"Wouldn't take no for an answer, neither. She even" -- He was force, fully interrupted by a shattering blow to his jaw.

"Get out." Gavin's voice quavered with rage as he glared down at his erstwhile butler.

"Do not say another word, or I may not be answerable for my actions."

Coombes scrambled to his feet, anger and fear fighting for supremacy in his face. With his hand on the library door, he turned.

"Don't expect me to keep yet precious secret once I'm gone, yer lordship," he sneered.

"All of London will know about the brat by the end of the week. We'll see what yer fine rich bride-to-be has to say about that!" With this parting shot, he was gone.

Gavin waited until he heard the front door slam as well, then slowly began to relax. What on DA_R]NO DECBPTION

earth had come over him? He had never been especially p.r.o.ne to violence, though his skill was well regarded at Gentleman Jackson's. In fact, he could not recall striking another man in anger since his school days Coombes was a scoundrel, of course--his final words had proved that clearly--but surely Gavin had overreacted. Why? Cherry's face, with her wide, understanding green eyes, rose before him. That Coorobes should have attempted to. Anger a.s.sailed him again. Was that it? Was he developing a tend re for Christabel's nanny? It seemed unlikely in the extreme. She was not at all in his usual style; in fact, she was positively plain, except for those eyes.

No doubt he merely felt obliged to protect her as he would a sister or a friend.

Unused to probing his sentiments in this way, Gavin crossed to the bell-pull and gave it a vigorous tug. He was engaged to be married. He had already given his mistress her congO. He could not afford any such attraction, and therefore it could not exist.

The door opened presently and his valet peered around it enquiringly.

"Ask Miss Cherrystone to come down if you would, Metzget." She deserved to know the outcome of his interview with Coombes, and besides, they had yet to trade the results of their separate investigations that day.

Idly smoothing his hair with his fingers, Gavin went to seat himself at his desk.

IT WAS wrrI-I SOME trepidation that Frederica answered the summons.

She had reached her room only a moment ago and had not yet had time to organize her thoughts in light of Mr. Coombes's unexpected attack. She attempted to do so as she followed Metzger downstairs.

The but let accusations were preposterous, of course, and obviously not very well thought out.

Still, her defence must amount to her word against his, and it seemed only logical that Lord Sea brooke would be more inclined to believe a man who had lived in his household for some time than a female who had resided there merely a week. The only witness she could summon for her conduct was Christabel, and Frederica knew already that she would rather be dismissed than subject the child to Mr. Coombes's evil tongue again. Squaring her shoulders, she walked through the library door when Metzget held it open, ready to meet her fate.

Lord Sea brooke stood at his desk as she entered; there was no one else in the room.

"You sent for me, my lord?" She kept her voice as calm as she had during the previous interview, her senses vibrated at the of the ~ DARING DEcEFr~oN earl, and even more so at the thought of leaving him.

"Yes. Cherry, I wanted you to know at once that Coorobes will not trouble you again. He has been dismissed."

Frederica swallowed.

"I, ah ... thank you, my lord," was all she could think of to say. The ordeal was over as simply as that! Then she remembered something else Mr.

Coorobes had said that morning.

"Will... will he not seek revenge, though? He knows about Christabel now" -- "It cannot be helped," said the earl.

"As I said before, my reputation is scarcely lily white, anyway. This news will not change it appreciably."

Something prompted Frederica to ask,

"But what of your recent betrothal? Could such a story not endanger it?"

She held her breath, amazed at her own boldness, but anxious to hear his reply.

Lord Sea brooke gave her a twisted smile.

"I wondered if you had heard about that. To tell you the truth, I am rather glad you asked. If we are to collaborate in our investigations, there can be no secrets between us, can there?" Frederica shook her head, though alarm shot through her. Did he suspect? Had he somehow discovered her true ident.i.ty? His next words rea.s.sured her somewhat.

"My betrothal was one of necessity rather than inclination," he said, his blue eyes watching her closely, as if gauging her reaction.

"In fact, I have yet to meet my fiancee. I do not even know if she is amenable to the match!"

"Why would you betroth yourself to a lady whom you do not know, my lord?"

Frederica kept her tone carefully neutral as she asked a question that had bothered her from the start.

"As I said, necessity. I had fallen deeply in debt after paying off the arrears on my uncle's estate. The income from Brookeside barely cowers the cost of upkeep, and with the war over, the army was closed to me. I had even begun to consider fleeing to the Continent. Then Amity died and I found myself with Christabel to consider. A wealthy bride appeared to be the only answer."

His eyes begged her to understand, and Frederica felt herself longing to give him the rea.s.surance he sought.

"But what of the lady herself?" she forced herself to ask.

"Was she to have no say in the matter?"

"Her brother is her legal guardian," he said shortly, turning away.

"It was for him to decide.

Of course, I could not force her to wed me were she truly unwilling. "

He picked up a poker to jab at the fire that already blazed on the hearth.

"Now I wonder whether my salvation, and Christabel's, was not too dearly bought. However, though she may be able to cry off with honour, I cannot."

"So you are hoping that your fiancee or her brother, comes to hear of the rum ours Frederica frowned.

"That she will refuse to go through with it?"

The earl sighed.

"No, I suppose I cannot hope for that, for it would put me right back where I began. I must hope that when we finally meet, we shall find that we suit.

Many a marriage of convenience has eventually become one of affection." His tone was not optimistic.

For the first time, Frederica allowed herself to imagine what it would be like to be married to this man, sharing his name, his home . his bed. The thought created a warm stirring that spread through her midsection. To change the subject, she said quickly,

"I.

finished reading through your sister's letters, my lord. "

"Ah! And what did you find?" He, too, seemed eager to abandon the topic of his betrothal.

"There was no direct proof of a marriage, but from Captain Browning's last letter, he plainly intended to visit her shortly and hinted at an elopement.

It was also clear that his family wished him to marry another, which may provide a motive for their secrecy."