Two

Samantha, my dear sister, do you intend to do the honors, or must I introduce myself to your husband?" Colton demanded with a chuckle. "Delay no longer. Acquaint me with this new member of the family."

"Gladly!" Samantha replied with buoyant eagerness. Accepting her commission, she fell in beside her brother and considered his proficiency with the cane as they progressed across the great hall. "‘Twould seem you've become quite handy with that stick."

Colton lifted his wide shoulders, casually dismissing his skill as anything worthy of praise. " ‘Twas either that or trip over the blasted thing, and I wasn't willing to endure that disgrace again … or the pain associated with a fall. I was enormously put out by the experience the first time it happened and became firmly dedicated to the idea that it shouldn't happen again. So far, it hasn't."

Tucking her arm within the crook of his, Samantha stroked a hand over the scarlet fabric of his sleeve and was wont to admire the muscular firmness she felt beneath it. Heretofore she had thought her predilection in the area of men's physiques slanted only one way, unequivocally toward the tall leannessof her own husband, which in truth bordered on thinness. But her brother's physique definitely caused her to rethink her stance on the matter, for her former preference now seemed unfairly biased. Although Colton's tall, broad-shouldered form was sleek enough to complement any garment, it was also hard and muscular, attesting to his immense physical prowess.

"Was this the first injury you ever suffered?"

A soft chortle wafted from Colton's lips and seemed as pleasing to Samantha's ears as a burbling brook. The childhood memories of her brother, which she had stored in her heart as something immensely precious, had abounded with recollections of his warm, melodious laughter. Until this very moment, she hadn't realized just how great a void that its absence had actually left in her everyday existence.

"Indeed, no, my dear, but it was the only one that ever became tainted. ‘Twas a very chilling experience indeed to come to the realization that I'd either lose my leg or die from gangrene poisoning, the initial evidence of which set me back upon my heels. It was my first real experience with fear. On the battlefields where I fought, there was always the chance I'd never leave them alive. The square formation, which Wellington often used, held solid in most cases, even against cavalry, but the outcome could never be predicted. Thus, I fought with every measure of skill and wit at my command to preserve my life as well as my company of men. I was too busy to think much about that cold, menacing dread called death, but it came upon me with devastating precision when I realized there was very little that could be done to stop the spread of tainted flesh other than chopping off a limb. In many cases, the amputation of a limb often speeded that event. My goading fear spurred me to try the good sergeant's remedy in spite of how loathsome and foul it seemed. You see, maggots eat only putrid, not healthy flesh—"

"Oh, please! I'm feeling sick! Say no more!" Samantha pleaded tremblingly as she clasped a handkerchief over her mouth. A distressing coldness swept through her as she wasbrought once again to the realization of her brother's narrow escape. "However the cure came about, I'm immensely relieved it was effectual."

The dark, manly brows flicked upward in agreement. "So am I, of that I can heartily attest."

Samantha preferred not to dwell on what might've been had he not found the means to control the spread of the infection. Purposefully she changed the subject, for her own sake, as well as his. "Tell me, Colton, do you recall the Earl of Raeford?"

"Of course. Father and he were good friends, were they not?" At her nod, he continued, "Mother sent a letter describing your wedding soon after it took place. I assumed at the time that your groom was the younger of Lord Raeford's two sons. As I recall, I was several years older than the elder brother, but I'm afraid I missed the opportunity to become better acquainted with either of them while I was still at home since my own friends were usually here, demanding my attention when I wasn't at my studies."

Sweeping a hand toward the far end of the hall, his sister indicated the tall, sandy-haired man who, with the young woman upon his arm, had been the last to enter the manor. Presently, the couple were engaged in a muted exchange liberally punctuated with confident grins and coy, flirtatious smiles. "Stuart… or Major Lord Stuart Burke, as he is known in more formal circles, or even Viscount, if you prefer, is an honored guest of our riding party today. For that distinction, Stuart was given a choice of the area in which we rode. ‘Twould seem the rolling countryside is his preference. Adriana knows it as well as her own reflection, but I fear I've never been as adventuresome on a horse as she … or you, for that matter. Going up a hill while sitting in a sidesaddle is bad enough, but coming down leaves me wondering if I'll arrive at the bottom with or without the horse." She smiled as her brother responded to her wit with amused chuckles, and then veered astray of the main topic long enough to interject, "It always puzzled me why, with your vast equestrian skill, you refrained from joining the cavalry, Colton, but, of course, that is now neither herenor there. You certainly proved your worth many times over in the infantry." She patted his arm affectionately before returning to the original subject. "Actually, today's ride was Stuart's first since surgeons pronounced him fit to carry on with normal activities. It also happens to be his birthday, which we'll be observing here at dinner this evening. Now that you're home, ‘twill surely be a threefold celebration."

" 'Twould seem I couldn't have chosen a better time to return. Your planned events will allow me to get reacquainted with everyone, but, as yet, the only person I've been able to recognize since my arrival is Mother. She's still as elegant as she once was. On the converse side of that, Adriana was definitely the most befuddling. Even after she told me who she was, I had difficulty believing it was true."

Samantha giggled. " ‘Tis a wonder she didn't send you reeling for daring to take hold of her. Adriana can be quite standoffish when it comes to men trying to handle her. In the past she has come close to blackening the eye of many an overeager swain before Father banished them from her sight. I've seen them leaving here with their tails tucked between their legs. Once they regained their footing, however, their hackles rose, and they ceased to be gentlemen, blaming her when it was really their fault for being so free with their hands."

Colton rubbed the back of his forefinger across his mouth as he sought to subdue the grin that seemed wont to manifest itself. Had he known the identity of the beauty to begin with, he'd have likely been more cautious. Considering what she had managed to do to him, he'd have definitely had cause to reflect upon the possibility that she had been trying to exact revenge for past offenses. "Well, if you're at all curious, she left me wondering if I'd ever be the same man again."

Samantha peered up at him in growing bemusement, but Colton didn't care to explain his witticism. The fact that his privates still felt as if they had been caught in a clothes-press right along with his trousers made him wonder if it would be safe to approach the lady again without donning a full suit of armor.

Leaving his sibling still puzzling over his statement, he approached the sandy-haired man who had entered hard on his sister's heels and whose presence had recently been discovered by the wolfhounds. It was evident that this was one young man the animals enjoyed having around, for he was now squatting on his heels beside them, stroking their long coats.

Colton grinned and stretched forth his hand as he neared. "I think after two years it's about time I welcome my only brother-in-law into the family. What say you, Perceval?"

