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beating he got dazed him, but no real harm was done. He didn’t lose consciousness and is in no way addled. He’ll ache, but he’ll do. And he’s staying on here until he’s well enough to fight me with more than words for the right to go home. So don’t worry. Now,” he said, openly looking at Nell, “let’s find out more about it.
    “Miss Baynes,” he said, turning his full attention on her, “how did you come to be on the street and why did you accost my friend?”
    “Rafe!” Miles exclaimed as the girl shrank back. “Couldn’t you phrase it a little more gently?”
    “Well, I said it as best I could,” Rafe said with a scowl.
    “That’s probably true,” Miles said with a smile, “but she doesn’t know that.”
    “Sorry if I frightened you,” Rafe told Nell roughly, “but I’m trying to get to the bottom of this.”
    “Perhaps I might try?” Miles asked.
    Rafe shrugged.
    Camille gaped. They were not only arguing about whether the girl was insulted but also wondering how to talk to her! Though Nell might wellbe the innocent heroine of some romantic tale, the girl had, after all, caused Eric’s injury, and they had a perfect right to ask her any questions they wanted to. But the men were tiptoeing around her, and these were men who had sometimes worked for the War Office during the late wars, men accustomed to dealing with all sorts of spies and double-dealers. Camille was astonished. She looked at Annabelle and saw her amused smile.
    Of course, Camille thought with a twinge of sadness, she was the only one who was surprised. Beautiful women expected that sort of treatment and understood when it was offered to others of their fortunate sisterhood, whatever their social station.
    “Miss Baynes, please don’t distress yourself,” Miles said. “Lord Dalton is a man of few words, and those always to the point. But though his question might not have been phrased delicately, it is the one on our minds. Could you please tell us the details of your meeting tonight with our friend Eric? And don’t worry. We aren’t here to condemn you, only to get at the truth. The damage to our friend is done. We only want to prevent more.”
    That was fairly said, Camille thought, and waited for the girl to speak.
    “I am so ashamed,” Nell said. She ducked her head, and when she looked up again, there were tears tracing down her lovely pale cheeks.
    “If you’re in any pain,” Miles said quickly, “we can go on at some later time.”
    “No, no,” Nell said with a weak and wavering smile. “Nothing hurts but my feelings, and that isn’t your fault. You see, I came to London only a week ago—only a week!” she murmured, as though in disbelief. She straightened, locked her fingers together, and held her hands in her lap, like a little girl giving a recital in class.
    “I was born and raised near Eastwell, in Kent.”
    Belle interrupted, “That’s where I heard the name! I thought it sounded familiar. Are you related to the Baynes of Rye? Viscount Baynes was a schoolmate of my father’s.”
    Nell shook her head. “I can’t say. My father didn’t see eye to eye with his family after his marriage to my mama, so I don’t know any of them. And now Papa can’t tell me, as he’s dead. Nor can my mama, though she’s alive but not—in her right mind. She became ill a few years ago and is getting feebler every day. That’s why I came to London. When she no longer recognized me, I knew it was time to seek help from any relatives I could find.” She looked down, as though shamed.
    It was remarkable how her long lashes formed fans on her pale cheeks when she did that, Camille thought, as fascinated as she was envious that the girl’s sorrow became her so well.
    “My mother didn’t have a big family,” Nell went on. “At least, I don’t think so. I never saw them any more than I did my father’s. Her side were prosperous farmers, but his were of higher rank. Neither married where their families