Joanne shook her head. The danger of losing him was too great. Life without him would be too empty. Suddenly a gleam, a small glimpse of understanding at what her father had felt on losing her mother pierced her. His sorrow had twisted him, had cost them both dearly. Now sorrow added to her fear of losing Jason. She surrendered to the tears that could no longer be held back.

The utter desolation of her niece wrenched the comtesse's heart. She put her arms about Joanne's shoulders and held her tightly till the sobs eased.

"How did Wiltham take you from Raneleagh?" she asked, trying to distract Joanne as she struggled to regain her composure.

"I told him I must find you. He had said something about Jason that upset me and insisted I go to Sarah. He said that she was just on the steps outside the Rotunda. I was so perturbed that before I realized it we were on the garden paths with Sarah nowhere to be seen.

"He had four men waiting," Joanne continued disgustedly. "After they bound my hands and gagged me, they took me to my father." Her face contorted as she strove not to let the tears break loose once again. "If only it were I that could die-to bring so much harm to the only two who have ever shown me kindness is unbearable."

"What is this to talk of ruin?"

"My father said he would-he would tell horrible tales a-about my stay at Kentoncombe-and about you also."

"Is that all," the comtesse laughed with relief. "After this night he will not dare anything."

"Are those papers so condemning?"

"Enough for the purpose. Do not worry," the comtesse paused, studying Joanne. "I ask you to speak openly now. What occurred between you and Lord Jason this eve?"

A blush swept across Joanne's face; then confusion caused it to fade. "I am-uncertain. Uncertain of its meaning," she said with eyes downcast.

"Tell me and then we shall see what meaning there can be."

"We were walking and I commented on something, I don't even recall what, but Jason said I was-lovely." She savoured the recollection. "It was as if suddenly we were all alone, that no one existed but us." "Ah, oui, I remember that feeling." The comtesse sighed.

"Jason looked at me so and then we-kissed." The sweet sensation, the thrill of his lips over hers, flashed through Joanne.

"And?" prompted her aunt.

"And then someone laughed and Jason said it would not do to be found alone. He hurried me back to the Rotunda," Joanne grimaced. "Lord Wiltham claimed me for a dance the moment we entered. I had no chance to speak with Jason."

"But you thought the kiss was a promise?"

"Well, yes. But then Lord Wiltham told me how Jason's reputation for chasing light skirts was well known-and-I saw him kissing a-a wanton woman." Her last words were barely audible.

"You saw Jason Kenton actually kissing a courtesan?" the comtesse asked in disbelief.

"I did not see his face, but his was the only rust coloured coat I saw all eve. Wiltham said he did see his face and it was Jason."

"Did you ask how he knew for a certainty who it was with everyone being masked?

"Don't fret about it," she hurried on. "He was clever for the moment and circ.u.mstances aided him. It matters not."

"But it does-for just as I believed that it was he, Jason believes-oh, I don't know what. But he does not love me. How could he and tell me to wed Humbolt?" She looked completely confused and dismayed.

"Goose feathers!" The comtesse laughed at Joanne's expression. "Oh, your face says more than many words I could have chosen," she noted and was rewarded with a wan smile.

"Men are never more muddle-headed than when they fear for someone they love. Lord Jason had had a frightful start over you.

"When this is past and he has had time to think the matter through clearly he will see his error, you shall see." She glanced toward the windows. "Dawn will come soon. Let us pray G.o.d will be good to the just."

Yes, thought Joanne, be just. Jason's features played before her eyes. He taught me so much, she marvelled. So much I never realized.

Far away in the sky a shooting star flared, lighting the windowpane, and then died. Jason is like thatstar, Joanne thought. He lit my life; brought me from darkness.

An inner calm came over her. "I will not betray your teaching, my love," she whispered, her hand reaching out to touch the pane where the star had shone. "G.o.d forbid you be lost to me, but if you are, you have taught me how to go on. You will be with me always."

The coach's team nickered and stamped restlessly in the clamp morning air of Hyde Park. Inside, a single candle burned low. Kenton reached inside his coat and drew out a sealed letter, which he handed to Ames. "Take this to the comtesse no matter what the results of this be." He tiredly waved aside Ames's objection.

"It merely tells her how to use the doc.u.ments we gave her. When Joanne is wed, they must be signed and secured from Furness."

