"Walter!" Arabella gasped and would have darted behind the column once more if Georgiana hadn't reached out and caught her sleeve.

"No, Arabella! It's him, the handsomest man in all England! And he's coming this way!"

The handsomest man in all*Oh, for pity's sakes. At that precise moment there was a distinctly feminine squeal nearby, followed by a shrill of giggles.

Arabella locked her chin and deliberately looked the other way. Whoever he was, she was in no hurry to see him. It appeared as if every female around her was suddenly all a-twitter, their hearts all a-dither, but she was not a jiggle-brained idiot, to fawn over a mere man.

Georgiana poked her. "Arabella, look, he's with the Dowager d.u.c.h.ess of Carrington. She's giving him her hand to kiss."

"Georgiana, I'm in no need of a blow-by-blow account. If I wanted to look at him, I would."

"Oh, but he's quite splendid. I've never seen him so close before."

"Georgiana, really!" If she sounded cross, she couldn't help it. "I didn't think you were the sort to be taken in by such a man. No doubt he's the world's worst rogue."

Georgiana didn't argue. Instead she said in a strange voice, "Arabella, he's coming this way." She gasped. "I do believe*yes*yes! He's coming toward you."

Arabella pointedly turned her back. Just what she needed. Another vulture.

"Perhaps you're mistaken," she stated calmly. "Perhaps he's coming toward you."

There was no answer. Instead there was only silence, a silence that dragged on and on.

Arabella tapped her foot. "Where the devil is he now?"

Still no reply. An odd, heated feeling caught her in its midst. She could almost feel the hairs on the back of her neck sizzle in awareness.

"Georgiana?"

She turned impatiently*and it wasn't Georgiana she beheld, but the spotless knot of an intricately tied cravat. Her gaze strayed up - and up! - taking in a square masculine jaw, a long elegant nose and male lips that might have been sculpted by the hands of a master, all the way to clear, crystalline eyes the color of emeralds, set beneath a slash of dark, slanted brows.

And then the unthinkable happened. She, who usually managed a retort for everything, swallowed what she'd been about to say - and very nearly her tongue.

It was him.

Justin Sterling.

The Farthingale house was only a few blocks away from St. James's Street. After their arrival, Justin and Gideon stood on the fringes of the ballroom.

"Quite the crush, isn't it?" Beside him, Gideon raised his quizzing gla.s.s. "Lady Farthingale will be crowing tomorrow. I heard she invited half the city."

"And it appears few of them declined." Many of the guests stood elbow-to-elbow, shoulder-to-shoulder.

Hundreds of jewels glittered and winked in the candlelight. With a single, practiced stroke of the eye, Justin's gaze encompa.s.sed the room full of partygoers, the sea of shimmering ball gowns and elegant coiffures*until at last it settled across the room.

"I see you've found her."

Justin responded with a lift of his brow. "I daresay you were right. She's impossible to overlook."

"Yes, she is that, isn't she? And I see she's garnered her usual audience." Gideon snared two gla.s.ses of champagne from a white-gloved servant, handing one to him. "Silly young pups! Fools, all," intoned Gideon, "that they fancy themselves in love."

Love. For the swell of a heartbeat, an odd emotion churned in Justin's gut. It wasn't that he was incapable of that tender emotion. But he knew no woman could ever love him.

"So what was it if not love that sent you sniffing about the lady's skirts?" he inquired.

Gideon's half-smile left him in no doubt.

Justin's regard returned to the woman across the room. He'd noticed her right off, and it wasn't just the brightness of her hair that set her apart from every woman here tonight. Gideon was right, he surprised himself by admitting. The Unattainable was exceptionally tall for a woman, yet she didn't shirk from it or try to hide it. A twinge of reluctant admiration cut through him. She carried herself like one who was proud of it - and G.o.d knew, she carried it well.

She was gowned in ice-blue satin, a shade that should have clashed hideously with her hair, yet didn't. The empire waist fell in soft, delicate folds to the toes of her slippers. It made no secret of the fact that her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were delectably full and high on her chest. G.o.d knew he was a man who was an ardent admirer of bountiful, curvaceous b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Her shoulders were slim but broad for a woman, which somehow made the column of her neck, long and slender, appear all the more feminine, particularly when she tilted her head as she did just now. A froth of curls spilled over her shoulder, onto the generous expanse of her bosom.

Desire stirred, a dark stab in his middle. Her legs would be fashioned like the rest of her, he decided, long and slim and lithe, strong enough to wrap around his hips as he drove inside her. Granted, it was just as he'd told Gideon. He wasn't partial to redheads. And he'd always avoided virgins like the plague. But this one*

He had to stop himself from taking an involuntary step forward. He only caught himself just in time! For the first time tonight, he experienced the ripeness of antic.i.p.ation. He'd yet to gain a glimpse of her face, just a hint of her profile, which held a great deal of promise, her figure a great deal of allure. No, he wasn't worried. His taste in women, as in everything, was fastidious. He wouldn't bed a toad and Gideon knew it. Ah, yes, he reflected in mute satisfaction, to win this wager would be no hardship at all.