The low, throaty, canine moans of appreciation ceased abruptly when the younger man jumped energetically to his feet. Readily accepting the proffered hand, Perceval chortled at the unexpected exuberance exhibited by the other and responded with equal fervor as he pumped his brother-in-law's hand. "Thank you, my lord. It's good to have you home."

"None of that my lord stuff, do you hear?" Colton protested, his chuckles doing much to soften his gruff reprimand. "We're brothers now. Call me Colton."

"An honor I gladly accept," Perceval replied jovially. "And if you'd reciprocate in kind, I'd be especially pleased if you'd called me Percy. All my friends do."

"Henceforth I shall consider myself among them," the new marquess avowed with a slanted grin. "Percy it is then."

Joining them, Samantha settled her hands on her narrow waist, as if sorely put out with both men. "Well, it's obvious you two don't need me to make the introductions."

Colton grinned at her girlish antics. "Mother filled me in on the details of your nuptials in her letters and did much to refresh my memory during our visit this afternoon." Arching a brow, he looked down his handsome nose at his younger sibling, simulating a lofty manner. " ‘Twould seem, m'dear, that our mother is thoroughly delighted with your marriage, but she's beginning to wonder if she'll ever have a grandchild."

Witnessing the swift descent of his wife's jaw, Percy threw back his head and roared in hearty amusement. "‘Twould seem, m'dear, your brother comes right to the point."

Samantha tossed her head saucily in the air. "M'dear, m'dear, m'dear. If I were at all a suspicious sort, I'd say the twoof you have already been tippling Papa's port or else his favorite brandy in the drawing room."

"We'll get to that after dinner, m'dear. I've come to enjoy a glass of the latter myself before retiring in the evening," Colton assured her with a brotherly pat upon her shoulder.

Percy turned to him in a more serious vein. "You can't imagine how relieved we all are to have you finally back, Colton. Samantha insisted I keep her abreast of the battles in which you were engaged almost as soon as the couriers arrived at the palace with the outcome. It certainly helped that we had a town house nearby, so I could get a message to her posthaste and she could then expedite the news to your mother. The awareness that you were constantly in the midst of conflicts wherein so many lives were being lost on both sides filled us all with enormous dread. Your name was on everyone's lips, especially your father's while he was yet alive. Although you may not be entirely aware of it, your parents were very proud of you and your accomplishments."

Percy tossed a grin toward his older brother, causing that one to arch a brow warily. "I'm afraid you put poor Stuart to shame with your many exploits and daring-dos."

Evidencing nothing more than a minor hitch in his gait, the elder brother approached as a lopsided grin slowly made its way across his lips. "One day, Percy, you may experience for yourself the hazards of being on a battlefield while cannonballs are being lobbed all around you," he warned, doing his best to present a sober demeanor as he made much of chiding his younger brother. "For too long now you've been allowed to serve as a wet-nosed whelp of an emissary to the Prince Regent, but let me assure you, much more will be required of you should Napoleon return yet again."

"God forbid," Colton muttered, as if in a muted prayer.

Percy exaggerated shock at his sibling's repartee. "What's this? My own brother belittling my valiant attempts to keep his majesty apprised of our troops' activities? Wet-nosed whelp, bah!" Rising to every degree of his slender, lofty height, he looked the elder Burke up and down as if highly offended.

"You have no idea how difficult the riggers of diplomacy can be, else you'd refrain from such malicious slander."

Samantha patted her husband's arm cajolingly. "Don't vex your poor brother, dear. He has suffered considerably after that leaden ball shredded a tree and sent huge splinters flying into his flesh. I wouldn't doubt the roar of cannons makes him quake in terror after the endless torment he suffered at the hands of surgeons who took their time prying all those pieces out. ‘Twill be a miracle if Stuart doesn't box your ears for claiming anyone can put him to shame."

Her brother-in-law gave her a bow, abbreviated rather harshly by a sharp reminder of his past wound, which at unpredictable times caused painful twitches. "Thank you, dear Samantha. ‘Tis immensely gratifying to realize my brother married above himself when he took you to wife. Obviously you have the intelligence he has been lacking all these many years." He ignored Percy's spluttering protests and dryly digressed into difficulties associated with his injury. "Though the wound has mended to a goodly degree, I doubt my pride ever will. Blasted luck, what with so many thinking the worst, and my own brother chortling like a village idiot over the precise location of my injury. Though I've tried time and again to explain how I came to be wounded from the rear and have repeatedly given my pledge that I was charging to the fore rather than retreating, my companions … and brother … still hoot in disbelief. Callous oafs, that's what they are. ‘Tis sure they're no friends of mine."

When the mirth finally subsided, Stuart faced his host in all sincerity. "I'm especially honored by this opportunity to renew our acquaintance, my lord. Wellington sang your praises so often during our latest campaign, we entertained no doubt that you did a great service for our country, not only at Waterloo, but on other battlefields you've traversed throughout your illustrious career. From all reports, your regiment proved itself as valiant in battle as any in the British army."

"I was fortunate to command men of exemplary courage," Colton assured the major. "Whatever tribute has been bestowed on me, I owe the greater part of it to them, for ‘twas their valor that helped us win the day over the enemy."

"They did indeed prove a shining example of a well-disciplined force," Stuart agreed, "but I also heard in the ceremony wherein your men were being honored that they vowed to the very last man that whenever there was ground to be gained and they had to charge into the ranks of the enemy, you led the way into the thickest of frays and inspired them to accomplish daring feats of their own. They were dreadfully disappointed that you were not there to receive your medals, but I can understand how your injuries might've prevented your appearance. May I say, my lord, that few officers have received such glowing accolades from their men as yours bestowed on you that day."

Uncomfortable with such praise, Colton murmured his appreciation but otherwise remained mute until the lengthy silence made him glance about for some other avenue upon which to turn the subject. He noticed that the young man who had voiced some outrage at his familiarity with Adriana had taken himself to the far end of the hall. It was just as well, for the hothead seemed well out of harm's way there, at least from the wolfhounds. His host would be another matter entirely if the lad didn't mind his manners, which he seemed incapable of doing. In spite of the distance between them, Colton could feel the heat of the glare that smoldered in those pale green eyes. It hinted strongly of an unreasonable jealousy that revolved around Adriana, but then again, Colton mentally smiled as he mused, not so unreasonable when a lady was as exceptional as she obviously was.

Colton was convinced this individual was none other than the one his mother had spoken of earlier that afternoon, Roger Elston, the apprentice who, against all odds, was striving desperately to win Adriana's hand in marriage. In his opinion, the man was definitely reaching beyond his limits.

