Regency Rogues

August 2019

Outrageous Scandal

September 2019

Rakes’ Redemption

October 2019

Wicked Seduction

November 2019

A Winter’s Night

December 2019

Unlacing the Forbidden

January 2020

Stolen Sins

February 2020

Candlelight Confessions

March 2020

Rescued by Temptation

April 2020

Wives Wanted

May 2020

Disgraceful Secrets

June 2020

Talk of the Ton

July 2020

Exotic Affairs

About the Author

LAURA MARTIN writes historical romances with an adventurous undercurrent. When not writing, she spends her time working as a doctor in Cambridgeshire, where she lives with her husband. In her spare moments Laura loves to lose herself in a book, and has been known to read from cover to cover in a single day when the story is particularly gripping. She also loves to travel—especially to visit historical sites and far-flung shores.

Regency Rogues: Wives Wanted

An Earl in Want of a Wife

Heiress on the Run

Laura Martin

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-0-008-90700-6

REGENCY ROGUES: WIVES WANTED

An Earl in Want of a Wife © 2016 Laura Martin Heiress on the Run © 2017 Laura Martin

Published in Great Britain 2020

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

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Table of Contents

Cover

About the Author

Title Page

Copyright

Note to Readers

An Earl in Want of a Wife

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Three

Epilogue

Heiress on the Run

Back Cover Text

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Epilogue

About the Publisher

An Earl in Want of a Wife

Laura Martin

For Jack, my constant companion,

your smile melts my heart.

And for Luke, every day with you is

even better than the last.

Chapter One

Lizzie peered out of the carriage window and tried to calm her racing pulse. Never before in her life had she felt so alone. Before boarding the boat bound for London she’d heard so much about the city, but now she was here she couldn’t quite believe how busy and crowded it was. Momentarily she longed for the rolling hills just outside Bombay, but then silently reprimanded herself. She hadn’t been happy there, not truly. This was the opportunity she’d been waiting for her entire life.

As the carriage slowed Lizzie let the curtain fall back into place and tried to put herself into the role she was to play for the next few weeks. For at least a fortnight she was no longer to be Miss Elizabeth Eastway, orphaned daughter of a penniless second son. Instead she would play the role of Miss Amelia Eastway, cherished only child and heiress to a substantial fortune. She found herself smiling ruefully, knowing Amelia was the only person in the world who could have persuaded her to go along with such a ruse. If anyone else had asked, she would have laughed and shook her head, then proceeded to bury it in whatever book it was she was reading, but Amelia was different. Amelia was the sister she’d never had, her only champion and friend in a world that did not favour penniless orphans. Lizzie knew she would jump in the path of a crazed horse to save Amelia, so when her cousin had asked her to swap identities for a couple of weeks she could hardly say no.

Of course, Amelia hadn’t thought the whole thing through. Lizzie knew by agreeing to swap identities with her cousin it would be she who suffered in the long-term. She didn’t have a large dowry or a substantial inheritance; people would forgive Amelia, but penniless Lizzie would be ruined. If her cousin had realised that, Lizzie knew she wouldn’t have asked, but as always Amelia hadn’t even stopped to consider the consequences. In Lizzie’s mind she didn’t have much to lose, so when Amelia asked, she agreed. It wasn’t as though she ever expected to make a good marriage or start a family, so Lizzie kept telling herself she wasn’t sacrificing that much for her beloved cousin.

The carriage rolled to a stop and Lizzie took a second to compose herself, trying to mimic the sunny smile that came so easily to Amelia’s face. She had to be cheerful and outgoing these next few weeks; there was no one to hide behind, no one to take the focus off her. All her life Lizzie had been kept in the shadows and she’d rather got used to it there. Now she was being pushed into the light and she just hoped she didn’t let her cousin down.

A footman opened her door and Lizzie allowed him to help her down. She stared up in awe of the mansion they’d stopped across the street from and had to remind herself not to gawp.

‘If you’d just follow me, miss,’ the footman said, indicating they were to cross the road and ascend the steps to the very house she was in awe of.

Lizzie nodded, stepping out on to the street.

Immediately she heard a man shout and a horse let out a snort. Spinning to her left, Lizzie cowered backwards. The beast was almost upon her, rearing up, hooves flying through the air towards her face. Lizzie stumbled and lost her balance, landing with a jarring thud on the dusty street. She wished she could close her eyes, wished she could look away, but it was as though she were entranced. As if in slow motion she saw the rider pull on the reins, trying desperately to bring the beast under control, but Lizzie knew it was too late. The horse would trample her and there was nothing she or the rider could do about it.

With an almighty shout the rider threw himself off the horse and used the momentum to push the beast to one side. The horse’s hooves met the ground just inches from Lizzie’s head and she shuddered at the sound of the impact.

For a long few seconds the entire street was silent, as if digesting the near tragedy. Then the horse whinnied and the spell was broken. Half a dozen people rushed towards her and the rider, but he motioned for them to stay back. Slowly he rose from the ground, limping slightly from where he had landed on one leg, and approached his horse. Lizzie watched as he soothed the beast, stroking its mane and speaking quietly in a gentle tone. After handing the reins to a young lad he turned back to Lizzie.

Lizzie swallowed and tried to meet his stare, but she could tell he was furious. Slowly he walked towards her and she felt at a distinct disadvantage sitting on the dusty ground, her skirts tangled between her legs and her body still shaking from fear.

He stopped when he was almost directly above her, his body blocking out the sun. Lizzie swallowed and offered a weak smile.

‘What were you thinking?’ he asked in clipped tones.

Lizzie opened her mouth to answer but found no sound would come out. She motioned vaguely with one hand.

The rider stared at her for what felt like an eternity, then offered his hand.

Lizzie reached up and took it, and allowed him to effortlessly pull her to her feet.

Now she was standing Lizzie felt a little more at ease, but only a little. He still held her hand in his own, so their bodies were quite close together and for the first time Lizzie was able to make out his features. She gulped. Trust her to be almost trampled to death by the most handsome man in London.

As she studied him Lizzie felt his eyes roaming over her features. Immediately she stiffened. Lizzie knew she wasn’t a hideous crone, but she also knew she wasn’t what society deemed to be attractive. Her hair was just a little too brown, her skin had a few too many freckles, and where men seemed to admire petite women Lizzie could look most men in the eye without straining. Many she even had a good view of their bald spots.

It had happened so many times that she could see this man’s thoughts as he looked her over. Within two seconds he had dismissed her.

‘Be more careful in future,’ he said with authority.

Lizzie found herself nodding despite his imperious tone. She wished she had mastered Amelia’s haughty look. Her cousin could slay a man merely by raising an eyebrow. Lizzie supposed it came with confidence and probably being a stunning petite blonde didn’t hurt, either.

She watched as he strode back to his horse, athletically mounted the beast and moved off. Their whole encounter couldn’t have lasted for more than a minute, but it had been enough to crush any confidence Lizzie had summoned to face the world as Miss Amelia Eastway.

The footman appeared back at her side.

‘Are you harmed, miss?’ he asked, his face ashen.

Lizzie smiled at him kindly, knowing he would likely get the blame for her clumsiness.

‘Not at all,’ she said with a false bravado. ‘Just a little shaken.’

Carefully they crossed the road and ascended the steps. As they reached the top the front door opened and Lizzie was ushered inside.

‘My dear Amelia, what on earth happened?’ A woman in her midforties rushed forward to greet her.

Lizzie supposed this was Amelia’s aunt Mathilda. And the young woman standing in the corner with a smug grin on her face was probably her odious cousin Harriet.

Lizzie felt the colour start to rise in her cheeks as she began to mumble something about falling over, then she realised this would never do. She was meant to be Miss Amelia Eastway, the sort of young woman other people admired. She needed to start acting the part.

‘It was most harrowing,’ she said, pressing her fingers to her temple. ‘I was crossing the street and I was almost trampled by a careless rider.’

Aunt Mathilda rushed to her side and took her hand.

‘What an awful ordeal for you, my dear, why don’t you come and sit down?’

Lizzie allowed the older woman to lead her into a drawing room, but as she left the hall she caught a glimpse of the expression on Harriet’s face. Lizzie knew then that Harriet had seen the whole episode and knew that Lizzie’s carelessness was to blame.

‘You must be exhausted after such a long journey.’

‘It was only an hour from the dock.’

‘Mother meant from India,’ Harriet said as she followed them into the room.

‘Oh, of course,’ Lizzie mumbled.

‘Although I never understand why people insist that travelling wearies them. It’s not as though you have to sail the ship yourself.’

Lizzie thought of the endless days of nausea and disequilibrium, the nights she’d spent staring at the rocking ceiling and wishing it were all over. Even now, hours after disembarking, she still felt a little wobbly.

‘Have you ever been on a long sea voyage?’ she asked sweetly.

Harriet shook her head.

‘No, I didn’t think so.’

Lizzie perched on the edge of an uncomfortable armchair and watched as the young woman’s eyes narrowed to slits, and realised she’d just made a big mistake. Her life for the next couple of weeks would be hard enough without making an enemy in the place that was supposed to be her sanctuary.

Either Aunt Mathilda didn’t notice the animosity between the two girls, or she deliberately ignored it.

‘I can’t believe my dear little niece Amelia is here sitting in my drawing room,’ Aunt Mathilda said. ‘The last time I saw you, you were a lovely little thing with pigtails and a gap between your front teeth.’

Lizzie smiled serenely, trying to quell the sickness in her stomach. No doubt Aunt Mathilda was remembering the sweet little blonde-haired girl and wondering when she had turned into this tall brunette. Luckily Amelia’s father had settled in India fourteen years ago and Amelia hadn’t seen her aunt since. Hopefully the older woman would just assume time had changed her sister’s daughter beyond recognition.

‘We’ve got such a busy week planned, my dear,’ Aunt Mathilda said as she rang the bell for a maid. ‘We’ve got dress fittings and shopping trips galore, and at the end of the week you shall make your début.’

Lizzie’s eyes widened.

‘So soon?’ she managed to ask, her voice breaking a little with the surprise. Amelia had assured her it would be weeks before she was meant to make her début. The plan had always been for Lizzie to step into her shoes for a fortnight at the most, and that fortnight would be spent settling into London life, going shopping and strolling round the parks. Neither of them had ever expected Lizzie would actually have to go out in public as Miss Amelia Eastway.

‘Your father was quite insistent,’ Aunt Mathilda said softly. ‘He instructed that you make your début as soon as possible.’

Of course it was all Uncle Robert’s doing. Even Lizzie had to admit Amelia had become a handful in the past few months, although she, of course, knew the reason behind this rebellion. Amelia’s father had sent his daughter to London so she would find a husband and settle down, and by extension not be his problem any longer. It made sense that he had wanted Amelia to be out husband-hunting as soon as possible—it meant less time for her to cause mischief.

Lizzie knew she couldn’t be introduced to London society as Amelia, but right now she couldn’t think of a good reason to give Aunt Mathilda, so instead she just smiled and nodded. She would have to feign an illness, or invent some family tragedy that required a period of mourning. Anything that would push back the début until Amelia returned. Her cousin had promised she would not leave Lizzie alone in London for more than a week, two at the most, and flighty though Amelia was she normally kept her promises. Amelia simply wanted to have a few days of freedom to find the young officer she was enamoured with before being introduced to society. Lizzie had no doubt they would both get into trouble for this ruse, but she was certain Aunt Mathilda would want to keep any hint of the scandal quiet and that would only be possible if she hadn’t been presented to London as the season’s most eligible heiress.

‘But let’s not get ahead of ourselves,’ Aunt Mathilda said. ‘You’ve had a long and tiring journey and I’m sure you just want to settle in and rest. I will have one of the maids bring some light refreshments to your room.’

‘Thank you,’ Lizzie said and stood. She smiled at her aunt and cousin and exited, but instinct made her pause outside the door, just out of sight.

‘It’s a good job she’s rich,’ Harriet said quietly.

Lizzie heard Aunt Mathilda tut at her daughter, but no reprimand was forthcoming.

‘Don’t tell me you’re not thinking the same, Mother. She’s hardly beautiful and she’s one of the most awkward people I’ve ever seen.’

‘Don’t complain, Harriet, you’ll have enough to contend with when the gentlemen hear how much her dowry is. We want you to make a good match as well, remember.’

‘It’s so unfair,’ the younger woman said. ‘She’ll get to marry someone titled and be a great lady, all because her father has made money in trade. She doesn’t deserve it. Not after what her father did to us.’

Lizzie realised she didn’t want to hear any more. Quietly she slipped away, following a maid upstairs and trying to fight the tears that were forming in her eyes.

Chapter Two

Daniel was in a foul mood and he knew he only had himself to blame. He was standing on the perimeter of the Prestons’ ballroom trying to look inconspicuous. And failing quite spectacularly. Already the eligible young women were beginning to flutter their eyelashes in his direction and, even worse, their mothers were looking at him with undisguised interest. He hadn’t attended a society event like this in years; in fact, he could count the number he’d shown his face at on one hand.

Which meant all the young ladies of marriageable age were immediately intrigued, and convinced he must be there to search for a wife.

Daniel groaned. He was there to look for a wife. As little as he wanted his current lifestyle to change, a visit to his accountant that afternoon had put things into perspective. He needed money, and he needed it soon. Hence his presence at the Prestons’ ball this evening, and his need to be sociable and personable.

‘What on earth brings you here, Blackburn?’ A familiar voice broke into Daniel’s thoughts.

Daniel turned and smiled his first genuine smile all evening. The night wouldn’t be such a disaster with Fletcher by his side.

‘I’d have thought that was obvious,’ Daniel said, keeping his expression impassive. ‘I’m here for the scintillating company.’

Fletcher moved to Daniel’s side and perused the ballroom.

‘You’re creating quite the stir. I’ve heard the name Lord Burwell mentioned at least a dozen times and I’ve only been here five minutes.’

Daniel knew he should be pleased, he should want every eligible young woman with a good dowry thrown at him that evening, but he couldn’t quite conjure up the enthusiasm.

Fletcher looked at him appraisingly. ‘You’re looking for a wife,’ he said in a matter-of-fact tone after a few seconds.

‘Good God, is it that obvious?’ Daniel asked, hoping he wasn’t coming off as desperate.

‘There are only three reasons a man comes to these events,’ Fletcher explained. ‘And seeing as you don’t have any female relatives to escort and you don’t need to do any social climbing, it must be to look for a wife.’

Daniel nodded glumly. Fletcher was right, of course, he was there to look for a wife and he felt rather shocked by the fact. Just yesterday he had been a bachelor, firm in his conviction that he would never marry, happy to flirt with any woman who crossed his path, but unwilling to settle down. The problem was now he had no choice—he had to marry. The idea of finding a young woman with a good fortune and marrying her to acquire that fortune didn’t sit well with him. In fact, he felt rather disgusted with himself that he was about to become one of the fortune hunters he so despised in society, but he really had no other option. He kept telling himself his future wife would be well-treated, she’d gain a title and an old family name, but he felt bad that she wouldn’t be loved. For one thing Daniel was sure of was that he was never going to risk his heart again. He’d loved once and the experience had left him emotionally battered. He wouldn’t allow that to happen a second time.

‘There’s no need to look so down, old chap. We’ll have you dancing with the most interesting and beautiful before the evening’s out.’

Daniel found himself scowling. He didn’t want a beautiful wife, or one that was particularly interesting. He wanted someone kind and quiet, who would let him continue with his current lifestyle and not interfere. Plus, of course, she needed to be wealthy. He found himself wondering when he had become so cynical, but deep down he knew. You couldn’t have your heart broken and come out unscathed, and Daniel had certainly had his heart trampled on.

‘I need someone rich,’ he said bluntly.

Fletcher looked at him appraisingly but didn’t comment.

‘Then we have a shortlist. There are three very wealthy young women in attendance tonight.’

‘How do you know all this?’ Daniel asked.

‘When you have four sisters out in society it’s hard not to know everything about their competition. Including the size of their dowries.’

‘Who are the three?’ Daniel asked, hating having to be so direct, but knowing it would be better to get directly down to business. Then he wouldn’t have to attend so many of these events.

‘First up is Miss Priscilla Dethridge, daughter to the very successful banker Mr James Dethridge.’ Fletcher motioned discreetly to a young woman in her early twenties. She was pretty enough and seemed to be having a lovely time on the arm of a young gentleman Daniel didn’t know.

‘Then there’s Miss Trumping. No one knows how her father made his money, probably wasn’t strictly legal, but she does have the advantage of being very attractive.’

Daniel looked over at the stunning young woman Fletcher was indicating. She was beautiful, there was no denying it, and she was surrounded by far too many men.

‘And the last?’ Daniel asked.

‘Miss Amelia Eastway.’ Fletcher was scanning the room looking for the young lady in question. ‘Father is Colonel Eastway, an army man settled in India, very successful trading business. She’ll be an extremely rich young woman when he meets his maker.’

Daniel waited patiently for Fletcher to locate her and perhaps even introduce him.

‘I can’t seem to see her.’ Fletcher shrugged. ‘She is quite an unassuming young thing. Not unattractive exactly, just rather normal.’

Daniel smiled. She sounded perfect. Or at least perfect for him. Wealthy, available and not someone he was going to lose his head over. Although all three qualities were necessary, he rather thought the last was the most important. Daniel was certain he never wanted to lose control like that again and Miss Amelia Eastway sounded like the perfect young woman to save him financially and allow him to carry on with life as normal.

‘And now I need to go and do my duty,’ Fletcher said with a sigh that Daniel didn’t quite believe. His friend was quite dedicated to his family, whatever he’d have the world think.

Once again Daniel was left alone on the perimeter of the ballroom. He could sense the curiosity of the female guests almost reaching a peak and knew if he wasn’t careful he would find himself trapped into dancing with some young woman or another. He grimaced. All he wanted was an introduction to the eligible Miss Eastway, to murmur something charming as he kissed her hand and to make his escape. Desperate though he might be, Daniel was sensible enough to know he would not make much more progress than that tonight, but he at least wanted to make the acquaintance of the woman he was going to marry.

He scanned the ballroom for someone who met Fletcher’s description of Miss Eastway with little success. There were no plain-looking women surrounded by fortune hunters that he could see. He felt a stab of panic as he wondered whether she had already been claimed and let his eyes wander to the open doors leading to the terrace. Surely even a naïve young woman new to London society wouldn’t allow herself to be led outside by an unscrupulous suitor.

Telling himself he was just being a gentleman, checking on a lady’s safety, he strode across the ballroom, resolutely not looking at anyone in his path. In truth, he felt a bubble of irritation. If the innocent Miss Eastway had gone and got herself compromised, it would ruin all his plans.

He stopped short as a young woman stepped into his path.

‘Lord Burwell,’ she purred, dipping into a curtsy and looking up at him with a coquettish smile.

‘Mrs Winter.’ Daniel took her hand and brought it to his lips.

‘It has been far too long,’ the widow said.

Daniel couldn’t help but smile. He and the charming Mrs Winter had been bumping into each other for six months now. Each time they shared a drink and a few words and then moved on, but there was a certain spark in her eyes that told Daniel he wouldn’t need to do much more than smile and she would come to him willingly.

‘I’ve missed our scintillating chats,’ Mrs Winter said, her hand curling around Daniel’s upper arm possessively.

They walked a few steps together, Daniel always keeping one eye on the door to the terrace in case someone matching Amelia Eastway’s description came through the opening.

‘I heard the most scandalous rumour about you,’ she said, dropping her voice to a loud whisper.

‘I’m sure it’s not true.’

