He suddenly laughed. "For God's sake, puss, when did you become my conscience?"

She flushed at that. "Well, it's devilish unfair, you know. I doubt there's a woman alive you couldn't seduce if you set your mind to it."

"You exaggerate my abilities."

"Bother that," she retorted. "I've seen you turn on the charm, Tony, and it's utterly devastating when you do. But I rather like Roslynn Chadwick. Only she has a promise to fulfill that's important to her, and for whatever reason, there's a time limit on it. If you interfere, there's liable to be trouble, not to mention hurt."

Anthony smiled at her fondly. "Your concern is commendable for someone you've just met, Reggie, but a bit premature, don't you think? And besides, she's not some ninnyhammer without a lick of sense. She's independent and answerable to no one but herself. You said so yourself. So don't you think she's old enough, and mature enough, to fend off a rakehell like me if she wants to?"

"That wordwantscares me to death," she groaned, only to hear him laugh again.

"You talked to her for a considerable time last night. Did she happen to mention me?"

Good Lord! That he should ask such a question proved he was most definitely serious, even after everything she had told him.

"If you must know, you were about the only topic we discussed, but that's not unusual, since just about everyone there last night was discussing you. In fact, I'm quite sure she heard an earful from the gossips before I got hold of her.''

"Did you paint a pretty picture for me, puss?"

"I tried, but she wasn't buying it. And yet I suppose you'll be delighted to know that however much she feigned indifference, her interest was as plain to recognize as yours is." The smile that remark elicited nearly blinded her. "Oh, dear. I shouldn't have told you that, but since I did, I must also tell you that regardless of her interest, she still went off to better her acquaintance with the gentlemen she is

considering for marriage. You might have made an impression, but it hasn't changed her plans in the least."

Regina could see that nothing she said was going to discourage him, and she had said all she could. She might as well have saved her breath. She had never tried to interfere in his love life before, and now she saw how pointless it was to try this once. He was going to do as he pleased, just as he always did. God knew, Uncle Jason had tried for years and years to curb Tony's hedonism without success. What had made her think she would have any better luck?

She realized suddenly how utterly foolish she had been. Here she had been trying to change the very qualities that she had always found most endearing in Anthony. He was a charming rake. That was what he was and what made him her favorite uncle. If he left countless broken hearts behind, it was only because women couldn't help falling in love with him, although he never took any of his affairs seriously.

But he did give pleasure and happiness too. That counted for a lot.

"I hope you're not going to be angry with me for putting my nose in where it doesn't belong." She gave him the smile he could never resist.

"It's such a pretty nose."

"But too big at the moment. I'm sorry, Tony, I really am. I just thought—well, never mind. You've managed thus far to get by without anyone's advice. I suppose we should catch up with—"

Regina didn't finish. Her eyes were caught by a magnificent black stallion prancing along at a slow canter to accommodate the pony beside it, but to see who was controlling the powerful beast made her groan inwardly. What horrid luck. Of all the people to encounter at this moment.

She glanced to see if Anthony had noticed Lady Roslynn yet. Of course he had. If the prime horseflesh hadn't caught his eye, the Irish green riding habit and sun-bright hair would have. But his unguarded expression was almost embarrassing to observe.

Good Lord, she had never seen him look at a woman like that before, and she had seen him with dozens of his ladyloves. Last night he had stared, yes, deliberately, a game of seduction played solely with the eyes. This was different. This was a look Nicholas might give Regina, of passion mixed with more tender feelings.

Well, that did it. She felt even more of an idiot now for having tried to warn Anthony off. It was obvious, at least to her, that something special was happening here. And wouldn't it be wonderful if something actually came of it?

Regina's thinking had undergone a complete about-face. She was now wondering how she might help get these two together. Anthony had his own ideas.

"Would you consider staying put, Reggie, while I pay my respects?" Her look said,Not on your life. His sigh was long and drawn out. "I didn't think so. Well, come along, then. You owe me one chaperonage, I believe."

Anthony didn't wait for her concurrence but rode straightaway to intercept Roslynn, hoping against hope that Reggie would give him at least a few minutes alone with her first. It wasn't to matter. James, blast him all to hell, chose that moment to return to see what was keeping them and managed to intercept the lady first.

Anthony arrived to hear James saying, "Delighted to see you again, Lady Chadwick."

Roslynn was nervous enough to have trouble controlling Brutus, a circumstance that caused acute embarrassment, since it had never happened before. She had seen Sir Anthony approaching, which was probably why the blond stranger startled her so, seeming to have appeared out of nowhere. It was even worse, and quite irritating, that he should lean forward to steady her horse. The move was so clearly indicative that she couldn't manage Brutus on her own.

Her tone was quite understandably sharp. "Do I know you, sir?"

"No, but I had the opportunity to admire you last evening in the Crandal garden. Unfortunately, you ran away before I could make your acquaintance."

Anthony watched the hot color seep into her cheeks and saw red. "Forthat, dear brother, I think I'll invite you back to Knighton's Hall."

James couldn't have cared less. Roslynn Chadwick by daylight was about the prettiest little lady he had ever encountered. That Anthony had found her first mattered not at all. It made it devilish awkward, but no more than that. Until the lady stated her preference, she was fair game as far as James was concerned.

Roslynn was staring at James, now that she knew who he was. She would never have guessed by his looks that he was Anthony's brother. And after what she had heard about him, she could understand why Anthony was considered the runner-up to being the worst rakehell of the two. They were both breathtakingly handsome, but where Anthony was a charming rogue, she sensed the blond Malory would be much more ruthless in his amorous pursuits—or in any pursuits, for that matter. He fairly reeked of danger. And yet she wasn't frightened. It was Anthony who threatened her peace of mind and rattled her composure.

