Since the afternoon, she had been wondering how the news of his unexpected wealth would affect his marriage plans. He patently had no need to marry an heiress now. Would he adhere to the betrothal? And did she want him to?

Several hours of reflection had not been sufficient to provide her with answers.

Smiling cordially at various guests, all unknown to her as she attempted to answer Christabel's rapid-fire questions, Frederica moved through the throng around the buffet into the relatively uncrowded centre of the room. Before she could catch her breath, they were accosted by the earl, who was smiling with delight. "Miss Cherrystone! I was beginning to fear you meant to hole up in the nursery for the duration. Let me introduce you about. You remember Sir Thomas?" He gestured towards her brother, who had just come up.

"Of course," she replied, refusing to meet Thomas's eye. She knew that he must be wondering how much further she meant to take this charade. That she also knew his speculation was justified did nothing to restore her composure.

"How pleasant to see you again, Sir Thomas,"

she murmured.

If Lord Sea brooke noticed her discomfiture, he gave no sign.

"And my niece, Christabel," he said, taking the little girl's hand. She smiled shyly up at Sir Thomas, forcing him to withdraw his gaze from his sister to smile back at the engaging child.

"Ah, let me present to you Lord Cntrvey, Miss Cherrystone, and his wife, Lady Elizabeth," said the earl, before Frederica could gather her thoughts.

She turned to see a handsome, fair-haired man, younger than the earl, and a sprightly brunette lady quite evidently in the family way. She warmed to them both as they cheerfully acknowledged the introduction, with no hint of surprise in their manner at being presented to a mere nanny.

Lady Elizabeth gushed warmly over Christabel and then whisked her away to introduce her around the room herself. When she returned a short time later, Frederica almost regretfully suggested to the earl that it was time she took her charge up to bed.

"Nonsense," he said cheerfully.

"Mrs. Abbott can take her up." He gestured to a pa.s.sing footman, who hurried off to find the housekeeper. "I'd like you to stay and enjoy yourself."

"Oh, but" -- Already, Frederica had realized the risk she was running of meeting someone here who might recognize her later. That would not do at all!

"Please, Miss Cherrystone, I insist." He held her eyes with his own for a moment and, again, she could not disappoint him.

"Very well," she said.

"But only for a little while."

After half an hour of spirited conversation, and a gla.s.s of champagne that had been pressed on her by Lord Sea brooke, Frederica actually found herself beginning to enjoy the evening. As more introductions were made, she noticed that 20~ "I will echo the first line of that toast," he said.

"To Gavin and his bride--may they enjoy a long and happy marriage!"

To this toast, everyone felt perfectly justified in drinking, and the awkward moment was smoothed over. Lord William, belatedly realizing his mistake, attempted to stammer an apology to Lord Sea brooke and the glowering Sir Thomas, but the others began to talk and laugh as before.

Frederica, however, scarcely heard Lord Garvey's amendment. She stood rooted to the spot, scarlet with embarra.s.sment and shame. Embarra.s.sment that such a thing should be said of her, in front of all these people whose opinion she now valued, and shame at her own stupidity.

For it all made sense to her now. Why ~hould Lord Sea brooke resist a loveless match when he could still have his pick of mistresses? Miss Sheehan's face swam dazzlingly before her. There was no reason for him to seek a release from the betrothal even now when he no longer needed the money. He need not even feel guilty that he must use his wife's money to pay for his paramours. Doubtless that would be a relief to a man so upstanding, so honourable-the word echoed in her mind with biting sarcasm-as Lord Sea brooke. She despised herself for her naivety.

The occasional tenderness she had imagined in the earl's eyes when he spoke to her she saw now only as further evidence of his willingness to disregard any marriage vows he might make. Was she perhaps slated to take Miss Sheehan's place? That was not at all what she wanted. was it?

Shaken by the thought, Frederica suddenly knew that she needed to be alone to sort out her painful, conflicting feelings. Backing toward the door with a brittle smile on her face, she slipped out of the ballroom and hurried up the stairs. She had just reached the second landing when she heard footsteps following. Turning, she was startled to see Lord Sea brooke mounting the stairs behind her.

"You left rather precipitously, Cherry," he said as he closed the distance between them, his face concerned.

"I hope you are not feeling unwell."

"I--I am fine, my lord," she managed to say, though she trembled at his nearness.

"I am merely unaccustomed to champagne, to the late hour and to so many people." All of which was quite true, though it had little to do with her distress.

"I'm sorry, Cherry," said the earl with every appearance of sincerity.

"I hadn't thought of that, I confess. I merely wished you to enjoy His smile affected Frederica as it had always done, in spite of her attempts to harden her heart towards him. To her disgust, she felt the corners of her own mouth curving upwards in response.

"That reminds me," said the earl before she could think of anything to say.

"There is something else you deserve and that I very much want you to have."

He pulled a roll of notes from the pocket of his evening clothes.

"I promised you a bonus, if you recall. Here it is." He handed the money to her.

Frederica took it automatically, then glanced down. He had given her fifty pounds!

"My lord, please, I cannot" -- she began, attempting to give it back.

"I insist," he interrupted firmly, closing his hand about hers, the money still in her fist.

"In truth, this is a mere pittance considering all that you have done for me, and for Christabel. I wish I could give you far more." His blue eyes glittered with warmth, and something more than warmth, as they locked with hers. Suddenly, Frederica found it difficult to breathe. She was very much aware of him hand on hers, of the warmth and strength of his long fingers.

Desperately, not knowing what she meant to say, she parted her lips to speak.

Without warning, the earl tightened his grip on her hand, drawing her to him.

His other arm went around her and he lowered his head to hers, blocking with his lips whatever words she might have summoned. Frederica clung to him, reveling once again in the hot, spicy taste of his mouth, the masculine firmness of his body against hers. Unsuspected longings sprang up, frightening in their intensity.

Probing deeper with his tongue, the earl ran his hands down her shoulders, caressing her through the thin silk of the dress. Frederica felt that she was drowning in him, but had no wish to save herself. Shamelessly, she moulded her body to his. His hands grew more insistent, touching the bare flesh at her throat, the soft upper curve of her breast.

She knew she should protest, but his touch excited her beyond reason, beyond caring. Her will would not answer to her conscience. Instead, she threw back her head as he mined kisses down the length of her throat, following the path of his hands.

With one hand, he fumbled with the b.u.t.tons at her back, while the other continued to caress, sliding inside the suddenly loosened neckline of her gown. One thumb grazed the tip of her breast as the nipple rose to greet his touch. With a m.u.f.fled cry of dismay, Frederica suddenly pulled away as the enormity of what they were her After only the briefest attempt to restrain her, Lord Sea brooke released her, his expression startled.

"Cherry, I" -- "No, my lord, don't!" She cut him off in a high, shaky voice.

"I.

I'll bid you good-night . "

She took refuge in trite, familiar words.

"Pray enjoy the remainder of your evening. It was most kind in you to invite me." Still clutching the fifty pounds, which she had completely forgotten, Frederica turned and ran up the stairs without a backward glance.

Gavin did not try to stop her. He was too overcome by the incredible surge of pa.s.sion that had swept over him during that moment of madness. He knew now, without doubt, that his feelings for Cherry went far beyond mere friendship. And he knew that they were reciprocated, if only in small measure. Certainly he had not imagined her response!

He should follow her he knew, to apologize for his conduct, but he was afraid to. Afraid that if he followed her to her room, he would say things, do things, that would be impossible to retract.

No, better to wait for morning, when both of them would have had time to think. With one last, wistful glance at the empty staircase, he reluctantly descended to the ballroom and a celebration that now seemed more hollow than ever.