‘It was involving you and a pretty little actress called Victoria.’

Daniel felt a grin tugging at the corners of his lips. Victoria was a sweet little thing who just seemed to enjoy Daniel’s company and demanded nothing more.

‘And my dear friend Mrs Highton has been dropping the most obvious of hints. I do hope you don’t favour her over me.’

Daniel grimaced. This was why nothing had happened between him and Mrs Winter; he got the impression that she could become rather possessive. Daniel had never wanted a long-term mistress, instead preferring short liaisons with women who did not make a fuss if he called things off.

‘How could I prefer anyone to you?’ Daniel asked, turning towards the young widow with his most dazzling smile.

That seemed to placate her a little and Daniel took the opportunity to escape. He wasn’t in the mood for flirtation tonight. His decision to marry was sitting heavily on him and he wanted to find his possible future wife, introduce himself and return home before he could talk himself out of it.

He reached the terrace doors in less than a minute and slipped out into the cool summer’s night. The outdoor space was illuminated by candles dotted along the stone balustrade, but there were plenty of dark corners a young woman with little experience could find herself lured to by a man with less than noble intentions. Daniel wondered what to do next—he’d expected to come outside to find someone who fitted Miss Eastway’s description and had planned to whisk her gallantly away from danger. Now he was here even he knew that plan was foolish. Firstly, the people who slipped outside normally didn’t want to be disturbed, and secondly, he couldn’t very well rescue a damsel in distress if he couldn’t see her.

Daniel almost gave up and returned to the ballroom, but compared to the cramped, stifling atmosphere inside, the summer’s evening was lovely and cool. He thought he might sit for a moment or two before returning to find the woman he was going to marry.

Quietly he slipped down the stone stairs into the garden proper and seated himself on a little bench looking out into the garden. Not for the first time he wished he was back on his estate in Cambridgeshire, strolling about his own garden with a glass of whisky in his hand. Or even at his club in London, sitting quietly with a newspaper or discussing the day’s events with his friends. Balls and ballrooms didn’t suit him. He wondered not for the first time if there shouldn’t be an easier, more pleasurable way of finding oneself a spouse, but knew in today’s society things were unlikely to change any time soon.

Daniel was just about to get up from his bench when he heard the doors to the ballroom open on the terrace above him. For a few seconds the music swelled and pulsed, then it was quiet as whoever had slipped outside closed the door. Daniel waited for the whispers of two illicit lovers and wondered if he should clear his throat to let them know they were not alone.

No whispers came, just the unmistakable swish of silk as someone started to descend the stairs towards him.

Daniel didn’t want to startle the woman, but equally he didn’t want to be caught in a deserted garden with some empty-headed young thing. He stood, coughed quietly, then approached the steps.

In the darkness Daniel heard a cry of surprise before he saw something moving towards him at great speed. He tried to jump backwards, out of the way of the careening object, but his reflexes weren’t quite quick enough. Something warm and soft crashed into him and knocked the breath from his lungs. Unable to keep his balance Daniel toppled backwards, taking whatever it was with him. They landed together with a quiet groan.

For a few seconds Daniel was too stunned to move. It was obvious now the object that had come hurtling down the stairs towards him was a woman. A rather stunned young woman if her silence was anything to go by.

Slowly he became aware of her body pressed up against his. One of her legs was nestled between his thighs and her chest was pressed closely to his. Her face must have been cradled into his neck as he could feel her soft breath tickling his skin. She was trembling, he realised, and too shocked to move.

Gently he rolled her over and sat up, being careful not to move suddenly.

‘Are you hurt?’ he asked, thinking himself rather foolish. After all, who could fall down quite so many steps and not be hurt?

‘Erm...yes...no. I don’t know.’

Daniel found himself smiling. She was conscious at least and sounded rather charmingly befuddled.

‘Let me check you over,’ he said, in a voice that invited no argument.

It was dark outside, too dark to make out much of the young woman’s features, but Daniel’s eyes had become accustomed to the blackness and he could at least see her outline. Gently he reached over and took one hand in his.

He heard a sharp intake of breath as he traced the lines of her arms with his fingers, checking for any broken bones. He did the same with her legs, but when he was just reaching her knees it seemed she had regained at least some of her wits and pulled sharply away. Daniel sighed—he was just starting to enjoy himself.

‘I’m sure I’m fine,’ the young woman said in a voice that wasn’t in the least bit convincing. ‘What about you?’

‘Me?’ Daniel asked. ‘Oh, I’m used to cushioning the falls of fair maidens,’ he said with a grin. ‘But that was certainly the most pleasant introduction I’ve had all evening.’ Daniel pictured the young woman’s cheeks turning pink and silently reprimanded himself; sometimes he couldn’t help his flirtatious side. ‘There’s a bench just over here. Let’s see if you can make it over.’

Daniel thought he saw her nod her head in the darkness and stood, leaning down to assist her up. He felt her totter a little and slipped an arm around her waist to steady her. She was slender, but Daniel could feel the flare of her hips beneath her dress and felt the first stirrings of desire. Reluctantly he pushed them away. This was most likely a well-bred young lady who he couldn’t dally with. And, he reminded himself sternly, he was here for one purpose only: to find a wealthy wife, no matter how much the idea galled him.

Together they hobbled over to the bench and sat down.

‘What happened?’ he asked gently, not letting go of the woman’s hand.

She sighed. ‘You’ll think me foolish.’ There was a modicum of humour in her voice and Daniel found himself smiling. The whole situation was farcical really, and most young women would be in hysterics, but this one was taking it all in her stride.

‘I wanted to escape...’ She paused, then corrected herself. ‘No, I needed to escape. If I spent one more second in that ballroom, I would have screamed.’

‘Surely it wasn’t so bad that you had to throw yourself down the steps?’

Although he couldn’t see her expression Daniel rather thought she’d smiled.

‘Almost.’ She sighed. ‘I’m sorry, I’m sure I’ve ruined your...’ Instead of finishing the sentence she waved a hand in his general direction. ‘Whatever it is men wear to these balls.’

Daniel found himself leaning in a little closer, trying to make out what his mystery woman looked like. He knew she was tall, with a slender waist and delightfully curvy hips, but he wished he could catch a glimpse of her facial features.

‘I just wanted some peace and quiet, just for a few minutes. When you coughed you startled me and I tripped.’

‘I wanted you to know you weren’t alone.’

Daniel felt himself drawn to this woman and started to gently trace his thumb backwards and forwards across her hand. He knew it was wrong and he knew he should send her back inside immediately. If they were found in this position, outside and alone together, there would be a terrible scandal, but he couldn’t quite bring himself to send her on her way just yet.

‘Why did you want to escape the ball so much?’ Daniel asked. ‘A lovely young woman like you must be the centre of attention.’

He could tell she grimaced even in the darkness. ‘I feel like an antique up for auction.’

Daniel laughed, he couldn’t help himself.

‘Not that I think I’m any kind of prize, quite the opposite,’ she rushed to reassure him. ‘It’s just when you know people are only interested because of money...’ She let her sentence trail off.

Daniel suddenly felt a little guilty. All evening he hadn’t thought of anything but securing himself a wealthy wife. He hadn’t considered what his potential spouse’s feelings would be on the matter, hadn’t even thought of her as a real person. That must be what this young lady felt like, an object up for auction. Daniel pushed his qualms aside. He would treat his wife well, give her anything she asked for, and all he needed in return was for her to save him financially. It wasn’t even as though he’d squander all her money gambling like most husbands; her fortune would be going to a good cause.

‘We should get you back inside before you’re missed,’ Daniel said reluctantly. He didn’t know why he was so loath to let her go, he was certainly enjoying himself more than he’d expected to at a ball, but he knew she had to return to the ballroom before someone noticed she was gone.

‘I am sorry I fell on you,’ the woman repeated.

Daniel stood and offered her his arm. She stood up rather too abruptly and he found himself face-to-face with her. Even in the darkness Daniel could make out the curve of her lips and suddenly he had an overwhelming urge to kiss her.

Without thinking of the consequences Daniel lowered his lips to hers, feeling the sharp intake of breath as she realised what he was about to do. He half expected her to push him away and storm off, but for a few seconds she stood frozen, as if too stunned to react. Then he felt her body melt into his.

It was the first time she’d been kissed, Daniel was sure of it, but her lips were full and inviting and Daniel knew he wouldn’t be able to pull away. He breathed in her scent and pulled her closer to him, revelling in the small moan that escaped from her lips as they kissed.

Suddenly she stiffened and Daniel knew the moment was over. Even though he’d met this woman only a few minutes previously he knew she wouldn’t become hysterical, just that she’d come to her senses. Slowly he pulled away, keeping one hand resting gently on her waist.

‘That... I mean... Well.’

Normally Daniel would have prided himself at rendering a woman speechless, but already he was beginning to feel like a churl. He’d just seduced an innocent young woman he had no intention of marrying. It went against everything he believed in, every code of honour he lived his life by.

‘That was unforgivable of me,’ he said softly. ‘I just couldn’t help myself. I wouldn’t have been able to resist kissing you even if there was a sword to my heart.’

‘I should go,’ she said, pulling away. Almost immediately she stumbled and Daniel sprang forward, steadying her so she didn’t lose her feet.

‘Can I at least know your name?’ he asked quietly.

It seemed like an eternity before she answered and Daniel had the absurd feeling that she might give him a false name.

‘Amelia,’ she said eventually. ‘Amelia Eastway.’

Daniel felt the bottom drop out of his world as Amelia slipped from his grasp and started to ascend the steps back to the terrace.

‘May I call on you tomorrow?’ he called after her.

He wasn’t entirely sure, but he thought he saw her nod her head before she disappeared into the darkness completely.

Chapter Three

Lizzie was a bundle of nerves. It didn’t help that she hadn’t slept much at all. Every time she’d closed her eyes she’d been back in the Prestons’ garden being seduced by a mystery man. She didn’t even know his name. Even now she could feel the faint tingle of desire as she remembered his hands on her waist and his lips brushing her own.

She wondered if he would call on her, as he’d said he would. She didn’t know if she even wanted him to. She was torn. Half of her wanted to meet this man who had kissed her so passionately the night before, but the other half wanted to hold on to the dream. If he saw her in the light of day, Lizzie knew he’d realise he’d made a mistake. Perhaps it would be better if their dalliance was kept as something magical, something Lizzie could hold on to for the rest of her life. It wasn’t as though he would desire her once he actually met her properly and maybe it would be better if she didn’t actually see the disappointment in his face as he looked at her in the daylight.

‘Look, Amelia,’ Aunt Mathilda said as she entered the room, ‘these have just arrived for you.’

She was carrying a beautiful bouquet of flowers, tied with a red ribbon. Lizzie found herself smiling, wondering if they were from her mystery gentleman the night before. She hadn’t even found out his name, she realised.

She took the card from Aunt Mathilda and felt her smile falter slightly as she read it. No, these certainly weren’t from her mystery gentleman. The card was signed Mr Anthony Green and Lizzie found it hard not to shudder as she remembered their encounter the night before. She’d been introduced to many eligible gentlemen, both young and old. Most had been pleasant, although she suspected had been more interested in putting a face to the dowry than actually making her acquaintance. Mr Anthony Green had been repulsive. Not in looks—in fact, he was quite a handsome man in his early thirties—but in manner. He’d lingered over her hand just a little too long and gone out of his way to touch her upper arm at any opportunity. That in itself, of course, didn’t make him repulsive, but she’d found that he had spent more time ogling the fine jewels that hung around her neck than actually looking at her. And he’d spoken of her fortune and her dowry to her face. It might have been Lizzie’s first night out in society, but even she knew dowries were something that were whispered about behind closed doors. Mr Green had made it perfectly clear that all he was interested in was her money, and that he didn’t even think it was worth trying to disguise the fact.

Aunt Mathilda arranged the flowers on the windowsill and looked at them approvingly.

‘I’m sure you’ll be receiving many more bouquets, my dear, and hopefully a few gentlemen callers this afternoon.’

Lizzie saw Harriet’s eyes narrow at the idea of her receiving a call from an eligible gentleman, but Lizzie tried to ignore it. She wasn’t sure why Harriet disliked her so much on first sight, but she wasn’t going to provoke the situation.

‘I’m sure you’re glad you were sufficiently recovered from your illness to make your début now,’ Harriet said snidely.

Lizzie had tried to feign an illness to delay her coming out, hoping that Aunt Mathilda might let her stay hidden in her house until Amelia returned. She’d complained of a headache, fever and light-headedness, and had even gone as far as to hold the teapot to her cheeks before Aunt Mathilda came to check on her, but the older woman had sat down beside her, taken her hand and told her not to worry. She had seen through Lizzie’s ruse and put it down to Lizzie feeling nervous about making her début, so Lizzie had found herself hustled into her beautiful dress and into the carriage before she could even begin to think of another excuse to delay.

The door to the drawing room opened quietly and the butler, an elderly man with an unflappable demeanour, stepped inside.

‘The Earl of Burwell to see Miss Amelia Eastway,’ Tippings announced.

Immediately all three women stiffened. Certainly they had been expecting calls from gentlemen of the ton, but an earl was in quite another league.

Aunt Mathilda quickly crossed the room to Lizzie’s side.

‘You know the Earl of Burwell?’ she asked, her face drained of colour.

Even Harriet looked a little impressed.

Lizzie couldn’t answer. Had she met the Earl of Burwell? If so, he hadn’t stuck in her mind and she rather thought an earl should do.

Unless, of course, he was her mystery gentleman. Lizzie suddenly felt sick. Had she been kissed by an earl in the Prestons’ garden? Surely not. Surely that was something a girl would know. He’d seemed so nice, so normal, not earl-like at all. She felt her face flush at the idea of him seeing her in the light of day and wondered if she had time to escape. Maybe feign a swoon.

The door opened once again and a man stepped inside. Out of habit Lizzie found herself standing and dropping into a little bob of a curtsy as a greeting. Only then did she have the courage to raise up her eyes and look at the man she might or might not have kissed the night before.

Her mouth fell open and her eyes widened. Whomever she had expected to be standing in front of her it wasn’t this man.

‘You,’ she said before she could stop her mouth forming the words.

Lizzie could see this man was equally as surprised.

A thousand thoughts ran through Lizzie’s mind at once, not a single one coherent or helpful. Aunt Mathilda looked between Lizzie and the earl, but ever the polite hostess she invited him to sit without any further enquiry.

‘It is delightful to see you again, Miss Eastway,’ the earl said, sounding rather too composed for Lizzie’s liking.

The pieces started to fall into place and Lizzie wondered how she had not recognised his voice the night before. The Earl of Burwell was certainly her mystery gentleman, but it was not the first time they’d met. He was also the gentleman who had saved Lizzie from nearly being trampled to death by his horse, the man who had dismissed her with a single glance.

Lizzie wanted to curl up and disappear. She wondered how disappointed he was when he saw her, when he realised last night was not the first time they’d set eyes on each other.

‘It’s a beautiful afternoon,’ Aunt Mathilda said, trying to break some of the tension in the room.

‘It is indeed,’ the earl said.

‘How did you and Miss Eastway meet?’ Harriet asked and Lizzie remembered the smirk on her cousin’s face as she had witnessed Lizzie’s humiliation on her arrival to London.

The Earl of Burwell turned to face Harriet and looked at her appraisingly. His gaze was superior and a little haughty, and Lizzie was surprised Harriet didn’t squirm under the intensity of it.

‘We were formally introduced last night,’ he said eventually. ‘And I enjoyed our conversation so much I decided I wanted to see Miss Eastway again today.’

Although Lizzie knew that wasn’t quite the whole truth she was glad he’d silenced Harriet’s mocking before it had started.

‘How absolutely delightful,’ Aunt Mathilda said. ‘Now, Harriet, why don’t I show you that thing I was talking about earlier?’

Harriet looked blank but allowed her mother to usher her out of the room. Aunt Mathilda pulled the door behind her but left a chink between the wood and the frame for propriety’s sake.

Lizzie knew she would have to turn and face the earl, but she was finding it hard to summon the courage. She didn’t want to see the disappointment on his face, she didn’t want to hear him utter some made-up excuse to escape as soon as possible. For she knew he would be disappointed. Last night he hadn’t known who she was, she was sure of that. He hadn’t realised she was the woman who had caused so much havoc in the street just a week before. That woman he had dismissed without a second look, but last night he had treated her as though she were the most desirable woman on earth.

Lizzie’s heart started to sink. Maybe it had all been engineered, maybe her perfect fairy-tale moment had actually been nothing more than a fortune hunter making a naïve young girl feel attractive. She glanced briefly at the earl. He didn’t look like a fortune hunter, but she knew they came in all shapes and sizes.

‘I should apologise for last night,’ he said as he caught Lizzie’s eye.

She waited for him to actually apologise, but he was not forthcoming.

‘But I find myself unable to regret my actions.’

‘Why?’ The word was out before Lizzie could stop it. She berated herself immediately. She needed to get control of her tongue.

‘Why?’ he asked, raising an eyebrow.

‘Why did you kiss me?’ she whispered.

He regarded her silently for a minute, then looked away. She wondered if he were concocting a lie, trying to find something flattering to say.

‘It was rather magical last night, wasn’t it?’ he said eventually. ‘The warm summer’s evening, the faint echo of the music from the ballroom. Then a charming young woman comes and crashes into me and I just couldn’t resist.’

Lizzie found herself nodding. It had been rather magical. Not the part where she’d fallen down the stairs, or winded him so badly he hadn’t been able to breathe for a few moments, but afterwards. The caring way he’d helped her up, the feel of his touch on her skin and the moments they’d spent sitting on the bench side by side.

Then they’d stood up and Lizzie had felt him move towards her and she’d known she was about to be kissed.

‘It was not gentlemanly,’ he said seriously, but then broke out into a smile. ‘But I don’t regret it.’

She tried to believe him, tried to believe that sitting here he was not regretting the moment from the night before, but she wasn’t sure she could. Self-consciously Lizzie brushed a strand of hair away from her face. Ordinary brown hair, framing an ordinary face with just a few too many freckles.

With a glance at the door the earl stood and moved towards Lizzie. She found herself staring up at him, trying to control her breathing.

‘I really did enjoy our time together last night,’ he said, sitting himself down beside her.

Lizzie found herself nodding again. She’d enjoyed it, too.

‘And I really would like to get to know you a little more.’ His voice was low and a little seductive and Lizzie knew hundreds of women had fallen prey to him before.

She wanted to ask him why, wanted him to confess he was only interested in her for her supposed dowry, but she found her words had deserted her. His body was just that little bit too close, his thigh pressing against hers, and Lizzie knew she wouldn’t be able to construct a coherent sentence.

‘I think last night might have been the start of something special,’ he said.

Lizzie made a small murmur of agreement, even though she wasn’t sure she agreed. She felt mesmerised by him, completely under his spell, and even though her mind was screaming out that it wasn’t her that he wanted, it was Amelia, Lizzie found at this moment she didn’t really care.

She felt him studying her, his eyes flicking from her mouth to her cheeks to her hair, but always back to her mouth. Involuntarily she felt her lips part ever so slightly and she realised she wanted him to kiss her. Right then it didn’t matter why he was doing it, just that she wanted him to. She wanted to be lost once again in the oblivion of a kiss, wanted to feel the explosions within her body as his lips met hers.

Slowly, as if building the anticipation, the earl lowered his lips to hers. He started out gently, barely touching her. Lizzie felt the tension mounting and a soft moan escape her lips. She wanted more, needed more.

