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boots buttoned high above the ankles, and mittens rather than a muff. Whether by necessity or design, her clothes appeared to be chosen for the express purpose of making her look like a dowd, yet she was the most beautiful creature Brett had ever set eyes on, and she drew his eyes like a magnet.
    “I’m sorry if I’ve kept you waiting,” she apologized, “but I couldn’t find anyone to help with my valises. I had to leave one of them on the upper landing as it was.”
    “I’ll get it for you,” Feathers offered, his youthful gallantry filling the awkward pause.
    “I’m sorry to put you to so much trouble,” Kate told him thankfully, “but I couldn’t carry both of them.”
    “No trouble at all,” he smiled. “A lady should never be obliged to carry her own luggage.”
    “At least I’m not late,” she said, turning to Brett, “even if my valise is.”
    “Don’t give it another thought.”
    “You certainly haven’t,” she said with pointed emphasis. Then as Brett’s eyes narrowed in anger, she smiled sweetly. “If gentlemen can’t carry luggage, how are we to get it to the coach? You can’t mean to ask Mr. Feathers.”
    Edward’s eyebrows rose questioningly, but Brett was thoroughly angry. “There’s no need for either of us to carry luggage. My valet will see to it.” Almost as if he had been waiting for a signal, Charles appeared at Brett’s side.
    “This valise and the one Mr. Feathers has gone to fetch are to be loaded with Miss Vareyan’s trunk. We will leave as soon as they are secured.”
    Kate looked on enviously as Charles picked up the valise at her feet, relieved the just-reappearing Feathers of his burden, and quietly eased himself out the door without assistance or mishap. “It must be nice to have a well-trained servant to manage for you,” she sighed.
    “It ain’t nice,” Feathers stated in some surprise. “It’s essential. My mother won’t stir without at least six within the sound of her voice.”
    “We can’t keep the horses standing,” Brett said, anxious to be off; his proffered arm forced Kate to cut short her leavetakings.
    Kate felt her own temper begin to rise, but she thanked both Edward and Peter and then surprised everyone by standing on her tiptoes and kissing each of them on the cheek. Feathers blushed from head to foot and began to stammer; Edward accepted his salute with his usual calm, but he startled Brett by bending over to plant a kiss on Kate’s forehead.
    “God be with you, my dear,” he whispered softly.
    Good Lord, Brett thought, even Edward is acting like Sir Galahad. I’d better get her out of here before he demands to know my intentions.
    Unnoticed by anyone, Martin had watched the quartet from the library doorway, but when Kate turned to go, he stormed into the hall, a strange light in his eyes. “Are you so lost to all decency you would leave the house with that man?” he shouted in a menacing voice.
    His words fanned the flame of Kate’s already rising anger, and she hurled her reply in his face. “This show of outraged virtue suits you ill, dear brother. You lose me in a card game, yet you have the effrontery to ask if I’m going to leave with that man!” Kate paused for breath and then continued with increased vigor. “Yes, I’m leaving with that man, or any other man who offers. It’s not proper and it’s not the way I’d hoped it would be, but I’d crawl on my hands and knees rather than stay in this accursed place another day.” She spun on her heel and strode through the open door.
    Martin pushed past Brett, his face nearly purple with rage.
    “Go with your whoreson and be branded a jade,” he bellowed from the steps. “But understand me well. If you leave this house now, you’ll never return.”
    Kate was in the act of climbing into the coach, but she paused and turned back to face her brother. “Nothing will ever induce me to return to this house while you live.” She climbed into the coach and slammed the