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he been in Town at the beginning of the Season. I’m glad you at least had the good sense to have a tryst with a titled man.”
    Her father had never been one to mince his words, and she shouldn’t have expected it of him now.
    “But I have to say, Gabrielle, that it doesn’t speak well of him that he tried to run away when he saw us coming to aid you; but then you picked him, I didn’t.”
    “I don’t know why he ran, Papa. All I remember was seeing four men charging us. That could frighten anyone.”
    “Harrumph,” her father muttered. “I don’t think it would have frightened me. But no matter the reason he ran, all that is important is Muggs stopped him before he got away.”
    “So what will you have me do to save face in Society? Will you banish me to one of your country homes?”
    A wrinkle formed between his eyes. “Why the devil would I do that? No doubt that is what you would love, but no.” He chuckled ruefully. “Life will not be so easy for you. Even after the alarming stunt you pulled, you are still much too valuable for me to hide away in a small village somewhere. Exaggerated tales of your assignation in the park with Brentwood will surface, but so be it. They will die down in due time. Thankfully, because I’m a duke, no one would dare cross me. I’m certain that if you marry quickly enough, all will be forgiven and forgotten.” The chair behind his desk creaked as he lowered his broad frame into it. “So, no, dear girl, you will not be banished to our beautiful English countryside. You will be wed to the viscount.”
    Gabrielle looked at her father and had to bite her tongue to keep from telling him no. She wondered what had come over her. Why and how had she changed in such a short span of time? Five months ago she had readily agreed when her father told her he wanted her to marry Staunton, a man she had no feelings for whatsoever. She never once thought to disobey her father. She hardly even questioned him, but she had changed. She no longer wanted to just accept what her father wanted her to do without challenging him.
    “Papa, I don’t want to—”
    He held up his hand to stop her. “Whatever you say will fall on deaf ears, my dear. I don’t know the viscount but I’ll see what kind of financial arrangements I can make with him. They won’t be as lucrative as I had with the earl, I’m sure, but maybe he has something that would be worth an exchange for your hand in marriage. And, of course, I’ll provide him an adequate dowry. I spoke with my solicitor before I came back home. He is already gathering information on Brentwood for me and should have it to me before the man arrives late this afternoon.”
    Gabrielle remembered the expression on Lord Brentwood’s face when he heard she was set to be married next week, and that gave her some comfort. He was not a happy man. No matter what he’d said about willing to lie in the bed he made. If she read him right, his expression told her he would rather suffer the depths of hell than marry her.
    “Since you liked the viscount well enough to meet him in the park and let him kiss you,” her father continued, “I intend to see that you marry him.”
    Showing more confidence than she was feeling, Gabrielle took a bold step toward her father’s desk, and in a strong voice, said, “I don’t want to marry him.”
    The chair squeaked as he reached over and placed his glass on the desk. “You should have thought about that before you designed your affair with him.”
    Gabrielle gasped. “There was no affair, Papa.”
    He slammed a meaty hand down on his desk. “Then what would you call it, Gabrielle?”
    “Madness,” she whispered. “Utter madness.” As the words passed her lips, fleeting memories flooded her. Strong, warm, and passionate arms wrapped tightly around her. Cool, soft, and inviting lips pressed against hers. A wide, firm palm pressed gently to her breast.
    “Madness?” he asked and then sighed heavily before