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shortly.
    "Nevertheless, this is the first time in the long history of our association that you have mentioned a conversation with an exceedingly difficult and unpredictable female who found you to be a perfect model for a villain in a novel. Forgive me, but I find that quite intriguing"
    Adam munched on his toast. "I told you, I do not think that the lady has any connection to this affair of the diary."
    "She obviously made an impression on you."
    "She would make an impression on anyone."
    "You know what the French say: cherchez la femme."
    "This is England, not France." Adam put down the corner of toast and went back to the eggs. "Things are different here."
    "Not always. I cannot help but notice that the lady appears to have had a very striking effect upon your mood, most notably your temper."
    Wilson knew him far too well, Adam reflected.
    "I would remind you that I have not slept in the past
    twenty-four hours," he said evenly. "It is little wonder that
    f am not in the best of tempers."
    "On the contrary," Wilson said. "In my experience, the more there is at risk, the more cold-blooded and unemotional you become. Quite chilling, actually."
    Adam gave him a look.
    Wilson ignored him. "In fact, if one did not know you well, one might assume that you did not possess any of the warmer passions."
    A tingle of alarm went through Adam. The fork in his hand paused in midair. "With all due respect, sir, the very last subject I wish to discuss this morning is what you are pleased to call the warmer passions."
    "Now, Adam, I am well aware that you do possess those sorts of passions. All the more reason why you should get married and employ them to produce heirs for the Grendon-Hardesty fortunes."
    "You have no shortage of heirs, sir. Julia has already married and provided you with two of them. Jessica will be making her debut into Society next spring. She will no doubt attract dozens of offers within a fortnight. When she marries, she will supply you with still more heirs. And do not forget Nathan. Sooner or later he will lose interest in his philosophy and mathematics long enough to fall in love, marry and produce even more heirs."
    – That still leaves you unaccounted for," Wilson pointed out. "You are the eldest of the lot. You should have been the first one to marry"
    "It is absurd to sit here and discuss yet again my failure to find a wife when we should be occupied with a far more pressing problem," Adam said, hanging on to his temper with an effort. "I suggest we return to the matter of the diary."
    ' Wilson grimaced. "Very well, but I must tell you that I am not nearly as concerned about it as you are"
    "Yes, I can see that. Would you mind explaining why in blazes you are not worried about it?"
    "The diary's sole value lies in the fact that it can be used as an instrument of blackmail. Sooner or later, whoever stole it from Elizabeth Delmont will make contact and at-tempt to extort money from you, just as Delmont did. When t hat occurs, you will track down the new blackmailer, just as you did Delmont" Wilson raised one narrow shoulder in a dismissive shrug. "It is simply a matter of time."
    Wilson's logic was impeccable, as always, Adam thought. But he was unable to take a similarly sanguine approach to the problem.
    "It is not in my nature to wait upon the convenience of a blackmailer who is also very likely a killer," he said quietly.
    Wilson sighed. "No, of course not. Very well, find your blackmailer and deal with him. Then you can get back to more important matters"
    There was only one really important matter in Wilson's opinion these days. He was determined to see Adam wed. Having made his decision, he had become relentless.
    Adam felt the sort of affection, respect and loyalty for his mentor that he imagined other men felt toward their fathers. Nevertheless, he had no intention of marrying merely to satisfy Wilson Grendon ' s demands.
    Wilson Grendon was in the latter half of his sixth decade. He was the last direct