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bit worried that Miss Appleton is sure to deliver a scathing report about him to the Blandfords and Lady Natalie.” She sighed. “That didn’t go at all well, did it? Have you ever seen such instant animosity between two people for no apparent reason?”
    â€œYes,” Evie replied.
    â€œI believe so,” Annabelle said.
    Lillian frowned. “When? Who?” she demanded, and was mystified when they smiled at each other.

Four
    To Hannah’s astonishment, Natalie was not only not shocked by her account of the visit with Rafe Bowman, she was highly entertained. By the time Hannah had finished the account of the kiss beneath the stairs, Natalie had collapsed on the bed in a fit of giggles.
    â€œNatalie,” Hannah said, frowning, “clearly I haven’t managed to convey how dreadful that man was. Is. He’s a barbarian. A brute. A clod. ”
    â€œApparently so.” Still chortling, Natalie sat up. “I look forward to meeting him.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œHe’s quite manipulative, our Mr. Bowman. He knew you would tell me what he had done, and that I would be intrigued. And when I see him in Hampshire, he’ll act the perfect gentleman in the hopes of setting me off balance.”
    â€œYou shouldn’t be intrigued, you should be appalled!”
    Natalie smiled and patted her hand. “Oh, Hannah, you don’t know how to manage men. You mustn’t take everything so seriously.”
    â€œBut courtship is a serious matter,” Hannah protested. It was at moments like this that she understood the differences between herself and her younger cousin. Natalie seemed to have a more thorough understanding of social maneuvering, of the process of pursuit and capture, than Hannah ever would.
    â€œOh, heavens, the moment a girl approaches courtship as a serious matter is the moment she’s lost the game. We must guard our hearts and hide our feelings carefully, Hannah. It’s the only way to win.”
    â€œI thought courtship was a process of revealing one’s heart,” Hannah said. “Not winning a game.”
    Natalie smiled. “I don’t know where you get such ideas. If you want to bring a man up to scratch, never reveal your heart to him. At least not early on. Men only value something when they have to put some effort into getting it.” She tapped her forefinger on her chin. “Hmmn…I shall have to come up with a good counterstrategy.”
    Climbing off the bed, Hannah went to retrieve some gloves and stockings and other items that had been dropped carelessly to the floor. She had never minded tidying up after Natalie. Hannah had met other lady’s companions whose charges had made their lives a misery, treating them with contempt and subjecting them to all kinds of small cruelties. Natalie, on the other hand, was kind and affectionate, and although she could be a trifle self-absorbed on occasion, it was nothing that time and maturity wouldn’t cure.
    Placing the personal articles in a dresser drawer, Hannah turned to face Natalie, who was still ruminating.
    Natalie was a pretty sight, tumbled on the white ruffled bed, her hair falling in golden curls. Her blue-eyed sunny appeal had stolen many a gentleman’s heart during her first season. And her delicately regretful rejections of her suitors had done nothing to dampen their ardor. Long after the season had ended, towering arrangements of flowers were delivered to the Blandford mansion, and calling cards piled up on the silver tray in the entrance hall.
    Absently Natalie wound a lock of shimmering hair around her finger. “Mr. Bowman is betting on the fact that since I went through an entire season without settling on someone, I must have tired of all these bland, respectable lords of leisure. And since it’s been months since the season ended, he also assumes that I am bored and eager for a challenge.” She gave an abbreviated laugh. “He