"Let us hope he is correct." Her tinkling laugh followed her from the room.

I never know how to take her words, thought Joanne. She is ever joyful and yet a sense of subdued sorrow seems to hover behind all the gaiety. Did the comtesse long for someone, for Kenton? The name

came unbidden. In a spurt of anger Joanne threw open her closet doors and grabbed a wild-rose-colored gown-the most daring decollete of those she had gotten. She held it against her now slender form and looked into her mirror. "If only I could leave my hair unpowdered," she said, thinking how her dark hair would be highlighted by the satin's glow.

Suddenly she saw as plainly as if he were truly there Kenton smiling over her shoulder. She could tell the touch of his hands up on her shoulders. Then his features faded. "You must stop thinking of him," she scolded-. Laying the dress across the settee in her room, Joanne sat before the mirror and began applying light makeup as the comtesse had instructed.

How did I ever imagine I loved him as a father, she thought as she rubbed the lightest tinge of red across her lips. Her blood surged as she imagined Kenton, so tall, so handsome, and so quietly strong. She thought of his pa.s.sionate gaze that day he had stood outside her bedroom door and now she cursed her failure to recognize its meaning. Joanne shook herself.

It will not do, she told herself. He did not love me or he would never have allowed me to leave. * * * *

Lord Humbolt bowed over Joanne's hand. "May I fetch you something to drink?" he asked. Even early in the season the heat of the mult.i.tude of candles lighting the Mortons' ballroom and the crush of the crowd were taking their toll.

"Champagne, please," Joanne responded. Thinking of Kenton had made her reckless.

The comtesse hovered nearby. She had curtailed her own flirting to keep watch over her suddenly coquettish niece. Was it only five days ago that she had introduced Joanne to society? A tallish man sidled up to Joanne.

I know him, oui, the comtesse thought. He is Lord Wiltham. Mas no, there is something about him that displeases the sensibilities. She was certain Humbolt had just gone to fetch Joanne something to drink and here Wiltham was giving her niece champagne. He was not to be trusted-no gentleman this one. Her friends might know something of the man.

"My lady."

Turning, the comtesse encountered Furness' wicked smile.

"I see your charge is doing well. She could choose worse."

"You know Lord Wiltham, my lord?" she questioned.

"Vaguely."

"That, at least, is to Wiltham's credit," the comtesse said. "I wonder that the entertainment here is not too domestique for your taste, my lord."

"Would you have me take my duty as a father lightly?" he asked, only his eyes betrayed his true feelings. "I must see how my daughter progresses. I would not like to be embarra.s.sed by any untoward behaviour on her part."

"You would be wise to tread lightly," Furness answered. His smile matched hers. He bowed and sauntered away.

Furiously tapping her foot, the comtesse contemplated Furness' back, then swung her eyes to where Joanne and Wiltham stood. Her niece laughed at something he said, then boldly handed the returned Humbolt her gla.s.s and went with Wiltham to join the dance.

"You are most beautiful," a voice she knew said behind the comtesse.

Her spirit soared. She beamed a relieved smile. "Lord Jason." She turned and heartily embraced the startled man.

The name came to Joanne's ears across the room. She saw the happiness upon the comtesse's face and noted with everyone else the warmth of the greeting.

"Ah, Dr. Ames," the comtesse greeted the doctor standing behind Kenton. "I am happy to see you also."

"And I you," he returned.

"Is all well?" Kenton asked urgently, keeping hold of her hand.

"Of course, my lord. But why would it not be?" She followed Kenton's eyes to where Joanne stood,

now flirting outrageously with Wiltham. "You see she has adapted to London's ways."

"Who chose that gown?" Kenton demanded. He heard not a word the comtesse said. "It is indecent."

"Indecent, my lord?" she teased. "Indeed, I can a.s.sure you the gentlemen have been most generous with

compliments."

The muscles along Kenton's jaw line flexed visibly and the comtesse was hard pressed to restrain

herself. "But this is a surprise. Do you come on business? Will you be able to stay long?" she asked, turning to a less tempting subject.

