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Miss Sheringham safely to her destination,” the captain interrupted, bestowing a silencing look on the child.
    Eliza identified the girl as Reggie—she had noticed Reggie had a tear in the knee of her stocking.
    “Can we go see the Tower?” Becky asked, quickly joining her sister.
    “And watch the performing horses?”
    “And go up in a balloon?”
    “We may not have time—” Their uncle stopped himself and smiled down at their upturned faces. “Why not?”
    He turned to Eliza and said, “Well, Miss Sheringham? It is up to you. Would you deny two little girls their first look at London?”
    She could see difficulties ahead, not the least of which was how to detach herself from the trio when the time came. But she would not deny the little girls the sort of adventure she had yearned for as a child. And she did not really wish to be riding around in the dark tonight by herself.
    “I would be delighted, Captain, if you and your nieces will join me on my journey.”
    “Then it is settled. We will travel together in the morning.”
    “Early,” Eliza said, concerned about getting as far away from Ravenwood as quickly possible, preferably before Cousin Nigel realized she was gone.
    “How early?” the captain asked.
    “Dawn?”
    She thought he groaned, but the sound was muffled when Mephistopheles stomped and swished his tail to rid himself of flies.
    “I would rather sleep a little longer.”
    “I would not dream of imposing on you, Captain. Please, do sleep in. I will travel by myself.”
    He pressed his lips flat and said, “Very well, Miss Sheringham. We will leave at dawn.”
    Eliza gave him a blinding smile. “Whatever you say, Captain.”

Chapter 3
    I t was difficult for marcus to get the twins settled back down in the stall with Frances and her kittens, because they were so excited by the change in traveling plans.
    Marcus had kissed them both good night for the fourth time when Becky asked, “Where will Miss Sheringham sleep, Uncle Marcus?”
    “I thought I would stay here with you,” she replied before he could answer.
    Marcus realized with a start that Miss Sheringham had already gathered a bunch of straw into a bed-sized pile in the far corner of the stall.
    “There seems to be plenty of room for all of us,” Miss Sheringham said, already down on one knee.
    Marcus had a brief image of himself and Miss Sheringham naked and sweaty in the straw and shook his head to clear it.
    “No. Absolutely not,” he said, reaching out to take her arm at the elbow. He pulled her to her feet and then out of the stall completely.
    “Why can’t I stay here?” she asked.
    A woman of the world would have known without asking. She was obviously far from that. In his most forebearing and patient voice he explained, “Because Iwill be here with the children. It would not be proper for you and I to sleep under the same roof without a chaperon.”
    “Who will know?”
    “I will.”
    “So will I,” she said. “But if we are satisfied with the sleeping arrangements, why should it matter to anyone else?”
    Frankly, he agreed with her. But he knew better.
    “It will not do, Miss Sheringham. Think of the consequences if we should be caught sleeping here together.”
    “Oh.” Recognition dawned. “You mean the world will think we are two gentlemen who—”
    “No, no.” He fought back a laugh as he realized what she was implying. “I mean that if it becomes common knowledge that Miss Elizabeth Sheringham and the Beau spent the night together, we will be forced to the altar.”
    Her hazel eyes—more like a tawny gold, he thought—probed his face as though he were a rare insect under a magnifying glass. “
You
are the Beau?”
    He nodded. “Is there something about what I said you do not understand, Miss Sheringham?”
    “Oh, I understand perfectly. You are right, of course. It is just that I have never met a notorious rake before,” she admitted candidly. “The exploits of the Beau are known even in