Adele stood in the empty ballroom watching Gabriella fence with the stuffed dummy she used for practice. With each lunge, the sword thrust forward with a vicious stab. "I hate to be the one to remind you, Gabby, but that woman could be his mistress. Most noblemen keep them, you know."

Gabriella slashed the dummy across the throat. "And he apparently didn't think anything of flaunting her in front of me! I must have been a naïve dolt for falling for him like that, all because he danced with me in the moonlight." She stabbed the dummy in the heart with vicious intent. "I need to thank him for teaching me such a valuable lesson. Such romance is dangerous!"

"Couldn't the woman have been a relative? You did say she had dark hair like his. She could be a cousin or a sister."

Gabriella stopped to look at her. "Adele, I told you, I played a spy and watched them. He wrapped his arm around her and led her outside. I know my brothers are younger, but even grown I can't imagine them treating me that way. I'm lucky if they agree to fence with me."

"Men are very different creatures than little boys. Men take on responsibilities like sisters, especially a man like him. Could you not trust him until you at least ask him who she was?"

Gabriella turned back to her dummy. "Perhaps if I had been seeing him for a longer period of time, but I am not comfortable with asking at this stage of the relationship."

"He's taking you on a carriage ride..."

"I'm canceling." She stabbed the dummy again to emphasize her point. "He may think I'm a courtesan because of my behavior."

Adele shook her head, obviously annoyed at Gabby's ridiculous statement. "He asked your papa for an introduction, remember? What if this woman's a relation and he was just being sweet to her? You would be refusing the only man who has ever interested you. Do you believe that would be a wise decision?"

Gabriella sighed dramatically. "Do you have to be so logical all the time?"

"Someone has to be. You've been letting your emotions guide your thinking since you returned from the ball. Jealousy, when unmerited, can destroy dreams unjustly. If this man means anything to you, you need to talk to him. If he treats you badly because of it, you have learned more about his disposition, and that will give you a more valid reason for not seeing him."

"God, I hate it when you are right." She marched over to the sword stand and replaced her rapier. "I will do as you so wisely suggest. But if he winds up being a cad, I promise I shall blame you for talking me into this."

Adele grinned. "And if I am right?"

"I will owe you my gratitude, are you satisfied?" Adele raised an inquiring brow. "Oh, all right. I will owe you a bonus."

Enjoying Gabby's obvious disgust, Adele left her fuming mistress to order their horses readied for their daily ride.

* * *

Later that afternoon Adele walked into Gabby's bedroom and stared at the pile of dresses covering the bed. Gabby glanced her way but continued to study her reflection in the mirror. The dress she held before her was dark blue. With a huff, she tossed it towards the others.

Adele began gathering them to hang back into the wardrobe. "Wear the green velvet. It is warm and you look beautiful in it."

Gabriella tried it on and then stood staring into the mirror, dissatisfied, she pulled her arms from the sleeves. "It is too warm. The royal blue perhaps." Adele handed it to her and Gabby stepped into it, slipping her arms through the long bouffant sleeves. A study in the mirror and she raised her hair in a pile on top of her head to examine the look by twisting this way and that. Satisfied, she nodded. "This will do."

Adele stepped behind her and began fastening the tabs on the back of the dress. "It's a good thing you settled on one or you would have had to visit the modiste."

"Don't fret. I will help put the clothes away when I return. Now let's put my hair up."

"Men enjoy seeing a woman with their hair down in the daytime. I will use the combs and let you see how it looks with that scooped neckline." Adele did this and left the long curls trailing down her back. "You will make him tongue-tied."

The compliment helped to dissolve her anxiety. "Wouldn't that be nice? I would have a distinct advantage." She stood and shook out her dress.

Adele gave Gabby's shoulder a pat. "Trust your instincts. They have seldom let you down. You were convinced he was an honorable, trustworthy man, and men of that caliber do not flaunt their mistresses in front of women they wish to court."

Gabriella hugged her close. "What would I ever do without you?"

A tender smile touched her face, as she teased, "You will never have a chance to know. I will follow you wherever you go."

A tap on the door turned their attention as Lynette entered the room. "Your father has asked that you allow him some time with the Marquess before coming down. He wishes to speak with him."

"You might suggest he learn whether or not he keeps a paramour."

Lynette gasped, "Gabriella! Such thoughts."

Gabby stood in front of the mirror and puffed out her sleeves. "Did you not wonder about such things when you were being courted by Papa?"

"Absurd question, little one." Lynette approached her daughter and turned her around by the shoulders to see her face. "Paramours keep men sane until they marry. After that, it is up to you to keep your husband satisfied. The marriage bed is to be enjoyed and that means finding ways to please each other frequently." She sent Adele a teasing glance and then told her daughter, "If you show your husband your enjoyment in bed, he will not go outside the marriage for satisfaction unless he is not right in the head. N'est ce pas?"

"Yes, I understand what you're telling me but, Mother, those of the ton often regard marriage differently. Look at all the infidelity." Disgusted annoyance beset her as she turned to sit down and found the furniture covered with her dresses.

Lynette shrugged a shoulder with a tilt of her head. "It is because they either marry for money or social position. You, my little dove, will marry for love as I found with your papa. Nothing else is acceptable. And looking is very pleasing, yes?"

Gabby picked up a dress and slid the sleeves over the pole inside the wardrobe. "Sometimes."

