"Oh, Burke. I was just talking to Lily. Of course, she can't hear me, but still-"

Her husband hugged her, then kissed her lightly on her mouth. "Our invalids are both quite fine, I gather."

"This one is. She ate all the porridge and drank the cocoa. There was lots of sugar in the cocoa, just as Michael ordered. You know something, Burke?" Arielle continued without pause. "She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

Burke looked down at the sleeping Lily. "She is quite passable, I suppose. You think she snared our Knight with her beauty?" The moment the words were out, Burke was shaking his head. "No, Knight appreciates beauty, and God knows, he's enjoyed his share of beautiful women, but to marry a woman because of it, no, never."

"And children? Did you tell me there are three of them?" At her husband's nod, Arielle just shook her head. "I can't seem to take it all in. Knight Winthrop with a wife and three children. Do you remember him at Lannie and Percy's wedding? He was sweating like a pig, nearly babbling with paranoia what with all the matchmaking mamas eyeing him like a succulent feast at the reception, and vowing over and over not to wed until he was well past his fortieth birthday."

"Ah, yes, and his disgust with Percy and Lannie, calling Percy a fool and a dimwit." Burke began to chuckle; then he broke into a full laugh.

Together, the earl and the countess left the bedchamber, the earl still laughing.

The earl wasn't laughing a few minutes later. He was shouting at his valet, Joshua. "He's what? That's utterly absurd. Good God, he can't.

Burke dashed into Knight's bedchamber and skidded to a stop. Knight was dressing, slowly, to be sure, but he was managing. There was a wide bandage about his waist and small bandages about his wrists. He needed to shave, his clothes were wrinkled and dirty, and he looked quite determined.

"That's enough, Knight."

Knight looked up, shaking his head. "No, Burke. I probably killed Boy. If I did, then Monk will either be scouring the countryside for me and Lily or heading back to Castle Rosse and the children. I told him the jewels were in the stable. He doesn't know where to look, but look he will. And if he can, he'll nab one of the children. I can't take the chance. I've got to make sure they're safe."

"You've quite made up your mind about this? You won't allow me to fetch the children?"

"No; they're not your responsibility. If you will keep Lily safe for me, I'll get them. I should be back with them sometime tomorrow evening."

"I can't allow this, Knight. You're not in any shape to go anywhere."

Knight told his friend very concisely and without excessive heat what he could do with his opinion.

Burke stared at him for a moment; then, when Knight's britches were about his knees, Burke stepped forward and slammed his fist into his friend's jaw. Knight went down without a sound.

"Sorry, old man," the earl said as he rubbed his knuckles, "but you've been quite noble enough. Any more of your nobility and nausea will overcome me."

"Oh, Gawd."

Burke turned to smile at his valet, Joshua. "His lordship will be just fine. He'll doubtless wake up cursing me to hell and back, be the proud possessor of a sore jaw, but he'll recover. Now, Joshua, here's what I want you to do."

"Remarkable, absolutely remarkable." Dr. Brody stood up and smiled down at Lily. "No fever, color in your cheeks, and the wounds are healing quite nicely. If I could say the same for your husband's temper, then-"

Lily paled. "Where is Knight? What's happened to him?"

Arielle sent Michael Brody a look, and he murmured, "Sorry," and quickly stepped back from the bed.

Arielle said in her most soothing voice, "Now, Lily, my dear, your husband is just-well, he's just-"

"Furious, for starters, Arielle."

"Knight."

"Hello, Lily." Arielle saw Knight's expression alter radically. He was suddenly all tenderness and gentleness. "You look wonderful. I can't imagine why they put me into another bedchamber. My place is beside you, naturally." He kissed her forehead, clasped her hand in his, then looked over at Arielle. "As for your husband, Arielle, when I get my hands on that damned bounder, I fully intend to smash my fist-"

"You just be quiet, Knight Winthrop." Out of sheer surprise, Knight shut his mouth. Arielle Drummond, that slight, slender person, was standing, arms akimbo, looking ready to kick him in a very vulnerable spot. "No, you, too, Lily. Just hush, both of you. You will listen to me. Knight, in his condition, was going to return to Castle Rosse to fetch the children, Lily. Burke merely rendered him temporarily unable so that-"

"He waited until I'd pulled my britches to my knees, then planted me one in the jaw."

"That's what I said," Arielle replied with great patience. "So Burke is going to bring the children here. More than that, he's sent for a Bow Street Runner who's worked for us before, Ollie Trunk. You, Knight, and Lily and the children will remain safely at Ravensworth until they've caught this fellow Monk. Now, do either of you have any questions?"

"I do," came a diffident voice.

"Well, what is it?" Arielle snapped as she turned on Dr. Brody.

"Do you mind if I examine Viscount Castlerosse's rib?"

Lily laughed, laughed until she hurt. "Ah, Knight, you've been disposed of quite nicely. I've learned a valuable lesson here."

Knight said nothing, nodded to Dr. Brody, then climbed into bed beside Lily. "All right. Examine away."

