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Revised, Published Version

"You can not be serious!" Abagail said, staring at Jade with enlarged eyes and her mouth agape. She sat, careful not to wrinkle the gown she was wearing.

Her expression of disbelief remained. "Did you learn nothing from the last time? Are you trying to ruin your reputation? What are you thinking?" Abagail's shock was clear as she fired her questions without pause.

Jade remained silent, waiting for Abagail to calm down, while Suzanna put the finishing touches on her hair. Jade liked to wear her long red locks down, so Suzanna had pinned half of it up, letting the rest of the curls cascade down her back. One of her tiaras graced her head, and Jade rose. She noticed how majestic and fetching she looked in the pale blue gown. Jade needed Miriam to recognize she was a force to be reckoned with.

"Have you nothing to say? You know I am your voice of reason, Jade, and I implore you to heed my advice! I speak as your friend and only have your best interest in mind. This is pure madness, even for you!" Abagail glared at a still-silent Jade.

"Abby, please try to calm down." Jade blew out an exasperated breath.

"Calm down? How am I to calm down when you act so nonchalant?" Abagail jumped up and paced the room, hands on hips. "Meeting with him like this... again is insanity, and I fear you are acting out of haste. Have you thought this through?" She stopped, turning to stare at Jade.

"No, I have not. And I refuse to think at all because it's imperative. I must do this! Abby, I am certain all will turn out fine, since I have help this time," Jade said, trying to assure Abagail.

"Miriam is a significant detail that you appear to have overlooked." Abagail strode across the room, standing beside Jade. "You have warned me about her wicked and cunning ways. I'm afraid she will indeed be a problem, and I don't have to tell you what will happen if she were to see you. Think of the repercussions!" Anguish and fear danced in Abagail's eyes.

"Abby, shhh! I've never heard you carry on so!" She faced her distraught friend and sighed. "I am aware of Miriam and her unsavory ways, but I need to warn Lord Anson. There are things he must know, and I feel 'tis only right. I shan't sleep until he hears me out and then 'tis up to him. Tonight might be my only chance, and Miriam will not be watching me. No," Jade said, shaking her head. "Lord Anson will keep her preoccupied. I only need to rebuff him, and that should suffice." Jade shrugged with more resolve than she felt. The thought of Miriam finding out terrified her.

Jade knew better than anyone the lengths Miriam would go to get what she wanted. Nevertheless, she needed Abagail to remain calm, and with Suzanna's help, all should turn out fine. Now, Jade needed to get through this dinner party without gazing at the delectable earl. Ignoring the man could be harder than making it through dinner with Miriam unscathed.

She shook her head, clearing her mind. "Let's go through this again." Jade glanced at both girls before continuing, "Do you know what to do, Suzanna?"

"Yes, Miss Jade. I will go to the kitchen for my dinner, then come straight to your bedchamber to await you both," she said with enthusiasm, and Jade couldn't help but chuckle at her unmistakable excitement.

"Correct, and after making our excuses, we will return to my bedchamber. There will be time for me to change into your uniform and cap, and you into one of my shifts. Abby will stay with you, and the door is to be locked as soon as I leave. If anyone was to turn the locked knob, Abby will sneak back to her room through the secret passageway in the closet. Suzanna will jump into my bed and cover her face." Jade inhaled a large breath before exhaling. "I wouldn't put it past Miriam to have access to keys for every room."

Mayhap, this is madness like Abagail said. They look petrified, and my insides are quaking.

With a nervous laugh, she said, "Hopefully, all will go as planned, and upon my return, I will enter Abby's bedchamber and come through the passageway connecting our closet." Jade gave a tight smile while running her hand over the soft silk of her gown. "Shall we?" Jade regarded Abagail with raised brows.

"You forgot one crucial detail." Abagail's voice had lost its intensity, and Jade felt relieved to have her back on her side. "We must leave your closet door ajar. If indeed there is a problem, we can sneak into the closet and see what is going on, therefore giving us time to rectify the situation."

"Yes, that's brilliant!" Jade engulfed Abagail in a quick hug, turning to Suzanna to do the same. "You are the best friends a girl could ask for, and I promise not to do anything this absurd for at least another sennight." All three broke out in a fit of giggles.

Abagail cleared her throat, interrupting the joyful moment. "All right, 'tis time, and I am uneasy for obvious reasons. While I am getting used to dining here as part of the family, this will be my first actual engagement. I confess to being anxious." Concern wrinkled Abagail's brow, and Jade took her hand, holding it close to her chest.

"Abby, be yourself. Just be careful and avoid Miriam. And remember what I have told you... beware of her niceties." Jade squeezed her hand, smiling. "I will be with you every step of the way."

