aThe loans come due on the first of August, young lady.a She assumed what she hoped was a look of astonished distaste. aIf you insist on payment on the dot, sir, it will be arranged by my trustees. Under no circumstances will I permit Hawkinville Manor to change hands.a Hawkas arm came around her then, pulling her to his rigid, angry side. aAs you see, Slade, there is no point in your further residence here.a The manas face was still pale, but now splotches of angry color marked his cheeks. aI believe I will wait to dance at your grand wedding, Major.a aIf you insist.a Hawk turned Clarissa toward the inn, but Slade said, aIs the name of the bride a dreadful secret?a Clarissa twisted back to say, aNot at all, Mr. Slade. I am Miss Greystone. You might have heard of me. Some call me the Devilas Heiress.a She was then swept away by an arm as strong as iron. Lord, that had been thoroughly wicked, but also thoroughly satisfying. Slade was probably drooling with fury.

So was someone else. Not drooling, but furious.

Chapter Nineteen.

Hawk dragged her not to the main door of the inn, but through the arch into the inn yard. Ignoring, or perhaps oblivious to, the various servants there, he thrust her against the rough wall. aWhat exactly do you think you are doing?a aTrouncing the odious Slade!a she declared, grinning even though her knees were turning to jelly with fear. Glory in the battle warred with memories of Bethas bruised face. aDonat tell me you didnat enjoy that.a aEnjoy being taken by the scruff and dragged through a bramble patch?a aEnjoy watching him drink bile.a Suddenly his furious eyes closed, and then he laughed, leaning his forehead against hers. aZeus, yes. It was worth a thousand torments.a Clarissa knew she should feel hurt by that, but she didnat. She was suddenly certain that all was right in her world. She didnat understand his reluctance, but she was sure it could be blasted into dust. Above all, she was sure that she wanted him, and that he would be all she wanted and more.

She poked him hard in the belly. aIf youare rude again about the prospect of marrying me, Iall go right back and tell Slade he can have Hawkinville, every last post and stone.a He straightened to look at her, eyes still wild with laughter. aClarissa, there is nothing I want more than to marry you.a aWell, thena"a His kiss silenced her, a hot, enthralling kiss that sent fire into every part of her, though she couldnat help thinking of the watching servants.

With glee.

Head certainly have to marry her after this.

aHawk! Clarissa! Stop that!a Clarissa emerged from a daze to find Maria hitting Hawkas back with a piece of wood. Fortunately it was rotted, and was flying into pieces with each blow.

Hawk turned to her laughing, hands raised, and she threw the remaining fragments away in disgust. aWhat do you think youare doing?a she demanded. Then she stared at Clarissa. aOr more to the point, what have you done?a aI ravished her in the wilderness, of course.a aWhat?a aDonat be a goose, Maria. That wilderness of yours, by the way, is too damn wild. But most of the damage to our appearance was done by our gallant rescue of two children from the river.a aRescue?a Maria collected herself. aThat doesnat explain such a shocking kiss in front of the servants.a aA certain madness comes upon us all after battle.a aBattle?a Clarissa was threatened by incapacitating giggles, for a hundred reasons. She simply leaned against the wall and enjoyed the show.

aClarissa just routed Slade by telling him we are engaged to be married. I thought I had better compromise her thoroughly before she changed her mind.a Shead won! She didnat know how, but shead won. She lovingly brushed some fragments of rotted wood off her future husbandas shoulders.

He turned, and the look in his eyes turned her delight to cold stone. The laughter had gone, and was replaced by something dark and almost lost. A movement beyond him caught her eye, and she saw Lord Vandeimen emerge from one of the stable buildings, suddenly deadly.

Why on earth would she think that?

As if alerted, Hawk swung around. aNothing happened.a aNothing!a exclaimed Lady Vandeimen, but then she seemed silenced by the crackling tension.

aNothing of any great significance,a Hawk said with precision.

Clarissa wanted to protest that, but she too was frozen by something ready to burst out of this ordinary place into the world of claw and fang.

Lord Vandeimen said, aA word with you, Hawk.a His head indicated the stable behind him.

