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reputation
at risk.
    That was not to
say she hadn't been tempted to stay. Her initial annoyance at his
high-handedness had faded as each successive partner had appeared to be
introduced. They had all been witty and charming, and for the first time in a
long while she had begun to feel like the fair maiden of the tales she had
enjoyed as a young girl. It had been a marvelous evening, and to her surprise
she had the infamous Black Duke to thank for it.
    "I don't
know what got into Nick tonight," Lady Alison commented on the tail of her
thought. "I've never seen him go out of his way to be charming. Even when
Althaea fainted he barely batted an eye."
    "Thought
he didn't care for those schoolroom misses," Neville added, then smiled.
"He almost seemed respectable. Another of his games, I imagine."
    When they
arrived back at the town house Katherine stopped and impulsively stood on
tiptoe to kiss Lady Alison, and then Lord Neville, on the cheek. ''Thank
you," she said. "I had a wonderful time."
    "You're welcome,
Kate. I'm rather enjoying the idea of bringing a daughter out into
society." Lady Alison smiled and hugged her. ''Go up to bed, now,
child."
    Katherine did
as she was bid, and Emmie helped her change into her nightgown. Once the maid
was gone she picked up her dance card again, gazing at the last name. It was
wrong to have left without a word. She shrugged. With all the goings-on of the
evening, Nicholas Varon undoubtedly would have forgotten her by the morrow.
She threw the card into the wastebasket beside her dressing table and climbed
into bed. Ten minutes later she rose again, retrieved it, and placed it in the
top drawer of her dresser.

 
     
     
    5

     
    "N ick, good morning," Clarey greeted Sommesby as he
entered the Hamptons' library sharply at ten.
    The baron
crossed the room to shake his hand and motioned him to one of the overstuffed
chairs that sat before the fire. Clarey shut the door behind them, a precaution
Nicholas noted with some interest.
    ''Tea? Or
perhaps brandy?"
    Nicholas seated
himself. "It's a bit early for brandy, even for me," he muttered.
"Tea will be fine."
    Neville poured
it, leaning over to hand Nicholas's to him. For a long moment he stared at the
fire. "I need to ask you a favor," he said finally.
    "I'm
listening." He hadn't heard that Clarey was in financial difficulties,
but the Hamptons were good friends to his mother, and if they needed funds he
would do what he could.
    "There is
a piece of property several days north of here that I believe is going to come
onto the market very soon, and very quietly. I cannot be involved with it
myself, nor will I name the present owner to you, but I would like you to
purchase it, however shady the deal appears to be. I want the deed, and
assurances from the current . . . occupant that it is the property, the manor,
and everything in it, including the crop and the contents of the stables, that
you are purchasing. And I want the occupant off the property as soon as
possible."
    The request
wasn't remotely what Nicholas had expected, and he gave a low whistle.
"You don't ask much, do you?"
    Neville nodded.
"And one more thing. I want no one to know of this. Besides you, only
Alice and I know of this conversation. And Nick, no other questions
asked." He took a breath. "Will you help me?"
    Greatly
intrigued, the duke leaned forward. "I do have one question."
    "Yes?"
    "What's
the name of the property?"
    "Crestley
Hall."
    It appeared that the Season
wouldn't be as dull as he had originally thought. "All right." He sat
back again and took a sip of tea.
    Neville slapped
the arm of his chair. "Thank you."
    "You're
welcome." Nicholas set the cup and saucer aside. "I'd best be on my
way, then. It seems my man and I have a great deal of work to do."
    "There is
one more thing." Neville grimaced. "You may not like this. Of course
all of your expenses shall be repaid, but depending on a separate set of
circumstances, it may not be for two years."
    The conditions
were