In presenting an ignoring back to the man, Colton found himself facing the young, fair-haired woman who had approached. "Your pardon, miss, I hope we haven't been boring you with all this recent talk of war."

"Oh, no, my lord!" Felicity Fairchild protested, fairly breathless with excitement. It certainly wasn't an everyday occurrence that a bookkeeper's daughter was able to converse with a high-ranking lord of the realm, but here she was just the same. "On the contrary! ‘Tis thrilling to hear stories of great courage."

Realizing she had neglected her duties as hostess, Samantha hastened to make amends. "Please forgive my oversight, Miss Fairchild. I'm afraid I became a bit addled after recognizing my brother. Even now, I can hardly believe he's actually home, after all these many years. With his permission, I'd like to introduce him to you."

A brief moment was spent performing such a task, at the end of which Felicity sank into a graceful curtsey before the new marquess. " ‘Tis an honor to meet a man of your renown, my lord."

"The honor is entirely mine, Miss Fairchild," Colton responded, managing a crisp bow in spite of the rigidity still vexing him after his lengthy carriage ride. His first experience with enforced immobility had, of course, come after his wounding. He had lain far too long on a cot awaiting the surgeons' decision before realizing he'd have to save his limb himself or else say good-bye to it, for every one of them had seemed intent upon hacking it off and being done with it. That was about the time he discovered that idleness could be far more vexing than rigorous activity. Throughout his military career, the latter had become part of his way of life. Even now, interminable periods of imposed inactivity seemed to shorten his temper and, because of his wound, stiffen his muscles.

"Miss Fairchild happens to be Samuel Gladstone's granddaughter," Samantha explained. "Do you perchance recall the elder, Colton?"

"Of course, he's the miller who owns Stanover House. Our family used to visit there at least every Christmas Eve. I can still remember the enormous feasts his servants laid out for his close acquaintances and the people living in the area."

"For some months now, the miller has been feeling poorly,so Mistress Jane …" Pausing, Samantha tilted her head aslant as she peered up at her sibling questioningly. "You do remember his daughter, Jane, do you not?"

"As a matter of fact I do, but it has been quite some time since I've seen or spoken to her. She moved to London well before I left home."

"Mr. Fairchild worked at a London counting house until Mistress Jane availed upon him to leave their service and move to Bradford, a change that now allows her to watch over her father. God forbid that Mr. Gladstone should expire, but the mill would become theirs under such circumstances."

Responding in polite deference, Colton bestowed his attention upon the fetching blonde. "I'm sorry to hear that your grandfather has been feeling poorly, Miss Fairchild. During my absence from home, my mother and sister kept me abreast of his many deeds of benevolence. Without question, Mr. Gladstone is a most admirable man."

"I must confess we weren't able to visit Grandpa but on rare occasions while we were living in London," Felicity responded prettily, "but since our move to Bradford, I've come to realize he has fortified himself with many loyal friends over the years. I'm amazed at the number of aristocrats who come to visit him. ‘Twas precisely how I came to meet your sister… and Lady Adriana."

Samantha slipped an arm through her brother's. "Mr. Gladstone seems to have taken on new life since his daughter and her family have moved in with him. No doubt, his spirits have been greatly buoyed by Mr. Fairchild's decision to manage his mill. God willing, with the elder's mind now at ease, we shall be seeing a vast improvement in his health in the weeks to come."

Felicity lifted a sweetly appealing smile to Colton. "Grandpa would be thrilled to hear stories of your experiences in the war, my lord. Not a day goes by that he doesn't receive a friend, an employee, or some distant relative into his bedchamber for a chat, a tipple, or a game of cards. He'd enjoy it immensely if you were to visit him."

"I'm sure he has been much encouraged by the company of so many," Colton surmised pleasantly. "I shall make a point of calling upon him once I've become settled."

"He's not the only one who has reaped benefits from visitors," Felicity declared, flicking her long, dark eyelashes to good advantage as she cast glances toward the other two ladies. "The kindness your sister and Lady Adriana extended toward me when they invited me on this outing today left me fairly amazed by the graciousness of both. In London, I was never able to meet individuals of similar noble standing. Yet the two made me feel as if I had truly been welcomed into the area. Were I as wise as the sages of old, I might've recognized them as two angels on missions of mercy."

Colton laughed in hearty amusement as a memory from his youth came winging back. "Miss Fairchild, I should warn you that you were not the first creature these angels have taken under their wings," he observed drolly. "Lady Adriana and my sister have been companions since well before the younger could talk, and I can verify from firsthand knowledge that both women have long championed hospitality as a valiant cause to be nurtured. However, they have not always limited their benevolence to humans. Although I shall likely be chided for making comparisons between past and present, I distinctly recall that, at a fairly early age, the two were wont to bring home injured animals or their young, and as dedicated as they were in that mission of mercy, I can only believe they continued in that endeavor long after I left. While I was still at home, they made every effort to nurse whatever creature they had found back to good health, but if one happened to expire, they'd sob their hearts out till none could bear their lamentation a moment longer. In truth, Miss Felicity, you're only one of a strange collection these angels have brought home over the years."

"Colton, for shame," Samantha scolded, her smile doing much to negate her rebuke. "Miss Felicity will surely be taken aback by your comparison."

Facing the fair-haired woman, he clasped a lean hand to hisscarlet blouse as if to offer a pledge. "Truly, Miss Fairchild, I meant no disrespect. Actually, there's no real comparison between you and the furry or feathered creatures my sister and her most valued friend were inclined to bring home. I'm certain in your case both ladies were delighted to be able for a change to extend the benefits of their hospitality to one of their own species."

He glanced toward Adriana, who was standing a short distance away, listening to their conversation as she rested a slender hand on the massive staircase's heavily carved Jacobean newel. Though he offered her a warm smile, she met his gaze with a gravity that brought back memories he had tried so often to suppress, that of a thin little girl with enormous eyes whose heart he had once broken. How could he have known so long ago that Harrison had let her in with her parents and had asked them to wait outside the drawing room from whence moments later he had launched strenuous objections to his father's plans to sign a betrothal agreement committing them to each other?

He held out an arm invitingly, desiring to have her near. "Come join us, Adriana. Standing there like that, you remind me of that little girl I once knew who always hung back with a yearning look in her eyes whenever Samantha would come to me, pleading for a favor. It always seemed as if that little girl, with her huge dark eyes, really wanted to join us, but wasn't quite sure if she should. Please do. I can promise you, I've truly enjoyed seeing you again."