Clarissa put her hand on Hawkas arm as if to hold him back, but Maria pulled her away. aCome into the inn and tidy up, Clarissa.a aButa"a aYou canat possibly return to Brighton looking like that.a She ruthlessly steered Clarissa into the building, chattering.

aLord Vandeimen is not my guardian!a Clarissa broke in, forcing a halt. aWhatas going on out there?a Maria looked at her. aMore to the point, what went on during your walk?a aNothing,a said Clarissa, aof any great significance.a Then the whole tumultuous half hour burst out of her in tears, and Maria gathered her into her arms, hurrying her along to a private room.

aHush, dear. Hush. Whatever went on, weall arrange matters. I know Hawk loves you.a Clarissa looked at her and blew into her handkerchief. aYou do?a aYes, of course.a aThen why doesnat he want to marry me?a Mariaas smile was close to a laugh. aOf course he does!a Clarissa shook her head. aMen are very hard to understand, arenat they?a Maria hugged her again. aThere you have a universal truth, my dear.a Hawk followed Van into the pleasantly pungent stable thinking that the day couldnat get much worse, but knowing that in fact it could.

Van turned and merely waited.

aThat kiss probably did go beyond the line,a Hawk said. aBut nothing worse happened.a Then he remembered the wilderness. aMore or less. That bloody wilderness of yours is a disgrace.a He saw Van fight it, then laugh. aItas almost worth it to see you in this state, Hawk. What the devil are you up to?a aIam trying to save Hawkinville.a aI assume you have decided to woo Miss Greystone. Is it necessary to be so crude about it?a aShe told Slade we were engaged to marry.a Van visibly relaxed. aWhy the devil didnat you say so? Congratulations!a aIam not going to marry her, Van.a Van leaned back against a wooden post, frowning in perplexity. aWould you care to start at the beginning? Or at some point that makes sense?a Hawk said, aMy father is the new Viscount Deveril.a Van frowned even more. aYouare the son of Lord Devil? The one Miss Greystone inherited from? And Iave never heard of it?a aThe new Lord Deveril. You know my father changed his name as a price of marrying my mother. He was born a Gaspard, and thatas the Deveril name. When Lord Devil died last year, he chased back up and down the family tree and discovered that heas the heir. Itas taken him the best part of a year to settle it, but itas just about done.a aCongratulations. Youall outrank me one day.a aBugger that. The nameas fit to be spat upon.a aA nameas a name. The first Lord Vandeimen was a spineless lickspittle. Is this where the debt comes from?a aMore or less. The squireas been obsessed by the Deveril money. He thinks he should get it along with the title, that the will was a forgery.a Hawk looked around and spotted a room with a door. aCome in here.a Van followed, and Hawk shut the door. The room was small and seemed mostly to hold nostrums for treating horses.

aUnfortunately,a Hawk said, amy father is probably right.a He didnat want to say it, but he had no choice. aIave been dangling after Miss Greystone not to woo her but to entice her to spill something about the will.a aYouare a damn fine actor, then.a aIave learned to be. Van, for Godas sake, thereas no question of marriage! Once Clarissa discovers what Iave been up to, and that Iam a future Lord Deveril, itall all be over.a aHawk, this doesnat sound like you.a aWhat, underhanded trickery and sneaky investigation? Itas my stock-in-trade. Iave softened up plenty of villains for the gutting.a aBut not an innocent young woman.a aIf she was innocent, there wouldnat be any gutting to be done.a Van frowned. aAll right, letas talk about this. What exactly do you think her guilty of?a aMurder, or conspiracy to murder.a aMurder?a Van managed to keep it soft. aIf Iam any judge, Miss Greystone would run from killing a mouse.a aThe mouse wouldnat be forcing vile kisses on her, and threatening worse.a aYou think she killed Deveril when he tried to rape her? Youad send her to the gallows for that?a aNo, dammit. But remember, she ended up with the dead manas money.a It was a detail he tended to willfully ignore.

aAll right,a said Van, ado you have any reason other than wishful thinking to believe that Lord Deverilas will was forged?a aWhen have you ever known me to indulge in wishful thinking?a But his thinking about Clarissa came perilously close.