"Did you ever think that Joanne might not wish to marry Humbolt?" Ames retorted, sadness leavening his anger. "Will you have no words for her?"

"She is lucky anyone will wed her," came the curt reply, caused by doubts and the strain of events upon him.

"I certainly was wrong then-about you both," Ames spoke freely at last. "Fool that I am, I thought you loved her, but you have judged her without a word on her part."

"Be done-they come."

The jingle of harness and dull thuds of hooves affirmed Kenton's words. Ames followed him from the coach bearing a box of matched duelling pistols.

Furness eyed Kenton speculatively. A sense of shame came over him at the other's unwavering gaze but he pushed it aside. "I have killed many men," he began.

"That matters not to me," clipped Lord Jason. "I d.a.m.n you for trying to destroy your daughter."

"My daughter." The curse had lost its flavour. All night he had battled dreams of his wife, Joanna, poised shielding Joanne. As sobriety returned he began to see that his hatred had been a self-pitying, all-consuming pa.s.sion to punish his daughter for the loss of his wife.

He reeled under the condemning recollection. Staggered, he pushed his thoughts aside and pulled the bottle of port nearer to comfort him as it had always done in the past. Too many years-too much twisted pride-was involved for him to turn too quickly in his ways. Drinking deeply, repeatedly, he drowned his guilt and bolstered his rationalizations.

"Do you really think she is worth dying for?" he asked Kenton.

"Would you have believed your wife was?" Kenton answered and turned to Ames, who helped him remove his coat.

Wiltham a.s.sisted Furness. There was to be no turning back. The duelling pistol cases were opened for each to make their choice. The selection made, Kenton and Furness stood back to back.

"I shall count fourteen paces," Wiltham said shakily. His voice quavered and he began, "One ... two"

Fourteen was called; the two men turned and faced each other. A shot rang into the quiet morning; a second sounded on the first's echo. One figure fell to the gra.s.s.

"You are not hit?" Ames exclaimed running up to Kenton. "I felt it pa.s.s," he answered coldly. "See to Furness," Kenton ordered, taking his coat. He returned to the coach and put the duelling pistol in its case. He snapped it shut angrily.

What had been achieved? Pulling on his coat, Lord Jason walked to where Ames was kneeling over

Furness. "Is it serious?"

"The ball pa.s.sed through his body, I believe. If it missed his lungs or any other vital organ, he may live,"

Ames answered as he worked to stem the flow of blood.

Furness opened his eyes. "d.a.m.n you," he cursed. "It misfired."

"I did not wish for your life," Kenton told him. "This ends it."

"I have had my revenge," Furness gasped. He attempted to laugh but it came out a groan. "You are

wedding her to Humbolt but it is you she-loves."

"She would have loved you," Kenton told him. "You could have had so much more. Was it worth it?"

He eyed the man pityingly.

"What need did I have for love with my Joanna dead?" Furness rasped, his breath laboured.

"When did you ever have more need of it? Think on it. You loved the mother-the daughter is equally

deserving.

"See that he lives," Kenton told Ames and turned away.

"I will come to the comtesse's when I have finished," he called after Kenton.

"Give her the letter then."

"But surely you go there now? They will be expecting it."

Kenton shook his head. "I don't know where I shall go. Away. Away from London, but not to

Kentoncombe." He strode away before Ames could speak. The fool, Ames said to as he watched the coach wheel away. He turned back to Furness. "Take heedof his words, my lord. You owe him your life this day."

Chapter Twenty-four.

Low, pearl-gray clouds blanketed the sun. The comtesse and Joanne had marked minutes, then hours, before surrendering to sleep.

The little French butler (lid not know what to do when he ushered a bleary-eyed Dr. Ames into the morning room. They found the comtesse seated at the table, her head resting on her hands as she slept. Joanne was curled asleep in two chairs she had pulled together.

"I will wake them," Ames told him. "You may go. All is well." table. Gently he laid his hand upon the comtesse's shoulder.

At the touch she sat upright. The question came to her eves as soon as she realized it was Ames.

"Lord Jason is unharmed," he hastened to a.s.sure her in a whisper.

"And Lord Furness?"

"He is quite weak and will be convalescing for some time but I believe him to be past danger. I would have come sooner but for tending him."

"What time is it?"

"About ten, I believe." He fumbled in his coat pocket. "Jason said to give this to you."

The comtesse slowly reached for it. "He is not coming?"