Just Like Heaven (Smythe-Smith, #1)

by Julia Quinn

“Who else?” Sarah said, rising to her feet. “Perhaps I should make a list.” “For four names?” Honoria could not help but ask.

Iris burst out laughing. “It’s not funny,” Sarah said. Iris wiped her eyes. “But it is.” “It won’t be,” Sarah warned, “once you have to play.” “Which is why I shall take my laughter now,” Iris replied.

“Then you’ll steal me a piece?” He gave her his best smile. His best I-almost-died-so-how-can-you-deny-me smile. Or at least that’s how he hoped it appeared. The truth was, he wasn’t a very accomplished flirt, and it might very well have come across as an I-am-mildly-deranged-so-it’s-in-all-of-our-best-interests-if-you-pretend-to-agree-with-me smile. There was really no way to know.

“Do you have any idea how much trouble I could get into?” Honoria asked. She leaned forward in a furtive manner, as if someone might actually be spying on them. “Not very much,” he replied. “It’s my house.”

She looked at him accusingly. “The Crusades are not dull.” “But you brought only Volume Two,” he reminded her. “I can certainly go back and look for the first volume.” He decided to interpret that as a threat.

There was a time and a place for everything, Honoria decided, even pettiness.

There was a collective gasp, and Daisy faked a swoon, sliding elegantly into Iris, who promptly stepped aside and let her hit the floor.