aIt was handwritten,a he said crisply, awitnessed by servants who have conveniently disappeared, and it left everything not entailed to a young woman, to come to her completely and without control at age twenty-one.a Vanas expression lost its indulgence. aHell.a aHell, indeed. I can add, from Clarissaas own lips, that she was sold to Deveril and hated him, which he must have known. She threw up over him when he tried to kiss her.a aIt does look damned bad. How did Deveril die?a aKnifed. Viciously.a But then Van shook his head. aIt still doesnat fit. I know I donat have your acute sense for truth and lies, but Clarissa Greystone makes an unlikely thief and an impossible murderer.a aAppearances can be deceptive. Did I ever tell you about an innocent-looking, big-eyed child in Lisbon? Never mind. You donat want to know.a Vanas brows rose. aAre you protecting Demon Vandeimen from sordid details, Hawk?a Hawk sighed. aI would if I could. We none of us need more darkness in our lives. But I have to save Hawkinville. You must see that, Van.a aYes, of course. Perhaps Iall simply cut Sladeas scrawny throat.a It was a joke. Hawk hoped, but he shook his head. aNo more blood if I can help it.a aSo, letas sort it out.a Hawk put up a hand. aMaria will be waiting. We can talk later if you want.a aNo, letas deal with this now. If necessary we can stay the night and get Con in on it. You really think Clarissa Greystone committed a vicious murder and planted a forged will?a aNo, dammit, but that could be willful delusion.a Van smiled slightly at the implied admission. aIam not willfully deluded. Letas consider this. If someone else was the murderer and thief last year, who could it have been? From what Iave heard, she left school and went to London. She canat have known many people who would kill and forge for hera"a He broke off. aTalk about teaching a grandmother to suck eggs. You must have been through this.a Hawk resisted for a moment, but he knew Van wouldnat let it go. aArden,a he said.

aArden?a aThe Marquess of Arden was the killer. Last year he married a teacher at Clarissaas Cheltenham school.a Vanas jaw dropped. aThe heir to Belcraven? Are you mad?a aHigh rank means honor? You know better than that, Van.a aIt means hellas fires if you meddle there and canat prove it beyond doubt. And what motive could he have?a aMaria has that pretty niece, Natalie. What if she were in the power of a man like Deveril? Couldnat Maria persuade you into doing something illegal to rescue her?a aIad knife him in public if necessary.a Hawk knew Van was speaking the literal truth. He himself would do it too. And so would a man like Arden, he was sure.

aIf that was the way it was,a Van said, agive the man a medal.a aThen how do I get the money?a aHow do you get the money this way?a Hawk put it into plain words. aI blackmail him for it.a Van braced himself against a worktable. aYouad destroy essentially honorable people?a aDonat get too misty-eyed. Disposing of Deveril was a virtuous act, but misappropriating his money was straight-out, deliberate theft.a aHow in Godas name do you think to go about this? Men like Arden and his father can destroy with a word.a aAh, yes, the Duke of Belcraven. Heas Clarissaas guardian, by the way.a aZeus! Theyare all in it? But why?a aSimply protecting her, I assume. Which has my sympathy. But I must save Hawkinville, and I see no reason not to have enough of that money to also rebuild Gaspard Hall and get my father off my back. And do something for the poor Deveril tenants.a Van was looking slightly alarmed. It took a lot to alarm Demon Vandeimen. aYouall have to convince the duke that you would make it public. And,a he added, awatch your back.a aIam good at that. Van, Iam depending upon the fact that these are essentially honorable people. Deveril was thought to be without an heir. Surely theyall see that itas wrong to divert all that money.a aAnd Clarissa?a aSheall hardly be left penniless.a aSheas an innocent party.a aInnocent! She shows no guilty conscience over enjoying the ill-gotten gains.a Then another piece clicked into place. aDevil take it, the fortune is payment. She was present at the murder, so Arden arranged the forgery to pay her off. No wonder sheas as closemouthed as a tomb about it.a aHawk, this is wrong.a aNo, dammit, forgery is wrong. My father, damn his eyes, is right. The money belongs to Hawkinville, and I wonat see Slade destroy it because I was too squeamish to hurt Clarissaas feelings!a aYou canat do it.a Hawk was about to wring Vanas neck when he saw the expression on his friendas face. As if head suddenly seen an unpleasant vision.

