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again.”
    “Who would marry me? I’m damaged goods.”
    “There’s someone out there for you, Eloise. There’s someone out there for everyone.”
    “I had my time, Cam. Lionel is dead. We could have had a good life. We were on our way, but he died young, leaving me without provisions. With my parents both dead and no brothers and sisters, what more is there for me?”
    “I know life dealt you a bad hand. But there are options. Think about it, will you?”
    “Sure, Cam.” Then, “I do wish you would stay.”
    “I can’t. I’m sorry.” Cameron strode out the door, untied Apollo, mounted him, and started toward home. The May breeze blew through his hair as he thought about Rose. Sweet, beautiful Rose. He could never have her. Thank God she had stopped him last night. He was treading water in an ocean with no lifeboat. If he pursued her, he would surely drown. He still had most of the money left from his commission for Lily’s Waltz . He would leave the majority of it with his mother and sisters, and he would go to London and try to make a living doing what he loved most, composing music. He had two published songs to his credit, and even though neither had enjoyed a wide distribution, it was at least a start. He would pack up and leave on the morrow.
    As he neared his cottage, he was surprised to see an ornate carriage out in front. He didn’t recognize the crest, but the horses hitched to it were beautiful, a perfectly matched pair of chestnut Morgans. Cameron stopped Apollo for a few moments to admire the horseflesh, and then rode to the stables and put him in his stall. He walked into the house from the back.
    Mrs. Clementine Price sat on the sofa, but Cameron couldn’t see the visitor who was sitting in one of the chairs by the window of the small parlor. Cameron strode in nonchalantly, making deliberate noise.
    His mother looked toward him. “Oh, here he is now, my lord.” Then, “Cam, you have a visitor.”
    Cameron followed his mother’s gaze to the large man sitting opposite her. He sighed heavily. It was none other than Lord Evan Xavier.

Chapter Three
    “Good God,” Cameron said under his breath. Xavier must have found out about his tryst with Rose. He had no desire to be pummeled by this mountainous man. He looked up. “My lord?”
    “Mr. Price, good afternoon,” Evan said. “I’m sorry to barge in unannounced, but I’m leaving for my estate and wanted to speak to you as soon as possible.”
    “About what?” Cameron asked, a bit rudely.
    “I have…er…a business proposition for you.”
    Mrs. Price rose. “I have work in the kitchen, so I’ll leave you two gentlemen to your discussion.”
    Evan stood up gallantly. “Of course, Mrs. Price. It was delightful to meet you.”
    “The pleasure was mine, my lord.” She made a quick exit.
    “What can I help you with, my lord?” Cameron asked.
    “Well,” Evan began, “you know that I’m courting Lady Rose Jameson.”
    “Yes,” Cameron said dryly.
    “She is a great admirer of your music.”
    “She is?”
    “Of course, didn’t you know that? I was under the impression that you worked closely with her on the waltz for the duchess.”
    “Yes, we worked together,” Cameron said, thankful that Xavier hadn’t come to throttle him. “She never mentioned any particular taste for my music.”
    “Well, she has mentioned it to me.”
    “I’m flattered. But what do you want from me?”
    “I’d like to commission a song for Rose. Not a waltz necessarily. Perhaps a ballad.”
    “I don’t write lyrics, my lord,” he said, although for Rose, he probably could.
    “You don’t? Well, that’s not a problem. I’m more interested in the music. I think it would mean a great deal to her. I…I’m planning to propose marriage to her, and I would like to serenade her with a piece of your music.”
    An invisible knife stabbed Cameron in the heart. “You’re proposing?”
    “Yes. Not right away. I want to have the song