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had run! She gathered her composure. "I do believe I know how to act the lady without practice, my lord."

"But can you maintain it under fire? What do you do, for example, when the king tells you that women are put on this earth to serve men and bear their children, and nothing more?"

Diana felt her jaw tense, but she inclined her head. "Sire, I think women blessed who achieve such a happy situation."

"So," he said, his voice changing a little to a sharper, higher pitch, presumably in imitation of King George, "you wish to marry, Lady Arradale?"

She fluttered her lashes. "What woman would not wish to marry, sire, if she could find a man worthy of her true regard?"

"And in what direction does your inclination lie, my lady? What? What?"

She stared at him. "What? What?"

His lips twitched. "A mannerism of his. What would you answer?"

Diana thought. "Sire," she said, lowering her head again, "my inclination lies toward a man of courage, honor, and strength."

"A soldier, then, what?"

"Not only soldiers are brave, sire. A man of intelligence, with an understanding of the world. Someone able to advise me on my many responsibilities, but also kind and gentle, and considerate of all. One who will love me to the exclusion of all others. Especially that," she said, looking up at him. "I require a husband who will be as absolutely faithful to me as I will be to him."

In his own voice, the marquess asked, "You think you are setting an impossible standard? Brand will be that kind of husband to Rosa."

"I had not finished, my lord."

"Ah, continue."

"I require a husband, sire, who will not need me to act a docile part, not protest at my determination, or try to restrict my actions."

His brows rose. "And that, of course, is why we are going to spend today in rehearsal."

She realized with annoyance that indeed she had fallen out of her role. "I would not say that to the king."

"And a drunkard will give up brandy tomorrow."

"I am not addicted to independence and power."

"Are you not?"

"No more than you!"

"But for me, Lady Arradale, it is permitted."

She resisted the urge to protest the unfairness of it. As he'd said before, that would be childish.

"So," he continued, "when the king inquires about the state of your estates and affairs, what will you say?"

"I am able to explain them, I assure you."

He shook his head. "No, Lady Arradale, you profess ignorance and confusion."

"But then he will feel justified in imposing a man on me to manage them!"

"He will feel justified in that anyway. Any sign of manly expertise will only alarm him further."

She turned to face forward again. "You're right. I can't do this."

His fingers touched her cheek, turned her to face him again. "I believe that is where we started. Now, let's try again..."

By evening, as they left Ware for the last stage to London, Diana was worn out. She was ready to hate her taskmaster, even though she saw that he had at times lightened the lessons and practices with humor. The stressful day had been even longer than expected, because of a loose wheel pin which had required a stop at a village wheelwright.

Beneath irritation and exhaustion, however, ran fear. If the marquess had planned to teach her that she faced a grueling time, that she could fail and plunge into disaster, he had succeeded.

In the ruddy light of the setting sun, she put a hand to her weary head. "My lord, I think you wish quite desperately to marry me."

He was lounging back, but she thought perhaps he looked as tired as she. "Why would you think that, Lady Arradale?"

"You are close to convincing me that I cannot do this. If that's true, I might as well abandon the effort now, and throw myself on your mercy."

"You have more fighting spirit than that."

She turned to look out of the window at the intense pink of the sky. "But you have succeeded in teaching me that I must not fight."

"There are many kinds of battles, and different strategies. And weapons beyond the imagining of ordinary souls."

She rolled her head back. "You think me extraordinary?"

"Don't beg for compliments." But his tired eyes were warm.

"I need some."

She realized then that they had reached a different place during this grueling day. Not friendship exactly. Perhaps camaraderie? Certainly all barriers of formality had gone.

That could be dangerous, but she was too exhausted to care.

"You are without doubt extraordinary," he said. "That, after all, is our problem."

She