"Then they are not wooing you hard enough. Make them. You must teach them to be attentive. If they make you unhappy, they must bring you gifts as your papa does for me." All three women giggled at the times John brought Lynette something after a spat she had caused because of boredom. Then they had spent hours in the bedroom.

* * *

The butler led Lord Grey into the baron's study as soon as he arrived. John rose from behind his desk and stepped around to greet him. "'Tis good to see you, Lord Grey. I know you wish to see my daughter, but I hoped to speak to you about investing in your shipping line. By what I've discovered, you are looking to add steamships." He waved to a chair this side of the desk and joined him in the one nearby.

Astonished, Edward took a seat. "Your information is correct. A vessel of that caliber could cut travel time in half. When dealing with the Americans, that can be important. They have shipping fleets but if I deliver more quickly..."

"You would beat them to it. I have a desire to expand my trade to Boston. It occurred to me that an investment into a steamship would satisfy us both."

His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Does this idea have anything to do with your daughter?"

John laughed outright. "God Almighty, if either my wife or daughter found out my dealings with you, regardless of a sound business arrangement, they would accuse me of buying you. What I realized, is the opportunity it would give us both. I can expand my business and earn a percentage of yours by simply making a small investment."

Edward steepled his fingers as he considered the proposal. "How small and what percentage?"

"Now, Grey, that depends on whether or not I buy the ship."

Edward knew that Baron Staffordshire had a great deal of wealth, but he had no idea he would be able to afford such a purchase. "You do realize the expenditure of a steamship...?"

A cunning grin crossed his lean face as he loosely folded his hands over his chest. "Business is my Midas touch, Grey. I always investigate a proposition before bringing it to the table. That means I also know what such a vessel could do for you. Buying a fleet of ships is neither my objective nor my intention. That is why we would work well together. A steamship would pay for itself quickly if we work together. Then you would be ready to expand."

"If not for your reputation as honest, I might be concerned at the knowledge you have acquired. This requires a discussion with my partner, Todd Dreyson, concerning such an investment. At the moment, he is chasing pirates in the Caribbean Sea."

The news almost brought John to his feet. "My God, man, you say that as if it is nothing unusual."

He began telling John about the recent events, while Gabriella paced in the hallway waiting for them to finish their discussion. Her courage to ask him about the woman she had seen him with was dwindling. She detested verbal confrontations. In her opinion, life would be much happier if such things never happened. But when they did, she stood her ground to try and reach an understanding.

Finley entered the hallway to find her talking to herself as she paced in front of the study. "Shall I inform his Lordship, of your presence?'

Gabriella stopped and looked at him. "They have been in there for half an hour. If they don't hurry, it will be dark soon."

Finley tapped and then slipped into the room. A moment later he opened the door for her to enter. Both men stood as she approached. "Good afternoon, Lord Greystone."

Edward bowed, "It is a pleasure to see you."

Her curtsy was sincere. "Thank you. I am sorry to have kept you waiting. I trust your visit with my father kept you pleasantly occupied."

He nodded his head regally. "We have much in common. Are you ready to go?"

She nodded, "If you are."

He bid his thanks to John and escorted Gabriella towards the entry waiting to retrieve her wrap from Finley. Edward took it and placed it over her shoulders. "It is a nice day so I brought the curricle. I believe you will enjoy getting out."

As they stepped into the sunlight, she saw the carriage was fitted with a magnificent grey. He escorted her to the step and offered his hand. She took it saying, "Your horse is quite impressive, Milord."

"Thank you." He watched her carefully and had the impression something was bothering her. So far their time together had been quite enjoyable. He snapped the reins and they drove towards the park. "You look lovely today."

"It is good of you to say so. You look quite dashing yourself." She felt like an idiot with all the formal compliments when what she wanted to do is ask about the brunette he'd left with last night. "Do you often take a turn in the park?"

His forehead creased with curiosity. "Not generally. I prefer riding."

She nodded. "I purposely miss the promenade by riding early in the morning. It was quite damp out this morning."

"If you had mentioned it, we could have gone out together."

She wasn't about to share her riding time with him until she knew more about him. Most men would call her a hellion if they witnessed her riding astride, against her father's wishes. It was impossible to do anything in a sidesaddle but race and jump. "Perhaps, when we become better acquainted. Do you always ride in the evening, Milord?"

He wondered at her answer and was irritated at her persistence in ignoring his name. "Are you back to calling me milord because there is no moonlight? I thought we agreed you would call me Edward."

"We agreed, but I have noticed most call you Grey, including my father. Wouldn't that be more appropriate?"

"My given name is more intimate than my title, don't you concur?"

"Yes, it is, and that is why I should call you Lord Grey."

He turned his head to look at her. "I won't hear of it. To you, I am Edward. It declares the state of our relationship unless that is something you are not ready for."

"We have only recently met and you speak of a relationship. Perhaps, you should explain what you mean by that."

For some reason, her attitude had changed and he wondered what had transpired. He reviewed his time with her and hesitated to believe he had misinterpreted her reaction to him. Their dance on the terrace had affected him, but had she only been pretending? Granted, he had been infatuated with her from the moment he had heard her laughter, but by the time he had held her in his arms, he had wanted nothing more than her. "I beg your pardon, Miss Barrington; I assumed you felt the same magic that I had on the night we met."

Pain sliced through her heart as sharply as a sword the moment he mentally pulled away.