“You don’t know what you’re asking.” She shook her head, her throat tight. “My family was not of your rank, but I was raised to be a lady. I was a child when that life ended. I’ve lived as a farm girl, a prisoner, a peddler, a spy, a dozen other things. I would be as out of place at your home as that washerwoman.”

“I don’t believe that,” he retorted. “You have played many roles convincingly, and this one you were born to. It will only be for a few days, a fortnight at most. I hate that you will be uncomfortable, but I know you can do this.”

Perhaps. But the idea of acting as a lady terrified her, and pretending to be Grey’s betrothed was even worse. “The risk is too great for you,” she argued. “What if I want to become a countess and claim that the betrothal is real? You’d either be stuck with me or caught in a dreadful scandal.”

“You wouldn’t do that.” His dark-edged eyes turned thoughtful. “Though I wouldn’t object if you held me to it. I just can’t imagine that you’d want to.”

Not want to marry him? Dear God, even thinking of the possibility muddled her mind. The fact that he still needed her so much that he was willing to obliquely suggest marriage was the wickedest temptation she’d ever known.

But if she took advantage of his present weakness, they’d both regret it. “It would be so much easier if you’d just trust your family, Grey,” she said, trying to sound calm and reasonable. “You don’t need a stranger at Summerhill at such a difficult time.”

“I don’t need a stranger, but I do need you, Cassie,” he said quietly. “And you promised not to leave me as long as I need you. I swear I’ll never ask anything of you again, but please come with me. You were right that it will be difficult with my father’s life in doubt. If … if the worst happens, a great deal of responsibility will come crashing down on me. I’m much less likely to break under the strain if you’re with me.”

She swore to herself, knowing that it had been a mistake to make such a sweeping promise. But she’d given him her word. Even if she hadn’t, she couldn’t abandon him now. “Very well, but I’ll need to find some fashionable clothing very quickly.”

A knock sounded on the door of the dining room. “Is it safe to come in?” Kirkland asked.

“Come in. The golden boy has prevailed again,” Cassie said tartly. “I’ll go with Wyndham to Summerhill.”

“I’m glad you’re willing,” Kirkland said, relieved. “Tomorrow, not today?”

Grey nodded. “We need time to get ready. Also, the extra day allows time for a message to be sent to my mother so she’ll know I’m coming. She can decide whether or not to tell my father. I wouldn’t want to kill him from shock.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Kirkland said. “What else can I do to help?”

“I’ll need some more of your clothing.” Grey grimaced. “Black. Just in case.”

Kirkland nodded. “What do you need, Cassie?”

“Can you take me to Kiri Mackenzie’s house when you leave?” Cassie asked. “She’s the most fashionable woman I know, and I’m praying she can render me respectable by tomorrow.”

“Of course. Anything else?”

Grey shook his head. “I’m going for a long walk so I can think myself into the proper state of mind.”

Cassie’s brow furrowed. “Shall I go with you?”

His gaze was hooded. “No, you need a wardrobe and I … need to be alone.”

That made sense, given that they’d been together day and night since Castle Durand, but it felt strange not to be watching out for Grey. Kirkland, more pragmatic, pulled a sleek little pistol from under his coat and offered it to Grey. “I trust you remember how to use one of these?”

“I do.” Grey studied the weapon without enthusiasm. “I suppose I could use this if necessary, but the real purpose is that you’ll feel better knowing I’m armed.”

“Exactly right,” Kirkland said. “I’d also suggest a less expensive coat and hat.”

“Disguising myself even in my native land,” Grey murmured. He gave Cassie a swift kiss on the cheek. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

She said lightly, “Can’t I worry just a little?”

“If you find it entertaining.”

Watching him go, Cassie thought wryly that if he got himself killed in the streets, at least she wouldn’t have to go to Summerhill.

Impatiently Grey changed into a nondescript coat provided by Mr. Powell, added an equally shapeless hat, and headed east. He wanted to stretch his legs, see more of London. Pull his cracked self together so he could be the son who was needed at Summerhill.

And somewhere along the way, he wanted to find a good fight.

Cassie had never visited Mackenzie’s house, and it proved to be a handsome building right next door to his club, Damian’s. As she waited for a footman to announce her to Kiri, she studied the furnishings, seeing attractive Indian accents that must have been added by the new mistress of the house.