A tentative smile tugged at the soft lips as he beckoned her forward, and when she finally complied, albeit hesitantly, he laid an arm about her shoulders. "My sister hugged me and welcomed me back, Adriana. Might I dare hope that you're delighted enough with my return to do the same?"

"Welcome home, my lord," she murmured, offering him a tentative smile as she drew a step closer.

"Come, give us a hug," he urged warmly, as if she were only a child of six again. "And a kiss." Her apparent reluctance caused him to crinkle a brow above a warmly glowing,yet somewhat dubious stare. "You're not afraid of me, now are you? Where is that little girl whose pluck won my father's admiration?"

Considering that every eye in the hall was upon her, Adriana mentally took a deep breath to barricade herself against the nervous jitters. How could they understand that in all her life this was the only man who, as a youth, had wounded her so deeply that she hadn't yet forgotten it? She had often wondered if that singular experience had been the reason she didn't allow suitors to get too close even now.

Tentatively she slipped an arm about his shoulders as he bent near to accommodate her height. Even so, she felt her heart hammering in her chest and found that very strange indeed, considering that she had come to believe that no man frightened her. She was rather surprised to hear the chortling laughter of the other nobles as her lips brushed his warmly bronzed cheek.

"There now, that's better," Colton murmured near her ear before he drew away. When Adriana looked up, she found her gaze ensnared by the glittering sheen of the gray eyes. A pleased smile curved his handsome lips, deepening the furrows in his cheeks. His voice was husky and muted as it invaded her senses. "Now I truly feel welcomed home."

"So that's how you wrangle a kiss from the pretty ones," Stuart observed drolly from several paces away. Grinning, he eagerly beckoned to Adriana. "Leave that wily rascal, my girl, and come here to me. Although I may not have known you as well as his lordship before his departure, I've certainly become better acquainted with you since. Am I not more deserving of your affection? Am I not more pleasing to look upon?"

Chuckling at the other's playful cajoling, Colton laid a hand lightly on the sleeve covering Adriana's forearm, as if to forestall the possibility of her falling into the man's trap. "Stay near, my dear," he advised roguishly. "You need my stalwart protection, for the major is obviously a rake, of whom tender young maids such as yourself should be wary."

At the major's scoffing hoot, Colton slipped his own armabout the lady's shoulders and faced his challenger with a grin that seemed waggishly proud of his triumph over the other. Colton was amazed to feel his senses awakening to the delicate scent of roses that clung to the lady. Dipping his head near the brim of her top hat again, he breathed in the intoxicating bouquet.

"Your fragrance reminds me of Mother's rose garden from years back," he murmured warmly. "Do you suppose there are any blooms in it this time of year? I'd be pleased if you'd show it to me ere the day is over."

If the warmth in her cheeks didn't cause her enough chagrin, Adriana could feel the heat rising to her ears. To her regret, her tormentor noticed and seemed somewhat amazed as he brushed a fingertip along the dainty fold curving over the top of an ear, just beneath the brim of her hat. "I do believe you're blushing, Adriana."

Although Colton would've acted no differently had he thought of the young man who had chased her into the house, it soon became apparent his presumptuousness in handling the lady with casual ease snapped that one's restraint. With eyes blazing, the fellow crossed the hall with long, outraged strides.

The brisk, intrusive approach of metallic-clad heels claimed Colton's immediate attention, bringing him sharply about to face the man with an eyebrow arched at a challenging angle. Just as quickly the hounds launched into fierce barking, setting themselves before their master and the girl at his side.

Being accosted by a stranger in one's own home was enough to tweak anyone's temper, but Colton considered the apprentice's actions immensely galling, especially since he seemed desirous of separating him from a woman whom he had known even before she had been a toddler running underfoot.

Well able to defend himself without the wolfhounds' protection, Colton thought it was time that Roger Elston became cognizant of that fact. The man was obviously being less than rational in his passion to protect… or, more accurately, to place a barrier around the lady in his desire to keep other males from sniffing her scent, which in this case was very pleasantand not anything approaching what dogs would be interested in following. As for the human breed, well, that was an entirely different matter indeed. He hadn't indulged in a woman's sweet fragrance in many a month, and this one seemed especially evocative. Even now, the memory of her sleek, delectably curved form pressed close against his own did much to awaken his manly imagination.

Pivoting about-face on his good leg, Colton leaned heavily upon his cane as he progressed rapidly toward the north end of the manor whereupon he snatched open a door leading from the morning room to the outside terrace. At his whistle, the hounds dashed through without pause and bounded off toward the distant woods. On closing the portal, Colton limped back to face his would-be rival from very close range.

"Did you have a matter you wished to discuss with me, Mr. Elston?" he asked crisply.

Roger was startled by the fact that the man knew his name and could only believe that others in the family, namely the marchioness, had spoken of him earlier, in what context he likely would never know. Though he opened his mouth to retort to the other's challenge, he came abruptly to the realization that he now held claim to the keenly attentive ear and eye of everyone in the room. The men definitely seemed to be peering down their noses at him as they awaited his reaction, but then, they'd probably say it was only his imagination.

Grinding his teeth in vexation, Roger swung his head about, much like a bull in close confinement, and finally mauled a surly reply. "Not really."

"Good!" Colton shot back. "Then, if you'd kindly give me some space, I shall finish my discussion with Lady Adriana."

Colton perused his adversary with a blatant disinterest that did much to rankle the younger man. Beneath an unruly mass of light brown curls that fell over a smooth brow was a face that seemed unusually youthful. Indeed, Colton almost expected to see a bit of fuzz on the pale cheeks, but that idea was quickly dispelled when he noticed a recent nick just below a bushy sideburn.

Roger could feel the vivid heat creeping up to the roots of his hair as he found himself the recipient of the other's inspection. Smoldering with inner rage, he maintained a stony silence, prompting his host to elevate a challenging brow.

Nothing to do but ignore the man,Roger thought furiously and turned rather stiltedly to face the dark-haired beauty. As much as he longed to, he dared not touch her for fear his boldness would be openly reviled and he'd be humbled before his lordship. His proximity went against all protocol. To silently imply any right to a lady of the peerage, especially in front of another nobleman, was at the very height of lunacy.

Throughout his lifetime, Roger had found numerous reasons to lament his paltry upbringing, but never so much as now when he saw the very real threat of losing Adriana to a man who had everything, including entitlement to the lady. Although the regal beauty had known only a life of privilege, she had seemed little affected by her noble status. Even so, she had given him absolutely no reason to hope that her feelings for him would eventually deepen into something more satisfying in spite of the fact that he had indicated as much to his father, who had then seen some advantage in investing a tidy sum in gentlemanly attire for him. The clothing that had once sufficed for a tutor had seemed paltry indeed among landed gentry and had proven a painful embarrassment to him on more than one occasion. Yet even now Roger feared such extravagance would come to naught and he'd rue the day he ever deceived his parent, for no matter how diligently he sought to bestir some deeper affection within the heart of the tall, slender, stirringly beautiful brunette, she seemed content to keep him at arm's length, offering him nothing more than a congenial graciousness, and that strictly on her terms.

