Pushing it open, he was surprised to find the room empty.

"Kate?"

No answer.

A wave of unease passed through him. He shouldn't have left her here. No matter the outcome of the day's events, leaving her here had been a bad decision.

His eyes focused on the shattered table lamp near the bed, the pieces of glass strewn about the hardwood floor and nestled into the rich Oriental rug.

He turned abruptly and strode back into the sitting room, forcing himself not to panic and run. Kate's bag was on the floor behind a chair, her pelisse lying on top. He stared at them for a moment, then swiftly picked them up and marched toward his father's study.

His father's back was turned, his arms clasped behind him as he gazed out the window. His father was so sure of his success. Bitterness washed through Christian, but he swallowed it. He had to think about Kate.

"What have you done with Kate?"

"Back again and still without manners. What makes you think I touched a hair on the strumpet's head?" his father said, turning.

"I'm warning you."

"With what? You have nothing with which to warn me. You never learn, Christian. I hold all the cards. I always will. You haven't the talent to best me."

"What did you do with Kate?" he asked as calmly as he could manage.

The marquess waved a hand. "Not that it matters now, but I've sent her to her brother in London. Family needs to tend its own. Something you never learned."

"No, I believe that was something you never learned, Father."

The marquess's lips tightened. "You continue to disappoint me, Christian. Nevertheless, the girl is gone. Long gone by now. Took the money I gave her and ran like the trollop she is."

Christian took a deep breath. "No she didn't. I know Kate."

"You've known the girl for what, a few days? A silly infatuation, a dalliance. I could expect no more from you. Nevertheless, you will marry the Palmer chit and forget the damaged one chasing you like a lost dog. Unless you want your friend to suffer."

A strange calm settled over Christian.

He and Anthony had talked for a long time. Although the conversation had been tense at first, so many of the things they should have said long ago had finally been spoken. How Christian had hidden his painful childhood behind a careless facade and how Anthony had encouraged it.

They had both done their fair share of stupid things. Yet they were both finally growing up and taking the responsibility.

Their friendship was stronger than ever. It was real, not the illusion he had always feared. There was nothing his father could do about it. And Kate. His feelings for her were definitely genuine. And he might have been unable to trust in someone's feelings for him a week ago, but so much had changed in the last few days. He was willing to believe Kate's feelings for him were true as well.

He just needed to find the words to tell her what was truly in his heart.

"I'm going to marry Kate, Lord Penderdale. And there is nothing you can do to stop me. This is one ace you no longer hold."

The marquess's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Don't try me, Christian. There are worse fates I can bestow on you."

Christian cocked his head. "No, I don't think there are."

"I'll cut you off without a farthing. You'll get nothing that is not entailed, and I'll make sure those properties are so in debt that you'll never have a moment's peace."

Christian gripped Kate's pelisse. He gazed at his father, the man who had been the bane of his existence for far too long. His father had regained his usual look of calm superiority, but there was a tightening around his eyes. Kate did that too when she was trying to act composed. Surprise rushed through him and sudden understanding.

His hands relaxed their grip. "No you won't."

His father raised a brow, but something in his posture stiffened. Christian fought the shock. After all these years. The signs had probably been there all along, but he had been too young, impatient, or angry to read them.

"I will, boy, don't think I won't."

Christian slowly shook his head and straightened to his full height, two inches above his father's. "No you won't. You are too proud. You wouldn't be able to stand the scorn."

"You don't know what I can stand."

But he wouldn't, and they both knew it. Christian saw the dawning horror in his father's eyes, horror that he tried to conceal.

"You are worthless."

Christian smiled. "And you repeat yourself far too often. I'm going to marry Kate, and there is nothing you can do to prevent it, Lord Penderdale. You can ruin us socially, you can ruin the estates financially, and you can withhold anything unentailed. I don't care. I never have cared about any of those things. I had only thought them the ways to the family heart. But I have long since given up on receiving any good word from you. I will make my own family and never look back."

"You can't do this, Christian." There was a slight hint of desperation in his father's voice. There had been a time when Christian would have given almost anything to hear it. Now he just wanted to leave and find Kate.

"I can, and moreover I will. That's the thing about making someone into a person who doesn't care. It comes back to bite you in the end."

"I'll ruin your friend."

Christian nodded. "Yes, and Anthony is prepared for that. I spoke to him about it."

"Your friends will abandon you."

Christian smiled a real smile in his father's presence for the first time in years, decades even. "But they won't, Lord Penderdale. So I'm afraid you'll have to take these matters up with Anthony, pardon me, that's Lord Darton to you."

"How I hatched such a good-for-nothing spawn, I'll never know."

"I suppose it was the usual way. I'm sure Mother was bored the entire time."

"How dare you mention your mother. I will make you pay."

Christian cocked his head. He felt the first flare of true freedom. "I find I don't much care, Lord Penderdale. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a lady to find. Good day."

He walked from the room at a leisurely pace, a last flip of the finger to his father, and one that belied his anxiety to find Kate.

He was halfway to his room to gather his overnight pack when he saw Sally. Her eyes widened and she waved him over. "Your Lordship. Oh, goodness, thank the Maker. Come quickly. We were just on our way out."