"You're an outrageous man."

"I'm your husband. You can't order me out. I intend to stay here and let Arielle mother both of us. Once the children arrive, it will be chaos and bedlam and you'll regret your kindness, Arielle. The little devils will bring Ravensworth down around your ears. You'll wear mufflers just to stay reasonably sane. Then, just when you'll be ready to muzzle them, they'll smile at you or give you a look that would melt a stone, and you're a goner and they've got you and it all begins again. The servants will no longer be loyal to you but to them. You'll see."

Arielle could only marvel silently. Knight Winthrop was saying these things? About children?

"I intend to tell them about all the presents we'll be bringing them from Venice, Knight," Lily said.

"I think that-ow! God, that hurts, dammit."

"Do hold still, my lord," Dr. Brody said and proceeded to probe the flesh covering Knight's rib. To Knight's consternation, Lily picked up his hand and patted it.

"At least I have both of you in the same place now. If you give me any trouble, I can simply lock the door." Arielle beamed down at them and Knight cursed.

"When you're done, Michael, why don't we leave them alone to rest? The viscountess is very reasonable. They will rest, I doubt not."

Dr. Brody mumbled something under his breath and Knight said, all surprise, "Why, I believe he's embarrassed. You're a bloody doctor, Michael. I-ow."

"There, my lord, all done now. Rest, as her ladyship instructed. I'll see you both on the morrow."

When Knight and Lily were finally alone, Knight came up on his elbow and looked down at her. "We made it."

"That we did. I still have difficulty understanding why you never felt that bullet hit you."

"I guess the doctor is right. I was so scared for you, my body decided not to further strain my brain." He leaned down and kissed her mouth, her chin, her nose. "Look outside, Lily. It's snowing again. Damn, how can Burke travel in this wretched weather? How can the children?"

"Burke is an inventive man. That's what you told me. No, don't go into a snit again. Lie down and hold my hand and tell me about the Bow Street runner."

"I met Ollie Trunk this past summer," Knight said, his eyes on the naked cherubs that smiled down upon them from the ceiling molding. "I guess Arielle forgot. In any case, he's a good fellow and tenacious as a bull terrier. He'll help. Perhaps he can even find out about this Billy and Charlotte."

"I love you so much, Knight," Lily said clearly, and in the next moment was deeply asleep, her breathing even and soft.

Knight felt like he'd been shot again.

His heart began to pound. Loudly.

This incredible woman loved him? Dear God, he'd neatly forced her to marry him; taken her as his natural right as her husband without regard to what she wanted; put her in mortal danger-and she loved him. Well, damn and blast, he was as happy as a man could be in six decades. He grinned. He wanted to howl and dance. He winked at the cherubs overhead.

Then he shook his head at himself. He supposed he wasn't really surprised that he loved his wife as well. He'd told Burke he loved her, but he hadn't really felt it while he had said it. It had come as stealthily as a thief in the night, this love business. It hadn't happened to his father. So it had skipped a generation. He'd make certain it didn't skip any more generations in his family. "That makes two of us," he told the sleeping Lily. "But I'll wager I love you more. I'm older by seven years, after all. I have more experience, more skills involving things that are, well, er, related. Yes, I'll wager you that you haven't come close to what I feel for you, Lily Winthrop. But I'll let you work at it. We can examine this in another ten years or so and see. But I'll still be ahead." Grinning like a village idiot, Knight kissed his wife's left ear, then turned onto his back, still grinning like a fool, and was snoring within minutes.

When Lily awoke the following morning, Knight wasn't in bed beside her. She called his name. He wasn't in the Diamond Room either. She didn't want to disturb her hostess, but finally worry made her pull the bell cord.

Arielle appeared some ten minutes later. She looked none too pleased. Indeed, she looked ready to kill. "Your husband," she said slowly, as if keeping a wild fury under control, "left two hours ago, nearly at the crack of dawn. He left this note for you." She handed the scrap of paper to Lily.

Lily, I'm off to Castle Rosse. Will return with the children soon. Don't worry and don't do anything stupid.

Knight Lily's hands fisted on her lap. She wadded up the note and tossed it across the room, then promptly groaned from the pain in her shoulder. "I'll kill him. Damn him, Arielle. He's hurt."

"I know," Arielle said, then regretted that she'd shown so much anger to Lily. This patient was rapidly becoming quite upset. "Now, Lily, he'll be all right. Burke has told me that Knight is a man who can take care of himself. He said he was a survivor, that he'd trekked through the hills of Portugal one summer when it was so hot the rocks were nearly melting, and he made it to the sea with two French spies in tow. The wound wasn't grave, Lily. He'll be just fine."

"When he gets back here, he'll have to survive me. Right now I'm feeling a lot meaner and a lot tougher than two Frenchmen."

"They weren't Frenchmen. They were Frenchwomen."

"Arrgh."

