aWhat is it, Clarissa?a She couldnat explain, because that would involve explaining about Deverilas death. aThis is all very new to me. I want to enjoy it, but without creating a scandal.a aSimply behave properly.a aBut that would be so boring!a Irresistibly, Clarissa thought of slipping out at night to explore Brighton.

Impossible, of course, but oh, so tempting.

At school she had often slipped out into the garden at night. A minor wickedness, but shead loved it. If she had not discovered that Major Hawkinville was so dangerous, she might perhaps have been tempted eventually into that adventure.

Althea was shaking her head. aI heard that you were not the best-behaved girl at Miss Malloryas, and now Iam coming to believe it.a Clarissa had to chuckle. aGuilty, Iam afraid. But I never created a scandal, and I wonat now, Thea. So donat worry.a Then, to Clarissaas relief, Althea sat down to write her daily letter to her family. She pretended to read a book so as to have time to think.

The only sensible course was to rebuff Major Hawkinville and get him out of her life. But would it do any good? If he wanted her fortune, he would pursue, and besides that, his interest in Lord Deverilas death might already have been stirred.

Perhaps it would be better to continue the acquaintance and watch what he was doing. That was pure sophistry, of course, for if he was investigating her past, what could she do about it?

Kill him?

Shead intended the thought to be humorous, but it sparked a new fear.

The Rogues had been kind to her, but she didnat underestimate their ruthlessness. What might they do when it came to defending those they loved?

She suddenly felt as if she were a Jonah, bringing ruin to whoever she toucheda"Beth, the Rogues, even Lord Deveril. And now innocent Major Hawkinville. Perhaps she should lock herself away in a convent to keep the world safe!

Hawk returned with the Vandeimens to their house, though head decided not to stay the night. His encounter with Clarissa Greystone had left him damnably unbalanced. Was she innocent or wicked, honest or false? He needed time and distance to regroup.

Every instinct reported that she was the same gallant, unsophisticated young woman he had met in Cheltenham. Every fact pointed to the opposite.

What was she? He had no idea except that she was surprisingly dangerous to him on a personal level. He enjoyed bandying words with her. He was feeling peculiarly protective. He was even beginning to find her pretty in the way the French referred to as une jolie laide, a woman who is not beautiful but almost becomes so through vitality.

aDo you like this design of porte cochere, Hawk?a Mariaas voice snapped him out of his thoughts, and he looked at the drawing spread on the parlor table. Maria and Vana"mostly Mariaa"were engaged in refurbishing Vanas neglected home. That was why they were in Brighton for the summer. To be away from dust and noise but close enough to supervise.

aIt would serve the purpose.a He glanced at Van. aYouare adding a porte cochere?a Van shrugged. aMaria wants one.a aOf course I do! What if we return home one night in the pouring rain?a aUmbrellas?a Van suggested.

Maria simply gave him a look, but it sizzled.

Hawk sighed. Newlyweds. Another reason not to stay. He felt intrusive, and also a touch envious. And where had that come from? He stood, putting down his half-drunk cup of tea. aI should set off back to Hawkinville.a Maria rose, too. aWait just a moment, Hawk. I have something for you to take, if you would be so kind. Special nails.a She hurried out of the room.

aRushing away?a Van said. aYou would be welcome to stay. I saw you gazing soulfully into Miss Greystoneas eyes.a Hawk threw him a scathing look, though head created that moment of contact for precisely that effect. To alert others, especially other men. To put his mark on her.

aPerhaps Iam fleeing soulfulness,a he said.

aShe seems charming.a aSheas a minx.a aA charming minx, then. Thereas nothing wrong with marriage, Hawk. I recommend it. And Miss Greystone would be an excellent choice. I hear sheas quite an heiress.a aYou think I need to marry for money, too?a The atooa made it a jab at his friend, who had married a very rich woman. It was deliberate. Hawk didnat want Van digging into these matters.

Van leaned against the table, completely unruffled. aRunning scared?a aRunning cautiously. I hardly know the chit, so why the talk of marriage?a aIam like a convert. Ardent to recruit new disciples.a Hawk laughed. aIam delighted to see you happy, Van, but it isnat my path at the moment. Can you imagine me bringing a bride home to Hawkinville Manor, to live among the incessant skirmishing between me and my father?a aTricky, I grant you.a aAnd I must stay there until the squire recovers strength enough to run the estate.a He hadnat told anyone about the squireas title, or about the threat to Hawk in the Vale. The title was an absurdity, and he hoped to block the threat. At the back of his mind was the thought that if desperate he could apply to Van and Maria for a loan to pay off Slade.

Twenty thousand pounds?

When on earth could he repay a sum like that? And he doubted Maria now had much money to spare.

