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they reached the staircase.
    “Pardon?”
    She lifted the hem of her skirts, and they proceeded up the steps.
    “I decided to take your advice,” she whispered. “I thought about it for two days straight, then broke the news to my parents.”
    “How’d they take it?” he asked in a confidential tone.
    “My father was an angel. My mother was distraught. But she’s better now that she gets to plan Abby’s wedding.”
    “And your sisters?”
    “Very happy.”
    “And most importantly, you?” he asked, studying her.
    “Thrilled,” she averred. “I feel as though an anchor has been lifted off my shoulders. I don’t expect it will be easy, especially at first. People seem to feel sorry for me, and I hate it. But at least Lady Kirby understood.”
    He was shaking his head. “I can’t believe you did it. Took my advice. God, I feel responsible for this!” he said as loudly as he dared.
    “No, it was good advice!” she assured him heartily, though keeping her voice down as well. “You said to make myself happy, and that is what I’ve set out to do. I’m very excited about it, actually.”
    “Well, since it seems you changed your whole existence based on something I said off the top of my head, then I daresay we should undertake a proper introduction, if it’s not too improper at this point. I am Gable Winston-McCray, Viscount Roland. And I hear you are Lady Katrina Glendon.”
    “My friends call me Trinny in private. You may do the same, considering the circumstances,” she added meaningfully.
    His slow, intimate smile needed no words to assure her he had not forgotten about the kiss.
    “Well, Lady Trinny, it is very nice to meet you. And for the record, I already knew who you were, generally speaking. But I’m glad to make your acquaintance.”
    “Likewise, my lord.”
    His gaze dipped to her lips as though he, too, were remembering what they had shared.
    “I trust your lady friend was happy to have her earring back,” Trinny said as they continued up the stairs.
    The dismissive flick of his eyebrows admitted that she was, but he looked away. “I was grateful for your help.” As they reached the upper landing and walked into the ballroom, he lightly grasped her elbow. “Dance with me?”
    Trinny jolted at his touch but furrowed her brow and eyed him in suspicion. “Why?”
    “Er, because we’re at a ball? I thought that much was obvious.”
    “Yes, but if this is some sort of charity demonstration—”
    “My God, you say the funniest things, my fair Jupiterian or Martian or whatever you are. Are you hiding tentacles under there?” He glanced down at her skirts.
    She arched a brow, and then tilted her head. “I don’t want you feeling sorry for me.”
    “Don’t be daft. I asked you to dance because I want to dance with you. Why do you always assume I have some sort of ulterior motive?”
    She shrugged. “You never noticed me before.”
    “I didn’t know you then, and now I know I’m safe with you. From the vicar’s mousetrap.”
    “Ahh.”
    “To tell you the truth, it’s nice to be in the company of a lady who doesn’t have designs on one. Besides,” he added, “you impress me.”
    “I do?” she asked in surprise.
    “What you did takes fantastic courage, making a stand like that. It would be my honor to dance with such a woman.”
    She blushed a little, in spite of herself, and smiled. “Well, in that case, I accept.”
    He offered her his hand, she slipped her own into his, and then let him lead her toward the dance floor as the music started.
    If the announcement of the second-born Glendon girl’s engagement had startled Society, now the onlookers were totally confused. Everyone probably thought Lord Roland was only dancing with her out of charity, but Trinny’s decision to live an independent life included no longer caring what other people thought.
    This man understands me, she mused. She barely knew him, but she knew that he was on her side, and that felt