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"I never knew Emeline’s brother," Melisande said "Not well, at least I only saw him once or twice What was he like?"

He sed the last of his bun, trying to buy ti eyes "Reynaud always kneould so for that day"

"What do you ed "As a boy, he was too serious That burden of responsibility marks a man, even when he’s but a child Richard was the same way"

"Your elder brother," she murmured

"Yes He and Reynaud were more alike" His mouth twisted at the old realization "Reynaud should’ve chosen him as a friend, notthat he himself lacked"

He cocked his head and smiled The idea that he should possess a feature that Richard, his perfect elder brother, lacked seemed comical "What?"

She raised her eyebrows "Your joy of life?"

He stared at her Did she really see joy of life in the shell that was all that remained of him? "Perhaps"

"I think so You were a friend full of delight and mischief," she said, and then, almost to herself, "How could he resist you?"

"You don’t know that" His teeth scraped together "You don’t know me"

"Don’t I?" She rose from the table "I think you’d be surprised how much I know you Ten ht flat-footed and blinking up at his wife like a fool

She so shopping in ten minutes"

And she slipped froued

MELISANDE WAS STANDING by the carriage consulting with Suchlike when Vale eed from the town house a short time later He ran down the front steps and sauntered over

"Are you ready?" Melisande asked

He spread his arms "I am at your disposal, o"

The little maid flushed and looked worriedly at Melisande Suchl Klisheiike usually cas to consult ardrobe selections and to carry packages Vale atching her, too, waiting to see if she’d object

Melisande shtly and nodded at the "

Suchlike bobbed a curtsy and went into the town house

When Melisande turned back to Vale, he was eyeing Mouse, as standing against her skirts

She spoke before he could dis as well "Sir Mouse always accolad that at least was established, and e She settled on the plush seat that faced the front, and Mouse hopped up beside her Vale sat facing her, his long legs stretched diagonally across the floor It had seee--vehicle until he entered, and then the space was filled with male elbows and knees

He knocked on the roof and looked across at her, catching her frowning at his legs "Anything wrong?"

"Not at all"

She glanced out theIt seee to be confined with him in such a sht She’d had sexual congress with this ht before, and had had the audacity to strip off his shirt and shave hiht, lit only by candlelight Soht The shadows ht, as he called her And if so, did that make him master of the day?

She watched hi the daylight hours Stalked her in the sunlight He ht, but it was during the day that he sought to discover her secrets Was it because he sensed that she felt er in the day?

Or maybe both?

"Do you take it everywhere?"

She glanced at hi" He pointed his chin at Mouse, curled on the seat beside her "Does it go everywhere with you?"

"Sir Mouse is a hi hiht enjoy"

Vale’s eyebrows shot up "The dog enjoys shopping?"

"He likes carriage rides" She stroked Mouse’s soft nose "Haven’t you ever had any pets?"

"No Well, there was a cat when I was a boy, but it never ca when displeased It was often displeased, I’m afraid"

"What was its naooked at hileam in his blue eyes

"And you?" he asked "Did you have pets as a child, ain, not wishing to revisit her lonely childhood

He see about that time and for once did not press He was silent asoftly, "Actually, the cat was Richard’s"

She looked at him, curious

His wide lips curved into a lopsided smile as if he mocked himself "Mother doesn’t particularly like cats, but Richard was sickly as a child, and when he took a liking to a kitten in the stables"--he shrugged--"I suppose she made an exception"

"How much older than you was your brother?" she asked softly