The message he was sending the interested observers all about them was crystal clear. Although he could be devilish enough when he wished, she was certain that, at present, he wasn't deliberately putting on a show. His behavior was simply an instinctive extension of how he now felt about her.

He caught her glancing at him and lifted a brow. "What?"

She looked into his hazel eyes, then, lips curving, shook her head and looked away. "Never mind."

There was no chance she could get him to change and, deep down, she knew she would miss their newfound closeness if he did.

The ballroom caused a sensation. Standing in the receiving line Alathea fielded numerous compliments on the unusual decor while helping Mary and Alice greet the more intimidating dowagers. Unfortunately, more than a few of the old battleships, when distracted from Mary and Alice, were only too ready to turn their cannons on her.

"Absolutely criminal," Lady Osbaldestone declared, scrutinizing her silk-clad figure through her lorgnette. "Waste, gel, waste!" One bony finger poked her in the ribs. "God knows why you've hidden yourself away, but it's past time some rake rattled your stays."

Others took a different tack.

"So, my dear, do you spend much time in charitable works?" Lady Harcourt, of similar age to Alathea, smiled insincerely. "It must be so nice to live a quiet life."

Alathea responded to all such queries with a serene smile and calm assurance. As soon as the incoming tide eased, Gabriel appeared and, with Serena's encouragement, drew her out of the line.

"But Mary and Alice-"

"Serena's with them. There's someone I want you to meet."

"Who?"

His Great-aunt Clara was a sweet old lady, although a trifle vague. She patted Alathea's hand. "Your sisters are lovely, dear, but we'll have to see you wed first."

"Precisely what I've been telling her," Gabriel put in.

Over Clara's head, Alathea narrowed her eyes at him.

"Indeed, yes," Clara said, and patted her hand again. "We'll have to find some nice gentleman for you-perhaps that nice Chillingworth boy."

The look on Gabriel's face was priceless; Alathea only just managed not to laugh. "I don't think so," she said, smiling at Clara.

"No? Well, then, let's see. Who else?"

Devil strolled up before Clara could consider other options. She released Alathea to clutch his sleeve. "Is Honoria here?"

Devil grinned. "She's on the other side of the room-I'll take you to her if you like."

"Oh, yes-so kind." Clutching her shawl with one hand and Devil with the other, Clara smiled in farewell and moved on.

"There are the Carmichaels." Gabriel directed Alathea's gaze to a couple whose country estate lay not far from Morwellan Park and the Manor. They headed toward them.

For the next twenty minutes, they moved through the ever-increasing crowd, stopping here then there to chat, always at Gabriel's direction. Only when she spied Lord Montgomery, then Lord Falworth through the sea of heads did Alathea realize what he was doing. With them constantly moving from one conversation to the next, her court was given no chance to gather about her.

Alathea swallowed her protest-she'd rather move through the crowd on Gabriel's arm than stand surrounded by her all-too-often vacuous court. Feigning ignorance of his high-handed manuverings was definitely the sensible course.

Then the musicians started up and the crowd magically parted, clearing a wide space. As both Mary and Alice had been given permission to indulge long since, the first dance was a waltz. Keen to see if her expectation that Esher would partner Mary and Carstairs would partner Alice would be fulfilled, Alathea eagerly accompanied Gabriel to the edge of the floor.

Sure enough, Mary and Esher took to the floor first, Mary blushing delightedly, her smile declaration enough, while Esher looked the picture of pride. Alathea smiled mistily as they waltzed past, then looked back up the room. Alice was already in Carstairs's encircling arms-both seemed lost in each other's eyes, oblivious to the crowd looking on.

Alathea sighed. With her sisters, her hand was played and she'd won-they would have the futures she'd wanted for them, and which they patently deserved. They'd be happy, and loved…

Alice and Carstairs waltzed past.

The next instant, Alathea, too, was on the floor, whirling in Gabriel's arms. Her eyes flew wide. There were as yet no other couples on the floor. "What?…"

Gabriel raised a brow. "My dance, I believe?"

She would have loved to tell him what she thought of his arrogance, but under the curious eyes of half the ton, all she could do was fix a smile on her lips and let him sweep her away. She did, however, glare at him.

