Break some rules

den pocket of Anne's cloak and placed one bare hand to the pulse at her throat, attempting to stem the pounding there. The great marble entryway was dark and quiet; the ball had end

h excitement. She felt another laugh bubbling up and quashed it. She had to get herself above stairs and into bed before she was discovered. She had worked too hard to keep her activities that night a secret-she would not allow herself to be caught! Creeping across the marble foyer toward the wide staircase that promised protection from discovery, Callie felt her

d trudged toward her brother, who did not move from his place leaning against the doorjamb. Dipping under his arm to enter the warm library, lit by two fireplaces and a dozen or so candles, Callie muttered to herself, "One would think I would have noticed all these lights on the way in." "One would think, indeed," Benedick said dryly, closing the door. Callie swirled to face her brother as she heard the latch click. Seeing his sister in the well-lit room did not soften Benedick's mood. "Good God! What the hell are you wearing?" "Mother would not approve of your using such language in the company of a lady, Benedick." He was not going to be distracted. "First, I'm not enti

ighed again, realizing that there was no path to escape. "Oh, fine. I sneaked out. I went to-" She stopped. There really was no easy way to say it. "You went to-?" "I can't say," she whispered. Benedick's eyes narrowed, his patience having run out. "Try." She took a deep breath. "I went to a public house." "You did what?" The words came out at a near roar. "Shh! Benedick! You'll wake the whole house!" "I'm not so sure I shouldn't!" He lowered his voice to a crazed whisper. "Tell me I've misunderstood you. Did you j

m for a recommendation." "Ah, well. That changes everything." "There's no need for sarcasm, Benedick," she said curtly. "It isn't very becoming." "Unlike an unmarried lady-the daughter of an earl-asking one of London's most notorious rakes for a recommendation to a tavern. That, of course, is the very epitome of becoming." "When you put it that way-I can see how it might appear- problematic." "Might appear?" Benedick ran a hand through his hair again. "What would possess you? What on earth were you thinking? What on earth was he thinking?" He stopped, struck by a thought.

. Here. In this house. Under this roof. Drink until you can no longer stand. Curse like a dockside sailor. Set your embroidery aflame, for God's sake. But, as your elder brother, the head of the family, and the earl," he stressed the last words, "I forbid you from frequenting taverns, public houses, or other establishments of vice." She snorted in amusement. "Establishments of vice? That's a rather puritanical view of things, isn't it? I assure you, I was quite safe." "You were with Ralston!" he said, as though she were simpleminded. "He was perfectly respectable," she said, the words coming out before she remembered that the carriage ride home was anything but respectable. "Imagine-my sister and

dhood, "No one will ever know. You said I could have adventure inside the house!" He watched her, not speaking, for several minutes, until she was entirely certain that she was not going to smoke a cheroot that evening. Just as she was about to stand and make her exit from the room, he heaved an enormous sigh. Hearing it, Callie's face broke into a grin. She had won. She clapped her hands in excitement. "Excellent!" "I shouldn't push my luck if I were you," Benedick said with warning as he reached into his breast pocket and removed a thin silver rectangle. Setting the box on the table next to his chair, he threw a catch on its underside, reve

to cough. Horrible racking coughs that consumed her strength. She was vaguely aware of Benedick taking the burning stick from her hand, allowing her to pound upon her chest. Desperate for fresh air, she took huge gulps of breath, which only caused her to cough more, leading Benedick to bang on her back until she stopped him with a wave of her hand, fearing that the blows would simply knock any usable air from her lungs. When she was once again able to focus on something other than her need for air, she registered her brother towering above her, trembling. Certain that he was quaking with concern for her well being, she looked up to allay his fears only to discover that he was instead shaking with barely controlled laughter. Her reassuring look immediately b

e now, Benedick, you're not really going to tell me you don't think I deserve an adventure or two, do you? After all, you provided me with the most recent instrument of my demise." "A point I should like to forget." "Coward." They smiled at each other. "Mother will have my head if she finds out." "She won't find out," Callie said, "and, even if she did, it's not as though she has anything to worry about. I'm well and truly on the shelf. I should think I'm allowed an eccentricity or two." Benedick snorted with laughter. "Smoking and drinking are rather remarkable eccentricities, Callie. I'm not sure the ton would accept them- despite your having one foot in the grave." He paused, thinking. "I'm rather shocked that Ralston would encoura

he awkward conversation. "I know, Benedick. I'm not silly. Men like Ralston are not for women like me." Perhaps if I say it enough, I'll begin to believe it. She forced a chuckle, attempting to lighten the mood. "I should think Ralston would be far more adventure than I could endure." He smiled. "Not only you. Think of your poor old brother." Returning his smile, she stood, placing a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you for the cheroot, Benny." And, with that, she left the room, climbing the great marble stairs to her bedchamber. Callie prepared herself for sleep slowly and methodically, refusing to allow Benedick's words to upset her. Certainly, he was right.