Sebastian made the introductions. "Arabella, my wife Devon. Devon, Miss Arabella Templeton. Her mother Catherine is Grace's younger sister."

Devon's eyes widened. "Arabella!" she exclaimed. She glanced at Sebastian. "Is this the same Arabella who gave Justin his comeuppance some years ago?"

Arabella bit her lip and glanced at her aunt. This was probably the only one of the escapades from her younger days that her aunt didn't know about.

"A female who got the best of Justin." Devon was almost squealing, her eyes sparkling. "Oh, what I wouldn't give to have been there. Oh, but I think you and I will get on famously."

Arabella couldn't help but smile in return. She liked Devon's warmth and openness immensely. But she had the distinct sensation Aunt Grace would have a few questions for her later*

For the time being, Grace transferred her attention to Devon. "We've hardly seen you in London since the little ones were born," Grace said.

"We've hardly been in London since they were born, which suits us just fine. We love it here in the country," Devon said simply. "It's here we want the twins to grow up."

Arabella gasped. She couldn't help it. "You carried twins?" she said in disbelief. Her gaze went up and down Devon's diminutive figure. "My word, how -" She colored and broke off. "Forgive me. I meant no offense."

"And none taken," Devon responded with a laugh. "Believe me, I was big as a cow."

"Not quite," her husband said with a chuckle. He covered her hand with his. "But no matter, you carried it off beautifully." He was staring down at her as he spoke, and in his eyes glimmered an unmistakable light. Devon flashed him a dazzling smile in return.

Arabella winced. Another obscenely happy couple. What was it these days?

She was just about to clear her throat when Devon dragged her gaze from her husband's.

"I'll have Jane show you to your rooms," said the marchioness. "We'll dine at half-past eight. That should give all the guests a chance to rest. It's such a tiring journey from London, isn't it?"

Indeed, Aunt Grace was yawning. "A nap sounds just the thing, don't you think, Arabella?"

Arabella didn't, but she didn't say so. Nor was she the least bit tired. But she didn't mind shutting herself away in her room till the dinner hour. The longer the time till she encountered the beast in his lair, the better. Perhaps, she decided cautiously, luck was with her after all, and Justin would not be joining his brother's house party.

She was totally unaware of Devon's thoughtful gaze following her up the grand staircase.

"Love, you're up to something," Sebastian said sternly. "I know that look."

"Oh! I am not! I was only thinking that young Arabella seems a very spirited sort."Sebastian c.o.c.ked a brow. "Young Arabella," he stressed, "is probably not muchyounger than you, my love. But yes, she's definitely a woman of spirit."

Devon smiled a smile that sent warning bells clanging through her husband.

Sebastian expelled a breath. "Devon, what is on your mind?"

Her eyes opened wide. "Sebastian! Don't look at me like that. I was just

thinking*"

"Yes?"

"*that Justin may have met his match."

"Devon," he said dryly, "you don't understand. While I have always

regarded the prank Arabella pulled on our dear Justin as vastly entertaining - which is why I told you about it - Justin was never so amused. 'The vicar's child is the devil's child,' he always said. And if you saw his scowl when he -"

"But she is a child no longer, Sebastian. You made the observation yourself." "Nonetheless, believe me when I say that Arabella Templeton is the last woman on earth that Justin would -"

"Precisely why she may well be the right one." Impish amber eyes twinkled up at him."Look at the two of us."Sebastian narrowed his gaze. "Has the d.u.c.h.ess arrived yet?" he asked suddenly.He referred to the Dowager d.u.c.h.ess of Carrington. "As a matter of fact, she has," Devon confirmed.

"And the two of you have had your heads together, haven't you?"

"Why, whatever do you mean?"

"Meaning that I'm well aware she loves nothing more than to play matchmaker, and I do

believe you've decided to take on the very same role yourself."

"Oh, come!" Devon protested. "We've been wed for two years already and I've yet to do so for either your sister or your brother."

"Well, we both know how Julianna feels about marriage. As for Justin and Arabella -"

He shook his head. "Devon, he's always regarded her as a veritable h.e.l.lion."

She raised her brows. "Precisely the term I would use to describe your brother."

"True, but -"

He broke off when his wife picked up her skirts and stepped around him.

Now he was the one who was scowling. "Where the devil are you going?" he called after

her.

She swiveled to face him, her expression one of the utmost innocence, which only made him all the more suspicious. "To see to the seating arrangements for dinner."

"But you did that days ago!"

She blew him a kiss. "I know," she said sweetly.

Arabella tried to nap after all, but she couldn't sleep. She was too restless. And it felt as if a hundred b.u.t.terflies had taken up residence in her belly. An hour before dinner, her maid came in to help her dress. By then, Arabella was almost finished. All that remained was to pin up her hair, lace up her stays, and do up the myriad b.u.t.tons on the back of her gown.

Standing before the mirror in the room she'd been given, Arabella gazed unsmilingly at her reflection. She looked well enough, she supposed. Her gown was made of airy peach gauze, a color that softened the bra.s.siness of her hair. The cut was simple and flowing, trimmed by a row of iridescent beading around the neckline and high-waisted bodice. She chose it on purpose, for it was one of her favorites. She needed comfort. She needed courage. She needed whatever she could muster to rally her defenses against the enemy.

Exiting her room, she glanced to the right, then the left, an expression of consternation on her features.

Across the hall a door opened. "Oh! h.e.l.lo, there," said a lilting, musical voice.

Arabella glanced up to see a stunning woman with rich chestnut hair standing across from her. "h.e.l.lo," she said. "You're Julianna, aren't you?"

"I am. And you are*Arabella, yes?"

Arabella nodded. Like the marchioness, Julianna was tiny; Arabella noted wryly that she barely reached her chin. Her eyes were as vivid as Justin's, but they were blue - and without his icy penetration.

