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doesn’t want me here; none of them do. And I don’t want to be here, so we’re all agreed.”
    “Aye, but he’s got you here now. And he’s made it clear that I’m not welcome to stay. Maybe that’s what he had in mind all along, and our visitors just gave him a convenient excuse. Maybe he wants to keep you here in the city where he can control you. Far away from your own people.” He frowned. “It won’t work, lad. The Martyns could lock you away for years and we’d never forget you. You know that.”
    Rhodi flashed a quick grin. “You’d never leave me locked away for years in the first place.”
    “Well, no, I wouldn’t. But I was making a point. I don’t like leaving you here on your own.”
    “Go home, Aidan. No need for both of us to be miserable.”
    Aidan’s glance lifted beyond Rhodry’s shoulder, his eyes taking on a speculative gleam. “Our fine Fionn seems to like your woman, cousin. He’s sniffing around her like a poohbear in heat.”
    His laughter at the comparison of the elegant Fionn to one of Harp’s rotund and golden-haired mountain bears died when he turned and caught sight of the other man chatting up Amanda. He was moving before he knew it, before thought caught up to action. Long strides took him across the ballroom to where she was still laughing at whatever fake charm Fionn was ladling upon her.
    She looked up when Rhodry joined them. “Good evening, Mr. de Mendoza.”
    “Ah, Rhodry,” Fionn said smoothly. “Can I trust our lovely guest to your care for now? My father requires my presence.”
    Rhodry gave him a dry look. “I doubt the lieutenant needs your protection.”
    Fionn ignored him to take Amanda’s hand in both of his. “Save me a dance, Amanda.”
    He swallowed a growl, keeping a distrustful eye on Fionn as he moved off into the crowd.
    “That’s not what you said in the forest this afternoon,” Amanda said.
    His gaze swung back to her. “What?”
    “About me needing protection.”
    She gave him a half grin, and he studied her, trying to figure out if she was teasing him. “The Green is a dangerous place, while this…” He didn’t finish his sentence, simply gestured at the crowd of mostly smiling people. “Are you enjoying the welcome party?”
    “I am,” she said, smiling. “And does my choice of apparel meet with your approval?”
    His eyes narrowed as he definitely noted a spark of mischief in her blue eyes. “The white is—”
    “Aidan Devlin,” his cousin said, shoving him aside before Rhodry could say something offensive about the uniform. As if he would. She looked beautiful. Rhodry scowled as Aidan took her hand and raised it to his lips with a small bow. “I’m Rhodi’s more charming cousin. A pleasure, Lieutenant.”
    She laughed. “Call me Amanda, please. There’s no need to be formal is there?”
    “Of course not, Amanda,” Aidan assured her. “Harp is usually a very informal place, although tonight the Ardrigh and his lady seem determined to prove me wrong.”
    She turned and surveyed the gathering as Rhodry had done earlier, seeming to study her fellow fleet officers in their starched whites, the Harp officials in formal black, with the colorful ladies scattered in between. “It is all a bit stuffy, isn’t it? I’m sure you’d rather be outside. I know I would,” she muttered, then cast Rhodry a glance over her shoulder. “If it’s as dangerous as you say, you probably don’t go out into the Green at night very often, do you?” she asked with what he would have sworn was wistfulness.
    “Only at need,” he said sternly. “Which you don’t have.”
    Instead of being properly warned, she gave him a wicked grin, then leaned over to Aidan and said, “Your cousin is upset because I didn’t ask permission before trekking out there today. Tell me, is he always this strict?”
    Aidan laughed along with her, which earned him a disbelieving glare from Rhodry. “Not at all, lass. You’ve just got to catch him in the