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glistened on his black hair. Threads of silver graced his temples, adding to his distinguished demeanor. His eyes matched the blue of the gown she’d planned to wear this evening.
    “Lord Huntingdon, it’s such a pleasure to see you this evening,” Lauren said softly, elegantly.
    She spoke with a confidence Georgina continually admired. She was again reminded how her friend had grown into an elegant lady, and the differences between them seemed to be as vast as the ocean that had separated them for eight years.
    “Miss Fairfield, I assure you the pleasure is undoubtedly all mine.”
    His voice was a low, rich rumble, and Georgina could well imagine him whispering seductively in awoman’s ear. What she couldn’t imagine was the reason Lauren thought he’d be a good match for her. She really should have told her friend about Sheridan. It could make for a most embarrassing moment if Lauren decided to try to play matchmaker without knowing her father had already taken on the role.
    “May I say you look extremely lovely this evening,” he continued. “As always.”
    A soft blush lit Lauren’s cheeks. “You are too kind, my lord.”
    “Hardly, Miss Fairfield, but I do appreciate beauty when I happen upon it.”
    He shifted his attention to Georgina, and she felt the full impact of his intense blue gaze. But within his eyes she noticed something now she hadn’t before—a profound sadness, a haunted mien characteristic of the men she had known who returned from war. Had this man fought a battle and known defeat?
    He slid his gaze back to Lauren and arched a brow as well as a corner of his mouth. A wry smile that did nothing to detract from the fine shape of his lips.
    “Oh!” Lauren almost hopped. “My lord, forgive my rudeness.” She turned to Georgina. “Miss Pierce, may I present Devon Sheridan, the Earl of Huntingdon. Lord Huntingdon…”
    Georgina’s fingers turned icy cold as her worst fears were realized. Never in a hundred years could she marry a man whose features were chiseled to perfection. A man such as he far exceeded her reach. What had her father been contemplating?
    Lauren’s voice became little more than a buzz asshe prattled on about something, something to do with Huntingdon. Georgina saw him make a movement, and she feared he might be on the verge of grabbing her hand and kissing it. Even though they wore gloves, she didn’t want the intimate contact.
    Tucking her hands in close to her waist, she knew her withdrawal must have been evident, because he seemed to draw back as well, his gaze speculative. She clutched her fan with both hands. What were the signals for “Go away,” “I don’t like you,” “You’re as handsome as sin and we’d make an odd pair”?
    She couldn’t think, couldn’t speak, could barely breathe.
    Unlikely scenarios scrambled through her mind. Maybe two Devon Sheridans existed. Surely this man wasn’t the one who had spoken to her father, the one he expected her to marry.
    He tilted his head slightly in a semblance of a bow. “Having recently met your father, I can honestly say it is an honor to make your acquaintance at last, Miss Pierce.”
    He was the one! And with that certainty, his interest in her became painfully obvious.
    She studied him more carefully. His white silk waistcoat was straining against its buttons. The cuffed sleeves of his jacket were frayed around the edges and sadly out of date. Men weren’t wearing cuffed sleeves this season. His tight trousers had also seen better days. His shoes, though polished to a shine, revealed worn leather.
    Unlike the other men in the room, he hadn’t bothered to keep up with the trendier fashions. Somemight attribute his slightly unstylish attire to the fact that he’d been in seclusion after the loss of his wife, but Georgina felt certain that she knew the truth of his situation.
    As she’d suspected, the man who had expressed an interest in her was an impoverished nobleman. She could decipher his