At least it had stopped snowing. Thank the powers for something. Now he could keep his horse at a steady gallop. Knight knew a shortcut northwest to Castle Rosse. Burke didn't. He wouldn't be surprised if he caught up with the earl before reaching home.

His rib hurt, but not excessively, and the extreme cold kept him pretty well numbed. He'd lain there beside his beautiful wife, wondering, worrying, then finally realizing that he simply couldn't allow Burke to ride into possible danger. Burke didn't know how vicious Monk was.

Knight changed horses at three different posting houses. At Netherfield, the ostler at the Wild Goose Inn had nothing to rent him but a slope-shouldered gelding that had more heart and grit than a racer. The journey to Castle Rosse ended up taking him a mere six hours.

There was no sign of Monk.

There was a good deal of pandemonium when Knight walked through the great oak doors into the Italian-marble tiled entry hall of Castle Rosse.

He hadn't beat Burke, but then again, Burke had been one hell of a soldier and tracker.

"Papa." Laura Beth lost her footing on the staircase and tumbled down three steps to land on the floor at Knight's feet. He scooped her up, tossed her high in the air, and then held her so tightly against his chest that she squeaked.

Burke Drummond came out of the drawing room to witness this reunion. He stared.

Theo said from just behind him, "Cousin Knight is here. I thought you said he was at Ravensworth, sir. Oh, goodness. He doesn't look well. Laura Beth will strangle him."

Theo raced around Burke and right into Knight's quickly freed right arm. "Theo, Theo, I've missed you like the very devil."

"You're hurt. Uncle Burke said you were hurt by that awful man. Was it the one who tried to kidnap Sam in London? The one who attacked you in London?"

"Yes, that was the one. I'm not badly hurt, Theo. Stop shaking. So it's Uncle Burke, is it? Laura Beth, stop kissing my ear. It's getting all wet inside. Ah, here's Sam. Come here, lad, and tell me what a saint you've been."

"Mama. Where's Mama?"

"Didn't Uncle Burke tell you?" He carefully hugged Sam, who was being held in Charlie's, the footman's, arms. Knight cupped the boy's face in his palm. "Your mama's all right. She's in bed, being utterly lazy and ordering Uncle Burke's servants about, throwing her water glass at anyone who dares to disagree with her. All in all, she's fine."

Sam giggled and Theo expelled a relieved sigh.

Knight looked up and straight at Burke.

"I couldn't let you have all the fun, Burke."

"I see that. However, you do look like bloody hell."

"Yes, my lord, bloody hell indeed," Thrombin said.

"Aye, indeed," Charlie said, adding his oar to the water.

Knight looked around at his servants, previously silent. Mrs. Crumpe had her arms folded across her ample breasts. Even Mimms was standing in the doorway, a plate of goodies in the crook of her dimpled arm. But Thrombin was the awesome one. He looked utterly disapproving. His lips were so thin they nearly disappeared.

"His lordship," Thrombin continued, "has told us that he's here to remove the children back to Ravensworth. He also assured us that you were all right, but wounded, my lord, and, I might add, quite safe in your bed."

"All right, now listen to me, Thrombin. All of you. Laura Beth, stop chewing on my ear. Sam, hold still or Charlie will drop you and you'll deserve it. Theo, stop wringing your hands like the mourners in a Greek chorus. Mrs. Crumpe, we'll be in the drawing room. I'm starving. Please bring food and whatever else you deem proper. Come along, Burke. We have a lot to discuss."

"Papa," Laura Beth said and squeezed his throat. "Did you bring Czarina Catherine a present?"

"Yes, me."

Laura Beth didn't find this answer to her liking, but she was distracted. "Your face is all scratchy."

"Yes, and I'm filthy as a winter goat. No, Betty," he continued to Laura Beth's new nurse, "I'll keep the urchin with me for a while. But only if you behave yourself, snippet."

"All right, Papa," Laura Beth assured him, and he groaned, knowing that sweet, utterly guileless smile.

Charlie carried Sam into the drawing room and placed him on a couch. Theo fussed over his brother until Sam, disgusted, told him to stick his head up his-and thankfully stopped. Laura Beth was quite content curled up against Knight's shoulder. That made his rib hurt, but it didn't matter. Everything seemed so blessedly normal again. It helped erase the nightmare of the past two days.

It was another half hour before Burke and Knight were alone, the children carping and complaining but nonetheless off to their beds. There was a blazing fire in the fireplace, and Burke brought out the brandy bottle.

"Your children are delightful."

Knight smiled sleepily. "Yes, the little devils are quite unique. Czarina Catherine is Laura Beth's doll."

"Thank you. It was a question that was weighing on my poor brain."

"No sign of our Monk?"

"No, not a one. I only beat you here by three hours, though. I did, however, alert all the servants, particularly the stable lads. They're ready, Knight."

Knight nodded. "Now what we need is a trap for our villain."

"You've got an idea?"

Knight sat forward and rubbed his hands toward the leaping flames. "Yes," he said, his eyes narrowing, "yes, and it should bring Monk here in short order. The damned bastard."