"Well," Sebastian said cautiously, "I suppose it will be all right for you to look into the matter. I shall, of course, accompany you. It will give me an opportunity to observe your methods."

"Of course."

He smiled. "It might be somewhat amusing."

"I hoped you might find it so, my lord," Prudence said demurely.

She was laughing at him, he thought. The little baggage had known that he would be as intrigued as she was by the opportunity to investi­gate another interesting puzzle. She knew him too well. Hardly sur­prising, he reflected. She was, after all, the other half of himself.

Sebastian gazed out into the sunlit garden. "I have only one stipu­lation to make before I agree to pursue this investigation with you."

"Yes, my lord?"

"I want you to tell me again that you love me," Sebastian said very quietly.

One could have heard a feather drop in the silence that ensued. Sebastian held his breath. He steeled himself and turned slowly around to face Prudence.

She was on her feet, her hands clasped in front of her. Her eyes were very bright and a little wary. "So you did hear me that night."

"I heard you. But I have not heard you say those words again. Have you changed your mind?"

"No, my lord. I have loved you since the moment I met you. I shall love you all the days of my life." She smiled wistfully. "I did not say the words again because I thought perhaps you found them at best merely amusing."

"Knowing that you love me is not a source of amusement." Sebas­tian realized that his hands were shaking with the force of the emotion that was pouring through him. "It is my salvation."

"Oh, Sebastian." Prudence flew into his arms.

"I love you, Prue." He crushed her close. "Always. Forever."

It was safe, after all, to look into the dark place inside himself that had once been so very cold, Sebastian thought. It was not empty, as he had feared. Love filled the part of him that had been locked in ice for so long.

He held Prudence very close for a long time. Her warmth poured into him, filling him completely.

"There are a few small details about our next investigation that I should perhaps mention," Prudence mumbled at last into his shirt.

"Details?" Sebastian raised his head.

Prudence smiled her most winning smile. "Well, according to my client, there is some question of a diamond necklace that has recently gone missing."

"Diamonds? We're talking about missing diamonds? Now, hold on just one minute, here. It has been my experience that where there is a question of missing jewelry, there is likely to be a question of foul play."

Prudence cleared her throat with a discreet little cough. "Well, apparently there have been one or two indications—small ones, mind you—that someone may have attempted to search the Cranshaws' house."

"Damnation, Prue, I said nothing dangerous this time."

"I'm sure there is nothing in the least bit dangerous about this investigation, my lord. Just some rather intriguing elements that I know will amuse you. I would not wish you to become bored."

Sebastian smiled wryly. "You think you can wrap me around your little finger, don't you, my sweet?"

"Just as you can wrap me around yours." She stood on tiptoe and put her arms about his neck. "I think, my dearest Sebastian, that you and I were meant for each other."

He looked into her glowing eyes and felt the warm fires of love burning inside himself. "There is no question about that."

He threaded his fingers through her hair and covered her mouth with his own. He knew he would never again be cold.