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enjoy an opportunity to take my mind off my own troubles.” She gave a rueful glance down at her swollen belly before looking back up at him. “We could even invite Benji. I’m certain he wouldn’t want to miss the chance to see you.”
    For just a moment, Emily could have sworn she saw something shift in Peter’s face. A shadow seemed to pass over his features before he finally nodded his consent. “Very well. I suppose there’s no harm in it. As long as Lord Ellington doesn’t object.”
    Tristan shook his head. “I wouldn’t dare. Once shegets the bit between her teeth, there’s no stopping her.” He sent his wife another firm look. “However, I intend to hold you to your promise that it remain small. No guests other than those present and the ones we’ve already mentioned. And I shall be keeping a close watch on you. If you start to feel fatigued at any time, I expect to be informed at once so I can call a halt to the proceedings. Is that understood?”
    There was no mistaking the seriousness of his tone. Deirdre might have had the earl wrapped around her finger, but she knew when not to push him.
    â€œOf course, darling,” the countess assured him with a sunny smile. “Don’t I always bow to your superior judgment in such matters?”
    Tristan rolled his eyes.
    So, it appeared as if things were all settled, Emily thought crossly as Lady Ellington and Lilah began to discuss the forthcoming dinner. Whether she liked it or not, it looked as if she would have to sit through an evening of pleasantries and idle chatter with Peter and a roomful of guests. And all the while she would have to talk and laugh and behave as if everything were all right when deep down she felt as if her whole world were on the brink of falling apart.
    Across the room, her eyes met Peter’s, and a tingle shot through her at the intensity of his expression.
    Dear God, how was she ever going to get through this night? Or for that matter, the days to come?

Chapter 4
    "A nd the next thing I know, they’re planning a dinner party to celebrate his return home!”
    Emily gave Artemis’s side another vigorous stroke with the currycomb and looked over her shoulder at Jenna, who stood slouched against a post at the entrance to the stall, arms crossed and peaked cap pulled forward to shade her eyes. “Can you believe it? It’s as if they’ve all forgotten how he just up and left without a thought to us.”
    As if suddenly realizing how childishly indignant she sounded, Emily turned back to her horse with a careless shrug. “Not that any of that matters to me, of course.”
    A snort from behind her caused an embarrassed heat to creep into her cheeks. “It doesn’t,” she insisted, hoping she sounded more convincing than she felt. “But it hurt Tristan and Deirdre a great deal. Not to mentionBenji and the other children at Willow Park who have always adored him.”
    She reached out with a gentle hand to rub her mare’s velvety muzzle, and Artemis gave a soft nicker in response. “And then to find out that he’s here to help with the investigation into the Oxfordshire thefts…” She shook her head. “Oh, Jenna, what are we going to do?”
    When only silence greeted her, she whirled about once again to face her companion. “Jenna? Are you listening?”
    The girl started and straightened from her nonchalant pose, reaching up to push her cap back from her forehead. “You’re asking me? ’Ere I thought you’d forgotten I was even ’ere.”
    â€œJenna, this is not a joking matter.”
    â€œDo I look like I’m joking?” Her friend sniffed and tossed her dark-brown braid over her shoulder. “I ’aven’t exactly been enjoying myself while you’ve been nattering on about Peter Quick for the last hour. You’ve barely even stopped for breath, so I