Chapter 3: Page 1

He should not listen, Lord Kinneas told himself as he

stood behind a laurel hedge while his beloved Selphie

flirted with Viscount Zell Dintch on the other side. Such

conduct was beneath a gentleman. Nor did he want to hear

what they might say. His heart pained him quite enough

already.

But when he tried to move, his legs would not cooperate.

"What kept you?" Selphie asked Dintch in a tone of

sweet mock-petulance. "I was beginning to think you

might not come after all."

"If you believe I'd prefer standing around a stuffy

library drinking port to strolling with you under the

stars, you are not nearly as clever a woman as I took

you for, Miss Tilmitt."

She gave a silvery little laugh. The kind Irvine had

congratulated himself on prompting that afternoon. Was

that rascal, Zell, kissing her hand or taking some

other minor liberty? Where Selphie was concerned, there

were no minor liberties.

"You flatter me, sir," she said. "I am not nearly as

accomplished as your sister."

Now Zell laughed. "There's a difference between

cleverness and being a know-it-all little bluestocking.

It was most unkind of you not to rescue me from one of

Jane's tiresome lectures during dinner. You were paying

me so little heed, I was afraid I'd done something to

offend you."

"Never!" insisted Selphie. "I had to keep Lord Kinneas

talking so Lady Quistis wouldn't get her claws into him. I

want the dear fellow to find a nice wife, not take up

with some dreadful little minx who'll break his heart."

Irvine clenched his teeth to keep from crying out. There

was only one wife he wanted. A hundred Lady Quistis's could

not have tempted him. Nor hurt him more cruelly, with so

little intention.

Gradually, Selphie and the Viscount sauntered almost out

of earshot. Irvine could hear only the muted cadence of

their conversation, frequently punctuated by Selphie's

laughter. He tried to steal away so he would not be

discovered and humiliated. His legs continued to defy

his will. He was still rooted to the same spot when

Selphie and Zell came closer again.

"In that case, may I have the honor of a dance at the

ball?" the Viscount asked.