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but why? You can hardly think I'll ruin her, and I doubt she would permit herself to be ruined."

"There are many sorts of ruin."

"And which do you fear?"

She was feeling more foolish by the moment, and yet more concerned as well. "You could break her heart."

"I have no doubt she recognizes flirtation, Elf."

"But why are you flirting with her? I heard about events last summer. She bested you at least once..."

His brows rose. "You think me intent on dark revenge?"

She considered him. "Not dark. And perhaps not revenge. But... retribution, perhaps."

"By making the poor lady fall in love with me and then leaving with a cruel laugh. Elf, really!"

She smiled, feeling her cheeks heat. "Then why? We leave the day after tomorrow."

He shrugged. "Perhaps because we leave the day after tomorrow. A wedding creates a spirit of flirtation, and Lady Arradale and I are the only two unattached people here apart from the dowager."

"Then spend more time with the dowager."

"But she, alas, wishes me to marry her daughter."

Elf slumped slightly. "Nothing could be more ridiculous."

"Ridiculous?"

She frowned at him. "Never tell me you are finally looking for a bride, and in that direction."

"No, I never will. I was merely curious as to why you think it ridiculous."

She made a dismissive gesture. "If Diana marries, and she swears she will not, she will need a man who can devote himself to her properties and responsibilities up here. You will need a woman who will be a hostess for you in the south."

"So, you need not fear a match between us. I have nothing but benign intentions toward the lady."

It should have reassured, but Elf couldn't banish a gnawing unease. "Then don't pay her particular attentions, Bey. She's chosen a hard path, and might be vulnerable to temptation. From the comments of nearly every lady I know, you are temptation incarnate."

He laughed, shaking his head.

She rose. "Sometimes I wonder if you know your own powers."

He rose courteously to open the door for her. "I thought I had made them my lifetime's study."

"Not all of them if you don't know how devastating you can be to a woman's good sense."

"I will bear that most carefully in mind," he said, and closed the door between them.

Elf paused in the corridor contemplating a large Grecian urn without really seeing it. Everything Bey had said was reassuring, but still her instincts warned. She walked on to knock on a door a little farther down.

A square-faced plump maid opened it. "Yes, milady?"

"I would like to speak to the countess if she is available."

"Elf?" Diana's voice. "Come in, do."

The maid opened the door wide, and Elf saw Diana rise from a chaise dressed in a loose robe of clear light green.

"I'm sorry, you were resting."

"The sort of rest that goes best with conversation," Diana assured her, indicating the cushioned window seat. "Would you like some lemonade?"

Elf looked at an identical silver jug set in an identical ceramic iceholder. "How delightful."

The maid poured the drink and then Diana said, "You may go, Clara, until it is time for me to dress."

Elf sipped. "Lemon is so refreshing on a hot summer day, is it not?"

"Wonderfully so. Your brother was kind enough to bring extra supplies north or we would doubtless have run out by now."

"Bey has a certain ability for planning."

Diana chuckled. "An understatement. He's a remarkable man." It was said casually, but Elf was not fooled.

Diana was her own age - twenty-six - but if anything, she seemed somewhat more mature because of her training and responsibilities. She had avoided suitable and unsuitable suitors for years, and should be in no danger, even from Bey. And yet, though the square chin and steady eyes spoke of strength, the soft lips and the occasional sadness in those eyes told Elf otherwise.

She understood, indeed she did. She knew only too well how frustration, impatience, and wild desire could sweep even a sensible woman out of her wits entirely.

Diana cocked her head. "Penny for your thoughts."

"Last year," Elf said, abandoning a search for subtlety and throwing out a blunt warning, "I set out to lose my virginity."

Diana gasped.

"I was so very tired of guarding it! And so tired of being good. It was surprisingly difficult. With Fort, I mean."

"He wanted to wait until marriage?"

Elf snorted with laughter. "Fort? No. He... Oh, it's complicated. He hated all things Malloren. I was mad to choose him of all men."

Diana's look suggested that she saw where this was heading. "And yet you ended up married. A