive and could distract her from her interest in Robert?

Perhaps Lord Findlay, she thought, recalling the one man she had danced with when she'd come to London for the first time two years ago. She and Suzette had come in search of their father who hadn't yet returned home from a business trip. They had attended a ball with their sister, Christiana, the night they had arrived. It had been in the hopes of finding Suzette a husband. To achieve that end, Suzette had danced nearly every dance with nearly every single male in attendance. With all but one, actually, Charles Findlay. He had not asked Suzette to dance, instead he had asked Lisa.

Lisa smiled at the memory of the man. Tall, with aquiline features and ice blond hair, Findlay had been very attractive. Unfortunately, Lisa had been so busy trying to watch Robert at the ball that she'd hardly paid any attention to the man other than to take note at the fine figure he cut. But perhaps he would be there again tonight and again ask her to dance. If so, she would pay more attention. She would force herself to if she had to, Lisa thought grimly.

She might even let him take her out on the terrace for air and allow him to kiss her so that she could see if he could stir any of those warm feelings Fanny had written about in her book. If he did...well, then, Robert could go hang for all she cared. She was no longer interested in showering her love and adoration on someone who didn't appreciate it.

The slowing of the carriage drew Lisa's attention then. She glanced to Bet. The other girl was suddenly sitting a little straighter on her bench, her expression more alert as the coach came to a halt. Lisa managed a reassuring smile for the girl, despite her own uncertainty that the maid's presence would be welcomed by their host, and moved quickly to disembark when the driver opened the door.

She glanced around nervously as she waited for Bet to join her. Lisa was anxious over the possibility of being spotted and recognized, but needn't have worried. The carriage wasn't stopped in front of a house with a long walk, but had pulled up mere feet from a door in what appeared to be a back alley behind a building.

"In ye get," the driver ordered gruffly, slamming the carriage door behind Bet and gesturing to the house before them. "Mrs. Morgan won't be pleased does someone see you entering."

Lisa bit her lip, but led Bet to the door and then quickly knocked.

"Just go in," the man ordered grimly. "You're expected."

Lisa hesitated, but then sighed and reached for the knob, relieved when the door suddenly opened before her. Some of that relief was replaced with surprise when she was suddenly caught by the arm and