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with the same intensity.”
    “No. It’s not that—“
    He held up his hand to stop her protest. “Is there someone else, then?”
    “No. Oh, no.”
    His features relaxed. “Perhaps you could give me an idea of how much time you require?”
    “The end of the month,” she said, trying to keep her voice level. “Just until the end of the month.”
    “Of course.” His face opened to a wide grin. “That is only two weeks. Be assured that my feelings will not change in that short a time. Although it will seem like a lifetime to me, I can understand your need to consider such a monumental decision.”
    “Thank you.” She forced her lips to relax enough to smile at him.
    She’d avoided crossing an invisible line that would irrevocably connect her to Percy. The emotions that surged through her were indescribable. Relief. Reprieve.
    Her breath caught. What was she doing? This was what she wanted, what she’d been after. She only had two more weeks to find a husband, so why had she stopped him from asking for her hand?
    Because you don’t love him , a loud voice screamed in her head.
    But I don’t believe in love, another voice countered. And she didn’t. She was well acquainted with greed and lust. She’d seen it in her parents’ marriage, and knew it was the basis for her three sisters’ marriages. But she’d never seen a married couple who loved each other. Even David’s affiliation with his wife remained a mystery. She wasn’t sure if their relationship was based on love, or simply a fondness necessitated by the need to provide the next generation of Hartley heirs.
    Perhaps there was such a thing as love. Perhaps in time she could learn to love the Earl of Archbite. But for now, she still had two weeks of freedom. Two weeks that she did not have to think about what her future held for her.
    Two weeks to convince herself that her future was not as dismal as it seemed.
    +++
     
    The Earl of Archbite’s townhouse was already a buzz of activity when Allison and her brother, David, and his wife, Lynette, arrived for the musicale. Percy’s mother, the Countess of Archbite, met each of her guests with the same regal aplomb as befitted a queen. Percy stood next to her.
    The guest list was never overly large for any function Lady Archbite hosted. Invitations were sent only to a select few. Which might be part of the reason the invitations were so coveted by all of Society.
    Tonight was no different. Only the most elite of Society were here.
    “Lord and Lady Hartley,” Lady Archbite said, greeting David and Lynette. “I’m so honored you could attend.”
    “Thank you, Lady Archbite,” David said. “It was kind of you to extend the invitation.”
    Allison saw a slight smile cross David’s face. She wondered what her brother would say if he knew how close Lord Archbite had come to stating his intentions this afternoon. He undoubtedly would be elated.
    “Lord Hartley. Lady Hartley,” Percy greeted, nodding politely to David and bowing over Lynette’s hand.
    The look on David’s face remained friendly when he greeted Percy.
    A sudden thought raced through her mind. She couldn’t imagine the two of them as brothers-in-law. Once she ma rried him— if she married him, Percy would be an odd mix in her otherwise handsome family. Allison pushed such a ridiculous thought from her mind.
    “And Lady Allison,” the countess said, forcing Allison’s attention back to their hostess.
    She curtsied. “Good evening, Lady Archbite. I am so looking forward to this evening. I hear you have commissioned the talented Mademoiselle Miranda Bochaut to sing selected arias from her favorite operas.”
    “Do you enjoy the opera?” the countess asked.
    “Yes. David tells me I’m hopelessly addicted.”
    The countess smiled. “No one who enjoys the opera is ever hopeless. Perhaps there is something in particular you’d like to hear tonight. I could see if Mademoiselle Bochaut has it in her repertoire.”
    “Oh, no.”