Harry held up a hand and infused his voice with dark, masculine authority. "If there is to be a new Pompeia's, there will also be a few new rules."

"Now, Harry," Augusta began coaxingly. "You need not concern yourself with the petty details of Pompeia's management, my dear."

He ignored that. "First, there will not be any gaming allowed in the new version of Pompeia's."

"Graystone, really, you are much too straitlaced about some things."

"Second, the place shall be run strictly as a genteel salon for ladies, not as a parody of a gentlemen's club."

"Honestly, Harry, you are positively old-fashioned," Augusta muttered.

"Third, Pompeia's will not be reopened until after my son and heir is born. Is that quite clear?"

Augusta lowered her eyes, the very picture of the demure, virtuous wife. "Yes, my lord."

Harry groaned. "I am lost."

Harry's son, a healthy babe with a lusty wail that could only have come from the Northumberland Ballinger side of the family, was born five months later.

Harry took one look at the infant and then smiled at his tired but happy wife. He was almost as exhausted as she was this morning. Last night had been harrowing, although the midwife had assured him everything was proceeding quite routinely.

Harry had spent every moment at his wife's bedside during her labor. He had vowed eternal celibacy every time he had put a cool washcloth on Augusta's sweating brow or felt her nails dig into his palm. Now she was safe and he realized he had never been more grateful for anything in his life.

"I believe we shall call him Richard, if that suits you, Augusta."

She glowed up at him from the pillows. Harry thought she had never looked more beautiful.

"I should like that very much. Thank you, Harry."

"I have a small surprise for you." He sat down on the edge of the bed and opened the velvet pouch he had brought upstairs with him. "Your mother's necklace was returned from the jeweler's this morning. As you can see, the man did an excellent job of cleaning and polishing it. I, uh, thought you might like to see it for yourself."

"Oh, yes. I am glad it is back." Augusta watched as the ruby necklace spilled onto the quilt. The brilliant red stones burned with a fiery light in the morning sun. She smiled, clearly pleased. "They did an excellent job indeed. It looks lovely." Then she frowned.

"Is something wrong, sweetheart?"

Augusta picked up the gleaming necklace. "There is something different about my necklace, Harry." She sucked in her breath. "Good heavens, my lord, I believe we have been cheated."

Harry narrowed his eyes. "Cheated?"

"Yes." Augusta cradled her son in one arm and examined the necklace very closely. "These are not my mother's rubies. They are darker. More brilliant." She looked up with a grim expression. "Harry, the jeweler has switched stones."

"Calm yourself, Augusta."

"No, I am certain of it," she said. "I have heard of this sort of thing happening."

"Augusta—"

"One sends a perfectly good necklace out to be cleaned or repaired and the jeweler replaces the genuine stones with cut glass. Harry, you must go back to the jeweler's at once. You must make him return our rubies."

Harry started to laugh. He could not help it. The whole thing was too ludicrous for words.

Augusta scowled at him. "Pray tell, what is so amusing, my lord?"

"Augusta, I assure you those rubies are quite real."

"Impossible. I shall go to the jeweler myself and demand he return my mother's rubies."

Harry laughed harder. "I would like to see the look on his face when you complain that he switched the stones. He will think you have gone mad, my love."

Augusta eyed him uncertainly. "Harry, are you trying to tell me something?"

"I wasn't going to tell you anything at all, but since you are determined to make an issue of this matter, you had better know the truth. One of your illustrious ancestors pawned the Northumberland Ballinger rubies years ago, my love. It was Sally who realized your rubies were actually nicely cut glass."

Augusta 's eyes widened in shock. "Are you certain?"

"Positive. Just to be sure, I had the necklace appraised before I did anything rash. I'm sorry, sweetheart. I thought I could carry off the switch, but obviously you have found me out."

Augusta stared at him in wonder. "Harry, if you replaced all of the rubies in my necklace, you must have spent a fortune."

"Mmmm, yes, one could say that." He grinned. "But it was worth it, my dear. After all, I have got myself a most virtuous wife and her value is infinitely far above rubies. Indeed, there is no way I could ever put a price on her. But the least I can do is see that when she wears rubies, she wears the real thing."

Augusta started to smile. "Oh, Harry, I do love you so."

"I know, my sweet." He kissed her gently. "Just as you must know that you are my heart and soul."

She held his hand very tightly. "Harry, I want you to know that with you I have found my home and my heart."

"And I am the luckiest of men," he told her softly. "I have found that treasure beyond price that I was seeking."

"A virtuous woman?"

"No, my darling. It turns out that was not quite what I was searching for, after all, although I have most certainly got myself a virtuous wife."

She regarded him curiously. "Then what was it you were seeking, my lord?"

"I did not know it in the beginning, but what I really wanted was a loving wife."

"Oh, yes, Harry." She smiled up at him with a lifetime of love in her eyes. "You most definitely have got yourself a loving wife."