Her sweeping gesture elicited a grunt. "You don't know what you're talking about."

Patience lost her temper. "What I'm talking about is your propensities with respect to wine, women, and wagering. And, believe me, they're obvious to the meanest intelligence! You may as well have a banner carried before you." With her hands, she sketched one in the air. "Gentleman rake!"

Vane shifted; he was suddenly closer. "I believe I warned you I was no gentleman."

Looking into his face, Patience swallowed, and wondered how she could possibly have forgotten. There was nothing remotely gentlemanly in the presence before her-his face was hard, his eyes pure steel. Even his austerely elegant attire now seemed more like armor. And his voice no longer purred. At all. Clenching her fists, she drew a tight breath. "I don't want Gerrard turning out like you. I don't want you to-" Despite her best efforts, innate caution took hold-it froze her tongue.

Almost shaking with the effort of restraining his temper, Vane heard himself suggest, his tone sibilantly smooth, "Corrupt him?"

Patience stiffened. She lifted her chin, her lids veiling her eyes. "I didn't say that."

"Don't fence with me, Miss Debbington, or you're liable to get pinked." Vane spoke slowly, softly, only just managing to get the words past his teeth. "Let's be sure I have this correctly. You believe I've stayed at Bellamy Hall purely to dally with you, that I've befriended your brother for no other reason than to further my cause with you, and that my character is such that you consider me unsuitable company for a minor. Have I forgotten anything?"

Poker-straight, Patience met his eyes. "I don't think so."

Vane felt his control quake, felt his reins slither from his grasp. He clenched his jaw, and both fists. Every muscle in his body locked, every mental sinew strained with the effort of holding on to his temper.

All Cynsters had one-a temper that normally lazed like a well-fed cat but could, if pricked, change to a snarling predator. For one instant, his vision clouded, then the beast responded to the rein and drew back, hissing. As his fury subsided, he blinked dazedly.

Hauling in a deep breath, he swung halfway around and, dragging his gaze from Patience, forced himself to scan the room. Slowly, he exhaled. "If you were a man, my dear, you wouldn't still be upright."

There was an instant's pause, then she said, "Not even you would strike a lady."

Her "not even" nearly set him off again. Jaw clenched, Vane slowly turned his head, caught her wide hazel gaze-and raised his brows. His hand itched to make contact with her bottom. Positively burned. For one instant, he teetered on the brink-her widening gaze, as, frozen like prey, she read the intent in his eyes, was small comfort. But the thought of Minnie made him fight down the nearly overpowering compulsion to bring Miss Patience Debbington to an abrupt understanding of her temerity. Minnie, supportive though she was, was unlikely to prove that forgiving. Vane narrowed his eyes, and spoke very softly. "I have only one thing to say to you, Patience Debbington. You're wrong-on every count."

He turned on his heel and stalked off.

Patience watched him go, watched him stride directly across the room, looking neither left nor right. There was nothing languid in his stride, no vestige of his usual lazy grace; his every movement, the rigid set of his shoulders, shrieked of reined power, of temper, of fury barely leashed. He opened the door and, without even a nod to Minnie, left; the door clicked shut behind him.

Patience frowned. Her head throbbed remorselessly; she felt empty and-yes-cold inside. As if she'd just done something terribly wrong. As if she'd just made a big mistake. But she hadn't, had she?

She woke the next morning to a grey and dripping world. Through one eye, Patience stared at the unrelenting gloom beyond her window, then groaned and buried her head beneath the covers. She felt the dipping of the mattress as Myst jumped up, then padded closer. Settling against the curve of her stomach, Myst purred.

Patience sank her head deeper into her pillow. This was clearly a morning to avoid.

She dragged her limbs from the comfort of her bed an hour later. Shivering in the chilly air, she hurriedly dressed, then reluctantly headed downstairs. She had to eat, and cowardice was not, in her book, sufficient reason to put the staff to the unexpected trouble of making up a tray for her. She noted the time as she passed the clock on the stairs-nearly ten o'clock. Everyone else should have finished and departed; she should be safe.

She walked into the breakfast parlor-and discovered her error. All the gentlemen were present. As they rose to greet her most nodded benignly-Henry and Edmond even conjured smiles. Vane, at the head of the table, didn't smile at all. His grey gaze settled on her, coldly brooding. Not a muscle in his face flickered.