Hawk knew that shead been returning money to people her first husband had cheated, and giving generously to charities for veterans because Maurice Celestin had made profits from shoddy military supplies. With the extensive renovations to Steynings, cash was probably in short supply.

More than that, however, he didnat want to admit what he was doing to try to get the Deveril money. Though he could justify it, he didnat want anyone to know what he was up to with the heiress.

aI hope you can take time for frequent visits here, at least,a Van said equably. aCon and Susan are speaking of joining us for a few days.a aOf course.a Hawk was spared more conversation when Maria came in with a satchel over one shoulder and a leather bag in her arms. aThe nails are rather heavy, Iam afraid.a He took the bag, pretending that his knees buckled under the weight. aCentaur will never make it home.a She chuckled. aIf I can importune, the carpenter is waiting for them. The decorative heads are part of the design.a aIall get them there this evening.a aAnd youall be back soon, I hope,a she said with a wide, friendly smile. Remarkable, when head done his best at one point to turn Van away from her.

aIn pursuit of Miss Greystone, perhaps?a she teased.

aAfter a fashion,a said Hawk, and escaped.

Chapter Eight.

Miss Hurstman was everything she claimed. Despite her unfashionable appearance and brusque manner, she led Clarissa and Althea neatly into the very heart of Brightonas fashionable world. Clarissa went with delight, savoring her dreamed-for season like a fine wine. She would have been in heaven if not for her secrets and the worry about Major Hawkinville. He had returned to his home, but he had promised to ask for a dance at the next assembly at the Old Ship.

She knew she should hope never to see him again, but the thought of another encounter was like the last cream cake on the plate.

She couldnat resist.

He couldnat really be a danger, she rationalized. He wanted her fortune. Why would he spend time poking around in stale matters of a year ago?

And, she realized, if he wanted her fortune, he would do nothing to upset the situation. Nicholas Delaney had also said that the truth about Deverilas death could make her ineligible to inherit.

Relieved, she flung herself into every day, her circle of acquaintance constantly growing. Word was out that she was the Devilas Heiress, but this did not seem to have reduced her appeal. Instead she found herself something of a curiosity, and a lodestone for nearly every unmarried man, along with his mother and sisters.

As common wisdom said, Money will always buy friends.

There were also true friends, however. Althea, of course, but also Miriam Mosely, and Florence Babbington of the famous brother. Unfortunately he was now married and fixed in Hertfordshire, so she couldnat find out whether his manly orbs still stirred her to poetry.

Even Lord and Lady Vandeimen were friends of a sort, for they always came over to speak to her, and Clarissa and her party had been invited to take tea with Lady Vandeimen one day.

Clarissa understood that this was probably because their friend would like to marry her money, but she didnat mind.

Now, however, with the night of the assembly here at last, she teetered on the brink of something thrilling. As Elsie assisted her with her lovely eau de nil silk evening dress, Clarissa tried to disguise the shivers of excitement and nerves that seemed to be skittering over her skin.

It was very strange. Perhaps she was addicted to Major Hawkinville as people were said to become addicted to opium. Miss Mallory had arranged lectures for the girls from Doctor Carlisle on the dangers of the overuse of laudanum. He had described in awful detail the progression of the dependency, so that in the end the addict could not resist the drug, even knowing that it held destruction, in part because of the terrible physical suffering of withdrawal.

But after twoa"no, threea"meetings?

The addict also, according to Doctor Carlisle, lost interest in all other aspects of life. A mother would neglect her child. A father would neglect his work. Even nourishing food and drink were unimportant to the person ruled by opium.

Clarissa bit her lip on a laugh. She wasnat so far gone as that. She had taken a second helping of Mrs. Taddyas jam pudding this evening, and she was enjoying all aspects of this stay in Brighton. Her unsteadiness now was simply that this would be her first grand affair here, her first trial before society en masse.

London didnat count. In London, Lord Deveril had not wanted her to go to any event unless he was with her.

Her dress, at least, was perfect. The subtly colored silk skimmed her curves and exposed just enough of her bosom to be interesting. The delicate gold-thread embroidery shimmered in the evening light. It would be magical under candles. Her hair looked as pretty as possible, and the bandeau of gold and pearls set it off very well.

Thank heavens for Miss Hurstman.

There had been no jewelry in Lord Deverilas possession, and Clarissa owned only a few valueless pieces. It was not a matter she had thought of. Miss Hurstman had, however, and had sent an urgent message to the Duke of Belcraven. A messenger had soon arrived with a selection of items.

None of them were precious, which was a great relief. Clarissa would have hated to risk losing an heirloom. They were all lovely, however. The gold filigree set with seed pearls went perfectly with her gown. Shead offered Althea her pick, but Althea had insisted on wearing only her own very simple pearl pendant and earrings.

