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woman on his right arm and a girl about Tiffany's age on his left.
    "Sir," the young man addressed William. "I am Brian Devonshire." He extended his hand, which William accepted. "And may I present my mother, Countess Carolyn Devonshire."
    Tiffany watched Lady Devonshire extend her gloved hand, thinking she looked like most mothers; she was pleasantly plump, with blond hair swept up in a matronly style, and she possessed warm brown eyes. "It is indeed a pleasure, Earl Courtland, to make your acquaintance. Winifred has spoken kindly of you in the past." She turned to face Tiffany, and smiled. "And who is this darling child?"
    "Lady Tiffany Courtland, Countess," William answered, and nudged Tiffany with his elbow. "Mind your manners and curtsy, Tiffany."
    A blush crept over Tiffany's features. She curtsied as requested.
    Seeing the young girl's embarrassment, Brian quickly intervened. "And may I present my sister, Lady Alysse Devonshire."
    Tiffany looked from under lowered lashes at Alysse as she curtsied in kind. She was a petite girl who stood four inches shorter than Tiffany. She possessed beautiful curly wheat-colored hair and large, round cornflower blue eyes. She exemplified everything Tiffany longed to be.
    While William, Carolyn, and Brian engaged in light conversation, Tiffany watched the footman at the boarding dock unload the trunks onto the cutter Raven. She stood shifting from foot to foot watching the activity, thinking this was the ship that would take her from England. She gazed toward Alysse, surprised to find her regarding her. Alysse was also shifting from foot to foot!
    "Alysse, please stop that! It is so nerve-racking," admonished Carolyn when Alysse inadvertently stepped on her mother's slippered foot.
    "Yes, Mama." Alysse shifted her eyes to Tiffany. A look passed between them, and both covered their mouths to hide the smiles that crossed their faces.
    "It appears the captain is awaiting our boarding," Brian commented. "I think, ladies, we should leave the earl and Lady Tiffany a moment to make their goodbyes."
    Alysse and Carolyn were escorted to the ship by Brian, who returned to wait a respectful distance from William and Tiffany, as he would never think of letting a young lady go unescorted around the docks.
    Tiffany turned, looking up at her father, eyes glistening with tears. The earl, feeling uncomfortable and not able to abide an emotional scene, placed a perfunctory kiss on her forehead and hugged her stiffly.
    "Remember who you are, your heritage, your position." His eyes became misty. "Now go! What I do today is far better for you than what I have done in the past." Shoving her gently away when she refused to let go, he headed toward the carriage and, without a backward glance, entered the coach, signaling the driver on.
    Tiffany, through tear-welled eyes, watched the coach disappear among the hustle and bustle of the busy docks. She squeezed her eyes tightly closed, preventing the tears from falling. She felt, rather than saw, Brian standing near.
    Brian took her hand, gently placing it in the crook of his arm, and slowly leading her to the quay, said, "The tide is high, lady, and the captain grows impatient. We must be on our way to another of life's adventures."
    Tiffany, biting her lower lip to stop it from quivering, inquired softly, ' 'Do you really think of life as an adventure?"
    He paused before he responded. "Well, why not? After all, life is what happens while we are making plans and dreaming dreams. And during the time we are not dreaming or planning, life sneaks in with an adventure or two on the road to our dreams."
    Walking up the gangplank and down the long companionway, Tiffany pondered his words, thinking, Why not? I have my dreams and plans. My trip, nay, adventure, to France won't alter them.
    No longer as frightened at her future, she smiled.
    The voyage across the channel took two days, during which Tiffany and Alysse became fast friends. They were as different as night and