As if responding to her innermost thoughts he pressed his lips more firmly on to hers and deftly flicked his tongue inside her mouth. Lizzie’s eyes closed and she was lost. She didn’t care why he was kissing her; all she wanted was for it not to end.

She felt her body melting into his and relished his touch as he looped an arm around the back of her head, pulling her closer towards him. She wanted his hands all over her body, wanted him to touch her in places no one else had ever even seen.

Just as she felt the kiss couldn’t get any better suddenly the earl pulled away. He was smiling, but Lizzie could tell something was wrong. She wondered if she’d inadvertently done something terrible, something that would make him want to run from the room.

Suddenly Lizzie felt very self-conscious and raised a hand to cover the lips he had been so thoroughly kissing just moments before.

‘I’m sorry,’ he murmured. ‘I just couldn’t seem to help myself.’ He sounded a little puzzled and Lizzie could see a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

‘You are just so tempting,’ he said, tracing a pattern on the back of her hand.

Immediately Lizzie crashed back to reality. She knew that was a lie. She straightened up, pulling away, and gave him a forced little smile.

‘I’m sure my aunt will be back in a few minutes,’ she said pointedly.

The earl looked confused, as if no one had ever rejected him before, but took the hint and moved back across the room to the chair he’d been sitting in before. An uncomfortable silence followed and Lizzie found herself blinking the tears away from her eyes. This was cruel and unnecessary. Up until very recently she’d been quite content with her lot. She’d known she wasn’t a great beauty. Combining that with her lack of fortune, she’d never expected to make a good marital match. In fact, she’d been quite convinced she would never be a wife, just a spinster all her life. Now here she was being utterly seduced by a handsome and charming man, knowing all along it wasn’t her that he wanted at all.

Chapter Four

Daniel wasn’t quite sure what had just happened. He knew he’d just kissed the young woman sitting across the room from him. He just didn’t know how to classify his reaction.

He’d been thrown when he realised he’d met Miss Amelia Eastway before last night. He’d hardly taken any notice of the unassuming young woman who had stepped in front of his horse. She’d seemed so ordinary, so normal. Not like the woman in the garden. She had been intriguing and almost mystical. Daniel had found himself drawn to her, attracted and aroused despite his years of experience.

Then when he’d found out the woman who he’d kissed was the very one he was meant to be pursuing, his world had almost fallen apart. He didn’t want to desire his future wife. Desire complicated everything. Desire made a man lose all sense of reason and preceded bad decisions. Over the past four years Daniel had become a master at keeping his desire in check. That wasn’t to say he’d been celibate, just that he hadn’t let his desire overshadow his common sense.

It was the shock, he realised. He hadn’t expected to recognise his mystery woman in the daylight, he hadn’t even considered that they might have met before. He’d looked her over appraisingly and found rather an ordinary young woman sitting in front of him. Not someone who made his pulse race and his temperature rise. He’d felt comfortable, reassured. She wasn’t the irresistible vixen he’d thought the night before, she was just an average young woman with no particular distinguishing features.

He’d planned to kiss her, of course. He needed to marry her and he needed to do it soon. After their kiss the night before Daniel knew she was an innocent and he knew that his charm was legendary with women all over London. He was hopeful that Amelia would enjoy his attention and flirtation.

And then it had happened. He’d moved closer, leant in to begin his seduction, and he felt as though he’d been punched in the gut. He couldn’t quite put his finger on why he felt this way, just that he needed to kiss Amelia Eastway, not so she would have to become his wife and save him from financial ruin, but because it was the only thing that would keep him going.

He wasn’t sure if it was the delicate curve of her lips or the charming set of freckles that covered her nose, he just knew he had to kiss her. And far from being completely in control, as he had planned, Daniel had felt rather wonderfully at sea. He’d kissed her as though he hadn’t kissed a woman in years, allowing himself to pull her body towards him, run his hands over her skin. He’d lost himself in that kiss and that was worrying him.

He glanced back across at Amelia and wondered if she had somehow sensed all of this. She’d wanted him, Daniel was experienced enough to recognise the signs: her pupils had dilated, her breathing had become just a little shallow and her lips had parted. She’d kissed him as passionately as the night before, but now she was regretting it. Something had changed. It was as though a shutter had come down over her face and now they were sitting apart like complete strangers, not a couple who had kissed twice in the space of twenty-four hours.

Daniel knew he had to do something to salvage the situation. Whatever his current internal conflict Miss Amelia Eastway was still the solution to all his problems. He needed to court her and marry her before the month was out. He would have to push aside any doubts he had. When he looked at her objectively he knew he should be able to resist her. He would just have to learn to control his urges and no doubt soon enough their relationship would slip into easy companionship rather than one fuelled with desire.

‘Would you care to join me for a stroll in the park?’ Daniel asked.

Amelia looked at him as though he had grown two heads. He wondered if he had uttered the sentence in Latin or some other foreign tongue.

Eventually she sighed and nodded her head. ‘That would be most delightful,’ she said, sounding anything but delighted.

Daniel felt himself bristle. Again he wondered what had happened to bring about this change in her feelings for him so abruptly. One minute she’d been melting in his arms, responding to his kiss, the next she was forcing herself to take a stroll with him.

‘Maybe your aunt would be so kind as to find a chaperon?’ he enquired. ‘Although I’d much rather be alone together. Such wonderful things happen when we’re alone,’ he murmured.

Amelia seemed to soften towards him slightly.

‘I’m sure she will.’

She made no effort to go and sort this out and Daniel felt his mood darken further. Most young women would be swooning at the thought of strolling through the park on the arm of an earl for all society to see.

‘Would you like to go and ask her?’ he suggested.

‘Of course, my lord.’

‘Daniel, please,’ he said, thinking it was ridiculous having her call him by his title when already they were quite intimate. ‘Since we already know each other so well.’

He watched as she rose and walked out of the room. Despite having fallen down stairs into him, and nearly having been trampled by his horse, Miss Eastway seemed to move with a fluid kind of grace when she was on her feet. He found himself watching the soft sway of her hips as she left the room and once again felt the first stirrings of desire deep within his body.

Daniel took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He would not desire Amelia Eastway. Although deep down he knew desire wasn’t something you could easily keep in check, equally he knew he was a man of the world, not some green boy of twenty. He had control over his emotions and he would not lose his head over a woman even if she had charmingly kissable lips.

He’d have to kiss her again, of course, but next time he would be completely in control.

He rose as Amelia re-entered the room and saw with dismay that she was accompanied by her cousin. Daniel had spent less than five minutes in the young girl’s company, but he knew she was spiteful and jealous.

‘Harriet would like to accompany us,’ Amelia said, her lack of enthusiasm obvious in her tone.

‘That would be delightful,’ Daniel said. ‘I just hope our discussion on ancient literature does not bore you too much.’

Daniel saw the flicker of a smile cross Amelia’s lips. Harriet’s eyes narrowed as she tried to work out if Daniel was being serious. He kept a neutral expression on his face, hoping all the time she would change her mind and stay at home. He wasn’t likely going to make much progress with Amelia if her cousin was present and annoying her.

‘Harriet, I need your help this afternoon,’ Aunt Mathilda said as she glided back into the room. ‘I’ll send one of the maids out to chaperon you, Amelia.’

Daniel wondered if Harriet would argue, she looked as though she wanted to, but in the end she kept her mouth shut.

Within minutes Daniel was strolling towards Hyde Park with Amelia on his arm. He realised she felt right beside him, her strides matched his own and the weight of her hand resting on his arm was comforting. He felt quite comfortable with her, despite the odd moment of madness where he seemed to want to ravish her. If he could only overcome those, he thought Amelia would make a very good wife. She was quiet and unassuming and he didn’t think she’d protest too much when he continued with his current lifestyle.

‘I understand you’ve only recently arrived in London,’ he said, thinking a little bit of small talk would help break down the barrier between them.

She looked wistfully into the distance for a moment before replying. ‘I’ve lived in India all my life, or at least for as long as I can remember.’

‘Do you miss it?’

She nodded. ‘When I was there all I could think about was getting away, coming to London, but now I’ve left it behind I miss the rolling green hills and the days filled with sunshine.’

Daniel wondered what her upbringing had been like. From his subtle enquiries he’d found out she’d been raised the only child of the very wealthy Colonel Eastway. She’d always been destined to marry well, but to look at her you wouldn’t believe it. She seemed rather overwhelmed by the sudden attention and he had the impression that she hadn’t expected to be courted this soon.

‘Do you wish you were back there?’ he asked softly.

She considered for a moment, then turned to him with a smile. ‘No. As much as I like to reminisce, it was time for me to leave, time for me to start the next chapter of my life.’

‘As a débutante in London.’

He saw her grimace out of the corner of his eye.

‘Something like that,’ she said vaguely.

They’d reached the entrance to the park and walked in through the archway. Daniel found he was enjoying himself more than he’d imagined. When he’d realised he was going to have to marry he’d been a little disgruntled to say the least. He didn’t want his life to change, he was quite content running his estates, spending time in London and making sure he didn’t make any lasting connections. The idea of having to marry was bad enough, although Daniel was a pragmatist and knew where his priorities lay, but he’d dreaded having to find and court a wife. He’d imagined some air-headed young miss that he’d have to listen ramble on about nothing. Amelia Eastway was not like that at all. In fact, he was rather enjoying himself.

Chapter Five

Lizzie slowly felt herself relaxing. She didn’t know what game Daniel was playing, but she’d decided she was having none of it. She was going to be courteous and polite, but she would not allow him to kiss her again. That would be madness.

Walking along, her hand in the crook of his arm, Lizzie felt almost content. He was attentive and seemed to want to listen to what she had to say. Lizzie could almost convince herself she was having a good time. Just as long as he didn’t look at her intensely with his piercing blue eyes and shift towards her, Lizzie knew she could keep up a mundane conversation. She tried not to think what would happen if he attempted to kiss her again. She liked to think she was a strong young woman who knew her own mind, but twice she’d been utterly seduced by his kiss and she wasn’t sure how she would resist if he turned to her again.

Luckily they were out in public, in full view of the world. He wouldn’t try anything whilst they were strolling through the park. Then Lizzie wondered if she could rely on that. For some reason he had decided to court her and she doubted it was because he found her wildly irresistible. Even if their meeting the night before hadn’t been engineered, Lizzie thought there was something driving Daniel today and her first guess was her dowry. Or at least Amelia’s dowry. She sighed. This was all getting to be a bit of a mess and she’d only been out in society for one day. She wished Amelia would return and sort it all out, but she hadn’t heard from her cousin since they’d disembarked the ship from India together, her cousin hopping into the first carriage she’d seen on the London dockside, and she doubted Amelia would make an appearance anytime soon. She would just have to deal with this debacle herself.

She felt a bit sorry for the earl. Not that he was the sort of man who invited pity, but he was thinking he was courting an heiress with a substantial dowry, where instead he was wasting his time on a penniless orphan. She wondered whether he would switch his affections to Amelia when she returned, and found herself feeling more than a little put out at the thought.

They stopped walking as they reached the Serpentine and Daniel led her over to a bench.

‘Sometimes I come here to think,’ Daniel said quietly.

Lizzie regarded their surroundings with surprise. There was no denying Hyde Park was beautiful with its myriad of waterways and copses of trees, but Daniel hadn’t exactly picked the most secluded spot for his contemplations. They were sitting on a bench right next to the Serpentine, in a place where all the children gathered to feed the ducks. In the early-afternoon sunshine the children were whooping and shouting in delight as they threw bread to the obliging creatures.

She glanced sideways and saw him looking wistfully at a group of small boys out with their nanny. One of the boys was only about three or four years old and tottered after his older siblings, trying to keep up with their games.

Lizzie wondered momentarily whether this was all part of his plan, to bring her to Hyde Park and let her see how much he liked children, but then she dismissed the idea. She could tell this wasn’t all engineered. This truly was where he came to sit and think about the world.

‘I guess it’s because I miss the countryside when I’m in London,’ Daniel said with a shrug.

‘Do you spend much time here?’

He shook his head. ‘I prefer the country to be honest, but I find myself in London more and more.’

Lizzie wondered what his country estate was like. She’d left England before her third birthday and hadn’t been back since. Her home was the dry heat and lush green valleys near Bombay, but she doubted the English countryside was anything like that.

‘But enough about me,’ Daniel said with a grin, ‘I want to know more about you.’

Lizzie shrugged and looked down at her hands. ‘I’m sure you know the basics.’

‘I don’t want to know the basics,’ Daniel said, leaning in closer, ‘I want to know something the rest of society doesn’t. Something that the masses will never know when they talk about you.’

His smile was infectious and Lizzie felt herself beginning to properly enjoy herself. She rather suspected the earl was known to be flirtatious in nature, but right now she didn’t care. She was sitting on a bench with a handsome man, enjoying herself.

Lizzie thought for a moment, wanting to select something suitably vague for the earl so there was no chance he would work out she wasn’t who she claimed to be.

‘When I was twelve I was bitten by a crocodile.’

Daniel burst out laughing. ‘You’re joking?’

Lizzie shook her head.

‘Well, you must be the only débutante that can make that claim. Truly unique. Now you have to tell me more, I’m intrigued.’

‘I was walking down by the river near our home. As usual, I had my head in a book and wasn’t really looking where I was going.’ Lizzie shuddered as she remembered the moment she’d realised she had stumbled into the path of a rather large crocodile. ‘For about thirty seconds it just looked at me with those terrifying little eyes and then it lunged.’

She had thought she was about to die.

‘Luckily it was just a warning shot, a quick nip and then the crocodile backed off. I had some pretty deep teeth marks, but I didn’t lose my foot as many do.’

‘Even without an entire leg you would still light up any ballroom. In fact...’ Daniel paused, raised his hand close to his eye and positioned it so it obscured one leg from his view ‘...being the first one-legged débutante would probably make you the most interesting person to have graced society for decades.’

‘Your turn,’ Lizzie said. She was really beginning to warm to Daniel. She knew she shouldn’t allow him to flirt with her quite so openly, but it was nice being the centre of someone’s attention.

‘An interesting fact about me,’ Daniel mused.

‘Something hardly anyone else knows.’

‘I’ve been shot.’

Lizzie’s eyes widened and she quickly glanced over his body, wondering where exactly he had been shot. She felt a little distracted by his broad shoulders and muscular arms, but quickly pulled herself together.

‘You have to tell me more,’ she said.

‘It was a duel. I was second for a good friend of mine. We were young and foolish at the time.’

‘And someone shot you?’ Lizzie asked, thoroughly intrigued.

‘It’s nowhere near as glamorous as it sounds.’ Daniel leaned in closer and dropped his voice. ‘In fact, it’s really rather painful.’

Daniel edged closer to her and Lizzie didn’t protest. Sitting here by the Serpentine with Daniel felt right somehow, as if this was what her entire life had been leading up to.

‘The man who was aiming at my friend had terrible eyesight, he might as well have closed his eyes and fired. The shot missed its intended target and clipped me instead.’

Daniel must have seen how Lizzie’s eyes were roving over his body, trying to figure out where he had been hit.

‘When we’re somewhere less public I’ll show you the scar.’

Lizzie’s eyes widened and for a moment she hoped it was somewhere on his chest or abdomen. She desperately wanted to peel back his crisp white shirt and run her fingers over the muscles beneath. At the thought of doing something so intimate she felt the blood rush to her cheeks and she coughed to try to cover her embarrassment.

‘Now it’s your turn again,’ Daniel said with a smile that Lizzie knew would set any woman’s heart racing.

Suddenly there was a shout and a commotion over by the Serpentine. Immediately Daniel was on his feet, rushing towards the water, with Lizzie following quickly behind.

The small boy they’d been watching only minutes before had tumbled into the murky waters and was now thrashing about. It was obvious he couldn’t swim and it was too deep for him to touch the bottom. His petrified nanny was trying to reach him from the bank, but his thrashing was just causing him to get further and further away.

Lizzie watched as Daniel shrugged off his jacket, kicked off his boots and jumped into the dirty water. He touched the bottom easily, the water coming up to his waist, and he quickly waded out to where the boy was thrashing. Firmly he grabbed him and lifted him clear of the water, saying something soothing that Lizzie couldn’t quite hear. She was reminded of their first meeting when she had almost been trampled by his horse and the way he’d soothed the petrified beast then.

Daniel’s words must have done the trick as the boy calmed down and allowed himself to be carried to the bank and back into his nanny’s arms.

Lizzie could only look on as Daniel pulled himself out of the water, clothes stuck to his muscular legs and torso. His shirt was almost see-through and it outlined the contours of his chest and abdomen in quite a scandalous way. Lizzie felt the heat rising in her body and forced herself to look away, worried that otherwise she would become mesmerised. He smiled at her and shrugged, as if this kind of thing happened every day, then turned his attention back to the boy. Quickly he checked he wasn’t injured and then left him to be hustled home by his nanny.

‘That was remarkable,’ Lizzie said as Daniel made his way back towards her.

‘I couldn’t just sit by and let him drown.’

Lizzie shook her head in agreement but knew that not many gentlemen would actually jump into the Serpentine to rescue a strange boy.

‘You must be frozen.’

Daniel shrugged again, but Lizzie could tell the wet clothes were making him uncomfortable already.

‘Perhaps we could begin to head back,’ he suggested.

Lizzie nodded, motioned to the maid who was sitting a couple of benches away, and they started to walk back through the park.

‘I won’t take your arm,’ Daniel said with a smile.

Lizzie found herself smiling back. There was something quite irresistible about the man walking next to her. He might have an agenda and he might be pursuing her for all the wrong reasons, but she couldn’t quite find it in herself to dislike him.

They walked in a companionable silence back through the park for a few minutes, gaining odd looks from other members of society who were out taking their afternoon strolls. Daniel nodded in greeting to many but didn’t stop to engage them in conversation. Lizzie supposed he must be feeling rather cold now. Even in the pleasant afternoon sunshine walking around dripping wet couldn’t be very good for your health.

‘I’m sorry we’ve had to cut our outing short,’ Daniel said, looking down at Lizzie with a smile.

Despite all her reservations Lizzie was sorry, too. She’d been enjoying herself. She’d almost been able to forget it wasn’t she that Daniel was really courting, but Amelia. She’d enjoyed his lively conversation and she’d enjoyed the small insights he’d given her into his life.

‘Maybe we could do this again sometime soon,’ he suggested.

Lizzie found herself nodding, even though she knew she shouldn’t encourage him. It would be so much easier if she never saw him again, if he disappeared from her life and she never had to reveal that she wasn’t Amelia Eastway, but her penniless cousin. Even though she knew this Lizzie found herself agreeing with him.

‘That would be lovely.’

She glanced up at his face and found him smiling at her, and just for a second she thought she saw a flicker of desire. She almost laughed. No matter what had happened in the Prestons’ garden she knew Daniel didn’t really desire her. She’d seen the quick way he’d dismissed her on their first meeting and she knew she wasn’t the sort of woman men fantasised about.

‘Please don’t feel you have to escort me home,’ Lizzie said as they neared the edge of the park. ‘You must get back to your house and get out of those wet things.’

Daniel considered a moment, as if weighing up his gentlemanly duty against his discomfort.

‘Only if you promise to let me call on you again tomorrow,’ he said with a devilish smile.

‘People will talk,’ Lizzie warned him.

‘People will always talk. By this evening there’ll be ten different versions of what happened down by the Serpentine, each more ludicrous than the last.’

Lizzie knew it was true. Already half of society would know that she had spent the afternoon with the Earl of Burwell. She cringed a little. This would make it all that much worse when she had to reveal her true identity to the world.