Van straightened. aArden will call your bluff.a aHe darenat risk it.a aWhy not? If you prove anything, you will destroy Clarissa as well as him.a aWith any luck, he wonat know thatas a factor.a aMore to the point,a said Van slowly. aArden is a Rogue.a aWhat?a aOne of Conas Company of Rogues. I canat believe that slipped by your brain. Roger, Nick, Francis, Hal, Luceaa Van recited. aWe heard enough about them. And Luce is Lucien de Vaux, Marquess of Arden.a It had slipped by him. Devil in flames. Something about Arden had been niggling him, but Con had always talked about the Rogues by first namesa"unusual enough. Luce.

aAnd Hal Beaumont,a he said. aThe man with Mrs. Hardcastle. Clarissa said he was an old friend of Ardenas. But being a Rogue doesnat give Arden immunity.a aNo, but he has to know who you are. Iam sure Con spoke of us to them as much as he spoke of them to us. And thereas only two of us. Unless he has the brain of a sheep and the spine of a rabbit, heall have to know that you could not possibly attempt to destroy one of Conas Rogues. However, perhaps Con can act as go-between.a aNo!a Hawkas rejection was instinctive, but reason followed. aThatas an intolerable position to put him in. aAdmit to murder and forgery of your free will and quietly move half of Clarissaas fortune to my friend Hawk.a No,a he repeated, standing among ruins. aIall come up with something else.a aYou donat have much time. Why not simply tell Clarissa the truth? Perhaps she will be able to forgive your deception and overlook a future as Lady Deveril.a aBut how will Arden and his father feel about it? She still needs her guardianas permission.a aDamn.a aStrange, isnat it? I have all the cards in my hand, and yet it still seems possible that I might lose.a aWe have to tell Con. He canat be left out of this.a aHavenat you thought that he might know? The Rogues donat keep secrets from each other.a aYou think he knows that they set up a will that defrauded you?a Hawk shook his head. aI havenat told him anything about the debt or the Deveril title. Someone in the Rogues has to know, though, with my father chasing it through the courts.a aI canat believe Con would do nothing about a situation like that.a aHead be caught in the middle.a aNo,a Van said. aItas more likely that theyare protecting him from it. Heas only recently started to recover from Waterloo and Dare.a Hawk considered it and knew it might be true. aAll the more reason not to tell him yet.a He went toward the door. aI need a little more time, Van. Perhaps if I shuffle the cards again. At the least I need to go down to the manor to get clean clothes.a They emerged from the room and separated, but as Hawk walked to the manor, he couldnat seem to shuffle the cards into anything but disastrous patterns.

Who should suffer? Himself, for certain, but he was choosing the pain.

What of Con, or Clarissa?

What of the Dadswells, the Manktelows, and the Ashbees? Was Granny Muggridge to have the roof torn down around her head?

But at what point did the price of Hawkinville become too high?

Cut the loss.

It was a process head done often in the war, even when it meant choosing between one set of soldiers or another. Perhaps if he thought of everyone as troops of soldiers.

The option with the least loss was to elope with Clarissa. He would have the money, or at least the expectation of it. He knew the will, and the money came to her at her majority, regardless of what she did or whom she married. As her husband, he could easily borrow against it.

Hawkinville would be safe.

There would be a fighting chance of happiness for them. There was something deep and true between them, and he would work to gain her forgiveness for the deception.

Van might never forgive him for breaking his word, but he could hope that time would heal that, especially if he could make Clarissa happy.

Con. At the moment, Con was an unknown. If he saw this as a betrayal of the Rogues, it could lead to a rift. The Rogues certainly werenat going to like it. They were going to have to damn well trust him not to expose their criminal acts.

But it was the only way.

Gathering the detached purposefulness that had carried him through scenes of carnage, he went swiftly to his room to change, then gathered the money available in the house. He thought about leaving a note for the squire, but then knocked and entered his fatheras room.

The squire was lying on his daybed fondlinga"there was no other worda"some papers. aThey have come,a he said, with shining eyes. aThe documents. You may now officially call me Lord Deveril!a Hawk had to stop himself from seizing the papers and ripping them to shreds. Pointless. Pointless.

