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McKenna quickly became aware of the way Marcus looked fro The earl was no fool--and it was obvious that he would not suffer Aline to be taken advantage of

"I suppose you’re right," Aline said "If a man looks, speaks, and thinks like an Ahtly, her brown eyes sparkling "However, McKenna, there is so to Stony Cross--I refuse to let you disclaiazes held, and this tie to look away, even when an uncoathered in the conservatory

Westcliff broke the spell, clearing his throat and standing so abruptly that Aline’s weight on the arm of the chair nearly caused it to topple sideways She stood as well, giving her brother a little frown As Westcliff spoke, he sounded so much like the old earl that the hairs prickled on the back of McKenna’s neck "Lady Aline, I want to discuss soements you’ve made for the next few days, to ensure that our schedules do not conflict Accompany me to the library, if you will"

"Certainly, my lord," Aline said, and smiled at McKenna and Gideon, who had both risen to their feet "Do excuse entlemen I wish you a pleasant afternoon"

After the earl and his sister had departed, McKenna and Gideon resus

"So," Gideon remarked in a casual tone, "it seems that your plans are well on the way"

"What plans?" McKenna asked,the watery remains of his lemonade

"To seduce Lady Aline, of course" Lazily Gideon went to pour hirunt

They sat in companionable silence for a few moments, until McKenna asked, "Shaw…has a woman ever asked you to write a poem for her?"

"Good God, no," Gideon replied with a snicker "Shaws don’t write poetry They pay others to write it for them and then they take the credit for it" He arched his brows "Don’t say that Lady Aline asked for such a thing?"

"Yes"

Gideon rolled his eyes "One can’t help but marvel at the variety of ways that wo idiots You’re not actually considering it, are you?"

"No"

"McKenna, how far do you plan to take this revenge notion of yours? I rather like Lady Aline, and I’ an odd reluctance to see her hurt"

McKenna shot hi "If you try to interfere--"

"Easy," Gideon said defensively "I don’t intend to foul up your plans I expect you’ll foul theh on your own"

McKenna lifted one brow sardonically "Meaning?"

Gideon withdrew his flask and poured a liberal quantity of alcohol into his own le that I’ve never seen you so spellbound by anyone or anything as you are by Lady Aline" He took a deep s of the potent mixture "And now that I’ve had some liquid fortification, I’ll venture to say that in my opinion, you still love her And deep down, you’d rather die by slow inches than cause her one moment of pain"

McKenna stared at him stonily "You’re a drunken fool, Shaw," he muttered and rose to his feet

"Was that ever in question?" Gideon asked, tossing back the rest of his drink with a practiced s as he watched McKenna’s departing figure

As evening approached and the teregate in the entrance hall Sraveled drive, where a line of carriages waited to convey the those ished to amuse themselves at the fair were Gideon’s sister, Mrs Susan Cha the past few days Aline had found it easy enough to socialize with the Cha for theolden-haired and tall like her brother Gideon, but she did not possess his easy huift of self-mockery Rather, she seemed to take herself a bit too seriously--a quality that was shared by her husband, Paul

Just as the first carriage left, Aline happened to glance at Gideon Shaw, and she saw that his attention was ensnared by so from the house A faint s his gaze, Aline saith a jolt of glad surprise that Livia had finally ventured out of her self-ione on a public outing since Aed with pale pink piping, Livia looked very young, and more than a little nervous

Aline went to her sister with a welco an arm around her sister’s slender waist, "how nice that you’ve decided to join us Now the evening will be perfect"

Susan Cha her hand over one side of her aze flickered to Livia and then slid quickly away, as if he did not want to be caught staring at her

Detered Livia to couests Mr and Mrs Chaer sister, Lady Olivia Marsden" Aline adhered exactly to the order of precedence, wishing there were so, of a lower rank than Livia--and therefore they had no right to slight her After the Chaed Livia with shallow smiles, Aline introduced the Cuylers and Mr Laroche, whose wife had already departed in the first carriage

Suddenly McKenna appeared before them "I doubt you’ll remember me, my lady, after all the years that have passed"

Livia suilty "Of course I remember you, McKenna Your return to Stony Cross is quite welco overdue"

They ca his fascination with Livia

"A pleasure toher hand and bowing over it, rather than si as the others had When his head raised, he smiled at Livia, whose cheeks had turned several shades darker than her dress The attraction between the pair was nearly tangible "You will ride to the village in our carriage, I hope," Shaw said, releasing her hand with obvious reluctance