“Perhaps it was Lord Darion," Rolfe said at last, and Emma sagged with relief."Lord Darion?" Blake stared at him in confusion. "I have not heard of him. Does he have a keep around here?"Emma glanced over her shoulder to see her cousin shake his head. There was a sparkle of mischief in his eyes as he met hers. "Nay.Darion is a spirit of the woods.And a defender of the weak. He has been known to protect unwary travelers who are set upon...always with a bow and arrow.""Have you seen this Darion?""Oh,aye.Lord Darion saved my life a time or two.The first time I was a mere boy.”

“It was your first time?"Her head snapped up, eyes stabbing her sister."Of course it was," Lisa backtracked at once, and then said, "Well, Fanny must have been wrong then. Or perhaps it is different for everyone."Suzette shook her head with disgust. "If you, who have known me all my life and know I have not been keeping company with men before this, doubts me, why would he not? He probably thinks I have been with half the royal navy.""Why would he think that? We live nowhere near the near the coast," Lisa said with confusion.Suzette glared at her and then shifted to get off the bed,crawling around her to do so."Where are you going?" Lisa asked, standing up."For a walk.""But I was going to read to you to cheer you up," Lisa protested."I don't want to be read to," Suzette said grimly as she slipped her shoes on."I could tell you a story," Lisa offered."No.""I could sing,or-""I want to be alone.”

“My lady?” He peered briefly around to see that all seemedin order, and confusion immediately covered his face.“Take a dozen men and ride out in search of my husband,”Emma commanded at once. The steward goggled at her.“But, my lady—”“Now, Sebert. Or all will be lost.”Sebert nodded and started to withdraw, then paused andturned back, his gaze moving helplessly to the two men bythe fireplace, before flying back to Emma herself. “But mylady, yer husband is dead,” he pointed out miserably.Emma rolled her eyes at that. “Sebert, why can you not belike other stewards and listen at doors?”“I…” Sebert drew himself up indignantly, but Emmacontinued.“Had you done so, you would be aware that I am to marryLord Amaury de Aneford. Immediately. Before Lord Fulk’scousin and aunt can get here and Bertrand can lay claim tothe manor and myself.”

“If he had any sense of honor at all, the man would have stayed dead.""Unfortunately, it appears he was merely unconscious," Daniel murmured. He was becoming quite certain George was dead. This might greaty simplify matters, or at least it would if Richard was willing to uphold the marriage to Christiana...and really, Daniel was beginning to think that would be the most honorable thing to do here. While he didn't think much of their looking to marry a man with money to solve their problems, it did seem a shame to cast the scandal of George's actions on these three women when none of it was their fault at all.Unconscious," Suzette spat the word with disdain. "He must have been, and he had obviously been drinking." She tsked with exasperation and stomped her foot, muttering, "Why could the beast not have been dead? I should have smothered him in his bed to be sure he was and stayed that way."Daniel stared at her with amazement. His first thought was that, really, aside froom her fortune hunting and homicidal tendencies, the woman was quite fascinating in her complete and utter lack of artifice. His next thought was that the ton would eat her alive. Artifice and subterfuge were necessary tools to survive society and she was obviously completely lacking in both.Suzette suddenly heaved a put upon breath and muttered, "I suppose I had best be sure I find a husband tonight. Otherwise, surely Dicky will find some way to throw a spanner in my plans."Daniel's eyebrows flew up at her words and then she peered at him with interest."You're a handsome enough fellow," she commented thoughtfully.Daniel blinked, and then muttered, "Oh...er...thank you. I think.""You don't seem a dullard either," she added, tilting her head to inspect him consideringly."Erm," he said weakly."And you aren't old. That's another plus." Daniel was puzzling over that when she asked abruptly, "Are you rich?”

“Can’t you do something for her?” his nephew finally asked, when several moments passed and her screaming anddidn’t stop. “I already have. I didn’t kill her,” Lucian said dryly, then added, “Slow down. You’re as bad as taxi drivers.” “And you’re a backseat driver,” Thomas muttered, then cursed under his breath. “Surely there are some drugs or something we could give her to settle her down?” Lucian glanced at him with interest. “Do you have any?” Thomas blinked. “No.” “Hmm.” He sat back in his seat. “Neither do I.” Thomas stared for a moment, glanced back at the woman in the back of the car, then said, “Her screaming is rather loud, don’t you think? Just a bit distracting for those of us trying to concentrate.” “Yes, it is,” Lucian agreed, and reached into his pocket for his earplugs. He popped them into his ears and closed his eyes, the shrieking in the car considerably muffled. He’d have killed the woman before the plane had landed without the earplugs. They were a blessing.”

“Little minx," he whispered.Smile widening, Suzette shifted and wiggled about on top of him again, inadvertantly leaning her breasts briefly closer to his face as she appeared to try to find a more comfortable position. He suspected the action was more to torture him than out of any true desire to get more comfortable and was proven correct when she murmured, "This reminds me of the first time we were alone in a carriage together,my lord."Daniel closed his eyes against the view of her breasts not even an inch from his face as she twisted her upper body in his lap. Damn, she was so close that if he stuck his tongue out, he could run it across the top curves along the neckline of her gown, he thought. But then his eyes popped open again when she shifted once more and added in almost an undertone, "As I recall, we didn't reach our destination there, either.”

“My God!" Amaury glared resentfully at the armed men surrounding his own as Castle Eberhart came into view. "See you the gall of the woman?"Blake hid a smile an shrugged. "'Twould seem your bride would have you safely delivered.""Safely delivered?" Grimacing,he shook his head. "She sends her man out to fetch me as if I am a stray cow.""Surely she would not send so many for a cow?"Amaury glared at his laughing friend.Blake shrugged. "Well,I have said it afore and-""If you say once more that I should refuse to marry her,I will strike you down right here.""You may try," Blake allowed with a small smile.”