Unbeknownst to Edward, his aunt had been watching for his return to the ballroom. From the moment he arrived this evening, he had done nothing more than what was expected of him. One dance, with a rather pathetic looking girl, then he had retired to the room set aside for cards.

Herriot had begun to think his attendance for her birthday was a waste of time, until she noticed he seemed to be watching someone. Wishing to have a better view, she rose from her chair by the wall and moved closer seeking the subject of his intrigue. She saw nothing unusual... until he pulled away from leaning against the side of the doorjamb. His gaze focused on someone in particular. She followed the line of his interest and noticed a young lady stepping through the adjoining patio doors unattended. A sly, satisfied expression appeared on her nephew's face as he followed her out onto the patio.

To observe his actions, she moved closer to the doors and, to her astonishment, saw him begin to dance with her. A tryst at her birthday disappointed her immensely. She knew they had not been introduced tonight. Edward arrived after the Baron and his family had been through the receiving line. The child's mother had obviously neglected to give her the Debrett's Peerage, a rather fine book on decorum and important rules of etiquette. She dismissed the chit as a conquest for her nephew's amusement and returned to her friends.

* * *

Hours later, a disappointed Gabriella was wrapped in a dark blue velvet cape as her parents escorted her out to the family coach. Once they were settled inside, her father leaned back and reflected on the gentlemen who approached him requesting to escort his beautiful daughter on an outing. For days it had been this way. Every morning young gentlemen began arriving, either leaving their card, flowers, or filling the parlor in hopes of speaking with him and a chance of seeing her. But when he asked if she wished to see them, not one gentleman had tempted her. Not even for a ride in the park. She preferred the stable boy for an escort.

Before they made the journey to London, he considered the odious task of helping his daughter choose a husband. Her fortune would transfer to her husband, leaving her vulnerable to his treatment of her. She would have no legal or moral standing in what her husband chose concerning her. So, he divided her allotment in half. One part would be given as a dowry, and the other half would be given to her alone. Any man wishing to marry her would sign a release. The act would also prove the intentions of the man. If said gentleman ever mistreated his daughter, he would build her a home on Staffordshire out of the reach of such a deplorable ingrate. Though, bringing her back home under his roof would suit him best.

As her father, he would protect her as long as he could, but his first and foremost job was making sure mistakes weren't made beforehand. In short, he would dig into their lives until he knew every detail.

This very night he had been sitting by the fire with a drink when a tall gentleman approached. He bowed before he introduced himself as the Marquess of Greystone, nephew of Marchioness Darby, their hostess. John invited him to join him, and once seated, the Marquess requested an introduction to his daughter explaining he had arrived late to the ball.

To date, many young men had approached him concerning Gabriella, but Lord Greystone admitted to seeing her speaking with who he assumed was her mother. As her father, he appreciated being approached for the honors of such an introduction, instead of requesting his aunt do so. After a discussion, it was readily agreed upon.

The topic then changed to the debates recently held in the House of Lords, and John learned of the Marquess attendance. Because John was in trade, he spoke of the fine furs arriving from Montana. It was during this discussion Lord Greystone spoke of his merchantmen ships which traveled to the Americas.

Once he departed, John knew that his job of approving a husband would be much simpler if she settled on the Marquess of Greystone. To learn more, he spoke to others concerning his standing. Most called him Lord Grey. The shortened version of Greystone was more to his liking. They admired his patience with the younger inexperienced men attending the House of Lords.

Though his daughter was a sweet-natured young woman, she could be trying in her capacity to scare the life out of anyone that cared about her. Gabby had always had an untamable, adventuresome spirit. Because of that, she would need a man with fortitude; not to mention a great deal of patience when dealing with her.

He finally decided to wade into the topic with her. "I received more inquiries from gentlemen this evening requesting permission to call upon you, Gabby. But I am most impressed with the Marquess of Greystone. He has requested a formal introduction at the Hudson bash tomorrow night since you have not been introduced. I inquired as to his standing in society from men I know and discovered he is highly esteemed by most. He is in shipping."

She frowned in thought and then inquired, "He isn't... old, is he, Papa?"

John hid his smile. "Gabriella, he is a Marquess. It is very important for you to be on your best behavior when introduced, regardless of his age. Though he isn't as you say... old. He looks to be in his thirties and appears to be looking for a bride."

"Papa, perhaps I have seen him. Could you describe him to me?"

John frowned at the odious task of doing so. If he failed to give a good impression, his daughter could balk at meeting him. "He is rather tall with dark hair."

Patience wasn't her best suit. "That describes half the men there, Papa. Could you please be more precise?"

He grumbled at the task. "You will be introduced tomorrow at the ball." Seeing her frown, he sighed. "To ease your mind, he strikes a fine figure."

Her face puckered with impatience. "That doesn't tell me much. Are you sure he isn't after my fortune? If he's been losing ships recently, say because of piracy, he could want my purse and not care that I happen to accompany the dowry. Many men hide their wives away in the country while continuing on with their lives as before the marriage."

He shook his head. "A loss of ships and merchandise would definitely have wagged the tongues of those I spoke with if that were the case. No, his fortune is quite secure. I believe the Marquess is taken with you."

