"This is dangerous-you and me." She looked at Gabriel. "We're going to end as a high treat for the scandalmongers."

"Nonsense. Who's been disapproving?"

No one. Alathea pressed her lips together. After a moment, she said, "I'm too old. The entire ton is expecting you to marry-they won't approve of your marrying me."

"Why not? It's not as if you're in your dotage, for heaven's sake."

"I'm twenty-nine."

"So? If that doesn't worry me, and you know damned well it doesn't, why should it concern anyone else?"

"Bachelors of thirty do not customarily marry spinsters of twenty-nine."

"Probably because most spinsters of twenty-nine are that for good reason." Gabriel caught her eye. "You're that for a completely different reason-a reason that is no longer valid. You've done what you needed to do-you've set your family back on their feet. You've held the fort until Charlie can take over, and trained him to do it." His voice lowered. "Now it's time to let go and live the life you should have lived. With me."

Alathea remained silent, not sure she could trust her voice.

He continued, "I haven't detected the slightest hint of disapproval-quite the opposite. The senior hostesses all knew your mother-they're thrilled at the thought of you marrying at last. Along with the rest of the ton, they've never understood why you didn't marry. To them, the notion of your marrying me is highly romantic."

Alathea managed a sniff. After a minute, she risked a glance up.

Gabriel's gaze was gently ruthless. "They'll cheer the announcement, when you consent to let me make it. They're not standing in my way."

Only she was. Alathea looked away. There was, it seemed, to be no help from any quarter. She was swimming against a flood tide.

In the nearby card room, Devil Cynster, Duke of St. Ives, strolled up to the earl of Chillingworth, who was standing by a wall watching a hand of piquet.

"Amazing. I never thought to see you pull in your horns." Devil glanced pointedly toward the ballroom. "I find it difficult to believe there are no possibilities in there. If you don't look quick, you'll be cold tonight. I, at least, have a warm bed to hie home to."

Chillingworth looked amused. "And what makes you think I haven't? The only difference between you and me, dear boy, is that your bed will be the same tomorrow night, while mine has at least a chance of being different."

"On the other hand, there's something to be said for consistently high standards."

"At present, I'll settle for variety. That aside, to what do I owe this questionable pleasure?"

"Just checking on your current interest."

"To make certain we don't cross bows? Pull the other one."

Devil settled his shoulders against the wall. "Purely altruistic, on my part."

Chillingworth hid a smile. "Altruistic? Tell me, is it me you're interested in keeping whole, or another more nearly related?"

Devil studied the crowd in the ballroom through the arch directly before them. "Let's just say that I've no wish to see any misunderstanding cloud the otherwise congenial relationship between your family and mine."

Chillingworth said nothing for several minutes, also staring at the figures jostling in the ballroom. Then he shifted. "If I was to say that I have no intention of disrupting the harmony currently reigning between our houses, would you do me one favor?"

"What?"

"Don't tell Gabriel."

Devil turned his head. "Why?"

His lips quirking wryly, Chillingworth pushed away from the wall. "Because it's entertaining watching him rise to my bait, and," he murmured, just loud enough for Devil to hear as he moved away, "I consider that fitting consolation."

Chapter 18

Their ball had been held on Monday night. Alathea did not set eyes on Gabriel again until Wednesday. Ambling in the park behind his sisters and hers, closely escorted by Lord Esher and Mr. Carstairs, she was deep in disturbing thoughts of Crowley and the Central East Africa Gold Company when she heard her name called. Looking up, she saw the group ahead looking back at her. Heather Cynster pointed to the nearby carriageway-to where her brother held his team of restless bays, stamping impatiently. As she lengthened her stride, Alathea got the distinct impression that the horses were merely reflecting their master's state.

"Good morning." Tipping her head up, she looked into his face, some way above her, courtesy of his high perch phaeton. The carriage held the interest of the girls and their beaux, leaving her to deal with its driver.

He beckoned. "Come up. I'll take you for a tool around the avenue."

She smiled. "No, thank you."

He stared at her.

The others had heard.

"Go on, Allie! You'll enjoy it."

