"If you're so adept at reading my mind, then you'll understand perfectly why I'm throwing you out!" She gripped the doork.n.o.b, turned it and yanked.

Nothing happened. She stared at the door.

"Where's the key?"

Thoroughly distracted, Harry automatically reached into his breeches pocket.

"Here."

Lucinda blinked, then grabbed the key and rattled it into the keyhole.

Harry watched her in disbelief.

"d.a.m.n it--I've given you a proposal--what more do you want?"

Her hand on the k.n.o.b, Lucinda drew herself up and turned to face him.

"I don't want to be offered for because of some social technicality. I don't want to be rescued, or ... or protected or married out of pity! What I want--' Abruptly, she halted and dragged in a deep breath. Then she lifted her eyes to his and deliberately stated, " What I want is to be married for love. "

Harry stiffened. His face hardened.

"Love is not considered an important element for marriage within our cla.s.s."

Lucinda pressed her lips together, then succinctly stated, "Balderdash." She flung open the door.

"You don't know what you're talking about!" Harry ran his fingers through his hair.

"I know very well what I'm talking about," Lucinda aver red None better--she loved him with all her heart and soul. Glancing about, she spied his coat and cravat by the day bed She flew across the room and pounced on them.

Harry turned to face her, blocking the doorway as she bustled back.

"There." Lucinda crammed the expensive coat and cravat into his arms.

"Now get out?

Harry drew in a steadying breath.

"Lucinda--' " Out! "

Without warning, Lucinda pushed hard in the middle of his chest.

Harry staggered back, over the threshold.

Lucinda grabbed the door.

"Goodbye, Mr Lester! Rest a.s.sured I'll bear your instructions as to the interests of your set in mind in the coming weeks!" With that, she slammed the door and locked it.

The fury that had sustained her abruptly drained. Slumping back against the door, she covered her face with her hands.

Harry glared at the white-painted panels. He considered forcing his way back in--then he heard a stifled sob. His heart wrenched--racked by frustration, he stuffed it back behind his inner door and slammed that shut as well. His lips set in a grim line, he turned on his heel and marched down the corridor. He caught sight of himself in a mirror. Abruptly, he halted and shru~ed on his coat, then draped the creased cravat about his throat.

It took him three tries before he could achieve anything remotely resembling decency. With a snort, he turned and headed for the stairs.

He had made an offer. She had refused.

The d.a.m.ned woman could go to h.e.l.l by herself. He was finished with being her protector.

He was finished with her.

Discovered, two hours later, with dark shadows under swollen red eyes, Lucinda could hardly deny Em her confidence.

Her hostess was stunned.

"I can't understand it. What the devil's wrong with him?"

Lucinda sniffed and dabbed her eyes with a lace- edged square.

"I.

don't know. " She felt like wailing. Her lips set in a mulish line.

"But I won't have it." "Quite right, too!"

Em snorted.

"Don't worry--he'll come about. Probably just took him by surprise."

Lucinda considered, then wearily shrugged.

"Seems to me that there must be something we don't know," Em mused.

"Known him all his life--he's always the predictable one--always good reasons and logical arguments behind his actions--he's not an impulsive man." She grinned, her gaze distant.

"Quite the opposite--Jack's impulsive. Harry's cautious." A frown slowly settled over her face.

"Has been for a long time, now I think of it."

Lucinda waited, hoping for some rea.s.suring insight, but her hostess remained sunk in thought.

Then Em snorted and shook herself, her stiff bombazine rustling.

"Whatever it is, he'll just have to come to terms with it and offer for you properly." Lucinda swallowed and nodded.

"Properly'--by which she meant he would have to tell her he loved her. After today, and all they had shared, she would settle for nothing less.

That evening, Em took charge and insisted Lucinda remain at home, there to have an early night and recover her composure and her looks.

"The last thing you want to do is show him or the ton a face like that."

Having thus overcome Lucinda's half-hearted resistance, Em left the redoubtable Agatha ministering with cold cuc.u.mber comp/e~sses and, with the effervescent Heather under her wing, strode forth to do battle at Lady Caldecott's ball.