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and her heart began to beat in an oddly breathtaking rhythm.
    His questioning look intensified, so much so that the redhead turned to look down the table to see who held the earl’s attention.
    Wouldn’t that be awful?
she thought, nervous laughter rising again. It would be too horrid to have the earl think her one of his admirers. At that, she pulled her gaze away, but the beating of her heart remained staccato for some moments. Something in the intensity of his sharp, perceptive gaze unnerved her.
    Mariah took a sip of wine as Lady Walgrave leaned forward to address her again.
    “So, Miss Thorncroft, do you and your family plan to stay at Heaton long?”
    “I am not sure, my lady.” Oddly, she found the prospect of staying awhile at the lovely place slightly less objectionable than she had only hours ago.
    Lady Walgrave only said, “Oh,” and turned back to her husband.
    With an inward sigh, Mariah felt her stomach twist with self-consciousness. She and her family did not belong here, she thought again with growing anxiousness.
    Determined to avoid the earl, she glanced up the table and watched her mother converse with the handsome young Lord Mattonly. At least he did not look as bored as the earl did. Mariah would say one thing about her mother—despite being a dreadful social climber, she had a well-deserved reputation as a conversationalist.
    Mariah watched Lord Mattonly throw his head back and laugh at something Mama said.
    Her mother had an innate ability to ask the right questions of her companion and a subtle way of making people, especially men, feel utterly fascinating. It was an ability that Mariah envied.
    A little while later, as she finished the dish of delicious peaches in brandy sauce, Mariah sighed with relief that the meal would soon be over.
    At the head of the table, Lady Charlotte and Mrs. Ingram both rose from the table at the same time.
    Mariah watched, fascinated, as each glared at the other, as if willing her rival to disappear, or at least sit down.
    The redhead opened her mouth to speak, but Lady Charlotte jumped in quickly.
    “My lord, I believe the ladies will leave you gentlemen to your port and talk of hunting.”
    Mrs. Ingram flushed hotly at being trumped in her obvious desire to act as hostess. Mariah again felt a gurgle of laughter rise at the drama unwittingly being played out before her. Although her dinner companions had barely addressed her, she had certainly not found dinner dull.
    Setting her napkin next to her plate, Mariah rose and glanced toward her host, who had risen with the rest of the gentlemen. To her surprise, she found his vivid blue gaze directed toward her once again. Hastily she looked away, lest he realize that she found his behavior with his dinner companions vastly amusing.
    Curtsying, she stepped away from the table and followed the other ladies out of the room. A footman led them down the hall to a smaller but no less charming salon. Mariah lagged slightly behind the group, pausing in the doorway to admire the beautiful de´cor as the others laughed and chatted.
    “How like the earl to direct that my favorite dishes be served,” Mrs. Ingram pronounced as she seated herself on a chair next to the sofa. Mariah watched Lady Charlotte flush with anger at the smug look Mrs. Ingram sent her way.
    As the other ladies settled themselves in various chairs and settees, Lady Charlotte quickly moved to the bellpull. A moment later the butler stepped into the room.
    “Please have tea brought in, Jarvis,” Lady Charlotte directed in an imperious tone.
    The look of annoyance on Mrs. Ingram’s face at being beaten to addressing the butler was comical. Mariah covered her laugh with a cough and seated herself near the hearth.
    She looked across the room to see Lady Walgrave and Mama sharing a settee, apparently settling in for a nice coze.
    So, Mrs. Thorncroft,” Lady Walgrave began in a clear tone, “I am curious to learn how you became acquainted with the earl. The