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meant he must at least distract the Marquess of Rothgar.

To that, he sensed, Lady Arradale might be key.

Lady Arradale, who apparently was not at all as she appeared.

Chapter 24

When Rothgar arrived at the Queen's House, he found the event surprisingly crowded. The king and queen rarely held large parties in what they considered their private home. Part of the crowd was in honor of the gift, no doubt, but he realized the invitation list had been expanded to provide Lady Arradale with suitors. Among other eligible men, he saw Somerton, Crumleigh, and Scrope.

Over my dead body, he said to them, then summoned every scrap of devilish cool and moved forward to play his part.

He went first to pay his respects to the king and queen in the grand salon, where a shrouded shape sat on a central table. On a table to one side, the shepherd and shepherdess he'd given to Their Majesties last year was unconcealed.

D'Eon would have seen that piece, and Rothgar had no doubt that the French king's gift would be more spectacular. He wished the Chinese pagoda still existed, for it would eclipse most other machines. Or that the drummer boy was ready for display.

Ridiculous to be staging a war by automata, but that's how it seemed to be. His mind played whimsically with the idea of two swordsmen - one French designed, one English - and an actual duel.

Collecting his wits, he greeted the royal couple. The queen obligingly pointed out Lady Arradale, standing to one side with a chatting group. There was no need. He had seen her as soon as he entered the room - or perhaps sensed her was more accurate.

Without looking again, he knew she wore moss green and gold. That she had been smiling, but looked pale. That, however, could just be her clever paint. He needed to find out, but not yet.

"We are very pleased with Lady Arradale," the king said. "A charming young woman. Quite as she ought to be. Make some man an excellent wife, what?"

"Yes, sire," Rothgar said, thinking that she must be playing her part extremely well. Truth was, she'd make an impossible wife for most men.

"Excellent company for the queen," the king went on. "Fond of children. A fine looking woman, what? We'll be dancing at her wedding in weeks."

He bowed and expressed delight at the thought.

The king shot him a look, and he abruptly realized that something else was going on.

Then the king said, "Lady Arradale has agreed that if she cannot make up her mind, we will choose her husband."

It took all his skill not to react to that. Why, short of torture?

"Better for her to make her own choice, though, what?" the king was saying. "Difficult here, with the queen and I living quietly. The lady should have the chance to meet many gentlemen, what? Get to know them. Dance, that sort of thing."

"I think so, sire." Rothgar was still trying to assess the extent of this problem.

"A grand entertainment, what?"

Rothgar actually echoed him. "What? An entertainment here, sire?"

"No, no. Not with the queen so near her time. Anything you could do, my lord?"

He suddenly understood.

Arrange her courtship ball? It was as good as a command, however, and he was known for unusual and magnificent balls and masquerades. "A masqued ball perhaps, sire? Such things are romantic."

The king nodded, a gleam in his eye, and Rothgar knew he'd attend in disguise. "Capital, capital! How soon can it be done?"

"Perhaps two weeks, sire?" If the fates were kind, the queen would take to her bed early, and he could extricate Lady Arradale then.

But the king frowned. "Two weeks, my lord? No, no. Sooner than that. And anyway, in two weeks there will be no moon. Monday is the full moon. Why not then?"

Rothgar raised his brows. "That is very soon, sire."

"It cannot be done? You have worked such miracles before, my lord." The king's sly look warned of what was to come. "Don't you say, "With a Malloren all things are possible," what?"

There was no escape. "It can be done, sire, if you will accept the use of features you have seen before."

"Of course, of course. It will all be novel for the lady. And give a chance for one of her admirers to win her heart, what?"

Other guests awaited, so Rothgar stepped back from the royal couple wishing he knew exactly what the king had in mind. He wished to go immediately to Lady Arradale, but that would be too