Clarissa looked at her friend and sighed with satisfaction. In a pure white dress, stripped down to simple lines, and adorned only by her beauty, Althea would outshine every other woman present tonight and have every available man on his knees by tomorrow. She was sure of it.

She held out her gloved hand to her friend. aOnward to our adventure!a Their hackney coach rolled up to the Old Ship Inn, which stretched along the seafront, every window illuminated to welcome the guests. The stream of people was continuous, the men in dark evening wear or uniforms, the ladies a rainbow of silk, lace, and jewels. All of fashionable Brighton would be here, and excitement danced in the air on a drifting melange of perfume.

Clarissa pulled up the hood of her cloak to protect her coiffure from the brisk wind and stepped down from the coach. She worked hard to keep her smile at a suitably subdued level, but excitement was bubbling up in her like water in a hot pot. Her first true ball, and already she had promised dances to five men! Althea would never sit one out unless from exhaustion. It would be a splendid evening.

She caught Miss Hurstmanas eye on her and tried to rein in her smile even more, but her dragon said, aEnjoy yourself. Though everyone puts on an air of boredom, itas a pleasure to be with people prepared to admit to a little excitement.a Clarissa set her smile free, this time at Miss Hurstman. Her liking and admiration for the woman grew day by day. It was so typical that her dress for this grand event was only slightly more festive than her dayweara"a maroon gown and a very plain matching turban. Clarissa was reveling in fine clothes, but she relished the fact that Miss Hurstman did not care, and did not care what anyone else thought about that.

Quite possibly, she thought, as she entered the brilliantly lit hotel, she would be like Miss Hurstman one day. A crusty spinster who did and said exactly as she wished. But not yet, not yet. Tonight was for youth, and excitement, and even, perhaps, a little judicious folly.

Major Hawkinville had asked her to go apart with him on the Steyne. What would she do if he made the same invitation tonight, at the assembly?

If he was here.

Head said he would be, but until she saw hima She tried not to show it, but as she looked around, enjoying the company and acknowledging acquaintances, she was looking, looking, looking for Major Hawkinville.

Then she saw him enter, smiling at something said by one of his companionsa"the Vandeimens and another couple. He wore perfect dark evening clothes, but a blue cravat the color of his eyes was a playful touch that made her want to run over to him to tease. Then he laughed and raised the second womanas hand to his lips for a hotly flirtatious kiss.

A surge of pure fury hit Clarissa, but then the woman laughed too, rapping his arm hard with her fan, and it was clear that she was with the other man and no threat.

Clarissa realized that shead been staring and looked hastily away, praying that no one had noticed. But, oh, she hoped he would kiss her hand that way.

She couldnat help it. She had to glance back. He and his party were approaching!

They were all still in the spacious entry area, for Miss Hurstman had paused to speak to someone, but all around, guests were flowing toward the ballroom. The major and his friends had to navigate the stream.

It was only when they arrived that Clarissa realized that she had watched him all the way. Immediately she decided she didnat care. She didnat know how to play sophisticated games, and she didnat enjoy them, so she wouldnat.

Hawk approached Clarissa Greystone with increasing concern. It was no good. Time away had not altered anything. He could not see her as a disguised villainess.

Look at her now! Beneath the Shipas chandeliers, she sparkled and shone, but it wasnat light on gold and embroidery, it was unabashed excitement. She was innocently, honestly delighted to be here and anticipated a magical evening.

That, surely, couldnat be faked.

As he crossed the lobby smiling, he was rapidly rearranging the pieces in his mind.

She was someoneas innocent dupe, and that someone would plan to get the money back somehow.

How?

By marriage, or by inheritance.

Theft was a possibility, but as dangerous as the original crimes. Gaming was another, but not until she left her minority and was in independent control of her money.

He almost paused in his step. That would explain that strange provision of the will that put a fortune in her hands at twenty-one. An unpredictable device, however. Who was to say she would become a rash gambler? And who could say that she wouldnat marry before she reached twenty-one and have a husband to control her? In fact, it was highly likely.

Marriage? Illogical to put the money in her hands, then plan to marry it, especially as no one seemed to have made any attempt to secure her affections during the past year.

Inheritance, then. But Deverilas will stated that if Clarissa died before her majority her family should have no right to the money and it should go to the Middlesex Yule Club.

That was an absurdity, out of keeping with what head learned of Deveril, unless it was a cover for some depraved enterprise. In his week in London, head failed to find any trace of such an organization.

His main emotion, however, was a chill fear.

Inheritance necessitated death.

It was only as he introduced Con and his wife to Clarissaas party that he remembered there was another way to get the money from hera"by proving the will false and being Deverilas default heir.

