Chapter 2: Page 2

"So what do you think of Miss Heartilly?" Selphie

whispered once they were out of earshot. "Is she in love

with your cousin, do you suppose?"

"That is hardly the sort of thing one can tell from a

brief meeting." Or even a long acquaintance. Otherwise

Selphie would have realized ages ago how much he cared

for her. Perhaps she didn't want to see it.

"I suppose not." Selphie did not appear convinced. "She

is very lovely, though. Whatever may have induced her to

accept Lord Leonhart, I do not believe it was his

fortune."

"My mind is at rest on that score as well," Kinneas agreed.

"What shall we do to amuse ourselves until dinner? Would

you care to take a stroll through the gardens? Helmhurst

has very fine ones."

"We've been cooped up in your carriage together all the

way from home." An anxious look tightened Selphie's

smile. Did she think a walk in the gardens might give

him unwanted encouragement? "Why not mingle with some of

the other guests? The earl told me they're set up for

pall-mall and tennis."

"Pall-mall it is." Irvine tried not to let his

disappointment show. After all, any time spent in

Selphie's company was a rare boon, even if he had to

share her attention.

It had been a most enjoyable afternoon, Selphie decided

as she dressed for dinner. She and Irvine had won their

match against Viscount Zell Dintch and his sister. Kinneas

had been vastly comical, larking about with his mallet

and pretending to get the wickets mixed up. It was good

to see the dear fellow relaxing and enjoying himself.

Once or twice, her gaze had met Viscount Dintch's as

they'd chuckled over Lord Kinneas's antics, and she

had felt a blush rise to her cheeks. Zell Dintch was

very handsome and charming. His sister might do quite

well for Kinneas…except that she had a rather tart tongue.

Selphie did not want to see her dear friend saddled with

a scold for a wife.

She was delighted to find herself seated between Irvine

and Dintch at dinner. It was a rather strange

meal, though.

"Why so few candles?" she whispered to Kinneas as the soup

was being served.

"It's Leonhart." Irvine nodded toward the foot of the table

where his cousin sat. "The earl tells me his injured eye

is painfully sensitive to bright light."

"How awful for him." Hard as she tried, Selphie could not

keep her sympathy untainted by a tiny qualm of fear.

Lord Leonhart's black mask did give him a rather

diabolical appearance. "I wonder how poor Miss Heartilly

will manage, wed to a man who must live his life in

darkness?"