He stretched forth a thin hand in invitation, exercising caution lest he touch her and she pull away. "Should we not be going now, my lady?"

Colton shifted his gaze to Adriana to determine her response to the apprentice's impertinence to urge her to leave. He hardly expected his scrutiny to be challenged, and yet, beneath his close attention, she lifted her delicately refined chin with stately aloofness, as if daring him to question her association with a commoner.

Colton felt his hackles rise, a reaction almost as unsettling as the surgeons telling him he'd likely lose his leg. Never before had he considered himself disdainful of common men. Almost half his lifetime, he had trudged in their footsteps through rain-soaked muck, raced ahead of them amid the thunderous din of exploding cannons, fought hand to hand beside them against the fury of the enemy, and many times had fallen asleep within a handbreadth of the very ones who had called him "milord Colonel." He didn't know precisely what there was about Roger Elston that nettled his mood and temper. Having only this hour met the fellow, he was incapable of laying a finger to the exact cause. It could hardly have been spawned by his own jealousy. Considering his lengthy absence, the girl was merely an acquaintance from his past, definitely exquisite beyond a mortal man's comprehension, but one who over the years had become estranged to him. Whatever the cause of his vexation, he accepted it as fact that he disliked the apprentice intensely.

The lady's unspoken challenge did much to rally Roger's hopes. It was rare indeed that she had encouraged him, and he felt a surge of boldness in his desire to establish her as his own fiancée, yet when he actually tried to take her hand, he felt an icy shiver of rejection as she retreated a step and then, as if blind, looked through him rather than at him. The lady definitely had a way of conveying her annoyance, and he could only construe by her frosty detachment that she hadn't appreciated his attempt to demonstrate some right to her. Nor apparently had she deemed herself answerable to the marquess for her conduct or her association with a miller's apprentice.

Eager to solidify her lifelong companion as a member of the Wyndham family any way she could, Samantha seized upon the tenuous situation to make her brother aware that Adriana was not only desired by scores of aristocrats but also by ordinary men who struggled against the futility of their aspirations. As much as her friend would've dismissed such a suggestion, Samantha had long perceived that Roger was desperate to have her any way he could.

"I fear once again I've failed to introduce you to another one of our guests, Colton. Mr. Roger Elston, to be precise." She took a moment to take care of that formality, and then went on to explain, "Mr. Elston has been acquainted with Adriana for almost a year now. He accompanies us fairly frequently on our rides about the countryside. Under Adriana's tutorship, he has become an accomplished equestrian, which definitely leaves me feeling ill-suited for a saddle. Fairly soon now, Mr. Elston will be finishing his apprenticeship and will then be assuming the management of his father's woolen mill, the one that once belonged to Mr. Winter."

"Mr. Winter?" Colton repeated, unable to recall the name. His irritation with the apprentice still nettled him, and although the muscles in his face felt as rigid as unseasoned leather, he struggled to convey an aplomb that was at best hard won. He flicked his brows upward in an abbreviated shrug. "I'm sorry, I have no recollection of a Mr. Winter from my boyhood days here."

"Thomas Winter. Years ago, he owned that large mill just beyond the outskirts of Bradford. You probably passed it often, but had no reason to notice it in your youth. Mr. Winter never had any offspring, and after being widowed, he kept to himself until, about four or five years ago, he wed a very pleasant woman from London. Upon his death some months later, his widow inherited everything. She, in turn, married Edmund Elston, Roger's father. Poor thing, she took ill not long after that and died. That's when Mr. Elston became sole proprietor and summoned Roger to Bradford to learn the trade."

In spite of the brewing abhorrence he had felt toward the man earlier, Colton stretched forth a hand in an offer of goodwill, primarily for the benefit of Adriana and the other guests. "Welcome to Randwulf Manor, Mr. Elston."

Having nurtured a festering resentment for this particular nobleman well before their introduction, Roger was as unwilling to accept the proffered hand as the man had been reluctant to extend it, but in so doing, he suffered a measurable shock as the long fingers closed about his own hand. They were leaner, stronger, and far more callused than he would have ever supposed of a nobleman. No doubt the wielding of a sword required a firm grip even from a pampered aristocrat.

"Waterloo was an enormous victory for Wellington," Roger stated stiltedly, eager to convey his knowledge of that event. "Any officer would've deemed it a privilege to serve under his leadership."

"Aye, Mr. Elston," Colton agreed, just as rigidly. "But let us not forget the contributions of General von Blücher. Without him, ‘tis doubtful the English would've fared as well. Together the two men, with their armies, proved a force Napoleon could not long withstand."

"In spite of what you say, had Wellington been solely in charge, I'm willing to wager the French would've been no match for our forces," Roger boasted.

Colton cocked a querying brow, wondering if the apprentice was deliberately trying to antagonize him … again. Still, he was curious to know how the fellow had arrived at his conclusions. "Excuse me, sir, but were you there to witness our confrontations?"

Roger chose to avoid the marquess's pointed stare and flicked his fingers across his sleeve, as if to dislodge a tiny fleck from the cloth. "If not for a recurring and ofttimes debilitating malady I've suffered since my youth, I would've willingly volunteered my services. Indeed, I would've enjoyed killing a few of those frogs."

Colton's face clouded as he thought of the terrible waste of men's lives that had taken place, not only at Waterloo, but on other battlefields he had traversed. " ‘Twas a bloody campaign for everyone," he stated ruefully. "To my regret, I lost many friends during the course of our struggles against Napoleon. Considering the legions of French killed at Waterloo, I can only sympathize with the untold numbers of parents, wives, andchildren left grieving and destitute. ‘Tis unfortunate indeed that wars must be fought because of the ambition of one man."

Adriana studied the handsome face of the one to whom she had been promised years ago and saw a sadness in the dark gray eyes that had not been there in his youth, making her wonder if his goals had changed much since that memorable day of his departure. It seemed as if a century had passed since she had overheard his vehement protests. Had the agreement met with his approval, they would have been wed soon after her seventeenth birthday, but the idea of that proposal had set him at odds with his father, so much so that he had left home. She really had no wish to be around when he learned that Lord Sedgwick had carried through with his plans and signed documents committing his son to a term of courtship prior to a formal betrothal actually being initiated. If her ears had burned red hot from Colton's first diatribe, then surely, this time, they'd be singed black from his explosive anger.

