Justin paused and studied him carefully. Stephen schooled his features into blandness. He didn't understand his own feelings regarding Hayley, and he sure as hell wasn't going to try to explain them to Justin.

"As you wish, Stephen," Justin said with a bow of his head. They resumed walking. "Of course, as you don't wish to discuss Miss Albright, I suppose you wouldn't be interested in the fact that I found out something rather interesting about her."

"About Hayley?" Stephen asked, unable to hide the surprise in his voice.

"Umm hmm," Justin said, ambling along as if he hadn't a care in the world.

"Well?" Stephen asked impatiently when his friend remained silent.

"I thought you didn't want to talk about her."

"I changed my mind," Stephen all but growled. Damn it, sometimes Justin was a cursed pest.

"Ah, well in that case, I shall tell you. I made some inquiries, very discreetly, mind you, and I discovered Hayley's father left the family in debt when he died."

A frown pinched Stephen's brows. "He did?"

"Yes. Apparently, after the sale of his ship, there was just enough money to pay off Tripp Albright's debts. The family inheritance amounted to less than a hundred pounds in total."

"Then how have they managed to live?" Stephen asked, confused. "They must receive an income from somewhere. Perhaps from the mother's family? Or her grandparents? Maybe Aunt Olivia?"

"I don't think so," Justin said, shaking his head. "None of my inquiries yielded anything of that sort."

"I know they aren't wealthy, but they get money from somewhere. You must have missed something, Justin."

"Perhaps."

By this time they'd reached the stables. After retrieving his gelding, Justin swung himself into the saddle. "I'll expect you back in London the day after tomorrow, Stephen." He tipped his hat and shot Stephen a broad wink. "Enjoy your party."

Stephen watched Justin gallop off, then he turned toward the house, clutching the package of clothing to his chest.

He would be back in London the day after tomorrow.

He should be thrilled.

So why the hell was he so depressed?

SHAPE \* MERGEFORMAT

Chapter 17

Hayley entered her bedchamber later that afternoon, and a confused frown furrowed her brow. Where on earth did that package on my bed come from?

Pulling the plainly wrapped bundle toward her, she plucked a small card from beneath the string binding it. She broke the seal and read the words: For Hayley, with my deepest gratitude, Stephen.

Stephen had given her a present.

She'd tried all day to banish thoughts of him and last night's passionate exchange, but he crowded every crevice of her mind. His smile, his eyes, teasing one minute, dark with desire the next. The touch of his hands, the taste of his mouth … she squeezed her eyes shut. She had to stop thinking about it. But how?

She clutched the bundle to her chest, her breath expelling from her lungs in a whoosh. She placed the package back on the bed and untied the ribbon, with shaking fingers. Folding the paper back, she stared in awe at the contents, then lifted the most beautiful gown she'd ever seen from the wrapping. Yards and yards of soft muslin fell to the floor, in the palest shade of aqua imaginable. The dress had short puffed sleeves adorned with cream-colored ribbons. The bodice was low, an ivory ribbon gathering the material just below the bust, and embroidered with a border of dark violet and cream flowers.

The flowers were pansies.

The same border of pansies adorned the hem of the dress, with vines of embroidered pale green ivy trailing down the skirt. Hayley held the gown up to her, and looked down, unable to believe her eyes. It appeared to be the right length, the hemline just brushing the tops of her sensible brown leather shoes.

She quickly rid herself of her dusty brown gown and reverently slipped the aqua creation over her head. The dress fit her as if it had been made for her. Scarcely able to breathe, she walked to the full-length mirror in the corner of her room.

The low bodice showed off an expanse of skin that made her blush. The soft material fell to her feet from the ivory ribbon beneath her bosom. Hayley tentatively fingered one of the embroidered pansies on the bodice, unable to believe that she was wearing such a beautiful dress. She felt like a princess.

A knock sounded at the door. "Come in," she called in a distracted voice, unable to tear her gaze from her reflection.

"Hayley, could you-" Pamela halted as she caught sight of her sister standing before the mirror. "Hayley! What an exquisite gown. Where on earth did you get it?"

Hayley turned and stared at her sister. "It was a gift."

"A gift? From who?" Pamela touched the beautiful muslin with a single finger.

"From Stephen," Hayley said softly: "Stephen gave it to me."

