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been.”
    Temple stepped off the curb to wave down his driver, Elton, who was waiting in the mews. Colin paused, glancing back over his shoulder, still shocked by his betrothed’s abrupt refusal.
    To his surprise, he found Lady Diana peering down from a window, her eyes ablaze with a fiery passion that he had never before seen light her features. She hardly looked the heartbroken, ruined parti.
    But then again, her gaze wasn’t on him. It was drilling into the back of his cousin’s wine-colored jacket.
    Colin swallowed what was left of his pride.
    Egads. Diana had never loved him.
    The realization hit him harder than he cared to admit, and at the same time, it made perfect sense. Her easy acquiescence to delay their wedding all these years. Her vehement refusal to marry him today.
    His court-martial had only been an excuse. She’d cried off because she didn’t love him.
    He didn’t know why it suddenly mattered that she should have loved him. It wasn’t as if he’d been in love with her.
    But witness now to Diana’s intensity, her ability to shine with such fire, he knew that a wife should love her husband.
    And by the same token, a man should love his bride.
    Unequivocally, and without restraint.
    “Are you going to stand there like a forlorn pup all night?” Temple asked. “First a court-martial, then an afternoon wasted securing a special license the bride so kindly tossed back into your face. Come along with me, for I hate to see your day finish in utter failure.”
    Colin glanced at his grinning cousin and sighed. Only Temple could make light of such a disastrous turn of events. Deciding against another look up at Lady Diana, Colin climbed in and Elton started off.
    Temple leaned back on the leather squabs and sighed. “What a sad lot we are. All dressed up and our evening completely empty.” He fiddled with his elegantly tied cravat, while glancing out the window. “Let me think . . . I know there was something happening tonight. What was it?”
    “Save yourself the trouble,” Colin told him. “I’m hardly in the mood for one of your debaucheries.”
    Temple sat up straight. “Debauchery! Oh, that’s it. The perfect way to salve your broken heart.”
    Colin shook his head. “I’d hardly say I’m suffering from all that.”
    “Oh, you can’t fool me. You were always too serious by half,” Temple chided. “If I know you, you had the next twenty years all planned out. Diana would produce your heir within the year, and a spare two years hence. When you were at sea, she could reside safely out in that manor house your father left you in Devonshire. And when you finally tired of fighting the French and living on weevil-ridden rations, you’d come home to be lord and master of your peaceful household, without any thought of love or passion or fun.”
    “Fun?” Colin said. “Who said marriage is supposed to be fun?”
    “Well, it damned well should be if it means settling down and all,” Temple grumbled.
    “I’ll have you know that marriage is a matter of duty and honor.” At least that was what he had thought until a few moments ago when he’d seen that look of longing in Lady Diana’s eyes.
    Now he wasn’t too sure.
    “Have it your way,” Temple said, leaning back in his seat and crossing his long legs out in front of him. “Since your evening has been cleared of your previous engagement, literally, that is.” He chuckled at his own pun, while Colin did his best not to groan. “I have the perfect event for us to attend. Consider it your first lesson in disreputable behavior. If you are going to be a scoundrel—which is why, I may assume, you were run out the gangplank or tossed overboard, or whatever you naval fellows say—you might as well gain your lessons from an expert.”
    Temple tapped on the roof to get his driver’s attention. After he gave Elton directions, he sat back down.
    Colin shook his head. “I’m in no mood for gambling and drinking tonight. Besides, I can