‘Either you agree to my calling on you tomorrow, or I’ll insist on walking you home now. You’ll be responsible if I catch a fever and spend weeks delirious and at death’s door.’ He said it with a grin on his face and Lizzie knew she wasn’t going to be able to resist.

‘I would very much welcome you calling on me tomorrow, my lord.’

‘I told you to call me Daniel.’

‘Daniel.’ Lizzie uttered his name quietly, nothing more than a whisper between her lips. It seemed too intimate, too informal, but she felt a wicked little chill down her spine as she said it.

‘And I shall call you Amelia,’ he murmured in her ear.

It was enough to force Lizzie back to reality. For a moment she’d allowed herself to live the fantasy, to believe that it was her Daniel wanted, but just the mention of Amelia’s name made all those dreams come crashing down.

She pulled away slightly but forced herself to smile, even though she feared it would look like a grimace on her face.

Daniel looked at her intently for a few seconds, then turned away, as if he sensed she needed a moment of privacy to compose herself.

‘Lord Burwell, whatever has happened to you?’

Lizzie turned to see an attractive young woman gliding towards them. The newcomer looked Lizzie up and down and then turned her full attention to Daniel.

‘Mrs Winter,’ Daniel said. ‘I took a little dip in the Serpentine.’

Lizzie recognised the woman and realised she must have been at the Prestons’ ball the night before.

‘You must look after yourself, Lord Burwell, you would be sorely missed if anything were to happen to you.’

Lizzie didn’t miss the suggestion that Mrs Winter would be the one missing him.

‘Please excuse us, Mrs Winter, Lord Burwell needs to get out of these wet clothes,’ Lizzie said. Immediately she knew she had made a mistake. The older woman turned to her and gave her an icy glare, before catching herself and replacing the expression with a sweet smile.

‘Of course. Take care, my lord. And if you catch a cold and need someone to nurse you back to health, don’t hesitate to ask.’

Daniel said farewell and they continued on, Lizzie feeling rather inferior to the attractive Mrs Winter. They were just nearing the entrance of the park when Lizzie noticed Daniel freeze beside her. One moment he was walking along, seeming like the carefree peer of the realm he’d been all morning, the next he was just frozen. She stopped beside him and waited for him to move. Five seconds passed, then ten. She followed his gaze, trying to figure out what was going on.

His eyes were fixed on a young woman and a small boy about thirty feet away. The woman was pulling the boy along behind her impatiently and the boy was dragging his feet.

‘Daniel?’ Lizzie asked, wondering what exactly about the scene had caused him to turn so white.

He didn’t answer, didn’t even acknowledge that she’d spoken. To Lizzie it seemed as though he was so lost in his own world that he hadn’t even heard her.

The woman and boy were drawing closer and Lizzie wondered whether there would be some sort of confrontation.

Lizzie knew the exact moment the woman noticed them. Daniel stiffened beside her, his eyes met this woman’s and his expression deepened into a frown. The woman stopped in her tracks and looked at them for a few seconds, before smiling sweetly and continuing on her way. Daniel followed them with his eyes for a long minute until they disappeared out of view.

No one had uttered a single word during the confrontation, but Lizzie felt as though she’d just witnessed something monumental.

‘Daniel?’ she repeated.

This time she got a response. Daniel took her elbow in his hand and guided her quickly from the park. He didn’t say a single word to her and Lizzie felt too stunned by this sudden change in character that she didn’t know what to say herself.

They exited the park and walked briskly down the street, Lizzie having to stumble to keep up with Daniel in his frenzied state.

‘Who was that?’ she managed to ask as they reached the corner.

He didn’t answer her, didn’t even acknowledge that she’d asked him a question.

‘Daniel?’

‘Will you be able to find your way home from here?’ he asked stiffly.

Lizzie nodded, stunned at the change in the man who could laugh off ruining his clothes jumping into the Serpentine, but would not even look at her after this latest confrontation.

‘I will call on you tomorrow.’

Again Lizzie nodded, unsure what else she could say. Open-mouthed, she watched as he hailed a passing hackney carriage and jumped in. He didn’t even look at her as it pulled away, let alone bid her goodbye. She stood there motionless for a good minute after the carriage had pulled away, unsure what had just happened. Daniel had changed completely and it had been just as he’d seen that woman.

Shaken and confused Lizzie roused herself and began the walk home, wondering whether tomorrow she would get any answers from him.

Chapter Six

Daniel felt sick. No, he felt more than sick. He felt as though his whole world had collapsed. Up until that point the whole afternoon had been a success. Amelia seemed receptive to his advances, and even if she withdrew every so often, that was something that could be easily overcome.

He’d found her a pleasant companion, they’d talked easily during their walk around the park and he’d managed to convince himself that the desire he’d felt the evening before and when he’d kissed her in the drawing room had been anomalies. When he looked at her in the light of day he could see she wasn’t a seasoned temptress. She was just a normal young woman who shouldn’t drive him mad with desire. And if his pulse raced a little when he glanced at her lips, then he could put it down to the memory of their kiss and nothing more.

He’d even not minded his little dip in the Serpentine. Of course, he’d had no choice, he couldn’t have let the young boy drown, but he knew Amelia had seen his act as heroic and that could never hurt a man’s chances.

Everything had been going swimmingly well...until he’d seen them.

Daniel ran a hand through his hair and tried to focus on something other than his rage. At this moment he was close to losing control and he hated not being in control. He breathed in deeply through his nose and watched the world pass by as the hackney carriage weaved through the busy streets.

He’d last seen his son four months ago when Annabelle had shown up at his estate, demanding more money. He’d been heartbroken. Already the boy was growing up so fast he barely looked like the young lad he’d seen six months earlier. Daniel knew he’d missed his son’s first steps, his first words, and he would miss a whole world of firsts as time went on. The knowledge that he wasn’t the one there, watching his son grow up, broke his heart.

If only there was another way, but he knew there wasn’t.

Then today, in the park, Daniel knew that Annabelle had engineered that little meeting. She’d done it to let him know she was in town, to remind him of his promise and let him know she wasn’t afraid of the consequences if he didn’t pay up.

Daniel closed his eyes and pictured the little boy she’d been dragging behind her. His son, Edward. He had beautiful dark hair and piercing blue eyes, skin like porcelain and full lips. And he hadn’t even once glanced at Daniel. That was what hurt the most. Throughout the whole encounter Edward had been looking around at the park. He hadn’t taken one little bit of notice of the man whose heart was breaking just watching him.

Daniel ran a hand through his hair and made himself relax back into the seat of the carriage. There was nothing to be done about it. He’d made his bed four years ago when he’d invited Annabelle into his life. He’d been convinced she was the woman of his dreams, convinced that she loved him the way he’d loved her. It hadn’t been long before he’d found out differently, that he’d found out that he was just the latest in a long line of conquests for Annabelle. She’d swept into his life when he was grief-stricken and vulnerable, and then like a seasoned con artist she had become his entire world, slowly cutting him off from his old friends, his old life. When he had found out the truth about Annabelle, the fact that she was already married, he had been devastated. His pride had been irreversibly damaged when he’d realised he’d been tricked into loving her, and his heart broken, but he’d known he would recover eventually. He was a young man with a full life ahead of him, he would get over the betrayal once she was out of his life.

The problem was she hadn’t left his life, not really. A year after he’d thrown her out she’d turned back up with a baby in tow. Daniel had laughed at first, telling her he wouldn’t believe a word she said and that there was no way this baby was his. Although from her very first words Daniel had begun to doubt himself. When they had been together Annabelle had told him she couldn’t get pregnant, couldn’t have children, so he had never insisted that they use protection.

Then he’d looked down at the baby and he’d known the truth. Just one glance and he’d known irrefutably that the child was his. The bond was immediate and unbreakable, and Annabelle had looked on with glee.

His world had crumbled. Of all the things that could have happened to him this was the very worst. He didn’t care that Annabelle had tricked him into loving her. He didn’t care that he was now much more jaded and untrusting. But he did care that he had fathered an illegitimate child.

His whole world had come crashing down. He knew first-hand what tragedy haunted illegitimate children. He’d seen the suffering and the contempt and he knew it was the very last thing he would wish upon anyone, let alone his own son.

He’d tried to take the child, but Annabelle had refused. And then the blackmail had started.

Daniel watched as the carriage pulled up outside his town house. In a daze he stumbled out on to the pavement, paid the driver and made his way up the steps. Once safely ensconced in his study, he reached for the whisky and started to drink. He wanted to drink to forget and he wanted to drink to numb the pain.

After two glasses of whisky Daniel started to feel a little more in control. He poured one final glass, then set down the decanter and regarded it for a second. Later he could get drunk, later he could lose himself in the oblivion of alcohol, but right now he needed his wits about him.

Annabelle was only here for one reason. Despite all his pleas and his following of her terms she never let him see his son other than when she wanted something. Then it was just a brief encounter like today in the park. Daniel longed to sit the boy on his knee, to read him a story, or perhaps take him for his first riding lesson, but he knew all of that was impossible. He was destined to be in the background for ever, never knowing his son’s personality, his likes and dislikes, never knowing what made him laugh and what made him cry.

Annabelle was here for money. Again. Every few months she turned up and demanded even more. Sometimes she came alone, sometimes she brought Edward with her, allowing Daniel just a fleeting glimpse of his son, but always the demand was the same. Pay up or the whole world gets to know Edward is illegitimate. Including Edward himself. Daniel knew he couldn’t have that on his conscience. He needed the boy to grow up happy, to grow up thinking he had lost his father in the war. Better to have a hero for a father than to be illegitimate. Daniel couldn’t bear his son’s heart breaking as other children tormented him for that. He knew what the consequences could be and he wasn’t about to risk that with his own son.

The problem was he didn’t have any money. Annabelle had bled him dry over the past few years, demanding more and more. He knew it would never stop, but he couldn’t see any other way out. Hence his need for a wealthy wife. A good-sized dowry would keep Annabelle at bay for years to come and when that ran out, well, maybe then his son would be old enough and strong enough to learn the truth, to be able to withstand the jibes from society and still hold his head up high.

Taking a gulp of the whisky, Daniel relished the burning sensation in his throat and wondered how long it would take Amelia to agree to marry him. Maybe a couple of weeks if he worked fast, but then it would still be even longer until the wedding. He could apply for a special licence, but doing so would raise suspicion. He sighed. One thing Annabelle wasn’t was patient. Now she had turned up in London he expected to hear her demands within the next day or two, then he would have a matter of weeks to raise the money. If he didn’t, then she would threaten to reveal the truth to Edward and to the world.

Daniel really needed Amelia’s dowry. He grimaced and wondered when he had become quite so cynical. When he had been a young lad setting off for Cambridge he’d felt as though the whole world was at his feet. He was heir to an earldom, about to commence on a great life adventure and was surrounded by friends. He’d been convinced one day he’d fall in love with a beautiful woman and have a lovely family. Never did he think he’d have to marry for money. How different life had turned out to be.

He hated the fact that he was going to have to marry Amelia under false pretences. Whatever his faults he had always prided himself on never deceiving women. Over the years he had enjoyed many short liaisons, but he had always made it clear from the start these encounters were not going to be lasting relationships. Already he was deceiving Amelia, courting her with the express intention of getting her to marry him. He hated the idea that he was going to have to marry and give up his old lifestyle, but he hated the idea of not being entirely truthful about his motivations to Amelia more. He was turning into one of the fortune hunters he’d always despised.

Refusing to let himself become too melancholy, Daniel tossed back the rest of the glass of whisky and firmly set the decanter down on the table beside him. He needed a plan. In fact, he needed two plans. He needed a plan to make Amelia agree to marry him in record time and he needed a plan to raise a little bit of money to keep Annabelle at bay in the meantime.

He grimaced. He knew exactly where he could raise a little bit of money, but it meant renewing an acquaintance with a man he’d hoped never to see again. He wondered whether the man would agree to see him—they’d not parted well all those years ago. Daniel distinctly remembered telling Ernest Hathaway never to speak to him again.

He doubted Hathaway would agree to meet him, so he’d have to be far more underhand. Maybe if he recruited his old friend Fletcher to his cause he could help. Fletcher wouldn’t have to know all the details, all the sordid ins and outs, but he would be able to persuade Hathaway to be at a particular place at a particular time and to hear what Daniel had to say. If nothing else Fletcher was a persuasive man.

Daniel allowed himself to relax a little. Maybe things would work out all right in the end. He would continue his pursuit of Amelia tomorrow and he would sort out some money to keep Annabelle at bay in the meantime.

His thoughts went back to Amelia and he wondered if he’d ruined his chances with her by acting so strangely. He’d have to come up with some sort of story to satisfy her curiosity. Amelia might be a quiet wallflower, but she wasn’t stupid. Her eyes shone with intelligence when they conversed and she had noticed something was wrong from the very start.

Maybe he could make her forget with a few illicit kisses. He knew she responded to his touch and his kiss, and if he was honest with himself he enjoyed kissing Amelia more than he’d enjoyed anything in years.

At the thought of kissing her Daniel felt the first stirrings of desire and frowned with agitation. He didn’t want to desire his future wife. He’d desired one woman, let his heart rule over his head, and look where that had got him. Amelia was perfect for him because she wasn’t head-spinningly beautiful. She was just nice and average.

He thought of the little freckles across her nose and the curve of her lip when she smiled and repeated to himself that he would not be attracted to her. He refused to desire his future wife. They would have a comfortable companionship and nothing more.

Standing, Daniel repeated to himself that he didn’t desire Amelia. He was far too in control for any nonsense like that.

Chapter Seven

Lizzie forced herself to step away from the window and sit back down in her chair.

‘No sign of the earl today, then?’ Harriet asked mildly.

Lizzie forced a smile on to her face. ‘He said he would call today. I’m sure he’ll be here later.’ She was sure of no such thing after their parting yesterday. She’d never seen a man change in character so quickly.

‘I’m surprised he didn’t walk you home yesterday afternoon,’ Harriet said.

‘He had some business to attend to.’

‘Still...’ She let the word hang in the air.

Lizzie picked up a piece of embroidery she was meant to be working on and started stabbing at it with the needle. She had never been very good at sewing or embroidery, she much preferred to be out and about in the fresh air, but it gave her hands something to do and stopped her reaching across the room and strangling Harriet.

Lizzie had spent half the night tossing and turning in bed, trying to work out why Daniel had become so agitated in the park. She wondered if the woman was one of his former mistresses, someone he had used for pleasure, then abandoned when he had grown tired.

‘The earl has quite a reputation, you know,’ Harriet said after a couple of minutes.

Lizzie knew she shouldn’t rise to the bait, but she desperately wanted to know more about Daniel. She wanted to know what motivated him and what secrets lay buried in his past.

‘Oh?’ she said, trying not to sound too interested.

Harriet glanced over her shoulder to check her mother wasn’t about to enter the room before continuing.

‘He’s quite the rake. Rumour has it that once he had four mistresses at one time. And he’s dated an opera singer.’

Lizzie smiled serenely. ‘Well, I suppose everyone has to have a past.’

Maybe that woman was the opera singer. The quick look Lizzie had got of her had shown her to be very pretty, but seeing a former mistress didn’t explain why Daniel had become quite so withdrawn.

‘He’s known to be very selective in his choice of woman, apparently only the most beautiful will do.’

Lizzie felt her heart starting to sink. She couldn’t help but picture the beautiful Mrs Winter they had met in the park and realised she was probably more Daniel’s normal type of woman.

‘He’d never shown any interest in settling down before,’ Harriet continued, ‘but I suppose even earls can become short of funds.’

Lizzie couldn’t even bring herself to answer. She knew Harriet was just saying these things to be cruel, but whatever her motivation there was certainly some truth in her words. Why else would Daniel be interested in a nobody like her? He was titled, handsome and charming. He could have his pick of fawning young ladies, or he could just as easily continue having illicit affairs with more experienced women. The only reason he’d ever be interested in her was her dowry. Or at least Amelia’s dowry.

She stabbed her needle once again into the piece of fabric and watched as the colours blurred before her eyes as the tears started to form. Just once she wanted something of her own. She wanted someone to be interested in her, not just pretending so they could get closer to Amelia. All her life she had been second best, often ignored completely when her cousin was around. From a young age her uncle had made it clear she was nothing more than a burden, someone no man would want to marry. For a few moments Lizzie had indulged in a sweet dream that Daniel might like her for who she was, but deep down Lizzie knew it wouldn’t be so.

Blinking away the tears, Lizzie looked up as the butler entered the room.

‘The Earl of Burwell,’ he announced.

Daniel strode in, looking his normal composed self. There was no trace of the haunted and shaken man she’d glimpsed yesterday.

‘Miss Hunter,’ Daniel said, addressing Harriet, but not really looking at her. ‘And, Amelia, it’s lovely to see you again.’

Lizzie suppressed a smile as Harriet’s eyes narrowed at the familiarity.

‘Thank you for calling on me again.’

‘I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be.’

Lizzie didn’t bother pointing out he hadn’t been able to get away from her fast enough yesterday afternoon. She smiled serenely at the compliment and wondered how they could get rid of Harriet so she could find out what had upset him so much. The idea of being alone with him sent a shiver down her spine. She told herself she was just curious, she just wanted to know what about the woman and small boy had spooked him, but if she examined her feelings hard enough there was also a desire to see if he would kiss her again. Although she knew their liaison was built on lies and it wasn’t really her that he wanted, Lizzie couldn’t help but want Daniel to kiss her one last time. For his lips to meet hers and for her to feel that tightening of desire deep inside her. To forget that she was plain old Lizzie Eastway and become a woman a man like Daniel could want.

‘I’m afraid I’ve been a little presumptuous,’ Daniel said with a wide smile.

Lizzie marvelled at how relaxed he seemed—there was no trace of the harrowed man she’d seen yesterday.

‘I thought it would be the perfect afternoon to go for a ride.’

Lizzie found herself nodding. She missed the freedom of racing along the mud tracks surrounding her uncle’s home just outside Bombay, she missed feeling the warm breeze on her face and seeing the scenery whip by. She’d always much preferred being outside to indoors. Back home her perfect afternoon had been trotting off on her own on horseback with a book tucked under her arm. She’d ride for a while, then find a spot to sit and read for hours on end until the light was fading. Amelia never had understood how Lizzie could spend so long in her own company, but for Lizzie it had been a welcome escape from a home where she didn’t really belong.

‘I’ve instructed my groom to be waiting in Hyde Park with two horses. If you would like, we can spend the afternoon on horseback.’

Lizzie stood and smoothed down her skirt. It sounded like a wonderful way to spend the afternoon and if they were riding they would be alone, which gave her the opportunity to find out exactly what secrets Daniel was hiding.

‘I’ll go and change,’ she said, hurrying from the room.

Twenty minutes later they were strolling through one of the entrances to Hyde Park. Lizzie noted that Daniel was careful enough to avoid the spot where they’d seen the woman and small boy the day before, as if by not reminding Lizzie of it he could pretend the encounter hadn’t happened.

‘What beautiful horses,’ Lizzie said as they approached Daniel’s groom.

One was the huge black beast that had nearly trampled Lizzie the week before. The other was a slightly more docile-looking chestnut mare.

‘Will you let me assist you up?’ Daniel asked.

Lizzie nodded, feeling her heart start to race as he moved behind her. She positioned herself to mount the chestnut mare and glanced back over her shoulder. Daniel was close, almost as close as he’d been during their encounter in the Prestons’ garden. She could feel his breath on the nape of her neck and it sent delicious shivers down her spine. She could imagine him wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her back against his body and lowering his lips to her skin.

