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point of fact,” Sophia continued, stirring her tea with silent swirls of her tiny spoon, “she has decided upon another course entirely. I have been very negligent as a parent, I fear, for my daughter to have reached such a state.”
    Ashdon looked for tears to glisten in her dark eyes. He saw none.
    “Of course, none of that is your concern,” Sophia said softly, smiling wistfully at him. He didn’t believe she had one wistful bone in her treacherous body. “Since the default was on my end, and because you have behaved with such honor throughout, no surprise to me since I know your father so well, you may rest assured that your debt to the Dalby name is cancelled. You have done your part. The fault lies entirely with Caro. I would be less than a lady if I held you accountable for her deplorable behavior.”
    Less than a lady? There was the certain truth.
    His tea was growing cold in the cup. He let it.
    “Deplorable behavior? Perhaps you are being harsh,” he said. “She is young, obviously willful. A strong and equally determined husband could set her to rights. Not an unusual situation, from what I hear.”
    “I suppose that’s true,” Sophia said slowly, taking a sip of her tea, her eyes lowered against his scrutiny.
    “If you will allow, I could meet with her, talk to her, try to assure her that—”
    “That you have not been purchased for her pleasure?” Sophia said sweetly. “But how could you convince her of that when she is convinced it is the truth? Oh, I am sorry. I see I have offended you. Please forgive me. I am distraught. If you only knew, if you only suspected what her plan is, you would forgive me readily.”
    Ashdon carefully relaxed his jaw. His back teeth squeaked in thankfulness.
    “She has plans for security and happiness, did you not say?” he asked. “What plans are those which do not include a reputable husband? ”
    “The most disreputable of plans,” Sophia said, putting down her cup with a shaking hand and folding her hands tightly in her lap. He could almost believe her truly distraught. But he did not believe her; he would not. She was a dissembler, a deceiver, a player upon men’s emotions with no tender emotions of her own.
    “Madam,” he said, leaning forward in falsely earnest concern, “I would see our arrangement through. My honor demands no less of me. The debt is paid. I must uphold my end, no matter the difficulties. Tell me, what is it that disrupts this tidy arrangement? If it be nothing more than a daughter’s sharp willfulness against the wisdom wrought of experience, then let me enter the battle for your daughter’s future at your side. Let me convince her.”
    “I am not certain she can be convinced,” Sophia said, her voice colored by the faintest shade of hope.
    “Then let me only talk to her,” Ashdon said. “I can perhaps speak in ways that a mother cannot.” Of that he was most certain, most decidedly certain.
    Sophia tilted her dark head, the late afternoon sunlight illuminating her skin so that it glowed like pearl. Oh, let the daughter be like the mother; that would make this task that much sweeter.
    “That is true, isn’t it?” she said. “As a man, you could explain to her the folly of her plan. You might have an authority with her, the voice of male perspective, which I do not possess.”
    “Yes,” he said. “Let me only help you. Let us together manage what is best for your daughter.”
    “You are too good,” she said, smiling. Did he imagine it? Was there some cold, sharkish rapacity to her smile? In the next instant, she melted, softened. He had imagined it.
    “Tell me, what is her plan? How does she thwart your best intentions for her future happiness?” he asked.
    “Lord Ashdon,” she said, her smile disappearing slowly. “I must ask. Just this morning you were less than enthusiastic about an alliance with my daughter. What has changed in these few hours?”
    Changed? Nothing, of course, except that the plans formed