"I decided a time away from his duties would benefit Dr. Ames and I have some business matters to

attend. A leisurely journey is always relaxing," Kenton said casually.

Ames choked on the champagne he had begun to drink.

"Are you all right?" The comtesse fluttered to his side.

"Yes, my lady," Ames coughed out. He looked at Kenton, but the other was again watching Joanne.

Leisurely journey indeed! thought Ames. Even a broken axle had added only one day to it. Why, they had arrived only hours ago. The bed at their rental lodgings had been most inviting, but Kenton had demanded that they dress and off they hadgone to the comtesse's, then on to here when they had learned her direction for the evening. "Is it as we believed?" the comtesse whispered to Ames.'

The doctor nodded, a wide smile erasing the tired lines from his face.

"Then let us drink," she said, taking the physician's gla.s.s and replacing it with another from a pa.s.sing footman's tray. "To the future."

Both drank, but Ames was at a loss. Lady Joanne appeared most content with her escort and Kenton's masked features gave little hope.

Chapter Nineteen.

"What do you mean your mistress is not at home?" snapped Kenton.

"Easy, man," prodded Ames. Their eyes locked and slowly the glare eased.

"Can you tell me where they have gone?"

"No, monsieur."

"Which direction did their carriage take?" Kenton asked, desperate for any hint.

The small butler shrugged, eased the door shut. These English, he thought. This one does not give up

easily-morning calls, messages left, and now returning in the evening. But it was not his place to question the comtesse's orders.

"Let us return to our rooms," Ames urged.

"No, we shall go to each a.s.sembly to which we have a card. They must be at one of them."

"But they could just as easily have gone to Hay Market, Drury Lane, or even to Raneleagh or Vauxhall,"

Ames told him tiredly. "What is the use? We have come too oft as it is. You left word that we would call this eve. The comtesse would see us if she wished to. May is already here. June could come before we tracked them down."

"Come, Benjamin, it is not that bad. Have you not enjoyed seeing so much of London since we arrived?"

"See it is all I have been able to do. I would like to enjoy it also," Ames responded, his temper irked to the limit.

"I dare say we have dashed about a bit," Lord Jason admitted.

"Oh you do, my lord? There are other words I would choose but, as my station in life warrants it, I bow

to yours. Now I am going back to our rooms. Will you come?"

"No, I believe I will take in Raneleagh, but do not let that forestall you,"

At a loss to understand Kenton, Ames shrugged and signalled a sedan chair. The man has changed from a sane, rational being to a dashed idiot, he thought. So much for the power of love.

"My terms have not altered."

"But my lord, I could woo and wed her willingly-"

"You fail to understand, Wiltham." The hard eyes bore through him. "The key to our agreement is that your bride will be kept at Wornstone. I care not if she lives or dies there but I wish neither to see nor hear of her presence elsewhere."

"It cannot be done, my lord. Times have changed. Lady Joanne is comely-why this aversion?"

"You are forgetful, are you not?" The fiery tone silenced Wiltham. "Will you sacrifice your home, your livelihood, your honour for a pretty wench?"

Wiltham whitened under the threat. "My lord, she is your daughter, I-"

"Your kind snivels about la'mour," sneered Furness, "but care not how it is maintained. Listen well-gainsay you are with me in this." No words came from the whipped figure.

"As I thought. Then we proceed. You have done well as far as it goes. Many have noted you with my

daughter and her liking of your company. This Friday next there is to be a masque at Raneleagh. See to it

that Joanne attends. Her current rebellious mood should make it easier for you.

"Once at Raneleagh you shall take her into the gardens. Men will be waiting for you at a fixed point-the rest should be perfectly clear," he paused and the other nodded.

"A coach and four will await to bring you here. I have found an elderly cleric that will do my bidding in the matter. Once wed, you will be off to Wornstone. What you do from there is for you to decide." The voice hardened.

"Break our agreement, however, and you forfeit all present and future sums. Be true to the bargain,