This settled things, however. In moments his father could begin spreading the word. Since Clarissa was in the village, she would hear about it, and that would be the end of that.

aCongratulations, my lord. You may congratulate me, also. I am about to marry Miss Greystone.a His father beamed. aThere, you see. Allas well that ends well. And her money will pay to refurbish Gaspard Hall.a aNot a penny of her money will go on Gaspard Hall, my lord. We will pay off Slade, but the rest will remain under her control.a If he had to do this, it had to be that way.

aWhat? Are you mad? Leave a fortune in the grasp of a chit like that? I will not allow it.a aYou will have no say in it.a He turned toward the door. aI merely came to say that I will be gone a few days.a aGone? Gone where? We must arrange a grand fete to announce my elevation to the village! I outrank Vandeimen now, and Iall see him recognize it.a The fury boiling inside Hawk threatened to burst out of control, but head not struck his father yet. Now was definitely not the time to start.

aIt will have to wait, my lord. I am off to Gretna Green.a He closed the door on his fatheras protestsa"not about the elopement but about delay in his fetea"and ran down the stairs. Somehow he had to get Clarissa out of the Peregrine and on the road north before his father set the news spreading.

He fretted even over the time it took a groom to saddle up Centaur, imagining his father leaning out of his window above to shout the news. He wouldnat do that, but he would tell his valeta"might already have told his valet. His valet would tell the other servants anda Perhaps a servant had already hurried home to spread the word.

He led Centaur up to the inn, considering how to steal Clarissa. Perhaps head have to snatch her on the way to the coach, like Lochinvar snatching his beloved from her wedding. .

So light to the croup the fair lady he swung.

So light to the saddle before her he sprung!

aShe is won! We are gone, over bank, bush, and scaur; Theyall have fleet steeds that follow,a quoth young Lochinvar.

And that, of course, was the problem. He was dubious about young Lochinvar riding so rashly with a lady at his back, and head no intention of attempting it with Van and Cona"especially Van, an incredible horseman now equipped by his rich bride with the finest horsesa"in hot pursuit.

He would have to go in and try to lure her out.

Then he saw Clarissaa"beloved, unconventional, impetuous Clarissaa"in the arch to the inn yard. Alone. Her hat shaded her face again, and some order had been brought to her curls, but her dress was irredeemably stained.

When he reached her, she stepped forward. aIave told them all what I did with Slade and that I kissed you, not the other way around.a If he hadnat adored her already, head have crumpled then. He held out his gloved hand. aElope with me.a Her eyes widened, but she only said, aWhy?a aSo that this canat be snatched from us.a She looked down and away, obviously flustered, but then back at him. aDo you love me, Hawk? Donat lie. Please donat lie.a aI adore you, Clarissa. And that is no lie.a Then she smiled and put her hand in his. aThen, of course. Itas a mad, impetuous notion, but that probably suits us both.a He laughed as he swung his fair lady to the crupper and settled in front of her. aI used to be a very sane, thoughtful man,a he said. aHold tight. Weare going over bank, bush, and scaur.a And he set off, past a few startled villagers, along the road that would eventually take them north to Scotland, where minors could still legally marry without the permission of parents, guardians, or Rogues.

But he soon turned off, going west instead of north. He couldnat outride Van. But, by heaven, he could probably still outthink him.

Chapter Twenty.

The rest of the party was in the entrance hall of the Peregrine, waiting with some impatience for Clarissa to return from the privy. Eventually, Maria asked Althea to find her, but Althea returned frowning. aSheas not there. I donat know where she can have gone to. Perhaps sheas returned to the room upstairs.a But then one of the Misses Weatherby trotted in, cheeks flushed. aMy dear Lady Vandeimen!a she gasped. aOh, my lords.a She curtsied around, clearly breathless with excitement. aAre you by any chance looking for your companion? We saw you earlier. My sister and I. Saw you on the green, and returning. And the handsome major returning with the lady.a aMiss Weatherby,a Maria interrupted ruthlessly. aDo you know where Miss Greystone is?a aWhy, yes,a said the lady, not well concealing her glee. aSheas just ridden off behind Major Hawkinville.a Maria looked at her husband. aVan?a Head turned pale with anger in a way shead never seen before.

