Chapter 2

Torie had the refreshing thought that Leonora's betrothal meant there was at least one man in London whom she had no need

to please. That would be her sister's task from now on.

If Leonora bothered.

"Your frown chased off my best friend," she observed.

"I gather that you rate yourself above a trout," his lordship said.

"Actually, I don't rate myself very high," Torie told him. "The problem is that I have resolved to marry for more than my

market value."

He looked gratifyingly surprised. "You are beautiful, charming, and well-bred." One side of his mouth quirked up. "I would

rate you a luxury commodity."

Torie gave him a twinkling smile. "I wasn't fishing for a compliment."

He rolled his eyes.

"True, I am very extravagant," Torie said, thinking that Kelbourne was ten times more handsome when he was surprised out of his haughtiness.

"Just look at my fichu, for example."

"If I am correct, a fichu is a piece of lace that circles a woman's neck. You are not wearing one."

"Precisely! The modiste delivered this gown with an elegant piece of Alsace lace, which as you can see I promptly discarded."

Then she winced. Somehow, she'd come close to flirting with her future brother-in-law, though his eyes didn't drop to her

admittedly low neckline.

"May I escort you to supper, Miss Victoria?"

"Oughtn't you to be escorting my sister?"

"Miss Sutton plans to accompany your father, Sir William. You and I shall dine with them."

"I suppose she's trying to keep him away from the brandy."

Kelbourne's eyes didn't flicker, which meant that he already knew about her father's propensity to overindulge.

"We're family now," Torie told him, waggling her eyebrows. "You'll learn all our secrets. I promised the supper dance to Lord

Paterson, so I'll have to give up the pleasure of a meal en famille ." She liked to throw French phrases about now and then, to counter the widespread belief that she was ignorant.

Which she was, but never mind.

"You shouldn't dine with Paterson," Kelbourne said, frowning. "The man's a ne'er-do-well."

Torie shrugged. "It's not as if I'm going to marry him."

He opened his mouth, so Torie raised her hand. " Or wander into the shrubbery with him. This may be my first Season, but I'm hardly a fool."

Leonora showed up at Torie's shoulder. "Of course you are not," her sister said in a sharp tone. "Any number of people can't

read. I hold out hope that you might master the art before the Season's end."

Torie felt the viscount's surprised gaze, but she refused to flinch. At least he knew now why her market value was so low. Two gentlemen

had withdrawn their proposals when her father informed them of her illiteracy.

"Another family secret, Lord Kelbourne," she told him. "My sister tears through books as if they were ballad sheets, so you

needn't fear that your heir will inherit my marginal intelligence."

"Your curls are disordered," Leonora observed. "I suggest you retire and compose yourself. Supper has been announced."

Torie blew a white-blond curl away from her face. "We can't all be as perfect as you are, Nora."

"Do not call me that," her sister hissed.

"I thought we were sharing our secrets with your fiancé. When I was little, I couldn't pronounce Leonora's name," she told

Kelbourne. "I shortened it to Nora, which my sister has never liked, so don't imitate me."

"I wouldn't dare," Kelbourne replied. He turned to his fiancée. "Miss Sutton, shall we find Sir William?"

"You could call her Leonora," Torie put in. "For that matter, you may call me Torie. For goodness' sake, your betrothal has

been announced—even if you don't plan to marry for a year."

"I would consider such an address impertinent," Leonora said, with chilling emphasis. She tucked her hand into the viscount's

arm. "Perhaps there is a children's table, Victoria."

Kelbourne nodded farewell.

"Pooh," Torie muttered after the two of them walked off.

They were both as cold and as stiff as iced-over branches in winter.

They deserved each other.

Two Years Later

After the service, mourners are invited to join the cortege that will accompany the remains to interment in the family vault at Kelbourne Chapel.