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wanted him to be you,” Beth murmured against his shoulder.
    She felt his lips in her hair. “No, no. I’m glad in a way that your father came in when he did. He stopped something I shouldn’t have started. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be wonderful for you some time in the future with a man you love.”
    “I love you,” she said. “It can happen this fast, I know it can.”
    He went still, and then his arms tightened. “Beth,” he said, a catch in his voice. “How young you are, and how fresh. I’d give anything to regain the innocence you’re so eager to lose.” He pried her arms loose from his neck and tilted her chin with his hand, forcing her to look at him.
    “Beth, I have to go. I don’t want to, but I can’t damage your relationship with your father any more. Are you going to be all right?”
    “Yes,” she replied. “But won’t I see you again, can’t I write to you?”
    He shook his head. “It’s best to let it go.” He smiled charmingly, and her heart turned over. “I’m too old for you, you know.”
    “I’ll hurry if you’ll wait.”
    He closed his eyes, and Beth saw his indecision. But then he opened them, and she realized that this time good judgment had triumphed over emotion. He wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice in one night.
    “No, mouse. I’m trouble for you. Haven’t I proved it?”
    “I don’t care if you’re trouble for me.”
    “Well, I do. You’re a nice girl and you should steer clear of a guy like me.” He eyed her intently. “Be brave, now.”
    Beth smiled shakily and straightened her shoulders.
    “Good girl.” Bram ran his fingertip down her nose. “I think it will be very difficult to forget you,” he said grimly, “but for your sweet sake I am going to try.”
    Beth’s eyes filled. She hadn’t cried at her father’s outrage, but the thought of Bram leaving reduced her to tears.
    Bram touched her cheek, and a hot droplet splashed on his hand.
    “Goodbye, mouse,” he said, and kissed her lips lightly. Then he picked up his shirt, shrugged into it, and was gone.
    Beth sank into a chair, drained.
    After a few moments she became aware of the sound of low, male voices outside the door. Her father and Bram, probably. She didn’t want to think about it.
    Time passed, and she didn’t move until the door opened and Mindy entered, her eyes wide.
    “What’s going on?” she asked in hushed tones. “I saw your father and Bram Curtis talking in the hall, and your father looked wild. Did you meet him, by the way? Bram, I mean. Isn’t he the most wickedly attractive man? He was at our house the other night. I practically sprained myself trying to get him to notice me, but he spent the whole time talking to my father about tobacco blight, or some damn thing...”
    Mindy trailed off as she realized Beth wasn’t listening to her.
    “Beth. What’s the matter? Did something happen?”
    Beth sighed. Mindy would plague her until she answered her question, so she gave her friend an abbreviated version of the evening’s events.
    Mindy whistled at the conclusion. “Bram Curtis! You lucky dog!” Then her expression changed as she considered the other aspect of the situation. “Your father is going to kill you.”
    Beth threw her a dirty look. “Get out of here, Mindy,” she said. “My dad will be back in a minute, and I don’t want you to get caught in the crossfire.”
    Mindy didn’t need to hear anything more. “Call me tomorrow,” she said over her shoulder, and left Beth alone.
    A few minutes later the door opened again to admit Carter Forsyth, and Beth steeled herself to deal with the results of her interlude with Bram.
    Her father announced that she would leave for boarding school immediately. Even though it was the middle of the summer, Carter knew a school that kept open a wing of the dormitory for foreign students who lived on campus year round, and Beth could be installed there in a matter of days.
    Beth saw no reason to contest