"So you are the black sheep of the Malory clan?" Roslynn said. "Tell me, what terrible deeds have you done to earn that misnomer?"

"Nothing anyone can prove, I assure you, sweet lady." And then to Anthony he turned a challenging grin.

"Where are your manners, dear boy? Introduce us."

Anthony gritted his teeth. "My brother, James Malory." Without the slightest change in tone, he added,

"And that youngun about to run us down is his son, Jeremy."

Jeremy drew up at the last second, exhilarated from the ride and the near disaster. He was just in time to hear Roslynn's comment to James. "Your son? Now why didn't I guess that?" There was such irony in her voice that no one doubted for a moment that she didn't believe a word of it.

Jeremy began laughing hilariously. James was rather amused himself. But Anthony was getting angrier by the second. He had known this would happen, but why did it have to happen for the first time with her?

And with the young scamp laughing his head off over the misassumption, there was no point in trying to correct it at present.

Roslynn was surrounded by Malorys now and quite wishing she had not been so cavalier in dismissing Timmy's groom this morning. For a simple ride in the park, she had thought it unnecessary to have a man along for protection. It was something she never did at home. But London was not home.

Anthony seemed to connect with her thoughts. "Have you lost your groom?"

Six-year-old Timmy piped up here. "Ros is my groom and I'm hers. She said all we needed was each other."

"And who might you be?"

"Lord Grenfell," Timmy said importantly.

With George Amherst's blond hair and gray eyes staring up at him, Anthony blundered with a

"Know—that is to say, knew your father very well. But the next time Lady Ros thinks to be your groom, you must tell her—"

"I've already concluded that the park is not as safe as I had supposed, Sir Anthony," Roslynn cut in meaningfully. "I assure you I'll not assume the role again."

"Glad to hear it, but in the meantime, I'll escort you home."

James delighted in pointing out, "I hate to remind you, brother, but you already have one charge to look after. I, on the other hand, am available to see the lady home."

"The hell you will!" Anthony shot back.

Regina had held back, enjoying this little encounter without being noticed. But since it was about to get out of hand, she finally nudged her horse forward.

"Before you two come to blows, I think it prudent to point out that Jeremy is also available and will do nicely as an escort for such a short distance. And since I was meaning to call on Lady Frances, I think I'll join them, Tony, so I'll thank you now for indulging me this morning." And to Roslynn, belatedly, "Does that meet with your approval?"

Roslynn sighed in relief, for she hadn't been able to think how to politely refuse either Malory brother after she had already admitted her mistake in riding without an escort. "It does indeed, Lady Eden."

"Please, m'dear, none of that. You'll call me Reggie." She grinned at James before adding, "As most everyone does."

The remark seemed to improve Anthony's humor. He was smiling now as he gazed at Roslynn, and what a smile. She had to force herself not to look at him again even as they exchanged words in departure.

She had been wise last night to conclude that it would do her no good to see the man again. This encounter, so innocent yet disconcerting, simply reinforced that conclusion.

Anthony, watching the foursome ride away, was quietly contemplating turning Reggie over his knee next time he saw her. "She's become unbearably bossy since she married Eden."

"Do you think so?" James chuckled. "Perhaps you just never paid any mind to it before, since it was never you she was bossing around."

Rubbed raw by James' humor, Anthony glared at him. "And you—"

James didn't give him a chance to work up a righteous anger. "Now don't be tedious, dear boy. After seeing the way she reacted to you, I can see I haven't much chance of stealing her away." He turned his horse around, then added with a devilish grin just before he put spurs to him, "But bad odds have never stopped me before."

Chapter Nine

"You're being no help a-tall, Frances," Roslynn complained, mimicking, " 'Go if you like.' What kind of answer is that, I'd like to be knowing?"

Frances stopped short on the busy walkway fronting the shops on Oxford Street, bringing Nettie plowing into her back for not paying attention. Two packages dropped out of Nettie's hands, one round hatbox rolling toward the curb. Anne, Frances' abigail, made a frantic dash for it before it continued into the street. Frances didn't even notice.

"What's got into you, Ros? If you're having such trouble over a simple decision like this, I shudder to think what agonies you'll go through when it's time to choose your husband. Either you want to go to the Eden party or you don't. Yes or no, either or; how much simpler can it be?"

Roslynn grimaced. Frances was right, of course, at least as far as she knew. But then Roslynn hadn't told her about meeting Anthony Malory at the Crandals' ball. She had intended to, only their conversation on the way home that night had started by her asking if Lady Eden's husband had been a rake before they were married.

"He was indeed."

That answer had been said with such disgust, Roslynn had asked only one more question. "Are they happy together?"

"Actually, I've never seen two people happier or more in love."

This reply had been soft and incredulous, as if Frances couldn't quite believe it was possible. But after that, Roslynn knew her friend would become too upset if she learned that Roslynn had found Anthony Malory attractive, so she hadn't mentioned him at all. It was too obvious that Frances still abhorred men like him in the extreme.

But regardless of knowing how her friend felt, even being of the same mind, Roslynn had still been full of Anthony that night, so full of him that Nettie had noticed the minute Roslynn walked into her bedroom.

Her very first words had been, "Well, I see ye've met yer mon. What's his name, then?"

Brought out of her cloud, Roslynn had quickly prevaricated that there wasn't one him, but four, and she immediately launched into everything she knew about them so far, which wasn't much but managed to quell Nettie's first assumption quite nicely. Now she was putting too much importance on Lady Eden's invitation, when every other invitation she had received since her introduction to society had been

decided on with barely a thought. Definitely out of character.

It was no wonder Frances thought something was wrong with her. But at least she couldn't guess what it was. Nettie, on the other hand, had been watching her like a hawk ever since she had returned from her ride with Timmy yesterday. How she had given herself away she didn't know.