"You're a scandal already. You left your husband, you write trash for a living-"

"It isn't trash. And that's a secret. All everyone knows is that I live on the kindness of others, in a house provided by a sympathetic cousin. I make my pin money from friends who buy my china painting. That's the life I live, and the world will put up with it as long as they don't know any other."

"Iknow it," he said quietly. "Yes. You do know. And I know yours."

He smiled. "Do you think that's why we get along so well?"

"You love your secrets. I merely require mine. It is why I trust you, though."

"You can trust me with anything."

"Can I trust you to be careful? You love danger, you love the sense that you could be caught at any time." In answer, he kissed her hand, bowing low. She touched his hair. "You are my only luxury, Lucius.

So far, the cost hasn't been too high. Which is why there will be no challenge. Not from you."

He straightened. "I am a noble of the House of Perry. I have the right to call challenge where honor has been offended."

"Stop playing," she said irritably. "If you won't respect my secrets, have a thought to yours. Challenge him, and they will surely come out. You would hate it, you know you would. But if self-sacrifice is your current dangerous passion, spare a thought for how I'd feel watching them spend my dowry on their petty persecution of us both."

"At least you'd get your dowry back in the end."

"You think so? You've never hired lawyers, have you? And how would the rest of the noble House of Perry feel? Your family would cast you off, Lucius, they'd have to. Even if you're enjoying the image of yourself as my noble champion, this is one role I won't let you try out."

"It doesn't matter," he said softly. "It's not as if I can't support us both."

"Oh, lovely," she said, choking back angry tears. "You'll pay for our room and board by selling your body in Riverside. I'd like that. And when you can't work, I'll support you painting flowers on china and writing drama for whatever theatre will take it as long as they can pretend they don't know who it came from...."

"Intolerable," he growled, "the lot of them. I'll start with him, and then I'll pick them off, one by one, see if I don't."

"You might kill my husband with some justice," she said gently, "for his offenses against me. You cannot kill them all, my Lucius. And you would have to kill them all, to make the world a safe place for the likes of us."

"Hetalks like that, sometimes," Lucius Perry said thoughtfully. "When he talks to me at all."

"No."She seized his wrist in her strong fingers. "Stop thinking what you're thinking. I'm not having it."

"He likes me. He says I'm not a hypocrite. I think he'd like you."

"Lucius, no."

"What's the point of having the Duke Tremontaine as a patron, if he can't do me any real good when I need him?" "You haven't thought it through," she said, but she didn't sound annoyed. Amused, maybe, and a little sad. "He's not your patron, and he doesn't mean you any good. He has you for the same reason I do; because you're such a lovely secret."

"I'm serious," Lucius Perry said. "I would take on the world for you."

"I believe you." She kissed him. "And I'm not going to let you."

MARCUS SNEEZED.

"Let's go home," I said. "I have to practice."

chapterII.

ACHALLENGE HAS BEEN ISSUED."ROBERTFITZ-LEVIflicked at the paper with a well-manicured hand. "My dear sister, what does this mean?"

Artemisia glared at her brother across her room, not even rising from the chair she was sunk in, her tangled embroidery on her lap. "It means, my dear brother, that you have been reading my private correspondence without asking."

"Mother read it. She asked me to come and speak with you."

Artemisia sat up straight, her arms on the chair. "What have you to say, then, Robert?"

Robert drew a deep breath, went to the window, and then let it out and turned to her. "Do you know what I really want to say? I want to say that I wish you'd grow up and stop behaving like the queen in some tragedy. You made a stupid error, and now you refuse to admit it and face the consequences.

Listen, Artie, do you have any idea how lucky you are?"

"Lucky?Lucky to be forced against my will?"

"By your intended, just a few weeks before your wedding night. What's the difference?"

She said, "You make me sick. I thought you'd understand, but you're ontheir side now."

He shouted, "I'm onyour side, but you're just too stupid to see it!" "If you really cared for me, you'd fight for me! You'd be out there defending my honor, instead of sucking up to Father so he'll raise your allowance so you and your stupid friends can hire swordsmen to fight over women you-you aren't even related to."

"If you weren't such a romantic bubble-headed idiot, you'd know that your honor isn't compromised unless this gets out."

"Robert," she said. "My honor was compromised the moment that monster laid a hand on me. If you don't see that, there's others who do."

"Enough!" he said, brandishing the letter heavy with blobs of sealing wax. "Who is thisTyrian ?"