"The English were bound to win," Roger declared loftily, touching a pinch of snuff to his nose, an affectation he had recently acquired in his efforts to emulate wellborn dandies. Yet, as much as he had thought the practice widespread, he was just beginning to suspect that none of the men presently occupying the great room cared for the habit, for he usually educed an amused smile or two whenever he went through the process of using it. Struggling hard to maintain a dignified mien in spite of an encroaching urge to sneeze, he snapped the small, enameled box shut and forcefully pressed a handkerchief to his left nostril where the sensation was more pronounced. Gaining some relief, he sniffed and, with watery, reddened eyes, offered a succinct smile to the other man. "As they say, my lord, right shall always prevail."

"I'd like nothing better than to know for certain that that premise would always be the case, Mr. Elston, but I'm afraid it isn't," Colton rejoined soberly. "As for the English, I cannot declare with any degree of truth that we're always right."

Roger was taken aback. He had never traveled beyond theshores of England, and had been led to believe that all foreign powers were not only inferior but contemptible in comparison. "I say, my lord, that's rather unpatriotic of you to doubt our country's integrity. After all, we're the greatest nation in the world."

Smiling rather sadly, Colton offered some insight into observations he had made during his career as an officer. "Far too many Englishmen trusted in the logic that right would prevail, but they were buried where they and their men fell. I know, because a number of them were close acquaintances of mine, and I helped bury them."

Roger cocked a quizzical brow at the man. For nigh on to a year now, he had repeatedly been subjected to tales of Colton Wyndham's daring exploits on the battlefield. Although envious of such fame, he had admired the nobleman, yet some months ago genuine hatred for the man had taken deep root when he had learned that the beautiful Adriana had been selected by the late Lord Sedgwick to become the wife of the very one who stood before him now. The inevitability of their meeting had solidified Roger's aversion well before he had ever laid eyes on the one who would claim the marquessate. After hearing the man voice such feeble inanities, he felt justified for having come to despise him. Colonel Lord Colton may have been considered a hero by the standards of many, but Roger had formed his own opinions as to what made one a champion among men, and it was his belief that his lordship fell far short of that sterling crusader who rode his charger into the thickest of frays and, sparing no quarter, wet his sword time and again with the blood of the enemy.

Curling his lip sardonically, Roger dared to present an inquiry in tones not altogether respectful. "And what fine logic did you take into battle, my lord?"

Unable to ignore what had every element of being a disparaging challenge, Colton made a point of elevating his brow to a skeptical level. Considering the fact the apprentice was more than half a head shorter and probably lighter by as much as two or three stone, he decided the fellow was as impetuousas he was impudent. Or perhaps the little pip had foolishly concluded he was an invalid merely because he required the assistance of a cane.

"Simply put, Mr. Elston, it was either kill or be killed. I trained my men to be ruthless in the midst of our many confrontations with the enemy. It was the only way they were going to stay alive. I, myself, fought with desperation, not only to preserve my life, and the lives of my men, but to defeat the foes of my country. By some strange miracle, I survived, as did most of my regiment, but after considering the bloody aftermath and the staggering number of soldiers lying dead upon the battlefields we trod, my men and I were simply grateful to have fallen under God's mercy."

"Come, you two," Samantha chided, sensing Colton's growing animosity toward their guest. Perhaps she had misjudged the depth of Roger's resolve to have Adriana for his own, for he seemed unable to hide his frustration with the situation in which he found himself. Slipping an arm through her brother's, she gave it an affectionate squeeze in an attempt to soothe his vexation. "This talk of war and killing will soon bring the brumes of gloom down upon us if you do not soon desist."

Though still struggling to curb his annoyance, Colton managed a wan smile of reassurance for his sister. "I'm afraid the war has left its mark on me, my dear. If ever I had a talent for being an entertaining conversationalist, I fear that is no longer the case. I have lived, breathed, and talked of war for so many years that my dialogue has been sharply limited to my experiences. If anything, I've become something of a bore."

"Doubtful," Samantha countered with a fond chuckle. She had never known her brother to be anything but fascinating. But then, she had to admit she was naturally biased in his favor.

Having witnessed for himself the fire that could light the gray eyes of his host, Roger retreated a discreet distance behind Adriana, having no wish to provoke her by yet another display of jealousy. As persistently as he had tried to establish some claim upon her, he had come to realize underneath thatouter layer of softly refined femininity, the lady had a temper that could set him back upon his heels. To rile her again would be complete folly, for she'd likely exile him henceforth from her presence.

Felicity was thankful when manly tempers began to cool, since the easement of tensions allowed her to reclaim the attention of the marquess. She did so, demonstrating a congeniality she hoped would be in marked contrast to Lady Adriana's rejection of his request for casual addresses, which the man seemed prone to ignore anyway. "My lord, I would deem it a privilege if you'd dispense with the formality and merely call me Felicity."

Adriana couldn't resist a surreptitious glance toward the pair. The blonde's invitation brought back her own rejection of Colton's plea to use her given name and had been so winsomely requested that she couldn't imagine any man refusing, much less one who, until recently, had been sequestered in the lonely, far-flung camps of the soldiers.

"Miss Felicity," Colton responded, salting his response with proper formality and a fair measure of his usual persuasive charm as he bestowed a winning smile upon the fair-haired beauty. "However sweet your given name, Miss Felicity, ‘twould seem that Fairchild is far more appropriate, considering how winsome you are to look upon."

"Oh, you're too kind, my lord." Although other young women might have been tempted to gush with pleasure, Felicity smiled demurely as she cast her darkly lashed eyes downward to good advantage. Endless hours of practice in front of a silvered glass had helped her to perfect a variety of facial expressions. With diligent dedication she had cultivated her manners and nurtured her looks, all with the hope of attracting a titled lord who'd take her to wife, an idea instilled within her by her sire in spite of her mother's efforts to keep her offspring's feet firmly on the ground instead of the lofty clouds wherein she was wont to dally in endless daydreams.

Still, Miss Felicity was not quite the appellation she had desired from his lordship. Something a little more intimatewould've been her preference since he seemed to use Adriana's name with casual ease. Just the same, she smiled at the inroads she had thus far made. Of course, she would now be required to extend a similar invitation to the two women or chance evoking suppositions that she was throwing herself at the nobleman.

