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and open it. I want to see what your admirers have to say after your unbridled success last night.”
    Felicity leaned closer to see as Serena opened the envelope. “‘Beautiful roses for a beautiful woman,’ from Sir Radcliffe Parry.” She opened another. “‘To Miss Serena, London’s exotic flower,’ from Viscount St. Albans.” The other cards had similar missives, all complementing Serena’s unique beauty.
    It was all rather flattering, really.
    After she had read all the cards, Serena made an interesting observation. She had received flowers from almost every man in attendance, yet there were none from Darius Manning.
    “Really? Nothing from Lord Kane?” Bliss asked. “Well, that is surprising.”
    Serena plopped the cards down on a sliver tray in annoyance. “No, it is not. I mean, really—after all the commotion he caused last night, not to mention the chairs and crystal that were broken during his fisticuffs with the duke, I should think he would have sent half a dozen bouquets, at least. But he sends nothing. Not even an apology!”
    Lady Devlyn put a supportive arm around her. “I am sure the earl will recompense me for any damages. And the fact that you are so annoyed that he didn’t send flowers leads me to believe that you wished to receive them from him, above all others.”
    Serena could not believe her benefactress would even suggest such a thing. “If I did, it is only because I feel it would be the right thing to do after such a disgusting display.”
    Lady Devlyn gave a knowing smile, her blue eyes sparkling mischievously. “Of course you do.” She walked about the room, bending to smell a particular flower in one of the numerous arrangements. “Perhaps Lord Kane intends to send you a more extravagant gift. As you say, after last night’s violence, a gift of jewelry might be more in order.”
    “Do you think he’ll come to visit you today?” Felicity asked, taking a seat next to Bliss on the luxuriously upholstered settee.
    Serena tossed her head. “Even if he does, I shall not consent to see him.”
    “Why ever not?” Lady D asked, calmly, as if she already knew the answer.
    “Haven’t you noticed? The man is an ass,” Serena stated.
    The room erupted in laughter. Lady D commented, “Most of them are, my dear. Do not let it concern you. I think you are forgetting Courtesan Rule Number Nineteen.” She turned toward Bliss and Felicity, who replied in unison, “ Never let a man get your kickers in a twist .”
    Lady D continued, “Indeed, I see at least Bliss and Felicity remember your lessons. Serena seems to have forgotten hers already.”
    “I haven’t forgotten,” she replied. “And for the record, Lord Kane couldn’t get my knickers in a twist if his life depended on it.”
    “But he did once before,” Bliss said. “As you told it, not only did he get your knickers in a twist, he removed them completely, and left one of your stockings dangling from a tree-branch.”
    Serena frowned. “Thank you for reminding me, Bliss.”
    Bliss continued, unfazed. “Perhaps he has come back to finish what he started that night.”
    “Then he shall be dreadfully disappointed.” Serena stood, then paced about the room. “The man toyed with my affections most deplorably. He seduced me practically to the point of no return, only hours after proposing to another woman! Let us not forget the boorish way he treated his fiancée, let alone me.”
    Felicity offered, “Perhaps Lord Kane really isn’t the villain you think he is, Serena. The fact that he was terribly taken with you is without doubt. It has been rumored that he married Miss Barton in order to save his family’s estates. Surely you can see the man’s hands were tied.”
    “And that excuses his ill-treatment of me?” Serena demanded hotly.
    “Of course not,” Felicity said. “But I think you are simplifying the circumstances, when the circumstances surrounding that fateful night are anything but.”
    Bliss