"A friend. A true friend, and willing to fight for me."

"My god," he groaned. "How many of them are there? It's not enough that you drag Ferris off to some sleazy ball for your fun, but now you've got some punk swordsman on your string as well?"

His sister threw the nearest thing to hand, a small table. "How dare you? I'll have her kill you next, see if I don't!"

"You've hired awoman to kill Lord Ferris?"

"She's a girl, a girl like me. She's brave and bold and true, and no one could ever make her do a thing that she despises, or harm the innocent. She's not one of your swaggering bullies who fight for money; she's areal swordsman. Like Fabian."

"Oh, lord." Her brother looked pale. He put his hand against the wall, oblivious that it covered a frolicking nymph. "Who's Fab-"

"Never mind about Fabian." A tight-lipped Lady Fitz-Levi had entered the room. "That's quite enough nonsense. I don't know where you managed to meet this heroic young lady, but unless you're planning to marryher, you'd better tell her to keep her heroics to herself, and leave us all alone. Here, put this on."

She held up a gown of soft pink silk, ruffled to perfection.

"Ihate pink."

"It will give you color, which you sadly lack. Dorrie-" Artemisia's maid appeared. "The hair, please."

"What-"

"Sit still, you'll knot it."

"I don't-"

"Daughter, be still. You will be made presentable, and you will go out. Whether or not you enjoy yourself is entirely up to you, but I urge you to try. (Robert, turn your back.) All the city knows is that you've been ill and fretful, and that Lord Ferris is pining for you. (No, Dorrie, the pearls.) Before we leave, you will write to your heroic friend, telling her she is on no account to make a fuss of any kind."

"It's not a 'fuss,' Mama," Artemisia protested, even as she felt the cool weight of the pearls settle around her neck. "It's a challenge, for my honor." "Your 'honor' is no one's business but ours, child. More particularly, honor is the business of men."

"But men are supposed to fight for a woman's honor. If Papa and Robert-"

"If your father and brother feel insulted, of course they will fight for you; isn't that so, Robbie?"

"Naturally, Mama. How could I do otherwise?"

"There, you see? (The curls a little higher-where is the butterfly pin?) Your honor is tarnished only if theirs is. And we have all made very sure that there is no breath of scandal, so no tarnish. (Don't tight-lace, Dorrie, she's thin enough as is.) Do you understand, now, dear?"

"Do try, Artie," her brother added encouragingly. "You've always been game. I'm sorry what I said about your champion before-you see, I do take your honor most seriously, on my word I do. I'm your brother, I'm supposed to protect you. I know it's been tough on you, old girl, but you must realize we care a lot for you. While you've been up here soaking your handkerchiefs, we've been making sure there's nothingto fight about. Do you see?"

"I think so."

"Of course she does. She knows how much we love her and want what's best for her." Lady Fitz-Levi pinched her daughter's cheeks evenly, to bring out the glow. "Oh, look at her; doesn't she look pretty?"

"A picture, madam."

"Just so. We can all be proud of our little girl, and I know you will never do anything to make us feel otherwise. Now, which slippers do you like, the rosettes with the little heels, or the satin grey?"

"I wore those last year."

"The rose, then. Stand up. Yes, you're quite right about the heels, dear. The line is better so. Turn around. Robert, isn't she a picture? Oh, Dorrie, look at that ruffle, it's uneven-get your sewing kit, quickly. Yes, Kirk, what is it?"

"The carriage, my lady."

"Dear me, already? I'll just go change my gown-no one minds what I look like-and you sit and write that note."

"But Mama-"

Covered in a muslin robe to protect her toilette, Artemisia wrote: Dearest Fabian, All is lost. My ruin is complete. My kind parents and brother have explained it all to me. There is no hope. Consider me as one dead and lost to the world. I will always remember you fondly, and will never forget what you were willing to do to save your- Artemisia "Hmph." Lady Fitz-Levi read it over. "That will do. To whom is it addressed? Come, tell me-do not make me pump the servants for information, for I know they have delivered others."

"To-to Lady Katherine Talbert. At Tremontaine House."

"Oh...my...god," her brother said feelingly.

LITTLE WAS SAID IN THE CARRIAGE, BUT WHENArtemisia's mother was looking out the window, her brother passed her a flask and Lady Fitz-Levi pretended not to notice.

