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‘Yes, Ma a wardrobe, as she insisted nothing country- over fashion plates while Mama and Grandmama described the wonders of Bond Street and Piccadilly! Modistes, cloth-drapers, bonnet-loves in every colour of the rainbow’ Shaking her head, she said, ‘Now you will be thinking me the most frivolous individual!’

‘Fashion, frivolous?’ he replied with a grin ‘Indeed not, Miss Neville ’Tis practically the stuff of life in London There’s great artistry in theof apparel that shows both the beauty of the e It’s said Beau Bruetting his cravat tied to perfection and had a standing order for cha his boots’

‘I a my relationship with Lady Parnell, Mama’s best friend, e were to stay that first year and ill be my sponsor now’

Surprise tinged with dismay banished Greville’s amusement Lady Parnell, one of the doyennes of society, was said to have more influence than all the patronesses of Almack’s combined

No need to fear that Miss Neville would fall victim to the petty cruelty of jealous schemers No one who had any aspirations to society would be foolish enough to openly criticise the ward of so socially powerful a personage

‘If Lady Parnell is to introduce you, your success is assured’

‘Are you acquainted with her? She’s odmother, as well as Mama’s best friend’

‘I’ve not had that honour’ Greville did not feel it necessary to add that this was hardly surprising, since the feht while in the et froinal blossoms of society and the Grand Dae’

Of all the matrons in the city, it would have to be Lady Parnell, he thought with rueful chagrin If he were still clinging to any foolish thought of atte a friendship, the identity of Miss Neville’s sponsor ought to sound its death knell

Not only was the lady wealthy, influential and needle-witted—and thus liable to allow only the wealthiest and entleman to associate with her ward—she also had a keen awareness of everything that went on in London He couldn’t rule out the possibility she ht even know about some of the questionable activities in which he’d participated with her nephew

Ti hirew too fond of it What better way than to remind them both of his present position?

Halting with her in front of the French doors leading back into the house, Greville said, ‘A most enjoyable stroll, Miss Neville, but now I must let you return to your duties By the by, do you think Ia ha at sea’

There it was again, that flash of alar with her ‘I can certainly enquire,’ she said frigidly, clearly not appreciating his teasing at her expense ‘Thank you for your escort, sir—and I will count upon your word as a gentle with my cousin Good day’

She turned to sto doind under full sail He chuckled, thinking it would only serve hi to find his bed reently from the overhead

‘My pleasure, Miss Neville,’ he called after her

Hoished shethe sway of her trih the doorway into the house He could vividly i his face in the scent of her golden hair while he pulled the strands free of their pins, loosing the ties of her bodice…

He could obliterate the pain of the past and uncertainty of the future with si lust

But that was the old Greville’s favourite way of avoiding what he didn’t wish to face He was going to have to find a neay of handling difficulties

Still, he thought with a sigh as he relinquished the tantalising i that he would doubtless end up a e, there were parts of being the old Greville he really, really hated to give up