"I thought so. I recognized you by -"

"Yes, I know. My hair. No one ever forgets me. Ah, that's what comes of being a redhead, I suppose."

"Actually, I was going to say I recall you from some years ago." Julianna's eyes sparkled. "A particular incident involving my brother Justin -"

"Oh, dear." Arabella couldn't withhold a smile. "I fear I'm quite infamous in your household."

"Yes, well, Justin can be a swaggering oaf at times. He stomped around for days, while Sebastian and I laughed for weeks!" Julianna tipped her head to the side. "Shall we join the others?"

"Yes, thank you." Arabella gratefully accepted the offer. If left to her own devices, she should have been quite hopelessly lost. They had turned to the left and now traversed a hallway that seemed to go on forever.

"My word," she said. "How big is this house?"

Julianna let out a laugh that sounded like bells tinkling in the wind. "One hundred and two rooms. It's a monstrosity, isn't it? I quite prefer my own tidy little house in London."

Arabella eyed her curiously. "Do you live alone?" The question emerged before she thought better of it, but Julianna didn't seem to mind her forwardness.

"Yes. Sebastian, Justin, and I all resided together until Sebastian married Devon. Indeed, it was time for Justin and I to go our own ways. I am, according to the gossips, a spinster." Her beautiful eyes darkened. "It's beyond me why, when a woman pa.s.ses the age of one-and-twenty, she is promptly put on the shelf. A man, on the other hand, is hailed as a gadabout and no one thinks the worse of him. That I have chosen not to marry is no one's business but my own. Why must I do what everyone expects? Why must you? Why must anyone?"

Arabella blinked. Julianna's vehemence was startling.

Julianna appeared to have noticed it as well. "Pray forgive me. I didn't mean to lecture."

"And I didn't think you were," Arabella a.s.sured her promptly. She smiled. "Frankly, it's refreshing to find a woman who isn't afraid to think for herself. I fear I've never been able to hold my tongue when I probably should, so I've acquired a reputation as the opinionated sort, and it's just so*" As usual, her hands began to flail about.

"So unfair," Julianna put in. "And so vexing!"

"Yes. Yes! As if our only goal in life is to marry and have babies*not that there's anything wrong with that - but I should like to make up my own mind without Society constantly looking over my shoulder and pa.s.sing judgment."

"Oh!" Julianna declared. "Blessed be, a woman after my own heart. But you must find the whole business of being regarded as The Unatt -"

Arabella threw up a hand. "I beg of you, do not say it!"

By the time they reached the drawing room, they were chatting as if they'd been friends for ages. A little of her unease departed, and for the first time since yesterday, she was cautiously optimistic that this house party wouldn't be such an ordeal after all, particularly when she saw that Georgiana and her parents were present. She beckoned to Georgiana, who hurried across the floor.

Georgiana's face lit up when she saw her. "Arabella! I'm so glad you came! I confess, I feared you would cry off-" She broke off as Arabella sent her a warning look. "But it appears I've forgotten my manners. Who is your friend, Arabella?" Georgiana smiled at Julianna.

Arabella made the introductions. "Georgiana Larwood, Lady Julianna Sterling."

Georgiana bobbed a curtsy. "Lady Julianna, I'm so very pleased to make your acquaintance," she said hastily.

But the look that had pa.s.sed between Georgiana and Arabella had not gone unnoticed by the sharp-eyed Julianna.

"I do hope your reluctance to attend doesn't stop you from enjoying the house party."

"It wasn't that I was reluctant," Arabella said lamely, "I simply forgot about the invitation until Aunt Grace reminded me yesterday morning."

A dimple appeared beside Julianna's lovely mouth.

"Good. For I should hate to think you were reluctant. Or that it had something to do with my brother Justin. His behavior can be atrocious, you know. I do hope he hasn't been rude to such lovely ladies as the two of you."

"Oh, he's been nothing but charming to me," Georgiana put in brightly.

Arabella could have cheerfully throttled her. She said nothing.

Julianna's gaze of mild inquiry had yet to leave Arabella. "Oh, dear," Julianna murmured ruefully. "Arabella, pray do not tell me he has been misbehaving again."

Oh, if she only knew*It was all Arabella could do to stop her hand from stealing to her lips, which tingled in remembrance of his kiss.

"Well," she stated without thinking, "he won't be doing it again, that much is for certain."

Julianna chuckled. "That's the spirit. Whatever it was he did, I do hope he wasn't too outrageous. You're not a hen-hearted miss, thank heaven. Indeed, I suspect, you're just the woman to set him in his place."

Just then Julianna was hailed by someone across the room. She raised a hand, then glanced back at Arabella and Georgiana. "The Dowager d.u.c.h.ess of Carrington is calling me. I'd best attend to her." Her smile encompa.s.sed them both. "Ladies, a pleasure meeting both of you. Welcome to Thurston Hall, and may your stay be an enjoyable one."

Julianna left, and Arabella and Georgiana looked at each other. "I like her," they announced in unison, then laughed.

"I wonder why she isn't married," Georgiana mused.

The very same thought had been running through Arabella's mind.

"We came downstairs together," Arabella murmured, "and she informed me quite openly that she's regarded as a spinster. She seems very much the independent sort, doesn't she? She told me she has her own house in London." She paused, then said, "I don't mean to sound unkind, but how old is she, do you think?"

"Twenty-five or -six, I should imagine. She's so lovely, it's a wonder that she's never married. I can't imagine she wouldn't have received a score of proposals her first Season."

Arabella bit her lip. "She stated quite distinctly that it was she who had chosen not to marry, and it was no one's business but her own."

There was an odd expression on Georgiana's features.

"What is it, Georgiana?"