"Yes," she said in a clear voice. "His Grace has made sure I was far from bored. Now, if you will excuse me, I believe I shall seek my room for a change of attire."

"Good heavens, yes, child," her mother said. "Go change. We shall be waiting for your return. Your Grace, can you stay to dinner?"

"That sounds delightful. However, I'm afraid I must beg your indulgence once again. I just received a note from my mother and she asks that I return to Braebourne immediately. I leave at first light. My sister-in-law, Meg, is about to be brought to childbed any day and Mama wants me there for the birth."

"Every pardon, Your Grace," the countess said, "but what possible help can you be to your sister-in-law at such a time?"

"None whatsoever," he replied in an agreeable tone. "It's my brother who is in need of support. I'm to make sure he survives the ordeal."

The countess chuckled.

Claire said nothing, wondering at these other members of his family and realizing that she was going to have to become acquainted with them, after all. Today's plan to extricate herself from the engagement had failed dismally; she had this blighted ring on her finger to prove it. Like it or not, she was going to have to think of something else, a new strategy designed to convince Edward Byron that he didn't want her for a wife. But it seemed her plans would have to wait for now.

"Shall we see you next in Town then?" Claire ventured.

He turned her way. "Yes, I rather suspect that will be the case, since I am doubtful I shall be able to make the journey here again before you join us for the Season."

"Well then, London it shall be."

Reaching for her hand, he made her a bow. "Yes. London it is."

Chapter 4.

"Welcome to Clybourne House!" greeted a musical feminine voice, as Claire and her mother stepped into the duke's elegantly appointed drawing room six weeks later.

A smile came instantly to Claire's face, as she found herself unable to do anything but return the infectious grin on the mouth of the beautiful, raven-haired young woman who had issued the greeting. Based on the other girl's resemblance to the duke, Claire could only surmise that she must be one of Edward's sisters-and obviously the one who was out, since his youngest sister was still a child.

"Lady Mallory?" Claire inquired.

"Yes! And you must be Lady Claire and Lady Edgewater. What a pleasure it is having both of you here, especially since Mama is away at present. My sister-in-law is confined, you see, and Mama has gone to attend the birth. The baby is due any day now."

The countess frowned. "I thought your sister-in-law had the child last month? A boy, I believe?"

"Oh, that is my other sister, Meg. Yes, she did have her baby and she's doing splendidly. We're hoping she'll bring little Maximillian for a visit this summer so we can see just how adorable he is. My sister Grace is the one due to give birth any time now."

"Heavens," Lady Edgewater said. "Two births in two months. No wonder your mama has her hands full."

Mallory laughed. "Leave it up to Cade and Jack to have such impossible timing. First the hasty weddings, and now the babies one right after the other!"

Claire watched her mother's eyes widen at that statement and its potentially shocking implications. But Lady Mallory seemed to find nothing at all amiss in the remark, her smile just as bright as before.

"Oh, but forgive me for keeping you standing here," Mallory said. "I am sure you are weary from your journey and longing to relax and refresh yourselves. Let me show you upstairs to your rooms."

Moving out into the hall, Mallory led them across the wide marble-tiled entrance hall to the staircase. "I must say it will be lovely having ladies in residence again," she stated. "With Mama away and Esme traveling with her, it's just me and my brothers. Or at least a few of my brothers-the twins, Leo and Lawrence, and Drake when he feels like dropping by for a visit. Oh, and Ned, of course."

Ned?

She must mean Edward, Claire realized, not aware until now that he went by a diminutive. Privately she thought of him as Edward. She didn't imagine she would ever be able to get used to anything else. Then again, if the name annoyed him, perhaps she could make an exception.

Hiding a little smile at the thought, she trailed after Mallory. Reaching the landing, they turned and walked along a broad, well-appointed hallway.

"I take it His Grace is not home at present?" Lady Edgewater asked.

Mallory shook her head. "He had business across Town, but should return in time for dinner. Gracious, he asked me to convey his regrets at not being here to greet you. I should have done so immediately, but quite obviously I forgot. What a goose you must think me," she finished with a self-deprecating laugh.

Claire shared a smile.

"Here we are, Countess," Mallory announced a few moments later. "You are to have the blue room. I trust you will be comfortable, but should there be anything you need, you have only to say."