Lizzie swallowed and tried to regain control. She wasn’t even sure if she liked him and here she was fantasising about him being entirely inappropriate in a public park.

‘Are you ready?’ His voice was low and seductive in her ear.

She managed to nod before she started to pull herself up on to the horse. His hands looped under her leg and boosted her the rest of the way, lifting her as effortlessly as if she were a rag doll.

Seated on the horse, Lizzie took a moment to regain control. Now Daniel wasn’t quite so close she felt as though she were in charge of her brain once again.

‘Shall we set off?’ Daniel asked as he pulled himself up on to his horse.

Lizzie nodded and nudged her horse forward, concentrating on finding her equilibrium for a few seconds before falling into step beside Daniel.

They rode slowly at first. This part of the park was busy and Daniel had to greet most of the people they passed. It gave Lizzie the opportunity to watch him and try to figure him out. Daniel was still very much a mystery to her. She’d seen so many sides to him she didn’t feel as though she knew the real man.

After about ten minutes the crowds started to thin out. Lizzie knew now was her opportunity to ask him what had upset him so much the previous day. If she left it much longer, it would be difficult to bring up.

‘Daniel,’ she said, still wondering how to phrase her question.

He turned to her with a lazy smile and for a few seconds Lizzie forgot entirely what she was meant to be saying.

‘Yesterday, just before we left the park, something upset you.’

Daniel nodded, the smile remaining on his face, but Lizzie could tell underneath he was frozen.

‘What happened?’

There was silence for well over a minute and Lizzie had almost convinced herself that he wasn’t going to answer her question.

‘I am sorry about how I left you yesterday,’ Daniel said. ‘It was rude and ungentlemanly. I hope you can forgive me.’

Lizzie nodded, she’d forgiven him already, but it wasn’t his apology she wanted, it was an explanation.

‘Something upset you. Was it that woman who walked past?’

His whole body stiffened and Lizzie knew she was right. He’d known the woman who’d not even stopped to speak to him. She wondered again if it was an old lover and felt an immediate pang of jealousy. Lizzie tried to shake it away, Daniel wasn’t hers to be jealous over.

‘It was nothing,’ he said eventually. ‘A case of mistaken identity. I thought she was someone I once knew. I was wrong.’ It was said with such finality that Lizzie knew he would say no more on the matter.

They lapsed into silence. Daniel’s evasive answer had reminded Lizzie that she didn’t really know anything about the earl. He was charming and attentive towards her, but she had to keep telling herself it was because he thought she was someone else. In reality she didn’t know this man at all. It might feel as though she’d known him for ever when he covered her lips with his own, but for him that was probably just another part of this charade.

It was clear Daniel was not going to tell her who his mystery woman was, and for a moment Lizzie wondered if he might still be seeing her. Surely he wouldn’t be courting her and carrying on with a mistress at the same time. Lizzie knew a lot of married men kept mistresses, but she didn’t want to believe Daniel would be kissing her by day and sleeping with another woman at night. With a shake of her head Lizzie dismissed the thought. She might not know the earl well, but she was almost certain that he wouldn’t be so cold and disrespectful. Which still left the question of who the woman was.

‘I wanted to ask you a favour,’ Daniel said as they rode, his expression serious. ‘I want you to educate me about India. I find I’m most ignorant on the subject. Did you know before yesterday I didn’t even know they had crocodiles in that part of the world?’

Daniel grinned and Lizzie couldn’t help but smile. His good mood was infectious and very effective at distracting her from thinking about his potential mistresses.

‘What do you want to know?’

‘All the interesting stuff,’ he said. ‘I’m your avid pupil.’

Lizzie thought a moment before saying anything more.

‘The cow is the sacred animal of India, at least to the millions of Hindu people who live there.’

‘The cow? Really?’

‘Trust me, we found out the hard way just how sacred they are.’

‘You have to explain.’

‘My cousin was very popular with the army officers,’ Lizzie said, knowing that was a bit of an understatement. ‘She happened to mention one day that she was fed up of eating curry and wished she could have a lovely meal of roast beef and potatoes.’

‘Ah.’

‘Some of the more eager young officers took it on themselves to provide the freshest beef possible, enraging the locals. There was nearly a rebellion.’

Daniel turned to her with a smile. ‘At least she didn’t say she wanted an elephant steak for lunch.’

Lizzie felt herself smiling, too. There was something about Daniel’s easygoing manner that made her relax. She knew she shouldn’t encourage him, but he made their time together so enjoyable. Lizzie couldn’t remember the last time anyone had wanted to know anything about her life and Daniel’s attention and good-humoured observations meant she was having a lovely time on their outing.

‘I took the liberty of laying out a picnic,’ Daniel said after a few minutes of riding in silence. They were just reaching the top of a small hill and there were wonderful views over the rest of the park. Lizzie could see a blanket and a hamper on the grass ahead of them. She glanced around, knowing he must have had a member of his staff set out the picnic, but not able to see anyone in the vicinity.

‘We should be quite alone for a while, not many people venture this far into the park,’ he said. He gave her a salacious wink that was so over the top Lizzie couldn’t help but laugh. Daniel might have a reputation as being a flirt, but he also knew how to poke fun at that reputation and laugh at himself. It was rather an attractive quality.

They stopped beside the blanket and Daniel quickly dismounted. Before Lizzie could even begin to get off her horse she felt his strong hands around her waist, lifting her to the ground. Even though there were at least three layers between his skin and hers Lizzie felt the heat from his hands as if he were touching her bare skin. They were close, almost chest to chest, and Lizzie knew if she tilted her head back she would see that smouldering look in his eyes. Then she’d be lost, unable to control what happened next.

Slowly she tilted her chin back. Daniel’s eyes met hers and there was an intensity there that Lizzie had never seen before. One of his hands moved from her waist to her face, tracing the soft skin of her cheek with his fingers. The other hand stayed possessively on her waist.

Lizzie knew there was nothing she could do to stop him. She wanted this so much. Even though she knew their whole brief relationship was built upon lies, she didn’t care. She wanted him to kiss her, she wanted him to lay her down and cover her body with his own. She wanted to feel desired and to know she was the one who drove him crazy.

Her heart was pounding in her chest as he continued to trace the contours of her face with his fingers. She felt herself stepping even closer, wanting to feel his body pressed up against hers. Lizzie didn’t know why he wasn’t kissing her, the anticipation was driving her crazy.

With a deep groan he dipped his head and covered her lips with his. Lizzie felt her body relaxing into his and for the first time she let her instincts take over. Her hands came up and laced through his hair, pulling him closer to her. She trailed her fingers down his neck and felt him shiver as she traced circles on his skin.

Gently Daniel dropped a hand to her shoulder. Lizzie felt her breath catch in her throat as she anticipated his next move. Slowly, so slowly Lizzie thought she might scream from frustration, Daniel ran his fingers along the neckline of her dress. He paused just for a second, then dipped his fingers inside the thin material. Lizzie felt the coil of desire deep inside her and silently begged Daniel to continue. His fingers were inching over her breast and she knew she’d scream if he didn’t delve even deeper. Lizzie knew what they were doing was wrong, but she also knew if Daniel stopped she would shatter from pure frustration.

Daniel stopped. Lizzie moaned, trying to pull him closer again, not caring if she was behaving like a common streetwalker. She wanted Daniel, her body was screaming out in need of him.

She looked up at him with unfocused eyes and saw the confusion on his face. Of everything she’d expected to see there confusion wasn’t part of it.

Daniel grasped her by the upper arms and studied her face, as if trying to work out who she was.

Lizzie looked back, wondering once again what he saw when he looked at her. She knew he couldn’t truly be attracted to her, but when he kissed her it seemed so real, so passionate, she couldn’t believe he didn’t feel some spark of desire. Surely even the most consummate of actors couldn’t fake what they had just shared.

She had nearly summoned the courage to ask him when Daniel quickly dropped his hands and stepped back. Lizzie followed his gaze and saw they had company. She felt the colour rise in her cheeks as she wondered how much the man had seen. Trying to act as though nothing had just happened, Lizzie turned to face the newcomer. As she turned she noticed the dark expression on Daniel’s face and wondered what side of the earl she was about to witness next.

Chapter Eight

He must be sick, it was the only explanation. Daniel had always planned on kissing Amelia again, but in his imagination he’d been cool and in control, not breathless with anticipation like a green boy.

He shook his head. Something was wrong with him, that was for sure, but now wasn’t the right time to figure out what. Later in the privacy of his study he could analyse what exactly was going on, but right now they had company. Decidedly unfriendly company.

Daniel forced a smile on his face as the newcomer stopped his horse in front of them. He wondered how much this man had seen and cursed himself for not choosing somewhere more private for his and Amelia’s liaison. He’d thought the park would seem romantic to her, with the views across London, but he’d known there was a risk of passers-by happening upon them. Not that this man was a simple passer-by. Daniel groaned quietly as the man slowed his horse, and wondered how the newcomer had found them, for it could not be mere coincidence that Ernest Hathaway had come upon them.

‘Burwell,’ Hathaway said, looking down at Daniel.

‘Hathaway,’ Daniel greeted him in clipped tones.

‘Won’t you introduce me to your lovely companion?’

Daniel gritted his teeth. He didn’t want Amelia to be introduced to this man. Hathaway was untrustworthy and selfish and looked out only for himself.

‘Miss Amelia Eastway, this is Mr Ernest Hathaway.’

Amelia inclined her head in greeting. Her eyes were wide with curiosity and silently Daniel cursed. This was going to be something else he had to explain his way out of.

‘Ah, the famous Miss Eastway. Your arrival in London has caused quite a stir.’

Amelia’s eyes narrowed. ‘I’m sure you must be exaggerating,’ she said mildly.

Despite most of his mind being focused on Hathaway, Daniel felt a bubble of annoyance at her words. Although he’d known her only a short while Daniel knew Amelia sold herself short. Indeed, she might not be what society classically thought of as stunning, but his own reaction to her was enough for him to know she was attractive in her own way. Shaking his head, he turned back to Hathaway.

‘Not at all, all of society can’t help but talk about London’s most eligible heiress,’ said Hathaway. The emphasis was entirely on the word heiress, making it clear this was the only reason the ton thought Amelia gossip-worthy. Daniel glanced sideways and saw two faint spots of colour appear on Amelia’s cheeks; she’d understood Hathaway’s message and the implied insult. He almost reached up to pluck Hathaway from his horse and punch him, but managed to keep his temper in check. He needed the man and punching him, no matter how tempting, would not help his cause.

‘Can we help you at all?’ Daniel said, trying to make his voice as polite as possible. ‘We were just about to sit down for some refreshments.’ Daniel motioned to the blanket and the hamper, hoping Hathaway would take the hint and leave them alone. He might need to speak to the man, but there was no way he was going to do it in front of Amelia.

‘That’s a most gracious offer,’ Hathaway said, swinging himself to the ground and walking towards the small picnic that was laid out.

Daniel’s eyes narrowed. He knew Hathaway had deliberately misconstrued his meaning. There was no way he’d ever invite the slimy man to sit with them. Over the years Daniel’s and Hathaway’s paths had crossed numerous times and each encounter had left the two men disliking each other more than the last.

‘I spoke to Fletcher,’ Hathaway said casually. ‘He said you wanted to discuss some business.’

Daniel felt like punching Hathaway. He had asked Fletcher to set up the meeting, not really expecting Hathaway to agree to it. What he certainly hadn’t been expecting was an ambush like this whilst he was out with Amelia. He cast a glance sideways at Amelia and wondered how he was going to get out of this situation. The last thing he needed to do was discuss his business with Hathaway in front of the woman he was meant to be courting.

Hathaway waited until Amelia had sat down on one edge of the blanket, then proceeded to sit himself. Knowing Hathaway had trapped him in a very awkward situation, Daniel sat and waited for the disaster to begin.

‘I’d heard rumours Burwell was courting you, Miss Eastway. How delighted I am to find out it is true.’

Daniel knew Hathaway was anything but delighted.

‘You have known the earl a long time?’ Amelia asked.

‘Oh, we go back years. We were at school together.’

Amelia smiled, but Daniel noticed it didn’t quite meet her eyes. She was astute, he realised, and hardly missed a thing. She had definitely picked up on the fact that Daniel and Hathaway were not friends, despite their long acquaintance.

‘How lovely,’ Amelia murmured.

‘Although of course I was closer to Burwell’s brother at the time.’

Daniel froze. He felt the blood drain from his face and for a moment the world around him seemed to stop.

‘I didn’t know you have a brother,’ Amelia was saying as everything came back into focus.

‘I don’t,’ Daniel said curtly. ‘He died.’

He could see the shock on Amelia’s face, but he didn’t have it in him to sugar-coat the words. Rupert’s death had torn him apart and still, over a decade on, he hadn’t forgiven himself for what had happened.

‘So tragic, to die so young,’ Hathaway said, his voice laced with sympathy.

Daniel suppressed the urge to strangle the man. Hathaway wasn’t responsible for his brother’s death, but he certainly hadn’t helped to prevent it.

‘Such a shame nothing could be done to prevent it,’ the man continued.

Daniel felt burning fury rise up inside him. He would have done anything to change what had happened to his brother, he’d have moved heaven and earth to stop his tragic death, but the truth of the matter was Rupert was dead. He had died years ago and every day since Daniel had regretted not having done more to keep him alive. Hathaway knew this and was trying to stir up the guilt and regret Daniel still felt so keenly.

‘I’m so sorry,’ Amelia said, reaching and covering his hand with her own.

Daniel barely felt her touch. His mind was back in his childhood, in his teenage years—the years when he could have helped Rupert. If only his father had accepted Rupert as a true son, or his mother had allowed him to even occasionally set foot in the house. For years he had resented his parents for the part they played in rejecting Rupert, but there was no one he blamed more than himself. He’d been there at school, term after term, as Rupert had shrunk into himself. No amount of blaming his cold, unfeeling mother or his father, who was trying to please everyone, would change the fact that Daniel himself could have made a difference.

‘It must be awful to lose a brother,’ Amelia said quietly.

Daniel pulled himself back to the present and focused on Amelia, trying to block out Hathaway’s presence altogether.

‘It is,’ Daniel said simply.

‘Especially if you’re close,’ Hathaway supplied.

Daniel ignored the comment. He and Rupert hadn’t been close, despite being less than a year apart in age. They’d shared classes at school and had even started at Cambridge together. They should have been inseparable. And maybe if Daniel had spent a little more time with the boy who had shared his blood he would have been alive today. Daniel knew this and wished every day that the outcome had been different.

‘I know I’m affected by the loss of my parents still,’ Amelia said quietly. Daniel glanced at her quickly and saw her eyes widen as if she’d said something she shouldn’t. ‘The loss of my mother,’ Amelia said quickly. ‘My mother died many years ago now.’

Daniel knew she was reaching out to him, sympathising, but he couldn’t deal with her sympathy right now. He wished they would change the subject, wished they would talk about almost anything else, but he knew even if the topic of conversation did change he’d still never be able to outrun his guilt.

‘What happened?’ Amelia asked gently.

Daniel froze. He didn’t know how to answer the question. It wasn’t that he was ashamed of the way his brother had died, but more that he was ashamed he hadn’t done anything to stop it.

Hathaway was looking at him with barely concealed amusement in his eyes. He was enjoying Daniel’s torment.

‘My brother was very unhappy. He took his own life.’

To Amelia’s credit she did not gasp or twitter on incessantly as most people did. Some of the colour drained from her face, but otherwise outwardly she did not react to his statement.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said simply and reached out and took his hand in hers.

Daniel felt oddly comforted by the gesture. Normally he hated sympathy from people on the subject of his brother’s death, but he didn’t feel as though Amelia was judging him. In fact, the frown she directed towards Hathaway showed she’d picked up on his character flaws pretty quickly.

‘Mr Hathaway,’ she said sweetly, ‘was there something you wanted to discuss with the earl?’

Hathaway looked a little surprised to be addressed so directly.

‘Of course,’ Hathaway said with a predator’s smile. ‘I think you wished to discuss a loan, Burwell.’

Daniel groaned inwardly. Amelia was learning so many of his secrets this afternoon. He wouldn’t be surprised if she ran for the hills immediately.

‘We could discuss the matter later, maybe at the club.’ Both Daniel and Hathaway frequented the same gentlemen’s club, although normally Daniel made a point to avoid Hathaway at all costs.

‘I’m not sure when I’ll be free again,’ Hathaway said, examining his fingernails nonchalantly. ‘If you want the loan, we’d better discuss it now.’

Daniel glanced at Amelia, who was looking resolutely down at the blanket. He knew the implied conclusion of this discussion wasn’t lost on her. He needed money and he needed it so desperately that he would borrow it off a man he despised. Amelia would, of course, assume that he was pursuing her for the same reason.

She was a sensible young woman and Daniel knew that deep down she was aware that many of her suitors’ interest in her was because of her dowry. However, most people did not come out and say it directly.

‘I’m willing to loan you up to two hundred pounds at a good rate of interest—what are friends for after all?’

‘And the rate?’ Daniel ground out.

‘Twenty per cent.’

It wasn’t as extortionate as Daniel had expected. He supposed Hathaway’s humiliation of him in front of Amelia was payment enough.

‘How long for?’

Hathaway eyed Amelia for a couple of seconds.

‘Two months should be long enough for you to get your affairs in order.’

Amelia recoiled involuntarily as if she’d been slapped in the face. The implication couldn’t have been more clear: it should take Daniel only two months to finalise his marriage to Amelia and be in possession of her dowry.

Seeing he had caused the desired effect, Hathaway stood.

‘Think on it, Burwell, send word to me if you decide to accept my offer and I’ll get you the funds within the week.’

Daniel wished he could punch the man. Amelia looked devastated and all he could do was sit by and watch.

‘It was delightful to make your acquaintance, Miss Eastway, especially after I’ve heard so much about you.’

Amelia managed a short nod of acknowledgement.

Hathaway mounted his horse and rode off without another word. Daniel and Amelia sat in silence for a whole minute, the gap between them seeming to widen with every passing second. Daniel wished he could reach out and take her hand, whisper something in her ear that would bring back the closeness they’d shared just moments before Hathaway had arrived. He hated the desolate look in Amelia’s eyes. Although it was true he was pursuing Amelia for her dowry and the fortune she would bring to the marriage, he hadn’t wanted her to end up feeling so unwanted and unattractive. He liked her, probably more than he should, and the last thing he wanted was for her to be hurt.

‘Thank you for this afternoon,’ Amelia said abruptly, standing before Daniel even realised what was happening. ‘But I think I will return home now.’

He watched open-mouthed as she strode across to her horse and mounted easily without any help.

‘Amelia,’ he called after her, knowing he had to stop her or everything was lost.

She ignored him and spurred her horse forward into a canter. He cursed loudly before jogging over to his horse and swinging up on to his back. He needed to catch her, to try to smooth over the mess Hathaway had caused, otherwise he would lose her and Annabelle would ruin his son’s future.

Chapter Nine

Lizzie felt the tears stinging her eyes as she galloped through the park. She couldn’t believe she’d allowed herself to get hurt. She’d let Daniel draw her in and convince her that maybe he was just a little attracted to her. How could a man kiss a woman the way he had kissed her and not be even a little attracted to her? She thought back to Harriet’s words earlier that afternoon and realised Amelia’s cousin was telling the truth. Daniel was a rake, a man so practised in the art of seduction he could make any woman fall for him with a single kiss whilst not feeling a thing himself. He could even make the most unattractive woman feel beautiful and desired.