"We'll be safe enough."

"It'll just be for a few minutes."

"Carstairs and I will engage to watch over your charges in your stead, Lady Alathea."

Alathea kept her gaze steady on Gabriel's face. "When last did you drive a lady in the park?"

He studied her for an instant longer, then his lips thinned. "Hold 'em, Biggs." His groom leaped from the back and ran to the horses' heads. Gabriel tied off the reins and jumped down.

Without a word, he took her arm and waved the others on. Absorbed with their own concerns, the girls were happy to comply. By mutual accord, she and Gabriel waited until the group was far enough ahead so they could talk without being overheard, then set out in their wake.

"There's no reason you couldn't let me drive you about the park."

"I have no intention of letting you declare your hand in such a public fashion." She shot him a reproving glance. "I'm not going to be swayed by such manuevers."

"More fool you. How did you know, anyway?"

"Your mama is always full of your doings-yours, Lucifer's, and the rest of your cousins. The fact that none of you drive ladies in the park-ladies other than your wives-is well known to all, I gather."

Gabriel had been counting on it. "How does Gretna Green strike you? We could be there in two days."

"At present, I have matters to deal with here. As soon as those matters are settled, I intend retiring to the country once again."

"Don't wager your mother's pearls on it."

"Humph! Anyway, what have you learned? I take it you got my note last night?"

"Yes, but not until this morning. Last night I was busy trying to prise information from certain African dignitaries."

"What did they say?"

"Enough to unofficially confirm that at least four of Crowley's claims of governmental approvals and permissions are false. I'm working on turning unofficial into official, but no government bureacracy works quickly. We won't have any official support for our petition by the time we have to lodge it."

"And when's that?"

"I would advise against waiting longer than next Tuesday."

"That soon?"

"We can't risk Crowley calling in his notes, and I'd wager my bays he'll do it late next week." Gabriel glanced at Alathea, then continued, "The petition's all but ready. Wiggs's clerk should have finished it-as far as we've gone-by tomorrow. Wiggs will bring it to me. If we have no more to add, with your permission, I'll ask my solicitor to make an appointment for Tuesday morning with one of the judges of the Chancery Court to submit our case. We don't dare wait longer-fighting a rearguard action once the promissory note is executed and the call on funds made will leave us in a considerably worse position legally."

Alathea grimaced. "If that's how it must be…"

"I'll alert Devil, and Vane, too. He'll bring Gerrard up to town when he's needed." His gaze on her face, her profile, Gabriel opened his mouth on the words: "Thea, it's a big risk," but left them unsaid. If he had considered all the dangers and alternatives, she would have, too. There was no danger to her-he would marry her in an instant, and rescue both her and her family from penury-she knew that without his stating it. But what of Morwellan Park, and the title, the long unbroken line of Morwellans stretching back through time? What of her family's pride? That was what she'd set out from the first to protect, and it wasn't something that could be rescued other than by risking all.

Her motives needed no explaining to a Cynster. All he could do was stand by her shoulder and do whatever he could to bring about her victory.

And, perhaps, provide a distraction. "Actually, the reason I came looking for you wasn't to tell you all that. I've tickets for Friday's performance of The Barber of Seville. I thought you and your family might like to attend."

Alathea stared at him. "Friday night's the last night-it's to be a gala performance."

"So I understand." The production had taken the ton by storm. The management had decreed the final performance would be a gala event, to thank both cast and patrons.

"But… the gala was sold out within hours of the announcement last week. How on earth did you manage to get tickets for us all?"

"Never mind how I got the damned tickets! Will you come?"

"Speaking for myself, of course I'll come! As for the others, you can ask them yourself." Alathea waved ahead to where the group were gathered about the Morwellan barouche.

Gabriel was glad to see that his sisters had already said their good-byes and were heading for his mother's landau, drawn in to the verge a little way along. Celia saw him and waved but did not beckon him to attend her. Nor did she evince any surprise at seeing him again strolling with Alathea. Those facts declared that Celia, at least, understood his intention and approved; Gabriel knew he could rely on her for support should the need arise.