Claire peered into the room, then blinked at the beautiful furnishings, the elegant draperies and wall coverings done in soothing shades of cream and blue. She could tell without asking that her mother was delighted and doing her best not to reveal her pleasure at the luxurious accommodations.

"This shall do nicely," her mother said, strolling inside the room.

Leaving the countess to the ministration of her maid, Mallory took Claire down another one of the corridors. As they walked, Claire couldn't help but notice that every inch of the town house conveyed a sense of taste and refinement. From the fine oil paintings on the walls, the Aubusson carpets on the gleaming wood floors, to the clean scents of fresh flowers and beeswax polish, no detail was left unattended. Although Claire had been raised in an atmosphere of wealth and privilege, she had never known anything quite as grand as this. And if Edward's town house was so exquisite, what must Braebourne be like?

Then again, if my plan succeeds, she mused, I suppose I shall never find out.

"I really am so very pleased to meet you," Mallory said, as they strolled onward. "I wish I could say that Edward has told me everything about you, but I'm afraid he has said very little."

"That sounds like His Grace."

Mallory laughed. "I suppose it does at that. He's a very private man. On the other hand, when the mood strikes, his tongue wags as well as the rest of ours and there's scarcely any shutting him up."

The idea of a loquacious Edward sounded unlikely yet intriguing. He was always so formal and precise. Although there'd been nothing formal about their kiss, an experience that had the power to resonate within her even now.

To her sudden relief, she had no more time to contemplate such notions as Mallory stopped and opened a door. "This," the other young woman declared, "is your room. For the time being at least. Once you marry Edward, you will move into the duchess's suite in his section of the house."

"He has a section?"

"Oh yes. Though nothing so large as at Braebourne. He has an entire wing there. But come, tell me what you think."

Gazing around, Claire decided the room was utterly charming. And soothing, done in muted tones of peach and rose with sheer, warm-white curtains and a rectangular rug decorated with tiny, gold Grecian keys. The satinwood furnishings were carved in a light, sophisticated style that harkened back to late in the last century, while the bed was wide and comfortable-looking-a pale rose counterpane spread invitingly over the plump feather tick.

"I think it's simply lovely," Claire murmured, smiling as she walked deeper into the chamber.

Mallory's face lit with a smile. "Traditionally ducal brides-to-be stay in a room at the other end of the house, since it's larger and overlooks the square. But Edward thought you might like this one better. The furnishings here are so airy and you have a gorgeous view of the garden. Plus it's delightfully quiet in case you wish to sleep late once the Season begins."

Edward suggested it? How unexpectedly thoughtful of him. And observant, since obviously he had realized she would like this room. Then again, after their last encounter, perhaps he was trying to placate her, butter her up a bit so she would fall in with his wishes more easily.

"His Grace is most kind," she said.

"Ned is, actually, even if he puts on a stern face sometimes. All of us just hate to disappoint him, though we still do so with depressing frequency," Mallory said, adding a humorous smile at the last.

Yes, well, I plan to disappoint him quite severely if I have my way.

"I should leave you to change and rest," Mallory said. "Let me know if there's anything you need, even if it's only to talk."

Claire's mood softened, finding herself liking Edward's sister a great deal, probably more than she ought. "I look forward to seeing you at dinner, if not before."

Mallory nodded, then turned toward the door. As she did, a flash of light sparkled on her hand, Claire's gaze going straight to the gleaming ring on Mallory's finger. "Oh," Claire said without thinking, "do you have one too?"

"One what?"

"A ring. I didn't realize that you are engaged as well."

Mallory held out her left hand, staring for a moment at the gemstone. "Yes."

"Will the wedding be soon?"

"No, not soon. Michael is away fighting on the Peninsula. I would wed him in a heartbeat, but he wants to wait until things are more settled with the war. He won't hear of me going abroad with him. He says I'll be safer and happier staying here and I suppose he's right. Still..."

"Yes?"

"It's very hard to wait, and worry, though I do my best to keep my spirits high. Which is why I'm so vastly glad you've come to stay. The Season will start soon. Before it does we can visit all the shops on Bond Street. Do say you love to shop."

Given her father's frugal ways and edicts, Claire had long ago resorted to finding other methods of entertaining herself, namely ones that did not involve spending money. However, just because she'd trained herself to be frugal didn't mean the spending impulse wasn't still there.

"Of course I do," Claire said. "What woman doesn't love to shop? And I am in need of a new pair of gloves and some handkerchiefs to refurbish my current supply."

