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"Of course," the duchess said, "Alistair does both those things to perfection, but he reserves them for
pretentious people. I can remember a time when I was reduced to near-destitution, Cora. I can
remember the fear. I was fortunate. Alistair came along to rescue me."
"There are all too many ladies who are not so fortunate," the Marquess of Carew said gently. "The
instinct to survive is a strong one. I honor those who, reduced to desperation, contrive a way of surviving
that does not involve robbery or murder or harm to anyone else except the person herself. Lady
Stapleton is, I believe, a lady who has survived."
"Oh, Hartley," his wife said, patting his hand, "you would find goodness in a murderer about to be
hanged, I do declare."
"I would certainly try, love," he said, smiling at her.
"I know the Countess of Severn," Jane, Countess of Greenwald said. "She and the earl have befriended
the Stapletons. They would not have done so if Lady Stapleton was impossibly vulgar, would they?"
"There, my love," Lord Francis said, setting an arm about Cora's waist. "You might have had more faith
in your friends and in me."
"Yes," she said. "Thank you. Now I wonder how poorHelenawill be feeling about all this. Edgar and his
surprises! One is reminded of the saying about bulls charging at gates."
"I believe both Edgar and Helena may be trusted," Lord Francis said. "I do believe those two, by hook
or by crook, are going to end up quite devoted to each other."
"I hope you are right," Cora said with a loud sigh.
"What was that, Francis?" Mr. Downes called across the room. "Edgar and my daughter-in-law? Of
course they are devoted to each other. He went off to bring her this secret present and she has been
moping at his absence. I have great hopes. Not even hopes. Certainties. What say you, ma'am?" He
turned to Mrs. Cross.
"I will say this, sir," she said. "If any man can tame my niece, Mr. Edgar Downes is that man. And if any
man deservesHelena's devotion, he is Mr. Edgar Downes."
"Precisely, ma'am." He patted her hand. "Precisely. Now where is that son of mine with our new guests?
It is almost teatime."
* * *
Helenalooked first at the woman, who was standing to one side of the fireplace. A very genteel-looking
young lady, she thought, slim and pretty, with intelligent eyes. She smiled and turned her eyes on the man.
Pleasant looking, not very comfortable. Decidedly uncomfortable, in fact.
And then she recognized him.
Panic was like a hard ball inside her, fast swelling to explosion. She turned blindly, intent on getting out of
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the room as fast as she could. She found herself clawing at a very broad, very solid chest.
"Helena." His voice was impossibly steady. "Calm yourself."
She looked up wildly, recognized him, and was past that first moment and on to the next nightmare one.
"I'll never forgive you for this," she whispered fiercely. "Let me past. I'll never forgive you."
"We have guests, my dear." His voice and his face was as hard as flint. "Turn and greet them."
Fury welled up in wake of the panic. She gazed into his face, her nostrils flaring, and then turned. "And
you , Gerald," she said, looking directly at him. "What doyou want here?"
"Hello,Helena," he said.
He looked as quiet, as gentle, as peaceful as he had always appeared. She could not believe that she had
looked at him for a whole second without recognizing him. He had scarcely changed. Probably not at all.
That outward appearance had always hidden his sense of rejection, insecurity, self-doubt.
"I have the honor of presenting my wife to you," he said. "Priscilla, Lady Stapleton. Helena, Mrs. Edgar
Downes, my dear."
Helena's eyes stayed on him. "I have nothing to say to you, Gerald," she said, "and you can have nothing
to say to me. I have no right to ask you to leave. You are my husband's guest. Excuse me, please."
She turned to find herself confronted by that same broad, solid chest.
"How foolish you are, Edgar," she said bitterly. "You think it is enough to bring us together in the same
room? You think we will kiss and make up and proceed to live happily ever after? We certainly will not
kiss. You foolish, interfering man. Let me past."
"Helena," he said, his voice arctic, "someone has been presented to you and you have not acknowledged
the introduction. Is that the behavior of a lady?"
She gazed at him in utter incredulity. He dared instruct her on ladylike behavior? And to reprove her in
the hearing of other people? She turned and looked at the woman. And walked toward her.
"Lady Stapleton. Priscilla," she said quietly, bitter mockery in her face, "I do beg your pardon. How
pleased I am to make your acquaintance."
"I understand," the woman said, looking quite calmly intoHelena's eyes. Her voice was as refined as her
appearance. "I had as little wish for your acquaintance when it was first suggested to me, Helena, as you
have for mine. I have had little enough reason to think kindly of you."
How dared she!
"Then I must think it remarkably kind in you to have overcome your scruples,"Helenasaid sharply.
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