remember his lordship taking much interest in children, much less allowing them near his person.

Marking Lord Adrian's attention to Leora, Andre dropped his toy soldiers and ran to climb aboard also.

Another shake of the earl's head stifled Lady Juliane's protest. Soon he had both children laughing wildlyas he tickled and coaxed them with all manner of silly faces. Watching them, everyone else in the room was soon chuckling, including Juliane. No one who could amuse the children so expertly, could be all bad, she decided.

Glancing at her across the heads of the children, Lord Adrian nodded approvingly. "So happy to see you in better spirits, 'my dear.'"

Lady Juliane started to frown, then clapped a hand over her mouth to still a laughing gasp.

Lord Adrian was confounded by this for a moment. Then, looking down to find the source of an

unexpected warmth on his leg, he froze at the sight of a slowly spreading stain.

His expression caused Juliane to burst into unrestrained laughter as she rose and took Leora from his lap.

Puzzled as to the cause of Lady Juliane's sudden gaiety, Meg rose from her mending and drew near. She

quickly spied the stain on Lord Adrian's leg. Tisking loudly Meg took Leora from Lady Juliane and called

Alva to take Master Andre. "Bedtime for all, I do think," she said.

Juliane sat down, weak from laughter. She could not recall the last time she had laughed so hard.

Becoming aware that Lord Adrian was closely observing her, she tried to achieve a look of proper chagrin. "I tried to warn you, my lord."

"I would not deny myself such a novel experience," he said dryly, "when it brings such a lovely hue to

your cheeks."

Blushing, she became wary. Compliments of this sort were not commonly hers.

Seeing suspicion pa.s.s over her features, Lord Adrian wondered at its cause.

"Do you desire me to a.s.sist you, my lord?" asked Mallatt.

Lady Juliane's reaction to this question brought an impish gleam to Lord Adrian's eye.

She opened her mouth to object, but it dawned unpleasantly that she could not do so without revealing their deception. Trying to ascertain just what course lay before her, she allowed Adrian to lead her to the stairs. At the foot she looked furtively from Lord Adrian and then to Meg.

"I must see to Leora and Andre."

"Meg, you would not mind tucking them in this eve, would you?"

"Of course not, my lord. You go right up," she replied, smiling broadly.

Lord Adrian swallowed the chuckle caused by the panic in Juliane's face. He guided her to the

bedchamber and left her standing just inside the door as he shut it and walked to the scarred wardrobe.

He removed his jacket, and unb.u.t.toned his waistcoat before he turned to her.

"How do you propose to spend the night, my lord?" she asked coldly.

"Comfortably."

"Comfortably? My lord, you must realize that to stay this night in this room could not but destroy my reputation."

"Indeed? In the eyes of all your reputation was in shreds the moment we were placed abed together. I do hope your lord will not be too pettish about that," he added, turning back to the wardrobe to place his waistcoat inside. He drew the remains of his cravat from his neck and let it drop.

As he began to unb.u.t.ton his shirt, Juliane gaped in disbelief. "Truly, my lord, you do not mean to disrobe?"

"I do not make it a habit to place my nightshirt over my garments," he a.s.sured her coolly.

"You are unspeakable. Is there not the least gleam of gentlemanly manners about you?" Striding to the door, she grasped the k.n.o.b only to find her hand enclosed in an iron grip. His breath brushed her cheek and her heart lurched.

"You know I cannot remain in this room," she said with false calmness.

"Do I?" Removing Juliane's hand from the k.n.o.b, he turned her toward him. Their gazes met and held-hers a mixture of fear, anger, and uncertainty; his, only guarded coldness.

"I mean you no harm. Tomorrow we will leave here. The Red Fox is in Wendon, only slightly out of our way to Trees. We will safely leave you and the children there. No one ever need know of the past week or of this night."

"I cannot spend the night in this room," she repeated.

"And where shall you go? If it be downstairs, Meg will only send you back. She values marriage, you know."

"Then neither of us shall have any sleep."

"Oh no, my beauty. If you wish, you may remain awake, but you will not dictate how I spend the night." "Of course not, my lord. Your wife is most fortunate you choose to be from her. I cannot see how she abides your presence."

"I have none."

"Then you are making some fortunate woman very happy by sparing her the odious pleasure," Lady

Juliane replied sharply.

"Would that I could return the compliment, my lady, but as you travel alone, your husband's wisdom is evident."

Anger sparked in both pairs of eyes as they confronted one another.

Lord Adrian was struck with the sudden realization that he wished for nothing but to enfold Juliane in his arms and silence her with kisses. He turned sharply, dropped the hand he had continued to hold, and stalked to the wardrobe.

Lady Juliane let out a slow breath of relief as he did so and silently left the room.

"M'lady, what be wrong? Can I help you?" asked Alva, startled by Lady Juliane's entry into her room.

"Yes, Alva. I left my nightdress here this morning. I think it best that I spend the night here. Lord Adrian is a very light sleeper and I wish for nothing to disturb his rest. We must ensure his complete recovery."

"Oh, yes, m'lady." She looked about, uncertain as what to offer Lady Juliane.

"If you do not mind, I will sleep with Andre.

"We have done so before, have we not, Andre? Perhaps it will keep the nightmares away?"

"Yes, Mama. But could I not sleep with Papa instead, as I did last night?"

"No." She softened her tone. "He must not be disturbed. You toss about much too wildly."

Andre nodded reluctant agreement, then wiggled further beneath the coverlets.

In a short s.p.a.ce the cottage grew still, everyone abed. Sleep came quickly to most, the only exceptions being a man who contemplated how a pair of vixen eyes and dark hair that glittered in the firelight could draw him so and a woman who wondered how it was that cool grey eyes and decidedly erratic and ungentlemanly behaviour did not repel but attract.

As the moon rose higher, sleep claimed even this unsettled pair.

CHAPTER 10.

The snow was thickly crusted through the past few days' melting and nights' freezing. Try though they Their differences settled, they entered easily as Jove had never installed a lock. Carefully feeling their way, they searched the room. At an unexpected metallic crumple they became as still as statues. "Ce n'est qu'un jouet soldat," whispered the one who had stepped on it and kicked the flattened toyinto the fire.

Two men remained in the kitchen while the third inched his way up the stairs, managing to avoid all but

an occasional squeak.

Pushing open the door of the first room he came to, he warily entered. The moonlight afforded enough light to view the contents of the room.

A malevolent smile lit his face as he caught sight of Andre's curls next to Lady Juliane's. Stealing around

the bed, he jerked the covers aside and scooped the sleeping boy into his arms.

Sleep-dazed, Andre offered no resistance, but the movement of the bed roused Lady Juliane. Seeing the silhouette of the man as he strode around the bed carrying Andre, she threw the coverlets from her and

leaped in front of him. He b.u.t.ted her aside with his shoulder and made for the door.

"Stop," Juliane shrieked as she picked herself up and pursued him.