Turning a smile upon Samantha, she spoke with well-contrived humility. "I'm overwhelmed by the kindness you and Lady Sutton have bestowed upon me, Lady Burke. Nothing I can offer could come close to comparing. Just be confident that I'm grateful for your gracious benevolence toward me and would be pleased if you'd both consider using my given name as well."

Cognizant of the earlier exchange between her brother and Adriana, Samantha deemed it prudent to answer for her friend as well as for herself. "Lady Adriana and I would be delighted to forego the formality, Miss Felicity. Please, kindly do the same."

"Thank you, Lady Samantha." Felicity dipped into a curtsey, mentally congratulating herself. Having grown up entirely in London, she was even more of a stranger to the area and its habitants than Roger Elston, but the warmly sincere geniality of Lady Adriana and Lady Samantha had worked to her advantage when, barely a week ago, the pair had accompanied their mothers on a visit to the bedside of her ailing grandfather, bringing with them a delectable broth, scrumptious pastries, and medicinal herbs purportedly of rare quality. The gifts had been their tribute to Samuel Gladstone, who, over the years, had become not only a wealthy miller but a well-respected patriarch among the citizenry of Bradford on Avon. Proving themselves gracious and warmly congenial young women, Samantha and Adriana had talked glowingly about the area and the people living in it and then had lent sympathetic attention to her diffident complaints about feeling lonely and very much a stranger. That was when the pair had insisted she accompany them on their equestrian outing. If not for her ploy, Felicity knew her chances of visiting Randwulf Manor or,more farfetched, being invited to join aristocrats at their leisure would have been nil. Who among her cynical peers in London would've ever believed she'd be associating with landed gentry so soon after moving to a quaint little town the likes of Bradford on Avon, or, for that matter, conversing with a marquess whose refined good looks could put to shame many of his gender? Here, indeed, was a man who, by his own aristocracy, could open for her a variety of doors into the world of the nobility.

Percy glanced at his brother, wondering how he was reacting to the winsome blonde's obvious fascination with their host. A stranger to Felicity before they had ridden over to the Suttons' to collect the younger two women (and, not surprisingly, the apprentice), Stuart had made his annoyance known soon after learning of the invitation the ladies had extended to the miller's granddaughter. He had definitely balked at the idea that he'd be required to serve as escort to a total stranger for the entire day when he had actually been looking forward to spending some time with Adriana. Although Stuart had grudgingly acquiesced, he had promised dire repercussions on his sibling if the lady didn't live up to his expectations. As it turned out, after meeting Felicity, he had given himself over with enthusiasm to his commission. In a private moment, he had even expressed gratitude for being allowed the pleasure of meeting such a divine creature.

At the moment, however, Stuart didn't seem to mind that Felicity was plying Colton with coy looks and subtle smiles, since his own attention had strayed to the lady he had hoped to escort through their outing. Any man would have considered Adriana a desirable young woman, and from all indications, Stuart had also become one of her admirers.

The swiftly evolving situation gave Percy cause to mentally scratch his head. He knew Samantha would be shocked once he told her, perhaps even a bit worried by the turnabout, for there was only one man his wife considered suitable for her best friend … none other than her own brother.

Colton Wyndham had also given himself over to ponderingmatters. He was a man who had experienced the rigors of war much too often of late. If he set aside his suspicions as to Felicity's ambitions, then there was much to admire, for she had an overflowing coffer of physical assets: pale gold hair, liquid blue eyes, and a mouth that at first seemed a bit too full and soft, yet on further consideration proved quite appealing. Wispy curls framed her youthful face to good advantage beneath a wide-brimmed bonnet fetchingly tied with a wide ribbon as blue as her eyes. The coy glances she cast his way were provocative, assuring him that were he of such a mind, she'd be willing to accept his attentions, to what degree he could not determine. Yet he was rather amazed to find himself comparing the pulchritude of one young lady to that of another, the latter being the raven-haired perfection he had rejected long ago and been surreptitiously admiring since her entrance into Randwulf Manor.

"Please allow me to express my condolences over the loss of your sire, my lord," Felicity murmured, managing an appropriately sympathetic expression as she strove to divert his attention from the earl's daughter. As far as she was concerned, Lady Adriana had already received far too much of his consideration. But then, in view of the lofty title, wealth, and fine looks of her host, Felicity didn't doubt that she'd have cast any woman with tolerable good looks a rival. This was precisely the kind of opportunity her father had predicted would come to pass if she kept her dignity and didn't yield her innocence to some lowborn rogue. "I know you were deeply saddened by news of your father's death. Yet, for the sake of your fine family and all your friends, I'm heartened by the knowledge that you'll be assuming the duties of the marquessate."

" 'Tis truly good to be home again. I've been away much too long," Colton admitted, glancing about the interior that for so long had seemed like nothing more than a pleasant memory from his youth. When his hired livery had left the stand of trees buttressing the lane in front of Randwulf Manor earlier in the day and he had caught sight of the Jacobean structure, his heart had swelled with exhilarating joy at the realization he was finally home after spending half his lifetime in other parts of England and the world. The manor had seemed like a pale-stoned jewel amid the verdant lushness of a gently rolling countryside liberally adorned with evergreens and deciduous trees. The mansion was a three-storied edifice adorned with countless, closely spaced mullioned windows, four symmetrical bays, and a flat roof edged with lacy stone fretwork. It had been built on a small rise, which bore neatly trimmed hedges and colorful floral beds. Familiar gargoyles, lions, and urns, made of similar stone as the parapets upon which they sat, had greeted him as he made his halting ascent toward the gracefully arched portico, behind which the massive front door had loomed. Although absent for ten and six years, he had been amazed by the fact that everything was just as he had remembered it.

Colton glanced aside, noticing that Roger had removed himself from their present company. Good riddance, he thought, but then had to wonder just where the apprentice had taken himself, since he was nowhere in sight. It was too much to hope that the lad had left. Wherever he was, one could almost lay odds that he was sulking and devising a plan to claim Adriana for himself.

Relenting to a chuckle, Colton confessed, "I'm afraid I would never have known my own sister had she not recognized me. When I left, she was no more than a child, Lady Adriana a couple years younger. Now I understand from Mother that the eldest of the Suttons' offspring has children of her own and the second-born will soon be getting married. Considering the length of time I've been away, I'm surprised that Lady Adriana is still unattached."

In spite of the fact that she had been staring at him intently, Colton realized Adriana had likely missed his comments, for she seemed to awaken to the realization that he was smiling at her. Beneath his lingering stare, a blush crept upward into her cheeks, but she quickly averted her gaze. Even so, he found himself astounded once again by the transformation that had taken place in his absence. How could a young chit,whom he had once likened to a scrawny little scarecrow, have grown up to be such an exquisite, indeed nigh flawless, example of pulchritude?

