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“Go on.”
    She hesitated. “While she is the strongest woman I know, I think she is more vulnerable than she appears.”
    “A brave face on it, then?”
    “Don’t mistake my words. I simply think there is much she doesn’t reveal.” She narrowed her eyes. “I would hate to see anyone toy with her affections.”
    “I have no intention of toying with her affections.”
    She snorted. “Then you, too, have changed, Sebastian Hadley-Attwater.” A warning sounded in her voice. “Veronica is not the sort of woman one toys with.”
    “I think you’re absolutely right.” His gaze returned to Lady Smithson. “She’s not the sort one toys with.” Lady Smithson had taken her aunt’s arm and was firmly steering her toward the door. He smiled slowly. “She’s the sort one marries.”

Chapter 4
    Good Lord, she was an idiot. Veronica settled deeper into the well-padded back of her open landau and pulled her cloak tighter around herself. Whatever had possessed her to tell Sir Sebastian she would be driving in the park today? Certainly she’d been distracted by the need to separate her aunt from Sir Hugo before one of them did the other bodily harm. She had realized as well that, given the time of year, there would be very few people in the park, which suited her purposes. As much as Veronica did enjoy flouting convention, she preferred not to be stupid about it. One was completely public here, no one could be accused of anything untoward, yet without people about there was a certain privacy. During the season one could scarcely move at anything other than a snail’s pace, but then, during the season, a drive through the park was for no other reason than to see and be seen. And while she did like driving in crisp weather, this year crisp had quickly turned to cold. Why, it had already snowed in October and again in November. Who knew what December would hold?
    Her servants, no doubt, thought her quite mad when she’d insisted on having the top down. Her driver had tried to dissuade her, as had her butler and her maid, although they should have known better. Veronica very rarely changed her mind. Why hadn’t they just said, “But, my lady, it’s bloody cold outside?” She ignored the thought that perhaps, in their own way, they had. Still, it wasn’t all that bad. She had a lap blanket and a warm brick at her feet. It was really quite invigorating, once one stopped shivering.
    Surely a little thing like the weather wouldn’t keep an adventurer like Sir Sebastian away. Although one did wonder where he was. She sat up and scanned the park, then settled back with a sigh. Perhaps she had been too subtle. Or too forward. Perhaps she had scared him away with her penchant for heated discussion and her progressive thinking. Still, one would think it would take more than an outspoken manner to scare away a man of courage and fortitude, as Sir Sebastian’s exploits had proven him to be, unless that, too, was an illusion. It was possible that he was as apprehensive about this meeting as she.
    Veronica wasn’t at all used to being apprehensive or uncertain. But then she had never set her sights on a man before. Truth be told, she wasn’t entirely certain what she was doing or how to go about accomplishing it. She grimaced. She had been teasing Portia when she’d said it wasn’t as if Sebastian had advertised for a mistress. But it was a pity, really. It would have made this much easier and completely straightforward to be able to apply for a position without having to justify her reasoning.
    How lovely it would be to simply say to him she had decided on this course for any number of reasons that were really none of his business. And to further say she had selected him for reasons that again were not his concern, although those she would be willing to share.
    She straightened again and noted a lone familiar figure on foot heading toward her across the snow-covered grass. Relief washed through her. His strides were long,