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he listened first at their door

She heard Caroline’s conteood scare, I did Reminded her that Miss Saunders vanished—let her think on that”

“But, Caro, what about the paint? What did she say about your dress and all?” Delia asked

“She thought it was for soet her now”

“So When he put his hands on me last week, I was sick, just sick”

“I know, and for what? They get fifty guineas every night we go out, and we get but one! And we do all the work!”

“Work? I don’t call it ith the likes of Sir Francis, though Now there is a buck, and what about tonight with that handsoood fun,” Delia said “He is a Greek god, that one”

“What tio to him?” Caroline asked

“They put it off till ten o’clock,” Delia said and added, “so Wheeler will come for me about 9:30 or so”

What was that explosion in her head? It hurt What was that squeezing the blood out of her heart? Sassy put a fist to her mouth and stifled the cry that almost made its way out as she ran

No! No—not her marquis It just couldn’t be It had to be another marquis Surely it was someone else But how could there be two marquis in town, both of them as handsome as he?

Her body quaked, and her mind reeled with this new inforirls—he wouldn’t She couldn’t love someone like that!

She found the cloak that Molly had cleaned and hung up for her, slipped on her boots, and without stopping to think, ran outdoors and made her way to the stables She yanked a bridle from its hook, hefted a saddle from its perch, and tacked up a horse faster than she had ever done before

Hoisting herself up, she adjusted her stirrups and spread her skirts about herself as she started him out and down the bridle path to the main road

What was she doing? This wasinsane All she kneas that she had to face him—this man who had stolen her heart and took ownership of her spirit, her thoughts, her cares She had to face him and know the truth