She raised a hand and swiped the tears that fell down her cheeks. She would not cry over him. Lizzie had known deep down that the only reason Daniel was courting her was because of Amelia’s dowry. She’d repeated it to herself several times each hour, but still a small part of her had hoped. It wasn’t as though they could ever be together anyway—after her lies about who she was Lizzie knew she’d be hounded out of London society, but for a moment it had felt wonderful to feel desired. Then to have that man come and reveal Daniel’s crippling debts—and they must be crippling if he was willing to turn to someone like that for money—had been humiliating for both of them. Hathaway had even gone so far as to calculate when Amelia’s dowry would be available if Lizzie and Daniel married. That had been the final blow.

Lizzie shook her head and tried to regain control of her emotions. Normally she was good at hiding when she was upset. For years in India she had been a burden to her uncle and he had let her know at every opportunity. There was one memory that was seared in Lizzie’s mind so clearly it never really left her. A dressmaker had come to the house to measure her and Amelia for a new dress and she’d brought some samples with her. Both Lizzie and Amelia had been very excited teenagers, trying on the dresses and parading round. Amelia, of course, told her she looked stunning. Lizzie could always rely on her cousin for a compliment even if no one else ever thought to give her one. Her uncle had entered the room, in a foul mood for some reason, and on seeing Lizzie he had snorted. He’d instructed the dressmaker not to bother with a new dress for Lizzie as nothing was going to improve the disaster that she was becoming. Lizzie had swallowed back her tears and smiled when Amelia had later said she would help alter one of her new dresses for Lizzie.

So if she could hold her head up high to her uncle back then, why was she blubbering like a fool now?

‘Amelia.’ The shout came from some distance away and Lizzie turned to look behind her.

Daniel was gaining on her, riding like a man possessed. Lizzie rolled her eyes. He was no doubt wanting to ensure nothing was going to get in the way of him getting his hands on her precious dowry. She urged her horse to travel faster. Trees whipped past on her right and Lizzie knew it wouldn’t be long before they were back in the more popular part of Hyde Park. If she could just reach there before Daniel caught up with her, she would be saved having to talk to him. She didn’t want to exchange another word with him ever again and she certainly didn’t want to listen to his lies about how he found her attractive. His silence when Hathaway had insulted her had been confirmation enough of his views.

Lizzie glanced back over her shoulder once again, wanting to see if Daniel had gained on her. Just as she was turning back to face forward a branch from a tree came out of nowhere. Lizzie ducked instinctively and managed to avoid the branch, but the sudden movement put her off balance. She pulled desperately on the horse’s reins, trying to slow down as she felt herself lose her seat and start to topple. Arms flailing, Lizzie knew falling was inevitable and forced her body to go limp as she toppled from the horse. She rolled as she hit the ground, the breath forced from her lungs, and when she finally stopped moving she stayed curled in a ball, too frightened to move.

‘Amelia!’ Lizzie heard Daniel shout as he raced towards her. She didn’t look up, instead concentrating on trying to breathe.

‘Dear God,’ he exhaled as he pulled his horse up beside her.

Lizzie heard him dismount and immediately felt his arms embracing her. Momentarily she forgot she was angry with this man and she allowed herself to melt into his body.

‘Amelia, can you hear me?’ he asked, his voice panicked.

Lizzie managed to nod, not having found her voice yet.

‘What hurts?’

Everything hurt. Everything from the top of her head down to the bottom of her feet hurt and she felt bloodied and bruised.

‘Everything,’ she managed to mutter after a few seconds.

Lizzie felt Daniel slowly sit her up and rest her body against his.

‘Do you know who I am?’ he asked slowly.

Lizzie nodded. ‘The earl,’ she said, not wanting to use his given name.

Daniel didn’t seem to notice, instead he just seemed pleased she was at least a little orientated.

Slowly he moved round so he was facing Lizzie. They were both still sitting on the ground, but now Daniel was holding her round the waist whilst looking at her face.

Lizzie allowed her eyes to flutter open and raised a hand to her head. It didn’t seem to have any large dents in it.

‘Keep still,’ Daniel instructed. Lizzie felt a pang of annoyance that he was telling her what to do, but had to concede it was good advice.

Slowly she watched as he raised his hands to her head and started to run his fingers over her scalp. His touch was gentle and Lizzie felt herself relaxing a little.

‘Ouch,’ she muttered as he found a sensitive spot.

‘You’ve got quite a bump.’

Lizzie raised her own hand and traced the egg-sized bump that was forming on the back of her head. She would likely have a headache for days.

Daniel moved on, inspecting each part of her body much the way he had in the Prestons’ garden when she had hurtled down the steps and landed on top of him. Gently he ran his fingers over her arms, satisfying himself there weren’t any breaks, then he moved on to her body. He grasped her around the waist and slowly moved his hands upwards, squeezing as he went as if checking for broken ribs. Lizzie felt bruised and tender, but there was no sharp stab of pain.

As his hands moved higher Lizzie felt her breathing getting shallower. She hated him, hated him so much she never wanted to see him again, but she still couldn’t stop her body responding to his touch. With each stroke of his fingers or squeeze of his hand she felt every nerve ending in her body come alive and begin firing. She yearned for his touch and at the same time wanted to push him away for ever.

Daniel’s hands lingered on her waist for a few seconds and Lizzie knew he was trying to meet her gaze. She looked resolutely off into the distance, refusing to be sucked in by him.

‘I need to check your legs,’ Daniel said quietly.

Lizzie’s eyes snapped upwards and met his. Already he was moving away from her and taking her left ankle in his hand. Carefully he encircled her lower leg with his hands and started to move his touch upwards. Lizzie didn’t think anyone had ever touched her legs before him. It was intimate, maybe even more intimate than when his hand had dipped into the neckline of her dress earlier, and she knew she should pull away.

This was the man who had kissed her as though she were the most attractive woman on earth, then let his acquaintance insult her so openly. He’d not denied it was her supposed fortune he was after and Lizzie had to keep reminding herself he was a seasoned seducer.

Daniel moved his hands to her right ankle and immediately Lizzie let out a strangled cry.

‘Does that hurt?’

She nodded, biting back a sarcastic comment.

He examined her carefully, probing gently with his fingers and stroking the length of her calf with his hand.

‘I don’t think it’s broken,’ he said eventually. ‘Probably just sprained.’

Lizzie nodded, wondering if a sprain could be this painful.

‘We should get you home.’

‘If you would be so kind as to assist me on to my horse, I’m sure I can find my own way back,’ Lizzie said, her words stilted and her tone formal.

Daniel looked at her as though she were crazy.

‘You want me to abandon an injured lady in the middle of Hyde Park?’

Lizzie nodded.

‘Amelia,’ he said, his voice strained with emotion. ‘What happened—’

‘Don’t,’ Lizzie interrupted him. ‘Please don’t say anything.’

He looked as though he was going to protest, he even opened his mouth to start his explanation, but must have thought better of it.

‘I will not let you ride home alone,’ he said eventually.

He rose to his feet and offered her his hand. Reluctantly Lizzie took it. Always the pragmatist, she knew realistically she wasn’t going to be able to mount a horse without his help.

As she stood Lizzie felt a bolt of pain shoot through her ankle and she bit back a scream. Daniel must have seen the pained expression on her face and heard the sharp intake of breath for as soon as she was upright he swept her into his arms.

Lizzie started to protest but was silenced with a single look from Daniel.

Silently he walked over to his horse and carefully set her down.

‘Stay here.’ It was an order and, given his tone of voice, one Lizzie didn’t dare disobey. She stood where he’d set her, balancing on her one good foot whilst she watched him fetch the horse she’d been riding and carefully tie its reins to his own. Then he pulled himself up on to his horse’s back and effortlessly swung her up in front of him. It had all happened so quickly Lizzie didn’t have time to protest. One moment she was standing on one foot, the next she was nestled between his thighs with his arm wrapped round her waist.

‘I’m perfectly capable of riding,’ she mumbled, knowing it was pointless to argue. Daniel had a determined look about him and she doubted anything less than divine intervention would convince him to let her ride on her own.

He urged his horse forward into a comfortable walk and despite herself Lizzie felt herself relaxing back into his chest.

‘Amelia,’ Daniel said once they had started to move, ‘I need to apologise.’

Lizzie didn’t disagree, but she didn’t want to hear it. Either he was going to admit he was just courting her for a dowry she didn’t even possess, or he was going to lie to her. She didn’t want to hear what he had to say in either scenario.

‘Hathaway was inexcusably rude and I’m afraid I wasn’t much better. I shouldn’t have allowed him to speak to you like that.’

Lizzie held herself completely still, wondering what his next words would be.

‘I was shaken by having the memory of my brother’s death raked up, but that is no excuse.’

He sighed and not for the first time Lizzie sensed Daniel was a troubled man. He put on a good show, but underneath the smiles and easy conversation there was so much more going on.

‘I only hope you give me the chance to make it up to you.’

Lizzie wanted to shout at him, force him to admit why he was really courting her. She wished the truth was out in the open, that he would tell her he was only interested in her for her dowry, then she would be able to start putting him out of her mind. It would be better all round than continuing this charade, and she would be able to go back to being plain old Lizzie Eastway, the girl who was always second best.

Chapter Ten

Daniel knew he’d made a mess of things. Actually that was an understatement; courting Amelia had turned into a complete disaster. For years he had prided himself on his ability to seduce a woman with a single look, a single compliment, and now it really mattered that not only had he not complimented Amelia, he’d allowed her to be most grievously insulted while he stood by, mute.

He’d been completely thrown by Hathaway’s presence, but that wasn’t any kind of excuse. In truth, he’d been thrown before the man had even turned up. It had all started with that damn kiss. Once again Daniel had planned to further his courtship of Amelia with a kiss. In his mind it was to be something of passion and romance, something she could not help but fall for. She’d responded to him, there was no denying it, but once again he’d also lost control. Far from being rational and clear-headed, he’d felt the heat rise up inside him and his desire had taken over.

After Annabelle he had sworn never to let a woman get under his skin. But there was something about Amelia, something that reared its head whenever he kissed her—hell, whenever he got close to her—that made him lose control.

Daniel was brought out of his musings by a sharp knock on the door. Seconds later his butler was easing himself into the room.

‘You have a visitor, sir.’

Daniel frowned. He wasn’t expecting anyone. Maybe it would be Hathaway, come to rescind his offer of a loan from earlier. Daniel hadn’t exactly jumped at the man’s offer, even though he needed the money badly.

‘A lady.’

Ah. Annabelle. Of course. Daniel should have known it wouldn’t be long before she was knocking at his door, demanding money for her silence.

‘Show her in.’

The last person he wanted to see right now was his ex-lover, but he knew if he made some excuse Annabelle would only make him suffer for it. She’d turned up at his club once before and at the house of one of his mistresses another time. Knowing his luck, Daniel thought this time she would choose Amelia as her target. It would be better all round if he just gritted his teeth and dealt with her now.

‘So lovely to see you yesterday, Daniel,’ Annabelle said as she sailed into the room and delicately perched on the edge of a chair. She was a beautiful woman, but she was always arranging herself to show off her best side, fussing and preening, which Daniel now saw detracted from her beauty.

‘Where’s Edward?’

‘Our son is safe, he’s with a friend of mine.’

Daniel tried not to let his disappointment show. Annabelle hardly ever actually let him see his son, just catch glimpses of him as he had done the day before.

‘Bringing up a child is a very expensive business,’ Annabelle said, smoothing down her skirt, then looking up at Daniel and fluttering her eyelashes.

Daniel couldn’t believe he had once been in love with this woman. She was cruel and manipulative, and he’d been completely besotted.

‘You want more money.’

‘For our son, of course. Otherwise I might let it slip that his father wasn’t a war hero, now sadly deceased.’

Daniel grimaced. No matter how much he despised Annabelle he couldn’t let her reveal the truth to his son. He couldn’t let Edward grow up to be an outcast like Rupert had been, teased because he was the illegitimate son of an earl.

‘How much?’ Daniel asked, knowing there was no point quibbling.

‘Just the usual amount. Twenty pounds a month, so two hundred and forty pounds for the year.’

It was extortionate, more than most titled gentlemen had as their yearly income. Annabelle had bled him dry over the years, but Daniel knew he would continue to pay.

‘I want to see Edward.’

‘I don’t think that’s wise. He might start asking who this strange man is.’

Daniel hated the thought that he was a stranger to his son.

‘You’ve got a week to raise the money. I’ll come back to collect it. Just remember what will happen if you don’t pay.’

Annabelle stood and walked round the desk, leant over and gave Daniel a peck on the cheek.

‘We could have been so happy,’ she whispered in his ear.

‘I think I owe you an apology.’ Daniel raised his head to see Fletcher approaching his table.

Daniel had been sitting in his club for the best part of an hour nursing a whisky. His frown had stopped any passing acquaintances from approaching him, but it did not deter Fletcher.

‘I asked Hathaway to meet with you. I didn’t realise he would actively seek you out.’

Daniel nodded, grimacing as he remembered the expression on Amelia’s face as Hathaway had insulted her.

‘I take it Miss Eastway was present.’

‘She was.’

‘Did Hathaway actually bring up business whilst she was there?’

Daniel raked a hand through his hair. ‘He brought up the subject of a loan, after telling Miss Eastway about my brother and insinuating I was only interested in her for her money.’

Even easygoing Fletcher couldn’t find anything to say for a moment or two. Instead he motioned for another glass of whisky for them both.

‘What happened?’ he asked eventually.

Daniel didn’t say anything about his brother. Fletcher had been his friend since school, so he knew most of the sordid details. He knew the guilt Daniel carried around over Rupert’s death and in part he shared some of that guilt.

They’d all been at Eton together. Daniel and Fletcher had hit it off immediately, been friends from the very first day. Hathaway was already a slimy little toad and the two boys had gone out of their way to avoid him. Rupert had begun the term late, only two weeks, but it was enough to make him noticeable. Boys were notoriously unforgiving at that age and immediately they wanted to find out what had caused the delay.

When Rupert had arrived Daniel hadn’t known how to act. It wasn’t the first time he’d laid eyes on his illegitimate half-brother, but it was the first time they’d ever been close enough to interact. They had circled each other warily for a few days, neither wanting to be the one to make the first move.

And then everything had changed. Somehow Hathaway had found out that Rupert was illegitimate. Boys whispered about him as he walked from class to class, the few friends he had managed to distance themselves. It didn’t matter that his father was bothering to send him to Eton despite being illegitimate. He was ostracised, made an outcast. Daniel could have done something. If he’d extended the hand of friendship, then others would have followed, but he’d been too wrapped up in his own life to even notice.

By the time they left Eton and started at Cambridge Rupert had turned into a recluse, leaving his lodgings only to attend lectures. Older, slightly wiser and certainly more aware of his half-brother’s misery, Daniel had tried to reach out a few times, but when Rupert rejected him he all too easily gave up.

Then Rupert had killed himself. On the last day of the winter term he’d been found hanging in his room. He’d left a note, but even without it Daniel didn’t need a dead man’s accusations to know the truth: he could have prevented his brother’s death. If he’d persevered, if he’d tried just a little harder to reach out to him, maybe Rupert would still be alive.

‘It wasn’t your fault,’ Fletcher said softly after a couple of minutes, knowing his friend was thinking of his brother.

Daniel shook his head and took a gulp of whisky. He knew his guilt would never ease.

‘Hathaway agreed to lend me the money, but he all but said the only reason I’m pursuing Miss Eastway is because of her fortune.’

Fletcher shrugged. ‘Well, it is, isn’t it?’

Daniel considered. When he’d asked Fletcher to point out Amelia in the Prestons’ ballroom all he could think about was her dowry and the means to pay Annabelle to shield his son against the truth of his birth. Then he’d encountered her in the garden and he’d felt the stab of desire he hadn’t felt in years. At each subsequent meeting he’d realised that he actually liked Amelia. She was quiet and thoughtful, but a sharp intelligence hid behind her unassuming manner. He found he enjoyed talking to her and the hours they spent together passed quite pleasurably.

He actually enjoyed the company of the woman he was hoping to marry, which would be fantastic if he didn’t desire her so damn much.

Most of the time he could think rationally. When they were walking in the park or riding side by side he could look at her and see the modest, gentle woman the rest of the world saw. There was just that small percentage of the time, normally when Amelia was standing close to him, when his heart started pounding in his chest and he knew he had to have her. He wanted to run his hands over her entire body, kiss her in all her most intimate places and make her his. He wanted to lay her down and make love to her until neither of them knew where one body stopped and the next began.

‘Ah,’ Fletcher said, ‘I see.’

Daniel knew he hadn’t said a word, but with four sisters Fletcher was unusually sensitive and astute.

‘What?’ Daniel asked.

‘You feel something for her.’

Daniel didn’t bother to deny it. He did feel something for Amelia. He wasn’t going to claim it was love or anything as noble. He liked the girl, but more than that he desired her.

‘Most people would be happy to feel something for their future spouse.’

Daniel knew it was true. Most ton marriages were marriages of convenience, much like the one he’d planned to have. The match was made either for money or for a title and an alliance. Many married couples thought themselves lucky if they didn’t completely despise each other.

‘It complicates things,’ Daniel said.

Fletcher regarded him for a few moments and Daniel knew his friend was considering whether to say anything more.

‘We’ve all had women who have got under our skin,’ he said eventually. ‘The trick is not to let them control the rest of your life.’ With that his friend stood, clapped him on the shoulder and walked away. Unfortunately a much-less-welcome companion soon approached his table.

‘Burwell, twice in one day. What an unexpected pleasure.’

Daniel took a few seconds to compose himself before raising his head to look at Hathaway. The man irritated him and had been unforgivably rude to Amelia, but Daniel knew he needed his old acquaintance to lend him the money to get Annabelle off his back.

‘Hathaway,’ Daniel said, his voice low and not much more than a growl.

‘So delightful to meet the future Lady Burwell earlier. Isn’t she a quiet little thing?’

‘Miss Eastway is a charming young woman.’

‘With a charmingly large dowry.’

Daniel felt the muscles in his hand clench as he formed a fist, but forced himself to relax. He hadn’t let Hathaway goad him when they had been at school or university together and he wasn’t going to start now.

‘Thank you for the offer of a loan. I will send a man to collect it in a few days.’

For a moment Daniel thought Hathaway might stay, that he might want to bait Daniel further, but luckily his old acquaintance didn’t seem in the mood for taunting him tonight. After a few seconds of being ignored by Daniel, Hathaway picked up his drink and moved on.

Daniel nursed his whisky for a few more minutes before gulping down the last of it and standing to leave. He needed some fresh air and he needed to clear his head.

Daniel thought back to the conversation he’d had with Fletcher earlier in the evening. He knew his old friend was right; most men would be ecstatic to desire the woman they were courting, but Daniel wished he felt nothing beyond mild affection for Amelia. He had experienced gut-wrenching passion before, he’d let it cloud his judgement and overtake his life, and now he wasn’t the only one paying for it. It was because of desire that he could never truly know his son and it was because of desire that one day that boy he loved so much would probably find out he was illegitimate and have his world shattered.

The past few years had forced Daniel to become a pragmatist, and as he walked he strived to take his emotions out of the equation. The facts remained: he was broke, he needed money to pay off Annabelle.

There were really only two problems. The first was the way Daniel seemed to lose his head whenever Amelia’s body brushed up against his and the second was the fact that after this afternoon she probably never wanted to see him ever again.