"Where are you going, Sally? And do you know where Kate is?" There was a desperate edge to his voice. He decided that he didn't much care if Sally heard it as long as she answered in the positive.

"She's with us. She got into a spot of trouble with the marquess's men, but Tom found them in time, thank goodness."

Relief rushed through him, so potent it made him stagger. "Kate is still here?"

"In the stables, Your Lordship."

He closed his eyes, then pushed forward, bags forgotten, and strode to the stables, Sally in tow.

Kate, beautiful, slightly bedraggled Kate, stood arguing with Tom. She was wearing a godawful servant's dress that didn't fit, but that fact was completely unimportant next to the fact that she was here.

"Christian!"

She ran to him and buried her head in his neck. He clutched her the same way and inhaled the raspberry scent that seemed to surround her.

"I was worried you were halfway to London and I'd never find you," he murmured into her hair.

She raised a trembling hand to his cheek. "You'd have found me, I'm sure of it."

He smiled, feeling a little trembling in his joints as well. "Hopefully I will always find you, Kate."

She smiled back, love shining from her eyes. He shut his eyes and inhaled deeply, raspberries filtering through his soul. He hadn't been wrong. She really did love him.

"Marry me, Kate?" he blurted, passionate declarations momentarily forgotten.

She blinked. "What?"

"Marry me. It doesn't have to be today, or tomorrow or even in six months. Whenever we're ready. Just say you'll marry me."

She searched his eyes. "Christian?"

"You'll have to live with me for as long as it takes, of course."

She tentatively nodded, and then a smile of pure joy lit her face. "Of course. Of course I will."

"Good." He hugged her to him. "Now let's get out of here. Anthony said we were more than welcome to stay with him until we can get you to your solicitor. Your brother doesn't stand a chance. Even if he did, I have plenty of money. And while we are at Anthony's we can figure out what to do about his journal too."

She smoothed a hand down his back. "Oh, about the journal-"

He smiled into her hair. "Don't worry. We'll work it all out."

A muffled roar of fury resounded across the yard.

They drew apart to look toward the house. "I wonder what's wrong with the old goat now? What's he trying to do? Shake the foundations?"

Kate smiled, a slow, mischievous smile that could have come right from his face. "Sounds like he misplaced something. Shall we be off?"

Christian's heart quickened. Whether from the smile on Kate's face and the way she pressed against him or from her words, he wasn't sure. "What do you mean, misplaced something? What did you do?"

She leaned up and nibbled his ear. "Oh, nothing. But I'll let you investigate and question me later. Maybe even search me if you're good."

She kissed the side of his neck. "But let's be gone from this place first."

"I couldn't agree more." He helped her into his carriage, which was hooked to the horses and ready to go-since Tom had already thoughtfully decided to steal it.

As they proceeded down the drive, the golden rays of the setting winter sun highlighted Kate's features, and he felt a fierce rush of freedom and love.

He thought he might just start that search now. He had been a good boy, after all.

Epilogue.

But most of all...just be happy. That is what I want for you above all else.

George Simon to Kate, age eighteen Kate leaned back against Christian as they watched Tom hoist the sign for Canley Investigations. Christian's dream was soon to be a reality. Inside, Sally and Benji were straightening the storefront for tomorrow's grand opening.

Shortly after they were married, Christian had announced to the ton that he was opening a personal investigations service. Tongues wagged for a few weeks, but society decided to embrace the idea in their own way, tutting about the eccentricity of the handsome earl, his lovely wife, and their "club."

Kate hadn't thought she would like the higher ton circles at all, but was pleasantly surprised to find aspects she actually enjoyed. Watching her brother Teddy scurry out of their path whenever they met at a function also proved amusing. Christian had dealt quite effectively with the rat. Christian and Anthony held enough influence to pave a smooth path for her, and while things continued to be rocky in regard to her father-in-law, ever since Christian's proclamation, they had discovered a way to at least be civil.

And Kate had observed more than a few measured looks of respect on the marquess's face when Christian wasn't looking. She figured that as long as the man never hurt her husband again, she would let him live.

Christian stroked her round stomach and she leaned farther into him. The marquess was hoping to have some influence over their children. She and Christian privately joked about their cold dead bodies rotting in the ground before allowing anything of the sort.

Lucky for them their marriage was about as far from cold as it was possible to get. Christian was a passionate and attentive friend and lover, and she liked to think that she gave as good as she got.

They had their fair share of disagreements; with two such strong-willed people, that was bound to happen. But none of the arguments lasted long, and Kate cherished every one of them (after the fact, of course). Each day, each moment, uncovered new layers for both of them, and made their bond stronger.

The past year had been full of warmth, love, and laughter. Kate couldn't be happier.

She looked up at her husband, and he smiled down.

"Did you know that you are every woman's dream earl?"

He gave her a light squeeze and brushed his lips against the fading scars on her ear.

"As long as I'm the earl of your dreams."

Acknowledgments.

To Matt, for the wonderful maps and the endless support.

Special thanks to Mom, May, and Paige.