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that run through time and space,” Kamana said slowly. “They touch each other and create shining webs of love and hate and friendship.”
    “You can see Leah bonded to me?” Ranulph asked urgently. He’d sensed that he would soon be sharing his domain with another, but desire might be distorting his intuition. “She will be my consort?”
    “Never fear, my lord. I see your thread intersecting that of your consort, forming a knot that will bind you together for eternity, or near enough.” Kamana drew the heavy rope of her hair through her fingers, absently toying with the gold bangles that circled it. “Like all gifts, mine is a mixed blessing. I followed my own thread of destiny here, not knowing how close it would come to destroying me.”
    “You said the passage was difficult,” he said as he imagined the months of confinement on shipboard.
    She was silent for a long moment, her habitual shimmering vivacity stilled. “Even more difficult than I told you when we first met. At the start of the voyage, there was not enough of nature living on that ship. The mortal who was bringing the specimens back to England found me dying among his shrubs. He understood my malady, though I could say little, and demanded that the ship stop at a small tropical island. Days we stayed there, and I recovered my strength among the flowers and palms. When the ship continued, the mortal brought more greenery into the hold to sustain me for the rest of the journey.”
    “But he extracted a price from you,” Ranulph said flatly. “It is ever the way of mortals to extract treasure from the Fair Folk when they have us in their power.”
    She flashed a smile in the darkness, shimmering again. “Aye, he asked a price, but not for himself. Merely to preserve his beloved nephew from death in battle, then find the boy a good mate. ’Twas not a price I mind paying.”
    “You were fortunate.”
    “I merely followed destiny’s thread.” She swept a perfect English curtsy. “Good night, my lord. I intend to stay in London for a time, so we shall meet again.”
    He bowed, then vanished into the shadows of the duke’s garden.
    Kamana stood and watched him leave, her inner vision studying the silver thread of his destiny.

Chapter Four
    Lady Wheaton at her side, Leah entered the Duke of Candover’s ballroom with the graceful confidence that came to her naturally now. She had recovered from her encounter with the Duke of Hardcastle, and never let herself be caught alone by any of her other admirers. She had also improved her flirting, which made it easier to control the men who flocked around her. Flirting was a game, enjoyable in itself and also good at keeping people at precisely the distance one wanted them.
    Lady Wheaton murmured, “Brace yourself, my dear, you’ve been seen.”
    Already men were flocking toward them. Most Leah knew, though a few were strangers drawn like moths to the flame. Several of them immediately demanded introductions from Lady Wheaton. Lord Wye planted himself in front of Leah and bowed. “You are in exceptionally fine looks tonight, Miss Marlowe.”
    “Thank you,” she said with a friendly smile. She had already turned down three proposals from Lord Wye, but he had not given up yet.
    Lord Jeffers intoned, “She walks in beauty, like a swallow’s flight.” He hesitated. “That’s the first line of my new poem, but I’m not sure I’ve got the right phrase yet.”
    Leah touched his hand. “I’m sure you will,” she said warmly. Then she turned so Lady Wheaton could make introductions. In the last weeks Leah had mastered easy social intercourse. In fact, she’d learned that beauty made almost all things easy.
    Yet she was no closer to finding someone to love. The most attractive men she had met were those who were happily married, like her newly wed host, the Duke of Candover. Wanting nothing from her, such men were relaxed and charming companions.
    At every social function she attended, she looked