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been ordered to leave.”
    She all but ran out the door, not waiting for her cloak. Roan stood for a second in confusion. He didn’t understand how everything had just gone wrong. He charged after her, but was waylaid by a footman who wanted to give him, “My lady’s cape.”
    By the time Roan made it out the door, Miss Rogers had disappeared.
    He needed to find her, but first he wanted a conversation with Bollinger and his wife.

    Susan was furious with herself. What a fool she’d been. Her mistake had been in forgetting her place. She’d allowed her infatuation with the Duke of Killeigh to be too obvious. Too public.
    Lady Bollinger and the others had not minced words. She had been deemed “unsuitable,” and they were right. Ellen and Jane had warned her.
    Of course, it didn’t help when she returned to her lonely rooms and realized that the sharp words had not been what had hurt this evening.
    No, what had pierced her like a lance was her own realization at how foolish she had been. Sitting with the duke, having him pay court to her, had actually led her to believe that there might be more to his intentions than some wager, or even pure lust.
    She’d wanted to believe he cared for her. Wanted him to love her.
    Susan shook her head, crossing her arms and pacing the parameters of the room. There was no such thing as love. It was a phantom, a myth, nonsense.
    But wouldn’t it be a blessing to have a man like the duke in love with her? To have him care for her ?
    She raised a hand to her forehead, remembering the way he’d defended her to Lord Alberth. Not even her sisters would dare to speak out for her.
    Of course, she could blame the duke for causing the incident…except that she truly, deeply valued those moments they’d spent together.
    The man was dangerous. She lost all common sense around him. He’d destroyed her commissions. She was impoverished. Alone.
    And yet, she was also in love.
    The word snuck up on her. Startled her. Made her think she was going mad, and yet she knew it to be true.
    She’d fallen in love with the Duke of Killeigh.
    Susan sank into a chair, startled by the depths of her feelings. She barely knew him…and yet, this evening, they spoke as if they’d known each other forever.
    Of course, no duke could ever be in love with her—
    A knock sounded on the door.
    Susan frowned. She rarely had visitors. It was probably one of her sisters, with an ultimatum for disgracing the family. They’d probably been stewing over it for hours.
    She went over to the door and hesitated. She should not answer it. Ellen and Jane would only make her feel worse. They would accuse her of disgracing them, and they would be right.
    Her unknown visitor knocked again. “Miss Rogers, Susan, please, open the door.”
    The voice belonged to the Duke of Killeigh.

Chapter Six
    R oan knew she was on the other side of the door. He could literally feel her presence through the wood. The pull between them was that strong.
    He did not know what he’d do if she denied it.
    Nor did he know what he would say if she did open the door. He had her cloak. He’d grabbed it from the footman at the ball, thinking to use the return of it as an excuse.
    It was a pitiful substitute for the true reason he’d come for her. Silly even.
    Roan had faced French fire. He’d been surrounded by screaming heathens wielding knives and scimitars ready to skin him alive. But he’d never been more afraid than in that moment when, slowly, the door handle turned—and he found himself face-to-face with Susan.
    Susan. Even her name felt good to him.
    She was still dressed in her evening clothes although she’d taken the pins out of her prim, tightly arranged curls so that her hair tumbled down around her shoulders. She appeared young, defenseless…and frightened. She’d been crying.
    It broke his heart.
    For a long moment, they stood, and it was in that moment, Roan knew what he felt was true and right.
    He loved Susan Rogers.
    But did