"A little afternoon musicale," said her mother soothingly, "at your friends the Godwins. Your dear Lydia will be there, that will be nice for you. She has written you almost every day, you know."

"I know."

"And there will be no need to say much; just listen to the music, nod and smile, very simple."

"Will-willhe be there?"

"Oh, lord, child, how do I know? He doesn't send me his comings and goings."

"Don't worry, sis." Her brother squeezed her hand. "If he offends you in public in any way, I'll fight him for sure."

"Will you, Robbie?" she whispered. "Promise? If he's there and he tries to get me alone, you won't let me out of your sight, promise?"

"'Course I do. You're safe as Nanny's Hedgehog."

She smiled at the childhood memory, and allowed herself to settle back a little.

EVERYONE AT THEGODWIN PARTY WAS CAREFULLYpleased to see her. Lydia practically crushed all her ruffles in a fierce embrace, and whispered, "You look divine! All pale and interesting. I mustn't let Armand catch sight of you; he'll think me a pig by comparison."

Her cousin Lucius was there, too, impeccably dressed as always. He took her hand and bowed and said, "It's good to see you well," but that was all. She saw her old beau Gregory, Lord Talbert, across the room flirting with an older woman, and wondered for a moment what would have happened if she had betrothed herself to him, and wished him well.

She sat on a velvet-covered love seat, wedged between her mother and her brother, and listened to two women playing flute and harp. The sun was coming in the tall windows overlooking the gardens. Lydia and Armand sat between them, a curtain half-pulled across them to disguise the fact that they were holding hands.

Whenhe came in, she knew it. She felt it on the back of her neck, a disturbance of the air, the disturbance of his gaze. The music didn't stop. She gripped the edge of Robert's jacket. She thought she could smell him, over the other people and the hothouse flowers. She found her handkerchief and a vial of geranium scent and applied some and took deep breaths through the linen, although it smelt far too sweet.

She prayed for the music never to end, but then it did. People applauded; she balled her handkerchief in her palm and did so, too. Her mother poked her; she sat up straight, and prepared to greet her promised bridegroom.

Lord Ferris was exactly as she had first met him: well dressed, well groomed, well spoken. He greeted her and her family with just the right degree of civility and warmth. Her mother was flirting like a fool; Robert was trying to be smooth and adult, and sounding prissy instead. Only Lord Ferris was acting normal: charming and considerate, just this side of conspiratorial where she was concerned, as though he shared her opinion of her family, and wanted her to know that he was being good.

"Are you feeling faint?" he asked Artemisia, all intimate concern. He leaned in so close to her that she could see the pores of his face. "Let me get you a glass of something."

Artemisia felt like some actress in a play, and in a sense she was: anyone in the room could be watching her. Whatever she might feel about her family, she would not disgraceherself . But her hand was shaking, she couldn't help it. The only way she was going to get through this was to be Stella-Stella at the country house when Mangrove comes to visit...Stella, carrying Fabian's child, but to let Mangrove know could mean both their deaths, and so she dances and laughs and flirts with a surprised young cousin, to the disgust of Tyrian, who she doesn't know is there to guard her...and in a feat of bravado, she goes to the races and rides her cousin's horse to victory.... Fortunately, no dancing would be expected here, or racing either, and Robert made a poor excuse for loyal Tyrian-but she drew in a deep breath, and another, and her hand stopped shaking.

Lord Ferris returned with lemon water. "Are you enjoying the music?" he asked. For once, her mother's tendency to answer for her was a blessing. But then he proposed to sit down next to her, and her mother's skirts rustled as she shifted aside to let him. Artemisia was looking at the floor, thinking, It won't be so bad if I can't see him....

And then the most marvelous thing in the world happened: a pair of shoes appeared. Small shoes, on a girl's small feet, but cut in a boy's pattern, and above them were fine ankles in heavy stockings that met with breeches just below the knee, and the point of a sword hanging by them, surrounded by green velvet with a gold tassel.

"I came as soon as I could," said Katherine Talbert.

"Oh!" Artemisia gasped in admiration. "Don't you look wonderful!"

"Armed, and with a challenge." Lord Ferris sighed. "Lady Godwin may not thank you for interrupting her musicale."

"I am to convey my regrets to Lady Godwin."

"By all means do so," Lord Ferris said. He was still standing. He looked down at her with his good eye.

"She is over by the window, the lady in blue." "I will," Katherine replied, "when we have finished our business, Lord Ferris. Would you like to step outside?"