He only smiled, gathering her closer as other couples took to the floor in their wake. He leaned closer as they went through the turn. "Don't tempt me."

The whispered words caressed her ear; Alathea shivered. "I should take umbrage."

"But you won't. You know I can't help myself."

She limited her response to a sniff; prolonging such a conversation would do nothing for her serenity. The nagging observation that she enjoyed waltzing with him, enjoyed the feel of his hand burning through the silk at her back, enjoyed the sense of being captive to his strength, whirled so effortlessly around the room, was more than distracting enough.

That her pleasure in life was increasingly dependent on him was a thought she wished she'd never had.

After the dance, they once more meandered through the crowd, chatting with acquaintances. They were leaving one group when Gerrard Debbington hailed Gabriel. Gabriel stopped; sidestepping this way, then that, Gerrard eventually reached them.

He smiled vaguely at Alathea.

She smiled brightly back, completely forgetting that she hadn't met him in the receiving line. "Hello."

Gabriel pinched her fingers and introduced them. Alathea continued to smile as if she commonly spoke to gentlemen she'd never met. Gerrard, thankfully, was too well brought up to comment.

He looked at Gabriel. "If I could have a word… there's something you should know."

Gabriel gestured to Alathea. "Thea knows of my interests-she knows of Crowley. You can speak freely."

"Oh." Gerrard's smile hid his surprise. "In that case… I was leaving Tattersalls yesterday when I literally bumped into Crowley. He was with a gentleman Vane said was Lord Douglas. Unfortunately, Vane and Patience were right behind me, and Patience spoke. From what she said, it was obvious she was my sister." He grimaced. "Only a sister would say something like that. As she was on Vane's arm, it wouldn't need any great intelligence to guess the connection. Vane said I should tell you and ask what you think."

"I think," Gabriel said, "that we should discuss the possibilities with Vane." He looked over the sea of heads. "Where is he?"

"Far left," Gerrard said, craning his head. "Close by the wall. Patience was with him."

Alathea spotted the purple plume Patience Cynster wore in her hair. "There-by the second mirror."

They headed that way but in tacking through the crowd, Gerrard forged ahead. Gabriel drew Alathea closer. "I need to talk to Vane about this-Gerrard could be in danger."

Alathea glanced at him, concern in her eyes. "From Crowley?"

"Yes. I need you to distract Patience while I talk to Vane."

"Why can't you talk about the matter in front of Patience? Gerrard is her brother, after all."

"That's why. And in case it's escaped your notice, Patience is increasing, so Vane will certainly not want her worrying over a threat to Gerrard that we're going to ensure never materializes."

"So you want me to distract her? To connive at keeping her in the dark over something she has a perfect right to know-" Alathea broke off, another idea overriding all thought of Patience's sisterly rights. "Tell me-if there was any threat to Charlie or Jeremy, would you tell me, or make sure I never heard of it?"

The way Gabriel's lips sealed into a thin line was answer enough. She narrowed her eyes at him. "Men! Why on earth you imagine-"

"Just tell me-who wants Crowley stopped?"

Alathea blinked. "I do."

"And who did you ask to stop him?"

"You."

"I vaguely recall stipulating that you had to obey my orders."

"Yes, but-"

"Thea, stop arguing. I need to talk to Vane and I don't want Patience unnecessarily upset."

Put like that… "Oh, very well." She threw him a stern look. "But I don't approve."

They drew free of the crowd and advanced on Vane and Patience. With an assured smile, Alathea drew Patience aside; Gabriel hid a smile as he overheard her ask after Patience's condition. The perfect topic, the perfect excuse to exclude the menfolk from their councils.

The males in question quickly formed their own huddle.

"What do you think?" Vane asked.

"Altogether too dangerous. Crowley would have prised it out of Archie Douglas before they'd got to the first ring." Gabriel looked at Vane. "I take it Archie was sufficiently compos mentis to recognize you?"

"Definitely-he was remarkably sober, but then it was before noon."

Gabriel looked at Gerrard. "Nothing for it then-we've got to get you out of sight."

Gerrard shrugged. "I could go home to Derbyshire for a bit."

"No-too far. You have to be within reach of London and the courts. We'll need you as a witness to corroborate the details of the company's proposal to investors."