The stern voice of her mother rang through the carriage. "You should be grateful that your papa has taken such care to help you find a husband. If he says the man is reputable, then he is."

The loyalty from his wife pleased him. "I will have him investigated further. We will not take chances on our little Gabby."

"Thank you, Papa. I am very grateful. I know you will protect me. I just don't wish to marry anyone I am not especially fond of."

Her mother piped up again, "Don't be absurd, Gabriella. I realize you are not comfortable with the circumstances of the marriage mart, but how else do you expect to meet men of your station? You have met everyone near our country estate and none have pleased you."

"I admit that is true, Mother." She thought of Edward and held back a smile. "I have every confidence that I shall find someone to suit." Gabriella turned her attention to her father. "Would you mind telling me the name of the others who have asked to call upon me?"

A smile touched his lips as he began naming them and explaining what he had discovered concerning each one. To Gabriella's disappointment, Edward's name was not among them.

* * *

On the night of the ball, Gabriella had hopes Edward would also be in attendance. She had spent the day thinking about him and wondered why he was so much on her mind. The only answer she could conceive was because of the unusual circumstances of how they met. He was a mystery.

He had approached her silently, tempted her with a forbidden dance while daring her to accept. She had paused to judge his character but then grinned before she willingly stepped into his arms. Most would have shaken their head and scampered off. Without a formal introduction, let alone the idea of dancing with him under a canopy of stars... well, it just wasn't done. What had he thought of her, acting with such spontaneity?

Gabriella's personal maid held a towel for her as she rose from the lilac-scented bathwater. Their relationship would have been considered most unusual by the gentry, but they had been together since Gabby had moved out of the nursery.

Adele began patting Gabby's skin dry. "You are very quiet tonight."

"I am thinking of the gentleman Papa wishes me to meet. He's a Marquess."

Adele draped the towel over a chair and reached for the scented oil. She rubbed it lightly into Gabby's tanned skin, a bane her mother disapproved of since a pale complexion was fashionable.

"I have been assured that the Marquess is not old," Gabby told her. "The fact he has a shipping line tells me he's not fresh out of the schoolroom either. It takes time to build such a business. I wonder if I have seen him." Gabby slipped her arms through the sleeves of her silk dressing gown and tied the sash as she followed Adele to the dressing table. The arduous task of arranging her hair for another ball always took more time than her patience allowed.

The heavy length of Gabby's hair was towel-dried and the tedious process of combing it out began. "Your father would not choose an old man for your husband. He would not live through the excitement you would cause him. Nor does your papa have an ulterior motive for wanting you wed. If anything, he will be particular as to whom he allows to court you. But I suspect something else troubles you?"

Sarcasm dripped from Gabby's voice as she answered, "Yes. The two-legged kind. I doubt I will ever find a man as patient as Papa."

Adele's eyes crinkled with humor. "Are you just noticing that men are troublesome?"

Gabby smiled wryly, but could not find further humor in her situation. If the Marquess wasn't Edward, and he did attend tonight, she would have to find a way to appease them both.

She looked into the mirror and noticed how Adele pulled her hair straight back from her face. "Add soft curls next to my cheeks, Adele. Mother wishes me to wear the pearls again with the white lace gown you ironed. I believe Papa wishes me to make a good impression on the Marquess tonight."

Adele opened a box containing hair jewels. "You don't sound too pleased about it."

"I fear rebellion beckons me to oppose being displayed like a mare for breeding. Though, I did meet a man last eve that was ever so enticing. He said his name was Edward." Her eyes changed from moody displeasure to excitement. "For the first time, I was intrigued by a man who was someone other than a new fencing partner. We shared a dance and I enjoyed being in his arms. He made me feel... desire. Not very maidenly is it?"

"Bosh. You're a woman full-grown and the right man should make you feel desire. I have told you before that desire is natural, not something shameful. A man wants his lover to participate willingly and enjoy herself." She stared at Gabby in the mirror and asked, "Did you yearn to be held closer?" At Gabby's smiling nod, she asked, "Did your skin grow hot with desire and your breasts ache to be touched?"

"Adele, if I hadn't heard such bawdy talk from you before, I would be shocked beyond belief."

"I am French and your papa would not want his daughter to go to the marriage bed as untutored as the English. Virgin or not, you need to know what the right man will make you feel, and when he does, you know that he could likely be the one to keep you warm in his bed enjoying his attention." She slipped a lock of hair into a loop and pinned it with a pearl-studded hairpin.

Gabby knew the debutantes she had seen would not have been instructed as she had. "Hopefully, I will have a chance to discover such for myself one day, but I fear one dance did not offer such a demonstration."

Adele finished the coiffure adding a string of pearls as a tiara around the cluster of curls crowning her head. In her opinion, wearing the same hair jewelry two nights in a row was not done.

The moment Gabby finished explaining how she had met Edward, Adele asked, "Would you say the man is stupid?"

Shock rounded Gabriella's eyes. "Of course not! Why would you suggest such a thing?"

"Because of your doubt in him. Did you not just say he asked for your father's name?"

A slow smile of confidence colored Gabriella's face. "He did. I hope he... never mind. Edward did enjoy his time with me, I'm sure of it."

"I would imagine he did. Now, let us finish dressing you before your mother comes and lectures us for our tardiness."