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be a shame for you to leave. I know you do not
have other family to see you through this difficult time.” The concern left his
face to be replaced by a triumphant smile. “Where would you go?”
    The beginnings of anger began to stir within her. The lying,
deceitful wretch. He was enjoying her misery. He obviously had something in
mind so she remained silent, knowing it would be unwise to anger him. She only
hoped he would tire of his game soon and reveal his intentions.
    She didn’t have to wait long.
    “Maybe there is something you can do for me.” His gaze moved
over her, lingering on her breasts. When he raised his eyes to hers again their
piercing intensity caused her blood to freeze.
    “I have always been very curious about you, Miss Evans. I
have a feeling you are hiding more beneath that innocent exterior than you
would have others believe.”
    She said nothing.
    He took a step closer but she stood her ground. He would not
see her cower.
    “Surely we can find out,” he said.
    “I think not.”
    He stared at her intently for a moment before taking a step
back.
    “Of course not,” he said. “Well, perhaps your sister will be
of a different mind. She is no longer a child, after all. And I am sure she
would be very eager to help keep her family from being tossed out of their home
without a shilling to their name.”
    That will never happen, Louisa vowed silently. She
would not allow him to approach Catherine with his lewd proposal.
    She tried one last time to appeal to whatever scrap of
decency he might possess, knowing all along it would be futile.
    “Please,” she said, trying to mask her desperation. “Hasn’t
your family taken enough from us? Can you not leave us in peace?”
    His cool gaze flickered over her once more.
    “I will be by on Friday. You will either have the rent then,
or you will have to think of another way to pay me. Good day.”
    He strode toward his coach without a backward glance.
    Sickened, she hurried into the house and closed the door
behind her. Leaning against it for support, she closed her eyes and swallowed
deeply, trying, without success, to achieve a measure of calm. She would never
be able to solve this new dilemma if she panicked.
    It was Monday. She still had four days to find a solution.
But try as she might, she couldn’t think of a way out of their predicament.
    She needed to sit down. She took a few deep breaths to
steady herself before moving into the sitting room. When she did, her gaze fell
on the calling card lying on the side table.

Chapter Four
    A flurry of activity broke out when
Nicholas rode into the open courtyard of Overlea Manor. A groom rushed out to
see to his horse, while the head gardener slipped away to let the staff know
the marquess had returned. Within minutes every servant on the estate would
know. He smiled wryly. His arrival had never commanded such attention before
he’d inherited the title. When his father and brother were alive he’d been free
to come and go as he pleased. He missed that freedom.
    He dismounted and handed the reins to the groom, who bowed
and led the animal away. He turned toward the manor house where the butler was
waiting patiently by the open door.
    Sommers bowed as Nicholas approached.
    “Lady Overlea has been expecting you, my lord.”
    Nicholas knew that meant his grandmother wanted to see him
as soon as possible. He had given up trying to remember what had been in her
letter. He could remember breaking the letter’s seal but had no memory of
reading it. The letter could only have been a summons or news that she was ill.
Nothing else would have caused him to ride home to Kent on horseback while in
the grip of one of his cursed headaches.
    “Grandmother is well?”
    “Yes, my lord, as always.”
    Of course. His grandmother had always been strong as an ox.
She had outlived her husband, her two sons, and one of her grandsons. She would
probably outlive him as well. That meant Grandmother had summoned him home,