Sensing her stilted aloofness, he managed a wry grin as he cast a brief glance toward the other occupants of the room. "I'm afraid Lady Adriana has never quite forgiven me for being that obstinately brash, headstrong young whelp who, against his father's wishes, left home to seek his own way in life."

Though his comment readily drew amused giggles from Felicity and, more reluctantly, a subdued chuckle or two from the other men, Colton hadn't meant to be humorous. He had merely been trying to express his regret for hurting an innocent little girl so many years ago. The betrothal idea hadn't been her fault, but when he had stalked out of the drawing room after angrily refusing to consider an agreement involving a betrothal to a thin, lackluster sprig and had found himself facing the wide-eyed stares of the girl and her parents, his cruel words had come back to haunt him. Though the elder two Suttons had been taken aback by his outrage, it had been Adriana's stricken look that had haunted him throughout the years, for she had seemed completely devastated by his adamant refusal to consider their future union. Well before that event, he had become cognizant of the fact that she idolized him as much as his own sister. She had never had a brother, and perhaps for that reason she had mentally set him upon a pedestal as her champion, for there had been more than a few instances wherein he had rushed to the girls' defense after they had gotten into trouble trying to save some injured younglings and found themselves facing a formidable stag or some other furious parent instead. A deep regret for his cruel comments had swept over him after seeing the crushed look on her thin face; he hadn't meant to wound her so severely. In deepening chagrin, he had stammered through a difficult apology, and then had hurriedly taken his leave, unable to bear her obvious misery.

Stepping beside her friend in the protective manner of an older sister, Samantha decided her brother needed to be enlightened for his own good before he became the recipient of the news that awaited him. Perhaps with such a warning, he'd think twice this time before rejecting his options out of hand. " ‘Tis highly unlikely that Adriana has given much thought to you over the years, Colton. She hasn't had time with all the handsome suitors vying for her attention." Ignoring the insistent prodding of her elbow, which no doubt was intended to warn her to veer away from the subject, Samantha pressed on purposefully to give her brother something to think about. She was almost sorry Roger wasn't in the room; for the apprentice needed to be reminded that he was only one small fish in the stream and, even if he had the nerve to intimidate his aristocratic rivals pell-mell, he'd soon find himself gobbled up for a morsel, for there was always a larger grayling swimming somewhere in the same waters. "Her admirers flock to the Suttons' stoop with all the eagerness of smitten swains, each vying for the honor of being the one Adriana will eventually choose, but, as yet, their pleas have been for naught." This time Samantha became the recipient of a menacing glower, but she casually shrugged away her friend's intimidation, deeming herself totally innocent of any wrongdoing. "Well, it's the truth, and you know it."

In spite of the indignant little snort that came from Adriana, which seemed to suggest the contrary, Colton realized his sister had done her best to put him in his place. Even to him, his smile seemed lame. "I can see why bachelors are anxious to win the lady for themselves. She's truly a beauty, the finest I've ever seen."

Felicity took exception to his declaration. When her own hair glistened like pale gold in the sun and her eyes took their color from the very skies, why would a man of great renown and evidently extensive experience prefer the dark-eyed, dark-haired looks of a peevish young woman?

Adriana didn't necessarily appreciate the fact that she was being discussed as if she were some unusual artifact a continent away. She faced Colton, managing a trace of a smile. "I'm afraid your sister has been inclined to exaggerate over thenumber of callers vying for my attention, my lord. You'll learn after a time that Samantha can go on a bit long over nothing in particular whenever she wants to make a point."

Percy's muted chortle affirmed in Adriana's mind that he had already discovered that truth about his wife. In immediate response, Samantha settled her arms akimbo and gave them both an exasperated look, evoking more chuckles, this time from the pair.

Allowing Percy the privilege of dealing with his wife's challenging questions, Adriana returned to the business at hand and served swift death to the notion that she hadn't heard Colton's earlier comments. "You made some reference to my sisters a few moments ago, my lord, and I'd like to take this opportunity to verify that Jaclyn is living in London now and has two children, a boy and a girl. Melora's wedding is swiftly approaching, at the end of this month, in fact, and although invitations have ceased to be necessary between our two families, I shall see that you receive one. Melora would certainly be disappointed if she didn't get to see you before she and Sir Harold leave on their honeymoon. They'll be making their home at his estate in Cornwall and won't be returning to Wakefield until the latter part of October, at which time my parents will be giving a ball to celebrate the advent of the hunting season. I'm sure you recall how our fathers always enjoyed getting together with close acquaintances after the adjournment of Parliament to plan their hunts and talk of old times. Naturally their wives and daughters will be attending as well, and of course there'll be lots of food and dancing, perhaps even a witty game or two for those who enjoy such things. It probably has been some time since you've indulged in similar diversions."

Colton grinned down at her. "I've been away so long I'm afraid you'll have to introduce me to your parents."

A smile curved Adriana's lips as she elevated a brow. "You have been gone a long time, my lord. I certainly didn't know you."

"For a moment there, I thought you were merely going toslap me for past offenses," he quipped, his lips twitching with ill-suppressed humor. "In the future, I shall be more wary of the way you take your revenge."

The intense heat infusing her cheeks made Adriana immediately thankful the miller's granddaughter stepped forward to reclaim the marquess's attention. One could almost imagine the blonde had become infatuated with the man … or perhaps his title.

Curious about his availability, Felicity Fairchild did indeed desire a moment of his time to appease her curiosity. "Will we have the honor of meeting your marchioness fairly soon, my lord?"

Colton would've been convinced of the woman's diffidence if not for the nervous little smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. It was as delightful as some witty tale, assuring him that he had awakened the lady's interest. "Except for my own mother, Miss Felicity, no other lady presently claims that distinction in the family."

Struggling valiantly to curb her elation, Felicity managed a demure response. "I must have been mistaken about such matches being made in one's youth."

Unnerved not so much by the woman's speculation but by the threat of the truth slipping out, Adriana held her breath for fear that it would. Though the woman's conjecture was an accurate assessment of the state of affairs, in this case Colton Wyndham was the last to know just what had taken place in his absence.

Samantha noticed that her friend was looking unusually apprehensive, no doubt with good cause. She, too, remembered how vehemently her brother had protested their father's attempts to arrange his life and could only wonder if he'd react any differently to the news awaiting him now that their sire was dead. If he hadn't yet realized their father had wanted the best for him, then she surely had. Adriana was the sister she had never had, and she was reluctant to lose her to some other man's family.