He was actually moving when she grasped his sleeve. aWait! Talk.a She smiled back at Miss Weatherby. aThank you so much. I know I can trust you not to spread this around.a Unlikely hope, but it might stop the news for a minute or two. She didnat think theread been any inn servants nearby to hear. She dragged her husband into the adjoining parlor, the rest following, and shut the door. She couldnat have done it if head resisted, so she knew she was right.

aI think he truly loves her,a she said. aAnd I know she loves him.a But Miss Trist wrung her hands. aWhy run off together? Sheas refused him, and heas abducted her!a aNonsense,a Maria snapped. aAbduction is completely illegal these days. He can hardly drag her against her will to Scotland.a Van said, aI have to stop this, Maria. For everyoneas sake. Iam sending a note up to Con.a He left before she could stop him again, and indeed, she wasnat sure she should. But head looked for a moment as if he would kill his friend.

Demon Vandeimen. Did she know what he was really capable of?

Van returned with a letter in his hand. aIave sent for Con. When he arrives, give him this.a Maria took it, but she knew he was setting off in pursuit. aDonat kill him, Van. For your own sake, donat.a He relaxed slightly. aI wonat. I might beat him to a pulp, but I wonat kill him.a He kissed her quickly, tenderly, then rubbed at what must be lines in her brow. aDonat worry. This is a mess, but Iall find a way to bring it all out right.a aHe hasnat abducted her,a she said. aClarissaas besotted with him, and Iad say he feels the same way about her. Whatas going on?a aItas complicated.a He kissed her again quickly, then left.

Maria could have screamed with frustration. Complicated! Shead give him complicated. She considered snapping the seal on the letter in hopes that it explained, but long training in proper behavior would not permit it.

Instead she called for tea and settled to soothing Althea. Poor Lord Trevor was looking as if he wished himself elsewhere, but he was bearing up like the well-trained officer he was.

It took remarkably little time for Con to turn up, though it had felt like an hour. He strode in, another man behind him.

aMr. Nicholas Delaney,a he said. aMy guest at the moment, but heas probably involved.a He took the letter, opened it, and read.

Then he passed it to his friend.

aCon,a said Maria, aif you donat tell me what is going on, I am going to do someone serious injury.a He laughed, but sobered, looking around the room. aFfyfe, Iam sure youare as curious as any human would have to be, but it would simplify things if you werenat here. And Miss Trist, you could help Miss Greystone as well by strolling on the green.a Lord Trevor accepted his orders remarkably well, but Althea looked around. aWhatas going on? Is Clarissa in danger?a Lord Trevor took her arm. aTruly, Miss Trist, it would be simplest if we left. I trust Lord Amleigh to take care of everything.a Maria watched him coax Althea out of the room, and said, aHeall go far.a aDoubtless. Listen, Maria. The squire has mortgaged Hawkinville to Slade. More than mortgaged. Heas deep in debt to the man, and Slade plans to tear down most of the village to build a preposterous villa on the river. Of course Hawk has to stop him.a aOf course, buta" Ah, I see. Clarissaas fortune. But why elope?a aBecause, according to Vanas letter, the squire is about to become Lord Deveril. Sorry,a he said, passing over the letter. aRead it yourself.a Maria took it and read quickly. aHe really thought she would reject him for the name?a aAnd for the deceit of it all. It was more a case, I assume, of him not being willing to risk everything on the chance that she might. Itas the way Hawkas mind has learned to work. Pinpoint the one thing that must or must not happen and work toward it, damn the incidentals.a aIncidentals,a Maria muttered, scanning through the letter again. aSome of this is so cryptic!a aJudiciously so,a said Mr. Delaney, whom shead forgotten entirely, which was surprising, since he was a good-looking man with presence. aCon,a he said, ayou should follow to assist Vandeimen. Iall hold the fort here. Talking of things that must not happen, Clarissa must not marry Hawkinville without knowing the truth.a Con nodded and strode out, and he must have narrowly missed colliding with Althea rushing in. aThat Miss Weatherby says that Major Hawkinvilleas father is now Lord Deveril! Lord Deveril!a aWe know,a said Maria with a sigh. aSit down, Althea, and have some more tea.a Therese Bellaire stood by the smithy, observing confusion on the village green and seething.