Suzanna bid them good luck, and they all three left the bedchamber.

∞∞∞

Lord Anson groaned as he peered into the looking glass. Dark circles and bloodshot eyes stared back, reminding him of his sleepless nights. Dressed in the latest fashion, William admired the handsome ensemble, yet knew he didn't appear as dapper as usual. However, the forest green tailcoat over his fitted gray waistcoat, matching the pantaloons that molded his muscular legs like a second skin, pleased him. His black Hessians and intricately tied white cravat finished his look.

William chided himself for being vain and felt ridiculous for worrying, like some dandy over his appearance. However, he found comfort in knowing that Lord Freeman would also be at the dinner party. A man needed his oldest friend for backup, now and again.

They were always there for one another throughout the years, and William was glad to have him as a friend. Lord Richard Freeman was wealthy, powerful, and loyal. He was the friend you could always count on. Yet Richard Freeman was also the type one did not want to cross. William could not count the number of times Richard had been there for him, and tonight would be no exception.

As he peered back into the looking glass, William noticed the forest-colored tailcoat brought out specks of green in his otherwise gray eyes. "Tis a pity I look like a haggard swine, who has been dipping in his cups too much," he muttered into the looking glass before leaving his bedchamber.

Anxiety gripped him, and he could not remember ever dreading an engagement as much. Lord and Lady Lennox were holding a dinner party tonight at their estate, and he would be uncomfortable in the same room with Jade, Miriam, and Lord Lennox, the Duke of Lancaster.

Even so, the mere thought of seeing Jade again filled him with delight. To him, she was a diamond of the first water and hard to overlook. He wondered if he could ignore such exquisite beauty, but the duke and his daughter would scrutinize his every move tonight. William's excitement died at the thought of seeing Miriam again, leaving him feeling ill.

He never gave much consideration to Miriam's motives, assuming she was just another woman seeking to advance herself through marriage. Despite having many suitors to choose from, Miriam seemed determined to become the next Countess of Lichfield. He deduced her motives were driven by greed. She knew his fortune was immense, his earldom vast, and it appeared she cared nothing for love. No, this was all about wealth, titles, and status. William could not fault her. He had never thought to marry for love either, but that was before everything changed. That was before Jade.

William could no longer deny he was a different man. He was quite ashamed of his foolish reasons for agreeing to—one day—court and wed Miriam. He had relented to please his overbearing and nagging mother, yet his intentions were out of loyalty to his family, not greed.

That his mother, the countess, was still living at their country estate, and would not be in London for a fortnight. It was a great relief as she seemed eager to announce his intentions to the ton. The mere thought caused him to lose his breath, and a strange feeling of suffocation overcame him. He needed his emotions intact and wanted to get this night behind him, and then he needed a plan.

The rig of Yorkshire Coach Horses arriving outside his townhouse on Curzon Street interrupted his musings. The sound of someone yelling just as the carriage came to a halt stopped him. Curious, William stepped back and looked in the voice's direction.

"Milord, pray, excuse my manners, but I have an urgent letter for you!" The servant jumped from his horse and bowed. "Again, I apologize for causing a ruckus, but I have strict orders to deliver this note straight into your hand." The young man sounded out of breath, and sweat beaded along his brow.

Lord Anson accepted the note, and with confusion, placed it inside his waistcoat. He handed the servant a coin. "'Tis no problem, but who has sent you, lad?"

The servant had already reached his horse, but replied, "I do not know. Please read it, milord." He took off in a gallop but glanced back at the earl, giving him a quick nod and what appeared to be a grin.

Lord Anson stood bewildered as the servant rode away. He turned and entered his carriage, knocking on the roof, to signal the coachman he was ready to depart. William searched inside the luxurious carriage for a candle and once lit, he broke the plain wax seal, unfolding the parchment with shaky hands.

Lord Anson, please meet me. Same time, same place, urgent!

Those ten little words shook him to the core as he realized they were from Jade. William prayed his little spitfire had been careful, in whom she trusted. A loyal servant was a gift, but they were indeed quite rare. Since when do I refer to her as mine? More importantly, how do I make her mine? Lord Anson shook his head in dismay. What would prompt her to take such a risk?

William felt heat spread to his face; the rush of being alone with her was almost too much to bear. He feared his adoration might be premature, and he was assuming things once again. Hadn't she already taken him to task over this very thing? William smirked at the memory. The little minx put him in his place, and he found it oddly arousing.

The carriage rolled to a stop on Piccadilly in front of the Lancaster Estate, and trepidation crept up William's spine. A tremor shook his body, and he braced himself for what was to come.

∞∞∞

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Lady Lisa

September 2023 Revised Version