“Cassie, what a pleasure!” Lady Kiri swept into the entry hall and hugged her guest. “I was writing letters, very tedious. Much better to hear of your adventures!”

Cassie gave her bonnet and cloak to the footman and followed Kiri to the pleasant morning room, which included a desk with papers and pen. “Adventures can come later,” Cassie said. “First I must throw myself on your mercy, for I’m in dire need of your services.”

“Perfume? Of course.” Kiri settled gracefully into the chair by her desk and gestured for Cassie to sit opposite.

“Much more than perfume is required,” Cassie said grimly as she took the chair. “Tomorrow I must accompany Wyndham to his family seat in the guise of his betrothed, and I need to be transformed into someone whom he might plausibly wed.”

Kiri’s eyes widened. “You are to be a false fiancée? Why?”

Cassie explained tersely. When she was done, Kiri said, “This is a difficult mission for many reasons, yes? Because this time it is more than playacting.”

“You have put your finger on my uneasiness,” Cassie said slowly. “I am too involved with Wyndham for this to be easy. Also …” She looked down at her knotted fingers and realized she was feeling an anxiety very different from the straightforward fear of death or imprisonment that was a constant threat in France.

“Also … ?” Kiri prompted gently.

“For the first time, I must enter the world I was born to, but lost,” Cassie said haltingly. “I survived by accepting that that world was lost and moving forward, always forward. Now I must pretend to belong in that lost life, and the thought is … terrifying.” Her throat closed.

“I’m trying to imagine myself in your situation, and I can’t. But I see it would be deeply unnerving.” Kiri’s eyes narrowed. “Might this be easier if you look in the mirror and see a stranger instead of yourself? That would be more like playacting.”

“Perhaps.” Cassie bit her lip as she recognized another possibility. “I don’t want to lie to Grey’s family since he’ll have to live with them, so I should use my real name. That way if an old aunt asks about my family, I can give a real answer rather than make something up and possibly be caught out.”

Kiri noted her use of Grey’s personal name without comment. “I can have cards printed for you today so you’ll have them to support your role.”

“You can get cards made in a day?” Cassie asked incredulously.

“There are many advantages to being daughter and sister to a duke,” Kiri explained. “Here’s pencil and paper. Write down what the cards should say.”

Cassie wrote out her birth name for the first time in almost twenty years. “This feels strange. I am no longer Catherine St. Ives.”

“Part of you is, despite all that has happened. It may not be a bad thing to become better acquainted with Catherine.” Kiri’s brows arched when she saw what Cassie had written. “Next, appearance. Can that hair coloring you use be washed out? Not only is the color ugly, but it dulls your hair.”

“The color can be washed out with vinegar, but I don’t want to go to my natural color.” Cassie made a face. “It’s a violent red that was the bane of my childhood. I was happy to have a reason to dye it brown. I haven’t seen the original color since I was a child, and good riddance.”

The color had worn off when she was in prison. After her escape, she’d worn a head scarf and avoided mirrors until she could make and apply a batch of the coloring.

“If you wish to create a role that is not you, what better place to start than with Catherine St. Ives’s hair? It will have darkened over the years so it will be a less alarming shade of red now.” Kiri made a note on her list. “Clothing. You will need at least two good day dresses, another for evening wear, and a riding habit. Plus the undergarments and shoes and cloaks and other accessories.”

Cassie sighed. “Which will be impossible to obtain by tomorrow. At least, not clothing of the quality the role requires. Even more middling garments will be difficult on such short notice.”

“Nonsense. My sister, Lucia, is close to you in size. I shall ask her to send over several gowns she can spare that will suit your coloring. I shall also summon the splendid Madame Hélier, modiste for all the women in my family. She may have partially completed garments that would suit you, and she has seamstresses who can do quick alterations.” Kiri grinned. “This will be such fun!”

“I’ll wager you liked playing with dolls when you were a girl,” Cassie said dryly.

“Indeed I did. I turned them into beautiful warrior queens.”

Cassie had no trouble imagining that. “Like you? But I am neither beautiful nor a warrior queen.”

Kiri’s eyes gleamed. “You will be when I’m finished with you.”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “I’m beginning to think coming here was a mistake.”

“I promise you’ll thank me for it later.” Kiri’s eyes narrowed. “Might you be ready to wear the perfume I created for you?”