The course he was pursuing.

It didnat threaten her life, but seeing her here, shining with the pleasure of this wealthy, privileged life, he suspected that it was close.

Hawk in the Vale, he reminded himself. All the people of Hawk in the Vale, not to mention his own dreams, hinged upon this. He would take care of her, though. She would not be abandoned to the cruelty of the world, or of her family.

As they moved to follow the crowd toward the ballroom, he offered an arm to Clarissa and Miss Hurstman.

The latter immediately said, aYou spend much time in Brighton, Major?a He recognized an attack, though he had no idea why she was hostile. aWhen the company pleases me, Miss Hurstman.a At her narrow look, he went on. aMy friends the Vandeimens are fixed here at the moment, and the Amleighs have joined them for a week or so.a aThought head inherited the earldom of Wyvern,a Miss Hurstman said, as if Conas title was suspicious too.

aItas under dispute, so he has reverted to the viscountcy. Heall be happy to have it stay that way.a aThe old earl was certainly a dirty dish. Bad blood.a But it was said with an eye on him. He came to the alert. What did she know? It would be disastrous if Clarissa discovered his connection to Deveril.

aThereas bad blood in every family, Miss Hurstman,a Hawk replied, meeting that look. aWasnat it your paternal grandfather who tried to stake his daughter in a game of hazard?a Clarissa was astonished and alarmed to see Miss Hurstman silenced, and she leaped into the conversation. aSo are you fixed here for a few days, Major?a He turned to her, his expression warming. aI am, Miss Greystone. I anticipate a great deal of pleasure from it.a Clarissa didnat think she mistook his meaning, and she turned away to hide a smile. He was here to hunt her. She still wasnat sure if she should let herself be caught, but the pursuit promised extraordinary pleasure.

She had promised the first dance to dashing Captain Ralstone, and forbade herself to regret it. She couldnat dance every dance with the major. She had to confess to being relieved, however, when he led out Lord Amleighas wife rather than some other unmarried woman.

Jealousy? That was ridiculous.

She made herself pay full attention to Captain Ralstone during their dance, but this had the unfortunate effect of increasing his confidence. By the end of the set, his comments were becoming a little warm, and his manner almost proprietary. She was delighted in more ways than one to move off with Major Hawkinville in preparation for the next set.

aRalstone is a gazetted fortune hunter, you know,a he said, as they strolled around the room.

aAnd you are not?a It popped out, and she immediately wished it back.

His brows rose, but he didnat immediately answer. Eventually he said, aMy father owns a modest property, and I am his only son.a She knew she was red. aI do beg your pardon, Major. I had decided to put off affectation and behave naturally, but I see now why it is unwise.a She was rewarded with his smile. aNot at all. I would be delighted if you would be natural with me, Miss Greystone. After all, as we see, it dispels misunderstandings before they can root.a aYes,a she said, but she didnat think his talk of natural behavior related entirely to dispelling misunderstandings.

He covered her gloved hand on his arm. aPerhaps we can begin by using first names with each other, just between ourselves.a She glanced down at their hands for a moment. He wore a signet ring with a carved black stone, and his fingers were long, with neatly oblong nails.

She smiled up at him. aI would like that. My name is Clarissa.a aI know. And mine is George, but no one uses it. You may if you wish, or you may call me Hawk, as most do.a aHawk? A somewhat frightening name.a aIs it? You are no pigeon to be afraid of a hawk.a aBut I am told that you investigate everything, and forget nothing.a He laughed. aThat sounds tiresome rather than frightening.a aThen what about the fortune hunting? Are you hunting me, Hawk?a She longed to have everything honest between them.

He touched her necklace where it lay against her throat, sliding a finger slowly beneath it. aWhat do you think?a Clarissa wasnat sure whether to swoon or be outraged.

aAnd be assured,a he murmured, lowering his hand, aif I capture you, my little pigeon, you will enjoy it.a She escaped by looking around at the company and fanning herself. aIt is not pleasant, you know, to be prey, no matter how benign the hunter.a aBravo,a he said softly. aWell, then, you will have to be a predator, too. I think I will call you Falcon.a She looked back at him. aAh, I like that.a aI thought you might.a But then she realized that he had brought them to a halt and was gazing into her eyes. Fortune hunting, she realized, could take many subtle forms. He was trying to mark her as his. She probably should not allow it, but it was too exciting to decline.

aElectricity,a she said.

aDefinitely. You have experienced that mysterious force?a aAt school. We had a demonstration.a aEducation is wonderful, is it not?a It was perhaps as well that the warning chords sounded then for the next dance, for Clarissa wasnat sure what she might have done. The simplest fortune-hunting technique, she realized, would be to compromise her.