Shead been uneasy about that encounter with the heiress, though the girl had shown no sign of recognition. Her main concern, however, had been the relationship between the two. To her experienced eye it hadnat looked like a man bewitching a silly young woman, but like a man bewitched.

By love. The greatest traitor of all the emotions.

The Hawk was supposed to remove the heiress and leave the old man in possession of the money! If he married the heiress there would be three lives between her and victory. Two accidental deaths could be arranged. Three, however, would be perilously suspicious, especially if she survived as Squire Hawkinvilleas wealthy widow.

And now what was going on? One of the silly, nosy Weatherby sisters was flitting around in an ugly, over-ornamented bonnet. People were appearing from buildings like worms from bad apples.

Surely shead seen Lord Vandeimen ride north out of the village. Not at a dangerous gallop, but with some urgency, and yet his wifeas carriage had not left.

Then two men rode to the inn at speed.

Lord Amleigh, she thought, anda Nicholas?

Danger skittered down her spine, but excitement too. Ah, if he was here it would become a great game. And perhaps she would have the chance of true revenge. There was his dull wife. And a child now, as well. Shead checked on him, and he rarely left their sides. What if they were here too?

She licked her lips. This was almost as good as a tender goat in her bed.

It would be so deliciously dangerous to go over to the other side of the green, to be close to the inn, where Nicholas might see her.

Would even Nicholas know her in this disguise?

She began to walk across the green, wondering whether she dared to go into the inn and seek a meeting to see if he would know her like this. If anyone would, he would. They had been so spicily intimate six years ago, when he had been so young, so tender. None other of her young conquests had been like him.

They had been so wickedly intimate two years ago, as well. Compelling him had added a delightful twist. If she held his child captive, would he surrender again?

Fatally tempting, but too much so. It was time to be sensible if she was to have the life she wanted. She would have her fortune back, or as much as she could get, and escape.

As she neared the groups of people, she heard the name Deveril.

aWhy, Miss Rowland,a said one of the Misses Weatherby. aHave you heard? Our dear squire has become Viscount Deveril! He has just received the news!a aAmazing!a she said. aI must go and congratulate my cousin.a Miss Weatherbyas scrawny face pinched. She and her sister had never quite believed the supposed connection. But then, both sisters were enamored of Squire Hawkinville in their pathetic, spinsterish way. What would they think to know that Therese could have him at a snap of her fingers because she provided flattery, a clever mouth, and opium?

One of the innas grooms was out here, and he smiled his crooked-tooth grin. He was proof that she could still enslave men in this ugly guise. It was never entirely a matter of looks. So few women realized that.

Probably the poor man was bemused and guilty about the lustful urges he felt toward the drab foreign woman with the sick husband.

He sidled over. aGrand news, ainat it, maaam?a aWonderful.a aAnd such a coming and going.a He was almost bursting with news.

aYes?a she asked, as if he were clever and important.

aHereas Lord and Lady Vandeimen at the inn with a party, visiting the village. And one of the young ladies has disappeared! Miss Weatherby,aa"he tipped his head in the ladyas directiona"ashe says she saw the lass off with Major Hawkinville on a horse! And,a he added in a whisper, anow Lord Vandeimenas hurried off in a fine old mood. Known him since he was a lad, I have, and thereall be blows before the nightas out, even if it is another George.a Sometimes the English idioms escaped her. She ignored the last comment, but inside she was cursing.

Eloped. Shead feared as much.

aAnd hereas the other one arrived with a friend.a Since the groom clearly had no more to say, she thanked him and hurried down to the manor. The new Lord Deveril was of no use to her anymore, but it was best not to drop a part. And he would be good for a few guineas.

When she left, it was with guineas, and confirmation that the Hawk was off to Scotland with the heiress.

She paused to look at the bucolic setting and the robust English peasantry still gossiping. Thank God she could escape this place. If only she could set fire to its smug prettiness before she went.

She might try if not for the wet weather. It had doubtless left the thatch too sodden to catch.