Gerrard, of course, beamed a welcome. Patience summoned a weak smile. Steps dragging, she headed for the sideboard.

She took her time filling her plate, then slipped into the chair beside Gerrard, wishing he was somewhat larger. Large enough to shield her from Vane's darkling gaze. Unfortunately, Gerrard had finished all but his coffee; he lay sprawled comfortably back in his chair.

Leaving her exposed. Patience bit her tongue against the impulse to tell Gerrard to sit straight; he was still too coltish to bring off that lounging pose. Unlike the gentleman he was copying, who brought it off all too well. Patience kept her eyes on her plate and her mind on eating. Other than the brooding presence at the head of the table, there was precious little other distraction.

As Masters cleared their plates, the gentlemen fell to discussing the day's possibilities. Henry looked at Patience. "Perhaps, Miss Debbington, if the skies clear, you might be interested in a short walk?"

Patience glanced very briefly at the sky beyond the windows. "Too muddy," she pronounced.

Edmond's eyes gleamed. "How about charades?"

Patience's lips thinned. "Perhaps later." She was in a waspish mood; if they weren't careful, she'd sting.

"There's a pack of cards in the library," Edgar volunteered.

The General, predictably, snorted. "Chess," he stated. "Game of kings. That's what I shall do. Any takers?"

There were no volunteers. The General subsided into vague mutterings.

Gerrard turned to Vane. "How about a round of billiards?"

One of Vane's brows rose; his gaze remained on Gerrard's face, yet, watching him from beneath her lashes, Patience knew Ms attention was on her. Then he looked directly at her. "A capital idea," he purred, then both voice and face hardened. "But perhaps your sister has other plans for you.",

His words were soft, distinct, and clearly loaded with some greater significance. Patience ground her teeth. She was avoiding his eye; he was focusing every eye on her. Not content with that, he was making no attempt to mask the coolness between them. It colored his words, his expression; it positively shrieked in the absence of his suavely charming smile. He sat very still, his gaze unwaveringly fixed on her. His grey eyes were coldly challenging.

It was Gerrard, the only one of the company apparently insensitive to the powerful undercurrent, who broke the increasingly awkward silence. "Oh, Patience won't want me about, under her feet." He flicked a confident grin her way, then turned back to Vane.

Vane's gaze didn't shift. "I rather think that's for your sister to say."

Setting down her teacup, Patience lifted one shoulder. "I can't see any reason you shouldn't play billiards." She made the comment to Gerrard, steadfastly ignoring Vane. Then she pushed back her chair. "And now, if you'll excuse me, I must look in on Minnie."

They all rose as she stood; Patience walked to the door, conscious of one particular gaze on her back, focused right between her shoulder blades.

There was nothing wrong with playing billiards.

Patience kept telling herself that, but didn't believe it. It wasn't the billiards that worried her. It was the chatting, the easy camaraderie that the exercise promoted-the very sort of interaction she did not wish Gerrard to engage in with any elegant gentleman.

Just the knowledge that he and Vane were busily potting balls and exchanging God knew what observations on life reduced her to nervous distraction.

Which was why, half an hour after she'd seen Gerrard and Vane head for the billiard room, she slipped into the adjacent conservatory. One section of the irregularly shaped garden room overlooked one end of the billiard room. Screened by an assortment of palms, Patience peered between the fringed leaves.

She could see half the table. Gerrard stood leaning on his cue beyond it. He was talking; he paused, then laughed. Patience gritted her teeth.

Then Vane came into view. His back to her, he moved around the table, studying the disposition of the balls. He'd taken off his coat; in form-fitting waistcoat and soft white shirt, he looked, if anything, even larger, more physically powerful, than before.

He halted at the corner of the table. Leaning over, he lined up his shot. Muscles shifted beneath his tight waistcoat; Patience stared, then blinked.

Her mouth was dry. Licking her lips, she refocused. Vane took his shot, then, watching the ball, slowly straightened. Patience frowned, and licked her lips again.

With a satisfied smile, Vane circled the table and stopped by Gerrard's side. He made some comment; Gerrard grinned.