"You can't scare away every man who shows up at my door!"
"I can damn well try." He kept his tone quiet as he stepped closer to her. "You have no idea of the grip you have on me Hanford and I'll be damned if you fall in love with someone who isn't m...
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"There will forever be just two words that come to this Author's mind the morning after any good party, 'shock' and 'delight.' Well dear reader, the scandalous accounts from last night's soiree at Vauxhall are quite shocking and delightful indeed. Emerging, phoenix-like from the ashes of irrelevance, is one Miss Daphne Bridgerton. The illustrious debutante was seen dancing not once, but twice with the season's most eligible and most uncatchable rake, the Duke of Hastings. And lest us not forget our newest arrival in the season, a bachelor with a name unknown to all except for Miss Aurora Hanford. It comes as no surprise to this Author that her smile of innocence has wooed another suitor her way. It seems that the Queen's favorites are managing to do quite well for themselves."
It was a quiet morning in the Hanford home. The patriarch was occupying himself with papers and talk of business with his younger brother. His only male heir was lazying about the study, holding his head as he draped a cloth over his eyes to block out the bright sunlight peering in from the window. His audible groans could be heard every few minutes, much to his father's annoyance and uncle's amusement. "Can't you take your whining elsewhere?" Jedidiah grumbled.
"My apologies. I did not realize my dying was inconveniencing you!" Jasper dramatically moved the cloth from his face and glared at his father.
"Well you are, so please go." Jed smirked slightly before his face became blank and focused back on the papers in his hand.
"No. I wish to die peacefully right here. I want my spirit to haunt you for the rest of your days." Jasper grinned smugly as he placed the cloth over his eyes again and laid his head back.
"I will simply just move homes. I can easily find another manor to spend my time in." Jasper ripped the cloth from his face again and grumbled as he stood up and huffed in defeat. "Go fetch your sister and hasten her along. It is nearly time for her to leave."
"And just where is she going? Surely she can not be busy this early in the day."
"To promenade. Mr. Evander wishes to escort her and Teddy has agreed to chaperone while I finish my work."
"Why did you not ask me to accompany them? I deem myself rather capable of doing so." Jasper gasped, clearly offended by not being an option. He was as protective of his sister as the two men before him so he could not understand why he wasn't allowed to escort her.
"Because you are grumbling like a neanderthal and I do not wish for your sister to come home shouting her grievances about babysitting you during a time where she is meant to shine." Jasper huffed in annoyance as he realized his father was correct and left the room, of course, grumbling the whole way.
"I pity the poor girl that ends up attached to him." Teddy laughed.
"There is no doubt in my mind that Jasper won't be marrying for some time." Jed replied, sharing a laugh of his own. "Though that is quite well, Aurora is the one I am focused on."
