The Belligerent Miss Boynton AND The Lurid Lady Lockport (Two Companion Full-Length Regency Novels) Read Free

any relation to Sir Roger Boynton, a man best known for his success in breeding fine horses?"
    "He was my father, yes," Amanda shot at him, with a look that told him to speak well of Sir Roger or not at all.
    So much for Jared's hopeful assumption that the girl was an actress foisted on the Patronesses by some young bucks as a wager. She seemed, if outrageous, at least to be legitimate. He warned himself to tread more cautiously as he pursued his interest in the girl. And he was interested.
    "I greatly admired your father's horseflesh, actually, and have several of his best bloodlines in my stables at Storm Haven," he informed her solemnly, quickly noticing that he had struck a chord with the chit. Oh, yes, this was promising. The girl was decidedly softening toward him.
    "You knew my father?" she asked, her gold-coin eyes becoming disturbingly moist, leaving her looking uncomfortably vulnerable.
    But not so vulnerable that Jared refused to press this first advantage. "Most assuredly, Miss Boynton, though I was no more than twenty when he died. England lost a fine man in your father. He was a good soldier in his prime, and a gifted horse breeder."
    This was becoming almost embarrassingly easy. The chit was more than half won and Jared knew it. Not about to let his opportunity slip past him, he turned to Mrs. Halsey and requested her to allow him the pleasure of Miss Boynton's hand in the next set.
    His tone brooked no denial, and the flustered Mrs. Halsey quickly agreed—for even little gray mice knew better than to naysay the wealthy, powerful, dangerous Lord Storm. Besides, she needed a few moments alone to think up a suitable story to tell Amanda's stepfather and her employer, Peregrine Denton, when the man asked for her report on the success or failure of the evening. Saying that the child had danced with Lord Storm might keep her from being turned off without so much as a recommendation. If Miss Amanda would only be cooperative, that is.
    Unfortunately for the now hopeful companion, Miss Amanda immediately proved that being cooperative was the very last thing on her mind as, scenting a sensation in the making, Jared said, "I beg your pardon, Miss Boynton, but you may not dance until you've been approved by the Patronesses. He looked at her levelly. "Do you have you this permission?"
    "Of course," Amanda announced calmly, and without a blink to announce what could only be an out-and-out fib.
    "Oh, laws, laws ." Mentally Mrs. Halsey shredded her letter of recommendation, packed her shabby portmanteau, and resigned herself to Lady Forsythe and her three pug dogs, two of which had the most unfortunate tendency to become nervous on the carpets. Added to these problems, she felt certain she was near to swooning again, for the room was definitely beginning to swim before her eyes. "Miss Amanda, as we have only just arrived, you know you have no such permission. Why, you haven't even been introduced . Think of your stepfather, how desperately frantic he was to secure you a voucher, how angry he will be!"
    "That pleasant thought is uppermost in my mind, Mrs. Halsey," Amanda countered sweetly as she held her hand out to Jared. "Are you game, my lord, or shall silly ton edicts force you to abandon the course at the first fence?"
    Jared didn't know what audacious rig his companion was running, but he was not one to shy at any hazard. Why, he might even be barred from Almacks himself—which could only be seen in the way of a heavenly blessing. He offered her his arm, and she laid her small, gloved hand on his sleeve. "Ah, another rule broken and added to the mound of sins piled high at my door. We shall both be served up for breakfast all over Mayfair tomorrow, you know," he pointed out, bending toward her to whisper the words into her small, shell-like ear. "In other words, my dear Miss Boynton, I would not miss the next few minutes for the world."
    "As long as you're aware of your own danger, my lord," Amanda whispered back at