Mallory's aquamarine gaze sparkled with a knowing light. "Oh, you're to have a great deal more than that. Have you not heard? Edward has agreed to give you a trousseau. Whatever you like. I heard him say so myself."

Claire stood in astonishment. "No, I was not aware."

Leave it to Papa to convince the duke to pay for my wardrobe.

"I'm to take you in hand," Mallory continued. "With your mama's help, of course. You're to be outfitted from head to foot. I can scarcely wait."

"Neither can I, it would seem."

"Well, I had best leave before I talk your ear all the way off your head. Until later."

"Until later."

Dinner that evening was a quiet family affair. Or at least it would have been quiet had Claire and her mother been residing with anyone other than the Byrons.

Despite the elegant atmosphere and delectable, sophisticated cuisine, Claire soon realized that the Byrons were as talkative and lively as Mallory had told her. Particularly the twins, Lords Leopold and Lawrence, who lounged in their chairs like a pair of sleek young hunting cats, devilment dancing in their warm hazel eyes as they ate their dinner and sipped from their glasses of wine.

Even now, as the entire family made its way to the drawing room for after-dinner tea and brandy, Claire found herself struggling to tell them apart. Identical as two peas, the twins were both tall and leanly broad-shouldered, with heads of thick golden brown hair and faces so handsome she was sure they regularly drew admiring sighs and wistful glances from any number of hopeful ladies. Were it not for the fact that one twin had a slightly greater amount of green in his green and gold eyes, she would have no hope of distinguishing one from the other.

And then there was Lord Drake, who had put aside one of his experiments for the evening so he could meet her. He was tall and dark with the same gorgeous features as the rest of his siblings. And charming, at least when he paid attention long enough to make the effort.

Earlier, Edward had informed her in a proud, serious tone that Lord Drake was a genius who held several advanced degrees from Oxford and Cambridge. His theoretical work was lauded in the scientific and mathematical communities, and if Drake occasionally appeared to drift away, it was merely because he was having one of his insights.

She found Drake equally amusing and endearing, with a keen intellect that clearly took him off into worlds of thought that she imagined only a handful of other people on the planet could even attempt to understand.

Watching now from her place on the sofa, she saw him draw a pencil out of his jacket pocket and begin scribbling something on the back of a calling card. A fresh flash of genius, she assumed.

"Tea?" asked a honeyed masculine voice near her left ear.

"Or sherry?" inquired an identical voice from her right.

Quick as a pair of foxes, the twins took up flanking positions on the sofa, pinning her neatly in between. Glancing from one to the other, she laughed. "At the moment, I'm not sure."

The greener-eyed one-Leo, she believed-sent her a dashing smile. "Not to worry, there are plenty of hours left in the evening."

"Exactly," the twin she surmised to be Lord Lawrence agreed.

"I admit I can see why Edward has kept you hidden in the country all these years," Leo continued. "You're quite a beauty."

"He probably worried one of us might try to steal you away." Lawrence leaned a hand on the back of the sofa.

"Most definitely," Leo agreed. "Shall we try to lure you away now?"

The brothers exchanged wicked looks and chuckled in tandem.

"How old did you say the two of you are?" Claire ventured, suddenly feeling out of her element.

"Eighteen," Lawrence said.

"Nineteen, this July," Leo clarified.

Thirty is more like, she thought. She was three years their senior and yet she felt a complete innocent in their midst. "Is this really your first Season?" she asked.

Two dark golden brown heads nodded, while two identical mouths smiled.

"Your first too, I understand," said Leo. "Vastly exciting, ain't it? I can hardly wait for the parties to begin."

"Although we've gone to a few already," Lawrence volunteered. "None to which we could escort a lady, however."

Before she had a chance to reply to that salvo, Edward appeared. "Enough, you two," he said. "I believe you're scaring my fiancee to death."

"No!" denied Leo, his attractive brows drawing close.

"'Course we aren't," protested Lawrence. "Are we, dear Lady Claire?"

"Well, I..." she began.

"See," Edward said, "you've thoroughly discomposed her and on her very first evening in Town. The both of you owe Lady Claire an apology."

Before her eyes, their suave bravado fell away. "We didn't mean any disrespect. Truly," Lawrence defended, abruptly sounding his eighteen years.

"Not a bit. We were only teasing and having a little fun," Leo added with equal chagrin.