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like.'
    'But—You've so much work to take care of, with guests staying the
    weekend,' protested Caprice.
    That made the older woman smile. 'Bless you, but honestly, I do this
    all the time. It's really no bother.'
    'Well,' she said, wavering. She went to the wardrobe and drew out the
    dress. She said, as Mrs Vandusen inspected the skirt, 'It's not as if it's
    stained, or anything. It's just that the skirt is so white, the slightest
    dirt shows.'
    'That's not bad at all,' said the housekeeper. 'I'll have this done in no
    time.' She took the hanger.
    Caprice followed her to the door, saying gratefully, 'Thank you very
    much.'
    Mrs Vandusen turned around as she stepped out into the hall. 'You're
    very welcome,' she said, warmly.
    Someone was approaching from the staircase. The upstairs floor plan
    was a basic 'L' shape, and Caprice's room was on the outside corner
    so that she could look down each hall without difficulty from her
    door. She glanced towards the stairs as the housekeeper turned away
    with her white dress, and Pierce appeared, strolling apparently for
    whichever room was his, shirt casually unbuttoned at his throat.
    Suddenly, though she was more decently clad than she'd been in her
    dress, Caprice felt self-conscious and longed to step quickly back
    into her room. But he had already seen them both and was coming
    their way, a slight, enigmatic smile touching at those male lips. He
    ran his eyes over her, and a light of appreciation touched at his eyes.
    For Caprice, it was the first time she'd seen him in full light, and
    something hit her midriff with a nearly audible thump. The way he
    held his dark head spoke of someone well used to authority, and the
    controlled set of his expression, the self-possession in his stance,
    revealed his maturity. The glimpses of that lean elegance she'd got
    outside hit her full on. A poised man, this.
    'I hope everything's been taken care of?' he asked, turning his smile
    to Mrs Vandusen, who beamed back.
    'Yes, sir. Good night, to the both of you,' said the housekeeper, and
    she continued down the hall.
    She said, subdued, 'Thank you for sending her up.'
    He turned back to her fully, and said quietly, 'I hope she can get it
    clean. It's a lovely dress.'
    Her heart hammered, her chest was restricted, her mouth was dry.
    Damnation, what was wrong with her? She wasn't in control, that was
    what was wrong with her. 'Well,' she said, trying to breathe deep. 'I
    guess I'll say good night again.'
    'Of course,' he said, as if continuing, and he tilted His head to the
    side, letting his eyes-linger on her figure. He paused, deliberately,
    and. then smiled slowly, devastatingly, and his eyes returned to her
    waiting, wary face. Those eyes, those dark eyes. 'There is something
    to be said for rose.'
    Her cheeks flamed hot, and her eyes flashed brief and brilliant before
    she ducked her head and muttered something quick and incoherent.
    Then she rushed back inside her room and slammed the door shut
    behind her. Appalled by her lack of restraint, her lack of composure
    over a simple comment, she pressed her fingers to her face in
    mortification.
    She didn't hear footsteps outside, but that was probably a
    combination of carpeting and her door's thickness. At least she was in
    privacy now, to think over the evening and find it surprisingly hard to
    get a certain man, a perfect stranger, out of her mind.
    Her heart started a slow, hard pounding then, as she turned her head
    slightly to catch the sound of quiet footsteps walking away from
    outside her door, several moments later.

CHAPTER THREE
    A SPARKLING clear morning, with sights and smells and sounds
    wafting through her open bedroom window, making her breathe deep
    in appreciation. An early morning, the sunshine lighting the dark
    green grass to silver white and dispersing the pre-dawn chill, making
    her long to be outside in the warmth. A quiet morning, since most, if
    not all, were still abed after the party the evening before, and