Daniel had been walking absentmindedly for about half an hour when he realised his subconscious had brought him to the house Amelia was staying in with her aunt. He glanced up at the windows, wondering which of them belonged to Amelia’s room. It was far too late to call on her, despite Daniel wanting to try to move on from their disastrous afternoon out in the park. He was just about to turn away when he saw a flicker of orange in one of the windows. Frowning, he stared for a minute before realising what it was.

Chapter Eleven

After her disastrous afternoon Lizzie had fled straight to her room on arriving home. She hadn’t wanted to answer Aunt Mathilda’s questions on how things were going with the dear earl and she hadn’t wanted to endure Harriet’s snide comments. All she did want to do was bury her face in her pillow and cry.

On reaching her room Lizzie allowed herself to sob for five minutes before sitting up and wiping her eyes. Whilst she was growing up there had been hundreds of occasions that had made Lizzie want to shut herself away from the rest of the world and cry until she had no more tears, but she’d learnt to control her sadness. No one comforted her then and no one was going to comfort her now.

As she had many times Lizzie wondered how different things would have been if her parents were still alive. They had died in a coach accident when Lizzie had been very young—all she could really remember was her mother’s warm smile and her father’s hearty laugh. She couldn’t imagine having a mother, someone who would love her unconditionally, who would wipe away her tears and tell her she was worth so much more. Lizzie could never imagine being the centre of someone’s world.

She shook her head. She probably wouldn’t ever be the centre of someone’s world. For odd moments she had fooled herself about Daniel when he looked at her with his wolfish eyes and claimed her with a kiss that was so searing and possessive she had dared to hope he might want her as he wanted no other. She had dared to hope he might be the one who could love her unconditionally.

It had all been nothing more than an illusion. What made it hurt even more was the attraction Lizzie felt for Daniel. She knew nothing could come of their liaison, she knew that once her identity was revealed she would be hounded from London society, but that didn’t stop her heart racing whenever he smiled at her or her skin tingling when he touched her. He was a good-looking man and a seasoned charmer, but it was something more than that. When he touched her it was as if all the jumbled pieces of Lizzie’s life fell into place.

She’d been fooling herself, wanting something that was so far out of her reach, and now it was time to accept reality and move on. When Amelia returned and revealed her identity, Lizzie would have to disappear. Her cousin would beg her to stay, of course, and normally Lizzie would do anything for Amelia, but this time she had tasted how her life could have been if she had been born Amelia’s sister rather than her penniless cousin. She couldn’t go back to being poor, insignificant Lizzie who no one took any notice of. She would leave London, leave the country and seek out a life for herself elsewhere.

Deep down Lizzie knew in reality it wouldn’t be the ton in general she would be running from, but rather a very specific dashing earl with smouldering eyes.

A knock at her door gave her a moment’s panic, but she took a moment to straighten her dress and wipe her eyes before answering.

‘Come in.’

Rosie, a young maid who had been assigned to help Lizzie dress and do her hair whilst she was living with Aunt Mathilda, opened the door and dropped into a little neat curtsy.

‘Begging your pardon for disturbing you, miss, but a letter came for you when you were out.’

Lizzie’s eyes widened with anticipation. It would be from Amelia surely. Lizzie still hadn’t heard a thing from her cousin since they had parted at the dock. She was becoming increasingly worried about Amelia. In the time they had spent together on their voyage Lizzie had tried to talk her cousin out of her foolish plan so many times. She’d tried to explain the scandal that would ensue if anyone found out Amelia had run off to meet a man, but as usual her cousin had just laughed off her concerns.

Lizzie was beginning to wish she had made Amelia realise that it wasn’t only her reputation she was risking, but Lizzie’s, too. At the time she had agreed to Amelia’s reckless plan because she never expected to want to marry, never expected to find someone who wanted to marry her. Now she was getting so worried about her cousin she would use any tactic, including guilt over ruining Lizzie’s reputation, to keep her cousin from disappearing.

‘I’m sure it could have waited until morning, miss, it was just...’ The young maid tailed off.

‘Yes?’ Lizzie asked kindly.

‘It was just that Miss Harriet was poking around it and I was afraid she might read something she shouldn’t,’ Rosie said, dropping her voice.

‘Thank you, Rosie, you are very astute.’

The maid looked confused at the compliment but curtsied again, handed over the letter and backed out of the room.

Lizzie turned the envelope over in her hands and immediately felt disappointment. The handwriting was nothing like her cousin’s. The two girls had taken all their lessons together, so Lizzie could recognise Amelia’s hurried scrawl easily.

Instead the letters were neat and carefully spaced; it was her uncle’s handwriting.

Although the letter was addressed to Amelia, Lizzie slid her finger under the seal and opened it. She needed to know what was so important he’d sent a letter so soon after their departure. For this to have got to London so quickly he must have sent it mere days after they had left India.

Sinking down on her bed to read it, Lizzie felt her eyes widen with shock and her skin start to prickle with dread.

Dear Amelia,

I hope this letter finds you well and that you are closer to securing a suitable husband.

Her uncle, the colonel, always did get straight to the point.

I will not waste time with pleasantries, instead I send instructions.

The colonel didn’t waste time with pleasantries in person, so Lizzie wasn’t surprised he was as direct in his correspondence.

I trust as instructed you will focus on finding a husband with all possible haste. I sent your cousin Elizabeth with you so you would have company on the voyage and for your arrival in London. However, her place is not in London society with you.

At the mention of her name Lizzie sat up straighter and started to read faster.

I have often despaired of what to do with your cousin once you are married, but now I have found a pleasing solution and would like her to return to India as soon as possible.

Lizzie closed her eyes and took a moment to steady herself before she found out what fate her uncle had in store for her.

I had assumed Elizabeth would remain a spinster. She is a plain girl who lacks the necessary attributes to marry well, but I have found a man willing to be her husband.

She gasped in shock. Not at her uncle calling her plain—he’d always made it clear she was much inferior to Amelia or any other girl of the same age—but at the idea of him wanting to marry her off. She’d always assumed Amelia would marry someone rich and she’d become her cousin’s companion.

Taking a deep breath, Lizzie steeled herself to finish the letter.

Colonel Rocher is in need of a wife and is willing to take Elizabeth on. He is eager that the formalities should be taken care of as soon as possible. Please instruct your cousin Elizabeth to arrange passage back to India with all possible haste.

Your Father

Lizzie sat in shock for five whole minutes, reading and rereading the last section of the letter. She couldn’t quite believe her life had changed so much in mere minutes.

She couldn’t marry Colonel Rocher. Of all the men in India he was the very last she would ever want to marry. It wasn’t because he was at least double her age, or that physically he was repulsive. Lizzie wasn’t so naïve to have ever expected an attractive husband and she would certainly not turn down a man just because he didn’t have rippling muscles or a winning smile. It wasn’t even that he leered at every woman under the age of sixty and had wandering hands that were the stuff of legend. All that Lizzie could forgive—after all, it wasn’t as though she was a prize. No, the reason she just couldn’t marry Colonel Rocher was because she knew he would beat her. He had beaten his first wife and he had beaten his second. Both had often been seen sporting bruises or injuries and, far from denying hurting either of the women, he had often boasted about keeping them in line.

She’d always known she was a burden to her uncle, he’d told her often enough, but she’d always hoped that deep down he loved her just a little. Or at least cared enough that he would not send her to endure a lifetime of humiliation and pain.

Lizzie couldn’t stop the image of Daniel flashing before her eyes. He was everything Colonel Rocher was not—young, attractive—and Lizzie knew instinctively he would never beat his wife. However, the main difference, the most heartbreaking difference, was that once Daniel knew her true identity he would never want her as his wife.

She refused to cry any more. This interlude with Daniel had been nothing more than a fantasy. She’d allowed herself to get swept away with it, but now her head had cleared and she saw his attention for what it really was. Lizzie knew she had to stop obsessing about the earl and instead work out what she was going to do about her future.

Of course, she would have to wait until Amelia returned, which should be any day now, but then she had to decide whether to obey her uncle and return to India or whether she was brave enough to try to survive on her own.

Lizzie knew she was far too shocked to make a rational decision, so instead she busied herself getting ready for bed, placed the letter on her bedside table and blew out her candle.

It was unbearably hot. Lizzie tossed and turned in her bed, throwing off her covers as she transitioned from a deep sleep to a light state of drowsiness. Her eyes slowly opened and at first she couldn’t quite make sense of what she was seeing. There was light in the room, not the piercing clarity of sunlight, but a dull flickering. She was covered in sweat and she could feel beads of water running between her shoulder blades.

Groggily Lizzie pushed herself up into a sitting position and forced her brain to engage with her surroundings.

She tried not to scream, knowing panicking would only make things worse. The room was on fire. The curtains had already been consumed by flames and every second that passed the fire was creeping closer to her bed. Black smoke billowed as furniture caught light and the room became a blazing inferno.

For a second Lizzie was paralysed with fear, then her survival instincts kicked in. She jumped from the bed, knowing if she didn’t get out of this room in the next thirty seconds she would die in it. In her haste her feet caught in her nightgown and she felt herself falling to the floor. She cursed her clumsiness but caught herself on her hands and knees and pushed back up to her feet. The pain from her injured ankle shot up her leg as she stood, but she managed to stumble on. Coughing as the smoke irritated her lungs, Lizzie felt her eyes also begin to water and the outline of the door, just a few feet away, became hazy.

She staggered forward, clutching at pieces of furniture that weren’t alight to try to guide herself out of the room. It was almost impossible to see anything now and as her breathing became more and more laboured Lizzie began to feel the darkness descend. She struggled on for a few more steps, dragging red-hot air into her burning lungs. Her vision, previously obscured by smoke, now was hazy from lack of oxygen and she knew she was never going to find her way to the door.

Refusing to give up, Lizzie collapsed to her knees and dragged herself a few more paces before her strength deserted her. Just before she slipped from consciousness Daniel’s face flashed before her eyes and his strong, confident voice sounded in her ears. Lizzie felt herself smile; at least she’d experienced a divinely pleasurable kiss before she’d died.

Chapter Twelve

She was smiling. The crazy woman was smiling. She was seconds from death and there was no mistaking the smile that danced over her lips as she collapsed on to her front.

Daniel surged into the room, trying to ignore the fiery heat and the black clouds of smoke that obscured almost everything. Three short strides took him to Amelia’s side and without pausing he scooped her up into his arms and retreated from the room.

Even though he’d only been in the burning room for seconds he felt the strain from the smoke on his chest and his skin still prickled as if the flames were licking at it. The hallway, which had been relatively clear when he’d bounded into the house, was now filled with smoke and Daniel knew it was only a matter of minutes before the whole house was consumed by flames.

As he raced through the house he glanced down at Amelia. She was a dead weight in his arms, completely unconscious. There had been no flicker of recognition as he’d picked her up, nor any stirring since. Her face was blackened with soot and her nightgown, which he assumed was normally a standard white, was singed at the edges and grey all over. He couldn’t see any obvious burns on her body, but he doubted she had escaped unscathed; no one could last more than a minute in a room that was burning at that intensity and not suffer from any permanent injury.

The thought of a burn on her lovely flawless skin made Daniel feel angry at whoever had been careless enough to allow the fire to start. No doubt a candle had been left burning or a fire left smouldering when it should have been put out. Fires didn’t occur spontaneously.

Daniel reached the stairs and descended quickly. As he reached the ground floor the air was a little clearer and he felt the smoke begin to leave his lungs. He resisted the almost overwhelming urge to cough and instead pressed on towards the door.

It was less than a minute after Daniel had swept Amelia into his arms that he burst through the open door and into the night. He didn’t stop walking until he was a good fifty feet from the house, well clear from the billowing black smoke that was now coming from every window. When he reached the crowd of assembled family, staff and curious onlookers he sank to his knees and placed Amelia gently on the ground.

‘Amelia, Amelia!’ Immediately Amelia’s aunt Mathilda was at their side.

Daniel ignored the frantic older woman and quickly inspected the woman lying unconscious in front of him. The first thing he noticed with relief was that her chest was rising and falling regularly; whatever other damage she had sustained at least she was still breathing.

As he bent lower to wipe some of the grime from her face he tried to block out the crowd of curious onlookers who were surging closer. He needed to focus on Amelia. He had no idea how long she had been in the room with the fire burning around her, but he was sure she needed space and a doctor.

Decisively he stood.

‘Move back,’ he shouted, his voice commanding despite the croak from the smoke inhalation.

The crowd obeyed.

‘I need a carriage.’

A smartly dressed man caught Daniel’s eye and nodded, before disappearing at speed to find one.

‘And I need someone to fetch a doctor.’

A young lad who Daniel had seen emerge from a neighbouring house stepped up.

‘I’ll fetch a doctor for you, sir,’ he said.

Daniel reckoned this boy was a servant or stable boy for Amelia’s aunt’s neighbours and was grateful for his volunteering.

‘Send him to Twenty-Three Burton Street.’

The boy scampered off, no doubt to find the doctor his employers used whenever they were unwell.

‘I’m taking Amelia to my house to be seen to,’ Daniel said, turning to Aunt Mathilda.

She nodded, not really taking in what Daniel was saying. He supposed there wasn’t much more distracting than watching your family home burn to the ground.

‘Is anyone else still unaccounted for?’

Aunt Mathilda looked around desperately as if she hadn’t considered anyone else might be left in the house.

‘Everyone is here,’ the butler said, stepping forward.

Daniel appraised him and saw he was shaken but able to take charge of this crisis.

‘Arrange for Mrs Hunter and Miss Hunter to follow me to my town house,’ he said. ‘If any of the servants are injured or suffering from the smoke, send them quickly, too. After Miss Eastway has been seen to the doctor can check them over.’

The butler nodded. ‘I’ll keep any healthy, uninjured men with me here to supervise things and help fight the fire.’

Already the street was alive with people hauling buckets of water ready to fight the fire. Luckily the Hunters’ house was detached and had a little land surrounding it, but it took only a gentle breeze to lift some embers and the whole street could be ablaze.

Satisfied things were under control, Daniel turned his attention back to Amelia. She was still unconscious—in fact, she hadn’t once even stirred—and the depth of her insensibility worried Daniel.

At that moment a carriage clattered round the corner and the crowd parted obligingly. Daniel quickly gave his address to the driver, impressed on the man how important it was that they got there with all possible haste and swept Amelia back into his arms. Carefully he stepped up into the carriage and held her tightly across his lap as they set off through the streets of London.

He only lived a ten-minute carriage ride away, but those ten minutes seemed the longest of Daniel’s life. In the darkness he couldn’t see Amelia and he kept laying a hand on her chest to check she was still breathing. As London sped by outside the carriage window Daniel knew there was a very real chance Amelia wouldn’t make it to his house alive. He choked back the emotion that overcame him, not wanting to examine his feelings as well as cope with everything else that was occurring.

Eventually the carriage slowed to a stop and Daniel hurriedly jumped down. As he strode towards his front door he called back to the carriage driver telling him someone would come out and pay him in a few minutes.

Daniel’s front door opened as he reached the top of the steps and the face of his worried, elderly butler looked at him with amazement.

‘Wake the household,’ Daniel instructed. ‘Miss Eastway has been in a fire and is gravely injured. A doctor will be arriving shortly but I need plenty of clean water and send Mrs Greystone to my room.’

Daniel hurried up the stairs and into his bedroom, placing Amelia down on top of his four-poster bed. He’d just straightened and was about to start checking Amelia over for external injuries when he heard his very capable housekeeper bustle into the room.

‘Dearie me,’ she said. ‘What on earth happened to this poor lamb?’

Mrs Greystone took one look at Amelia and immediately began issuing orders to the two maids who trailed behind her.

‘You look a state,’ she said, appraising Daniel.

He grinned for the first time that evening. Mrs Greystone had known him since he was a baby and the older woman never minced her words around her young master. In a world where most servants were too respectful to meet their employers’ eye as they went about their daily chores, it was refreshing to have someone like Mrs Greystone around.

‘I should send you out, but I’m guessing nothing will make you leave the room until you know this lass is all right, so go and sit down in that chair and keep out of the way.’

Daniel knew it was pointless arguing with his housekeeper. He crossed the room and sank into a high-backed chair. Immediately he felt exhausted. For the past hour his body had been filled with energy as he’d rushed to rescue Amelia and then hurry her to a place where she could be best looked after. Now he’d stopped moving he felt physically drained and mentally fatigued. All he could think about was Amelia, lying on the floor of her bedroom, the life slowly draining from her body.

He watched as Mrs Greystone supervised the maids who were bringing bowls of warmed water and towels. Gently they dabbed the soot from Amelia’s face before turning to the rest of her body.

Daniel knew the curves of her body, he knew them more than he should. From that first time he’d skimmed his hands over her hips and encircled her waist with his arm Daniel had memorised her contours. As she lay on the bed, draped in the shapeless soot-stained nightgown, Daniel wanted to run his hands over her body again. He wanted to assure himself no inch of her body went unchecked, that there were no hidden wounds and every single bit of skin was intact.

Instead Mrs Greystone turned to him and raised an eyebrow.

At first he didn’t move, wondering if he could insist on staying and supervising, but even though this was his house and the women in the room were his staff, he knew they would band together to protect Amelia’s virtue and privacy, despite never having met her before.

Wearily Daniel rose from the chair, pleased to hear a male voice in the hallway. The doctor must have arrived.

‘Go and rest, Master Daniel,’ Mrs Greystone said kindly. ‘I’ll send the doctor to see to your wounds once he’s finished with this poor lass.’

Daniel nodded and left the room, knowing he would not be able to rest whilst Amelia lay unconscious. He passed the doctor in the doorway, who looked him up and down.

‘You need to get that arm cleaned up,’ the medical man said without any preamble.

Daniel glanced down at his arm, confused. Sure enough his jacket and shirtsleeve had been almost completely destroyed on the right side and a raw-looking wound was starting to blister on the skin. Daniel grimaced. Now he had noticed the burn it started to throb and hurt. Up until this point he’d been so focused on Amelia he hadn’t even realised he’d been burnt.

Quickly he returned downstairs to his study and asked the butler to organise some clean water to be put in the guest room next to his own. He also informed the elderly man they were likely to have an influx of guests arriving soon, many shaken and scared by the night’s events.

The butler took it all in his stride. Daniel knew the older man had served in the army for years and had never encountered a situation that fazed him.

Wearily Daniel returned upstairs, eager to be close to Amelia should he be needed. As he waited for the water to clean his wound his valet quietly entered the room with a change of clothes.

Daniel sank on to the bed. He realised his hands were shaking and his heart had started to race in his chest. Throughout the entire ordeal his head had remained clear and his body in control, but now he had rested and he knew there was nothing more he could do, his body was reacting to the shock of the evening.

He tried not to imagine what was happening in the room next door. He knew Amelia would not come through this unscathed and he only hoped her injuries were superficial ones. He didn’t want to examine the steely grip of panic around his heart or what it meant. He just knew his life would never be the same if Amelia didn’t make it through the next few hours.

Chapter Thirteen

Lizzie struggled to open her eyes. It was as though her eyelids were made of a heavy metal and her brain was refusing to cooperate with the rest of her body. Eventually her eyes flickered open and she frowned as she tried to take in her surroundings. Everything was blurry for a couple of seconds and her eyes stung as if she’d washed them with soap.

She let out a small groan as she remembered the fire. That was why her eyes were stinging so much and why her chest hurt with every laboured breath she took. Slowly the room came into focus and she realised she didn’t recognise her surroundings at all.