Pamela's jaw dropped. "Where on earth did he get it? And how could he afford such a dress? It must have cost a small fortune."

Hayley shook her head. "I have no idea. All I know is this package was here when I returned from the village. He included a card. It's there on the bed."

Pamela went to the bed, picked up the card and read the single line. She looked at the bundle on Hayley's bed and gasped. "Did you see the rest of this?"

"The rest of what?" Hayley asked absently. She couldn't get over the dress long enough to think of anything else.

"Look at this," Pamela breathed. "Did you ever see anything so lovely?"

Hayley turned and gaped. Pamela held a chemise in front of her. The undergarment was pure white and woven so delicately, it appeared nearly transparent.

"Good heavens," Hayley exclaimed, joining her sister. One by one they lifted the remaining items from the package. Sheer silk stockings, ivory satin garters adorned with pale aqua ribbons, and a pair of pale aqua satin slippers. Hayley slipped the shoes onto her feet. They were a perfect fit.

"Oh, Hayley," Pamela breathed. "He must have bought you this to wear to the party tomorrow. How incredibly romantic."

"I cannot believe it," Hayley said, dazed. "How did he do it? Where did he get it? How did he know just the right sizes to buy?" She blushed as she recalled that Stephen had touched nearly every part of her body. He, more than anyone else, would be able to make a fairly accurate guess as to her sizes.

"He must care for you very much," Pamela said softly. She grasped Hayley's hands and squeezed them tightly. "I'm so happy for you. I like Mr. Barrettson very much, and if he makes you happy, then I welcome him with open arms."

Hayley raised startled eyes from the wonder of the slippers to Pamela's shining face. "Do you really think he cares for me?"

"Of course," Pamela said without a trace of doubt. "A man would never give a woman a gift such as this unless he cared for her deeply." Her gaze drifted to the undergarments spread across the bed. "Very deeply."

Hayley closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. "Oh, Pamela. I hope you're right. Dear God, I hope you're right."

"Of course I'm right." Pamela gave her a quick hug. "Now let's get this gown off you before we ruin it." She helped Hayley remove the garment and hang it in her wardrobe.

"Just wait until Mr. Barrettson sees you in that gown. He's going to fall to his knees and profess his undying affection," Pamela predicted, handing over the undergarments, which Hayley carefully placed in her dresser drawer.

"I hope the shock of seeing me garbed in something other than basic brown doesn't cause his heart to stop," Hayley said with a laugh.

"I think Mr. Barrettson's heart is going to be much too busy beating furiously to even consider stopping."

Hayley couldn't erase the radiant smile she knew lit her face at Pamela's words. She redressed quickly, intending to go to the stables.

Arm in arm, she and Pamela left the room and walked down the stairs. They met Stephen in the foyer. With a shy smile Pamela excused herself, leaving Stephen and Hayley alone.

Hayley opened her mouth to thank him for her gift, but the words fled her mind when she noticed the parade of scabs dotting his jaw. "Good heavens. What happened to your face?"

A rueful laugh escaped him. "I shaved."

"Did you hurt yourself?"

"Just my pride. I fear shaving is not an activity I excel at."

"Then why…?" Her voice trailed off as she realized why. "Did you shave because of what Aunt Olivia said?"

He shrugged. "Perhaps. And Andrew requested a shaving lesson. I'm afraid the lad's face bears as many nicks as mine, but all in all we managed quite well."

Hayley's heart faltered. Dear God, he was wonderful. Cutting his face to ribbons trying to please an old woman and an adolescent boy. She briefly wondered why he was so inept at a masculine activity he'd surely been performing for years, but she didn't question him. Clearly his lack of ability embarrassed him and she had no wish to make him uncomfortable.

Laying her hand on his sleeve, she said, "Please allow me to assist you next time. I shudder to think of you and Andrew slitting your throats."

"Agreed."

A warm blush crept up her face. "Stephen, I found the gown. It's the most beautiful dress I've ever seen … that I could ever imagine. No one has ever given me anything so wonderful. Or so extravagant." Thinking of the sheer stockings, she flushed hotter. "I don't know what to say, or how to thank you."

Stephen touched her face with a gentle finger. "You don't have to say anything, and you can thank me by wearing it tomorrow evening to Mrs. Smythe's party."

"Where did you get it? How did you get it? Why-"