Gideon had noted his appreciation. "Stunning, isn't she?"

There was no need to answer. "Well," Justin murmured almost lazily, "I suppose it's time I sent the pups scattering." Suddenly he laughed.

"Bed.a.m.ned!" he said. "No need to bother after all. She's ducked behind the column near the dining room. And now another young woman has joined her -"

"Yes, that's Georgiana Larwood, I believe."

"No wonder she's known as The Unattainable. It appears she's determined to evade them. Or perhaps someone in particular."

"Probably you," injected Gideon with a smirk.

"Highly improbable," Justin said smoothly. "Now, wish me luck, old man." He drained his champagne and placed it on the tray of a pa.s.sing footman. "Oh, and don't bother calling for details early in the morn. I fear the night may be a long one."

Gideon hastened to help himself to another gla.s.s of champagne. "Ah, the master at work! Perhaps I should take notes."

"Oh, I'm certain you'll find another diversion."

Justin ambled across the ballroom, his path taking him ever closer to The Unattainable. He paused to chat with several acquaintances, among them the Dowager d.u.c.h.ess of Carrington.

The d.u.c.h.ess peered up at him, her eyes a vivid hue despite her age.

"Justin!" she exclaimed, offering her hand. "How delightful to see you again."

Justin kissed her fingertips. "I a.s.sure you, Your Grace, the pleasure is wholly mine."

The elderly woman let out a resounding chuckle. "You know there was a time when I was convinced you were quite an irascible rake."

Justin feigned astonishment. "What! Do you mean to say I am not?"

Her shoulders shook with laughter. "Never mind your wretched reputation. I know better, boy.

Indeed, I've become quite fond of you the last few years."

"A feeling I return in full sentiment, Your Grace." Justin spoke with genuine affection.

"Save your charms for the younger ladies, m'boy. Which reminds me, I was just telling

Sebastian and Devon very recently that I do believe it's time you set your mind to taking a wife.

So if need be, keep in mind I shall be happy to lend my matchmaking efforts."

Justin laughed softly. "You do love to play matchmaker, don't you?"

The d.u.c.h.ess settled both hands on her cane. "I do," she declared, her eyes sparkling like a girl's. "I once told your brother it was high time he married, and look at the outcome!"

Justin thought of Sebastian, blissfully enamored of his wife and family. While the hand of fate was squarely behind the fact that Devon landed in Sebastian's arms and life, the d.u.c.h.ess had indeed played a part in steering the pair together when it appeared Sebastian might lose his ladylove.

"So," the d.u.c.h.ess finished with a vigorous wave of her cane, "should my services

become necessary, you have only to say the word."

Justin chuckled. The d.u.c.h.ess spoke not with her hands, but with her cane. Many a word was punctuated with a stab of that infamous instrument, and G.o.d help anyone who chanced to get in the way when she wished to make a point. "I a.s.sure you, Your Grace, should it come to that, you shall be the first I shall call upon."

She beamed. "Excellent!"

He bade the d.u.c.h.ess farewell, bowing low. When he straightened, he caught Gideon's eye.

Gideon raised his champagne in silent salute.

Justin smiled to himself. The chit's back was to him now, but she was still there. He'd yet

to see her face, and he was suddenly impatient.

Three steps closed the distance between them. He acknowledged her companion with a faint nod, but his attention was solely for her*

She turned then, this chit known as The Unattainable.

Even as a part of him acknowledged that she was a feast extraordinaire for the eyes and senses, he was

p.r.i.c.ked by a horrifying certainty.

A hundred thoughts, a hundred curses skittered through his mind in that instant. Oh, Christ, but he shouldhave listened to his instincts*he should have known. Perhaps he had.Justin did not thank Gideon in that moment. He did not thank Providence. For in his wildest dreams, he'd never imagined it could possibly be true.

But it was. Sweet Christ, it was.

The woman before him was none other than the bane of his youth. The wretched little brat who'd

made such a nuisance of herself in her younger days*

Three.

"Miss Arabella Templeton," he drawled as he recovered his powers of speech, a recovery he considered miraculously swift, thank G.o.d.

In truth, he was still reeling. But by G.o.d, he wouldn't show it. Not to her.

He glanced at her companion. "It's Miss Larwood," he murmured, "is it not?"

Georgiana blushed and swept a curtsy. "It is," she said breathlessly.

"Miss Larwood, it is indeed my very great pleasure to introduce myself. I am Justin Sterling. But you would indulge me greatly if you would allow me a word with my old friend Miss Templeton."

Georgiana's mouth opened and closed.

"What! Miss Templeton neglected to tell you of our acquaintance?" He shook his head.