It was clear she was in a man’s bedroom. The muted colours and functionality hinted at good taste without being over the top. Lizzie struggled to remember arriving here, wherever here was.

The last thing she remembered was falling to her knees as she rushed to get out of her burning bedroom. Her feet had caught in her nightgown and she’d stumbled. Had she ever managed to get up again?

She wondered how she had escaped from the fiery inferno, looking around all the time for clues.

When the door opened Lizzie was fully awake and she turned her head towards it to see who entered. Even that little movement sent spasms through her chest and she began coughing, the irritation spreading from her throat to her chest in no time and causing her to wince with pain.

Daniel. Of course it would be Daniel.

He walked into the room, leaving the door ajar for propriety’s sake, and frowned at her. Quickly he poured her a glass of water and held it to her lips, allowing her small sips at a time. The cool liquid soothed Lizzie’s throat, but did nothing for the heaviness in her chest. It was a few minutes before the coughs subsided and she felt able to speak.

‘What happened?’ she asked, her voice unnaturally croaky.

Daniel didn’t answer for a few seconds and Lizzie took the opportunity to look him over. He appeared tired, as if he hadn’t slept at all. He was neatly turned out, but not dressed for the outside world. It must be his house they were in. She glanced down at his arm and grimaced when she saw the bandage. He was holding his injured arm across his chest, as if it pained him, but she saw no evidence of it in his face.

‘What do you remember?’ Daniel asked.

Lizzie closed her eyes and tried to think back, past the billowing black smoke and inferno of flames, past the panic and the feeling of certainty she’d had that she was going to die.

‘I remember going to bed,’ she said. She’d been reading her uncle’s letter over and over again, but eventually she’d decided to sleep. She had placed the letter down on her bedside table and blown out her candle. ‘Then I awoke and the room was boiling hot and filled with smoke. The curtains were on fire and it spread so quickly. I couldn’t breathe.’

Lizzie tried to block out the panic that was rising with the memory. She felt Daniel’s hand cover her own and immediately her racing heart started to slow and her mind cleared.

‘I tried to escape, but I tripped,’ she said with a shake of her head. ‘I thought I was going to die.’

Lizzie glanced at Daniel again, taking in his bandaged arm and concerned expression, and realised the truth. He’d saved her. Somehow he’d battled the flames and the smoke and he’d saved her.

‘You found me?’ Lizzie asked quietly.

He nodded. ‘I was passing the house when I saw the fire. When you didn’t emerge I went in and got you out.’

Lizzie knew there must have been much more to it than that. He would have had to push past everyone fleeing the burning house, going against every survival instinct that was screaming for him to stay well away from the fire. Then he would have had to brave the smoke and the flames and search the burning building before he came across her unconscious body. Once he’d found her, he would have had to carry her all the way outside even though the flames would have been licking at his heels and the smoke filling his lungs.

‘Thank you,’ Lizzie said sincerely, holding his eye. She knew what he had done deserved so much more than a ‘thank you’, but she also knew he was not the sort of man to seek out praise. It was enough that he had saved her. ‘Did everyone...?’ She trailed off, not knowing how to ask the question.

‘Everyone got out alive. Some of the staff have minor injuries and smoke inhalation, but nothing that time won’t heal.’

Lizzie nodded, the movement setting off another bout of coughing. Her chest felt as though it were about to explode and her throat burned.

‘You were injured?’ she asked when the coughing had subsided.

He shrugged. ‘Just a small burn.’

Lizzie felt guilty at having been the reason he was in the burning house to start with.

‘We should let the doctor know you’re awake,’ Daniel said. ‘And your aunt.’

‘Poor Aunt Mathilda, she’s lost her home.’

Lizzie fell silent. She wondered for a moment how the fire had started, whether a candle had been left burning or an ember from a fire had floated on to a nearby piece of furniture. Something was nagging her, dancing around the edge of her consciousness.

‘When you came and got me was the whole house burning?’ Lizzie asked.

Daniel shook his head. ‘No, only upstairs, your room, the couple on either side. There was smoke throughout the house, though.’

Lizzie nodded, carefully trying to keep her face composed. She tried to picture her room just before she had closed her eyes and gone to sleep. She quite clearly remembered blowing out the candle by her bed and lying in the darkness. So it couldn’t have been her who started the fire.

Still something was nagging at her. Forcing herself to maintain her composure, she thought back to what she had seen when the room was on fire. She’d been panicked, more scared than she had ever been before, but she had noticed something.

Suddenly it came to her; there had been another candle in the room. It had been sitting on the small desk by the window, right next to the curtains. Lizzie knew she hadn’t left it burning—in fact, she was sure she hadn’t left the candle there at all.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the door opening again and Aunt Mathilda hurrying in, followed reluctantly by Harriet.

‘Oh, my dear, we were so worried about you—weren’t we, Harriet?’

Harriet nodded vaguely but didn’t make any snide comments.

‘Were you hurt?’ Lizzie asked, quickly running her eyes over both women, looking for injuries.

‘Thankfully, no, we got out whilst the fire was still small.’ Lizzie saw Aunt Mathilda hesitate before continuing. ‘I don’t suppose you have any idea how the fire started, my dear?’

Lizzie shook her head. ‘I remember blowing out my candle before I went to sleep.’

Aunt Mathilda nodded. ‘I just don’t understand how it happened.’

‘Amelia said she doesn’t know anything,’ Harriet said in a tetchy voice.

Everyone in the room turned to Harriet in surprise. The young woman had made it no secret that she was not fond of Lizzie and her defence of her now seemed unnatural.

‘Well, she did,’ Harriet muttered.

‘It really doesn’t matter,’ Aunt Mathilda insisted. ‘The main thing is that you escaped largely unharmed.’

‘What about your poor house?’

The older woman shrugged, but Lizzie could see the tears in her eyes.

‘Please excuse me, I think I’ll go and have a lie-down.’

Aunt Mathilda left the room. Harriet stayed where she was for a moment or two, staring at Lizzie, before she followed her mother out. Just as she reached the door Harriet turned back towards Lizzie.

‘It looks like once again you came out on top. What a surprise. We’ve lost our home and the Eastways have lost nothing.’

‘How strange,’ Daniel murmured.

‘She’s had a shock. They both have. Losing your home must be awful.’

Lizzie felt the tears well up in her eyes and spill out on to her cheeks. Her hands started to shake and the spasms in her chest returned, making her cough. She knew they had all come close to dying. If Daniel hadn’t rushed into the house, there was no doubt she’d be nothing more than a pile of ash.

Daniel was at her side in moments. He took her hand in one of his and stroked her hair with his other. Lizzie closed her eyes and tried to catch her breath.

‘Hush,’ Daniel said. ‘You’re safe now.’

Lizzie nodded, but still the tears kept flowing.

With her eyes still closed Lizzie felt rather than saw the moment Daniel moved to sit on the bed beside her. He scooped her into his arms and held her close to his body. Lizzie felt the warmth of his body against her skin and his touch soothed her. After a few seconds her cough subsided and a minute later the tears followed.

They sat in silence, the rise and fall of their chests following the same rhythm, Daniel’s breath tickling Lizzie’s neck. She felt safe here, ensconced in his arms, protected by his embrace, but even whilst she was enjoying the closeness Lizzie knew it could never last.

Daniel still thought he had rescued Miss Amelia Eastway, most eligible heiress of the season. He might find her plainness and lack of beauty acceptable whilst he thought her rich, but that concession would soon sour once he knew she was almost penniless, a charity case her uncle had taken pity on. She squeezed her eyes tighter shut and wished she could suspend time. She wanted to stay as they were right now, with Daniel’s arms wrapped around her and him thinking she was so much more than she really was.

They sat in silence for ten minutes, all the while Lizzie wished again and again that she was her cousin. She wanted Amelia’s life so badly, not for her money or her confidence, but she wanted to be the kind of woman Daniel could not ignore. Instead of being plain old Lizzie, eternally condemned to be overlooked by everyone, she wanted to be the woman people sat up and took notice of. Time and again at social occasions Lizzie had stood beside her cousin, watching people’s eyes light up as they were introduced to Amelia and then glaze over as they turned to her. Each time that happened the words her uncle had spoken to her as a young girl always flashed back into her mind.

‘You’re plain, Elizabeth, plain and unappealing. Our best hope for you is for a blind man to happen along in search of a wife.’

She’d been seven at the time. A very gangly and ungainly seven-year-old. Her confidence had never recovered.

It didn’t matter that every so often she saw a spark of desire flash in Daniel’s eyes. She knew she would always be plain and unappealing. For years she had told herself she didn’t care that she wasn’t a beauty like Amelia, but that had been before she met Daniel. Now there was someone that she wanted to be desired by she did care. She cared so much it tore her apart.

There was a soft knock on the door and Daniel quickly stood up. Lizzie had to hide a smile. Despite it being his house, they still had to act with propriety.

‘Doctor, thank you for returning.’

‘How is the patient?’ the short bespectacled man asked.

Lizzie managed to croak a short, non-committal sound.

‘Hmm, I see the smoke inhalation has caused some damage to your throat,’ the doctor said. ‘That should recover with rest and fresh air.’

‘She’s coughing a lot,’ Daniel supplied.

The doctor stepped closer to Lizzie, then motioned for Daniel to turn around. Daniel obliged and Lizzie breathed deeply whilst the doctor placed his ear against her back.

‘Rattly, as you would expect,’ he said without further explanation.

They waited as he checked her pulse, got her to stick out her tongue and inspected the back of her throat.

‘No permanent damage,’ the doctor declared eventually. ‘But I would advise a week or two of good, clean country air.’

Daniel showed the doctor out and returned to her bedside.

‘That settles it,’ he said.

Lizzie looked at him questioningly.

‘You can come and recuperate at my country estate. The fresh air will do you good. Your aunt can come along to chaperon you—’

Lizzie opened her mouth to object. A whole week with Daniel away from the world sounded like bliss, but she knew it would make it all that much harder to give him up.

‘No argument, it’s the doctor’s orders.’

Chapter Fourteen

Daniel was whistling to himself as he drew his horse up outside the inn. He loved it when a plan came together. He was currently riding out to his country estate, which he much preferred to London, and in the carriage that was just rolling to a stop behind him was the woman he was going to marry. A few days in the country and he was convinced Amelia would say yes when he proposed. He’d seen her staring at him with dreamy eyes, even if she did look away rather sharply when he looked in her direction. He knew she desired him, that she replayed each kiss they’d shared over and over in her mind. Now he just had to convince her that he liked her, too.

He wasn’t sure when he had warmed quite so much to the idea of having a wife, or more specifically of having Amelia as his wife. True, he still needed her money and he wasn’t going to deny that was the reason he was going to propose, but somewhere along the way he had realised that being married to Amelia would have more advantages than just saving his son.

He liked her. He liked her quiet intelligence and how her gentle tone hid a quick wit. And he knew they certainly had chemistry. Their kisses were proof enough and now it took only one look at her and he was simmering with pent-up desire inside. Marrying Amelia would have the distinct advantage that he could take her to bed. And stay there for a week.

Daniel hopped down from his horse and tried to keep his desire in check. He waited for the carriage to come to a complete halt, then opened the door and prepared to assist the women down.

Amelia came shooting from the carriage as if she were being chased by rabid dogs.

‘Traitor,’ she hissed in his ear.

‘Nice to see you, too, my sweet,’ he whispered back.

Dutifully Daniel helped down Amelia’s aunt and cousin before turning back to escort his future wife inside the inn.

She was already stalking through the door without a backwards glance. Daniel strolled in leisurely after her and found her fuming.

‘You left me,’ Amelia managed to hiss before the other two women joined him.

The first half of their journey that day, the painfully slow slog through London, Daniel had sat in the carriage with the three women. Aunt Mathilda had snoozed almost from the moment she’d sat down. Amelia, sensible girl that she was, had brought a book, but it had appeared that Harriet wasn’t going to give her a single moment to read it. For the awful few hours Daniel had spent in the carriage Amelia’s cousin had snipped at and goaded Amelia until the two young women were almost clawing at each other across the carriage. Daniel had decided at their lunch stop that although he very much enjoyed brushing up against Amelia he couldn’t spend another minute in the carriage with her odious cousin, so he’d opted to ride for the afternoon. He’d spent a most pleasant couple of hours taking in the countryside and imagining all the things he would do to Amelia once they were married and a couple he was planning on doing before.

‘Good evening, my lord,’ the landlord of the coaching inn said deferentially. ‘We received your message and have our finest three rooms ready for you. Shall I show you the way?’

Daniel strode after the landlord, catching Amelia’s arm as he went by and pulling her along beside him. For a moment she resisted, but, sensible girl that she was, she must have realised he had the superior strength and that if she didn’t budge he might do something much more embarrassing such as throw her over his shoulder. Daniel glanced sideways at her and let his mind wander through the possibilities of things he could do to Amelia after hefting her over his shoulder.

‘Here is the first room, sir,’ the landlord said. ‘Your room is just across the hall and the room for the two young ladies is the last on the left.’

If looks could kill, Daniel would have been felled twice. Amelia and Harriet shot daggers in his direction. For a moment he thought about putting the two young women in the same room and locking the door. He had no doubt one would be dead by morning, and in his eyes Amelia was the more intelligent of the two, so she’d be sure to survive.

‘Good landlord,’ Amelia said, sounding like a character from a play, ‘I don’t suppose you have another room going free tonight?’

The landlord’s face fell.

‘But, my lord,’ he said, turning back to Daniel, ‘you only requested three rooms. I’m completely full.’

Daniel gave the poor man a reassuring smile. ‘I did only request three rooms. The fault is all mine.’ He pulled Amelia close to him, momentarily distracted by the adorable way her brow crinkled when she was frowning. ‘You can share with me if you’d rather,’ he murmured.

Amelia sent him a withering stare. Aunt Mathilda must have sensed the content of his whisper and stepped forward.

‘Harriet, you can share with me,’ she announced.

The landlord looked very relieved and slinked away before anyone else could argue, mumbling about dinner being served at seven.

‘I shall call for you ladies just before seven,’ Daniel said, waiting for Aunt Mathilda and Harriet to turn away before giving Amelia a salacious wink.

She was still pretending to be annoyed with him for his disappearing act in the carriage, but even so she couldn’t hide the slight tilt of her lips as she tried to suppress a smile.

Daniel closed the door of his room behind him and flopped down on the bed. He was in a wonderful mood; he loved it when things came together. It would only be a matter of days before he would propose to Amelia and then he would insist on a speedy wedding. With her dowry in his possession he would be able to keep Annabelle at bay a little longer.

The only thing that would make it all better would be to wrest Edward away from Annabelle once and for all. Over the years he had made repeated attempts to convince his ex-lover to give up their son to his care. He had tried appealing to her better nature, explaining Edward would have a good upbringing with him, and then he had resorted to bribing her. Annabelle, however, was an astute woman. She knew she could extract more from Daniel if she kept hold of their son.

So Daniel had sent a man to check on how his boy was doing, to investigate whether she ever treated his son badly, ever raised her hand to him. His agent had reported back that although she seemed a little indifferent to the boy, he was well looked after and the agent had never seen him suffer at her hands.

Daniel had wrestled with his conscience for months. He hadn’t been able to decide whether it would be better to take Edward away from his mother, knowing that it would mean revealing the truth to his son about his illegitimacy, or whether to leave him where he was and shield him from the reality of his birth. Neither was an ideal solution and every day Daniel wondered whether he had made the right choice, but when he faltered and thought about claiming Edward as his own he only had to remember Rupert’s tortured soul and he sat back and remained in the shadows. It was devastating for a boy to know he was illegitimate. More devastating than it was to be raised by a rather distant mother. He would not put his son through that. So Edward stayed with his mother and Daniel continued to pay and torture himself over his decision.

He shook himself from his reverie and glanced at the clock. It was quarter to seven and he had to prepare himself for an evening of wooing Amelia. He grinned. Just two weeks ago the idea of courting a young heiress had made him shudder and wish for any number of alternative torments, but now he was rather looking forward to stealing a kiss from Amelia and causing her to blush, all the while convincing her they would be the perfect match.

At ten to seven he knocked quietly on Amelia’s door. Far from keeping him waiting like most young women would, Amelia eased open the door immediately, looked surreptitiously up and down the corridor, then pulled him inside.

Daniel grinned—she was making the business of seduction so much easier for him. Before she could say a word he looped an arm around her waist and pulled her in for a kiss.

He loved that she couldn’t resist him. Despite having pulled him into her room for a reason, and that reason clearly having nothing to do with seduction, Amelia couldn’t bring herself to break off the kiss.

‘Did you want to say something, my sweet?’ Daniel asked, then kissed her again before she could answer him. She was stiff in his arms but kissed him back with grudging vigour. ‘Maybe my lady would like to compliment me on my riding skills?’ he suggested, then planted his lips firmly on hers before she could get a syllable out. ‘Or maybe my goddess would just like to gaze into my eyes for the few minutes before dinner. I’m happy to oblige.’

This time when he kissed her Amelia managed to pull away, spluttering with indignation.

‘Now, now, my precious gem, don’t go pretending you didn’t enjoy my kisses.’

Amelia was nothing if not fair and she inclined her head, knowing she could not deny that she enjoyed every moment their lips were locked together. After a few seconds she raised her chin and looked at him, her eyes blazing.

‘You abandoned me, then you planned to torture me by making me spend the night with that snake.’

Daniel gave her his most leery grin. ‘I meant it when I said you could spend the night in my room.’

Amelia didn’t even bother to acknowledge his remark.

‘I can’t spend another day cooped up with her. I’ll murder her.’

Daniel didn’t voice his opinion that the world would be better off if Amelia did murder Harriet. She was her cousin, after all, and despite their differences Amelia might object to Daniel insulting her kin.

‘You could always nestle in front of me on my horse,’ Daniel suggested.

‘Tomorrow I want to ride.’

Daniel saw she was deadly serious and tried to quash the sickness he felt at seeing Amelia mount a horse. The last time he’d seen her ride she’d ended up being thrown and he’d thought he had lost her.

‘Amelia,’ Daniel said in what he hoped was a conciliatory tone, ‘maybe that’s not the best idea.’

She stiffened and he reached out and took her hand.

‘I’ve ridden since I was six years old,’ she mumbled. ‘Just because you saw me the one time I fell off...’

He raised his eyebrows. Amelia was a good horsewoman, but she was also one of the clumsiest people he knew. He didn’t believe she’d only ever fallen from a horse once.

‘Well, the one time I fell badly,’ she corrected.

‘Maybe I can be convinced,’ Daniel said. ‘I am a reasonable man after all.’

Amelia’s face lit up. ‘What would convince you?’

‘A kiss.’

He saw her hesitate and for a second he wondered if she would refuse. She was well within her rights to toss him out of her room and scream for her aunt. Of course the sensible girl didn’t. She wanted it as much as he did.

Daniel waited for her to come to him. All their previous kisses he had initiated, but this time he wanted to feel her hands on his jaw, see her lips parting as she swayed in closer to him.

Slowly Amelia moved closer so their bodies were pressed together. She raised a hand to his cheek and traced the angle of his jaw, then she looked into his eyes before she closed the gap between them. Her kiss was feathery light and it sent Daniel almost mad with desire. His lips screamed out for more and every nerve ending was on fire. Amelia brushed her lips against his again before pulling away. The minx was teasing him.

‘We will be late for dinner.’

Daniel glanced at the clock on the wall and growled something under his breath no well-bred lady should ever hear.

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