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dying without issue is the greatest sin.”
    Satisfied he’d made his point, he withdrew his jeweled snuffbox from his pocket, took a pinch, and snapped it shut.
    Nivea gave him a tight smile. “And yet you have done neither, married nor had children.
    He tipped his head with an ironic twist of his lips. “Too true. Nor do I plan to for a good long time. I rarely do what is expected.”
    “Why is that?” Nivea cocked her head.
    The conversation had suddenly taken far too personal a turn. He had no intention of explaining himself to her, or anyone for that matter. Without a word, he drew to his feet, brushed the crumbs off his clothes, and strode toward the horses. This misadventure had gone on long enough.
     

Chapter 6
    Nivea had mixed emotions as they arrived at the outskirts of Horsham property. Much as she loved returning home, she had not managed to win Dare over. Despite her best efforts, he was still treating her like a bother. As they plodded through the woods leading up to Vincent Hall, they hadn’t exchanged more than ten words since their picnic.
    But when they finally turned up the road to her house, she couldn’t suppress the joy that bubbled up inside her. Vincent Hall was a large, comfortable house, nestled in a side of a hill. The stone structure glowed orange in the afternoon sun, and the windows glinted yellow, like eyes of a contented cat. Beyond the house, she could see the lake, and past it, the forest where they had roamed as children. She sighed with pleasure, reminded yet again how much she preferred her home to the bustle of London.
    As they approached the entrance to the house, the Earl of Cheltenham came flying out the door. As usual, his jacket was rumpled, his face flushed, and his brown hair curling willy-nilly around his collar.
    He grabbed at her horse’s bridle. “What is this?” he exclaimed, his grin stretching from ear to ear.
    “What do you mean, Popa? We are here for Caroline’s wedding. Surely, you were expecting us,” Nivea answered, keeping her voice as nonchalant as possible.
    “Yes, but in a carriage, for goodness sake. Whatever possessed you to arrive on horseback?”
    She couldn’t help smiling as he stared at her in wonder. “Ah, yes. Well, our carriage broke. In order to arrive on time, we had to ride.”
    Without hesitation, the earl tugged her from the horse and gave her a solid hug. He was as surprised as she’d hoped and it brightened her mood. Then he turned his attention to her mount. Giving it a quick appraisal, he patted its neck fondly. “Nice piece of horseflesh. I will have to learn of its bloodline. I’d wager it’s got a bit of Daltrey’s Devilment in it,” he murmured to no one in particular.
    Well used to her father’s obsession, Nivea took no notice. Her attention was diverted by Dare as he leapt from his horse and handed it off to a groom. Despite his aloof behavior, her heart still raced seeing him stride over, all long legs and strong shoulders.
    He gave her father a curt bow. “Lord Horsham, I confess we had a bit of a mishap, but I deliver you your daughter, unscathed.”
    The earl turned toward her escort, his face a mixture of bafflement and joy. “Lord Landis, sir, I must say I have never been more surprised in all my life.” He clapped Dare on the shoulder and might have pulled him into a hug if Dare hadn’t stepped out of his reach. Too delighted by the afternoon’s turn of events, her father took no notice. “I don’t know how you did it, but I have to thank you for accomplishing a miracle. Bringing my Nivvy along on horseback…this is like unexpected gold in my pocket.”
    “Really, Popa! You’re embarrassing me.”
    Unfazed, the earl pulled her close and bestowed a loud kiss on her forehead, before turning again toward Dare. “You have given my daughter her birthright. I could not be happier.”
    He linked arms with them both and propelled them toward the house. “Now then, the rest of the party is here, more or