Mr. Rayburn nodded. "Simon Atwater is here. I'll send him to see to them." He turned to Julianne. "A harrowing ordeal to be sure, Lady Julianne. I'm relieved you're all right. Let's get you inside. There are a lot of worried people in there."

Julianne's father, who until now had remained silent, said to Gideon, in a low, furious voice, "You were supposed to keep my daughter safe, Mayne."

"I am safe, Father," Julianne said quickly. "Thanks to Mr. Mayne. He saved my life. No one else even realized I'd been kidnapped."

Her father's gaze never left Gideon. "If you'd been doing your job properly, the kidnappers never would have touched my daughter."

"You're right," Gideon said. "I accept full responsibility."

"Nonsense," Julianne protested. "There was complete pandemonium when the duke made the announcement he'd been robbed-"

"Which only further proves his incompetence," her father stated coldly. He narrowed his eyes at Gideon. "Kidnappers and thieves running amok, and you did nothing."

"He rescued me," Julianne said tightly. "Or do you consider that nothing, Father?"

"Please, let us go inside," Mr. Rayburn said, gently taking Julianne's arm. She wanted to shake him off, scream at all of them that she didn't want to go inside. That she wanted to leave. Now. With Gideon.

But instead, she allowed herself to be led up the path into the house. The duke strode into the foyer, his normally dispassionate features filling with obvious relief at the sight of her. "Julianne, my dear." He clasped her hands and raised them to his lips. "I was so afraid-"

His words cut off, and he seemed to freeze in place when he looked beyond her. She glanced over her shoulder and realized he was staring at Gideon.

"Mr. Mayne rescued me," she said quickly, before the duke could blame Gideon for her ordeal as her father had.

"That's right, Your Grace," agreed Mr. Rayburn who quickly repeated the kidnapping story Gideon had related. When he finished, the duke kissed her hand then murmured, "Thank God you're all right. We must get you home-"

"I want to see Sarah, Emily, and Carolyn first," Julianne said, surreptitiously wiping the back of her hand against her gown to rid herself of his touch. "If they're still here."

A muscle ticked in the duke's jaw. "They are. But so are many of the other guests…" His gaze raked over her. "And you're looking rather worse for your ordeal, my dear. Wouldn't you rather-"

"No, I wouldn't. I want to see them. Now, if you please."

The duke clearly wasn't pleased, but he acquiesced. "As you wish."

As they filed down the corridor, Julianne asked Mr. Rayburn, "Did you capture the robber or recover His Grace's jewels?"

"I'm afraid not. I've been interviewing the guests one at a time, which is why so many are still here. Of course, many also remained out of concern for you, hoping for news."

When they entered the drawing room, the hum of conversation stopped for several seconds, then voices exploded, and Julianne found herself surrounded by a sea of faces. Mr. Rayburn held up his hands and demanded silence then once again repeated the story of her ordeal. When he finished, Julianne was engulfed in hugs and well wishes and bombarded with sympathy and questions, while Gideon was congratulated for his quick action. Julianne's mother kissed her on both cheeks, told her she was very grateful she hadn't been hurt, then told her they should leave as soon as possible as she looked a complete fright.

Sarah, Emily, and Carolyn all hugged and kissed her.

"I swear I paced a hole in the duke's hearth rug," Emily said, giving her nose an unladylike blow.

"How dare you frighten a pregnant woman that way," Sarah scolded, pulling off her spectacles to dab at her teary eyes.

"I thought Daniel was going to nail my slippers to the floor to keep me from ruining whatever part of the carpet Emily left intact," Carolyn said, wiping her eyes with a lace hankie. "Are you certain you're all right?"

No, I'm not all right. For a brief, perfect, shining moment, in Gideon's arms, she had been. And she greatly feared she'd never know such happiness again. She mustered up a smile, hoping to erase her friends' troubled expressions. "I'm fine."

"Mr. Mayne was incredibly brave," Sarah said. She squeezed Julianne's hand. "We owe him a debt that can never be repaid."

A lump clogged Julianne's throat, and to her mortification, tears filled her eyes. Carolyn saw her distress and quickly led her to a nearby quiet sitting room that afforded them privacy but from where they could still be seen. After they settled themselves on overstuffed chairs, Julianne said, "Actually, there is more to the kidnapping story than you've heard." She proceeded to tell them the rest, only leaving out any mention of Jack Mayne.

When she finished, all three women looked at her with round eyes. "Heavens, Julianne," Carolyn said. "You were simply marvelous!"

"Incredibly brave," added Sarah.

"I was scared witless," Julianne corrected.

"I would have swooned on the spot," Emily decreed.

"You?" Julianne laughed. "You would have given those kidnappers an ear blistering so severe they would have promptly returned you and begged your pardon for disturbing your evening."

"I'm sure Mr. Mayne was impressed with your bravery," Sarah said.

Julianne felt a blush warm her cheeks. "He said he was. However, most likely he was merely grateful not to have a swooning female on his hands."

Emily looked at Julianne's wrist then frowned. "That looks like a bandage showing above your glove."

More heat flooded Julianne's face. "Mr. Mayne did that. My skin was chafed from the ropes."

Emily's brows shot upward. "He just happened to have some bandages with him?"

Julianne tried to think of a plausible excuse but realized nothing but the truth would do. "No. We made a stop on our way back here. At Mr. Mayne's house. He bandaged me there."

"You went to his house?" Emily's voice dropped to a whisper. "Alone?"

"Of course alone," Sarah broke in impatiently. "Did you expect them to bring the kidnappers along?" She turned to Julianne. "What is his home like?"

"It's… lovely. Cozy, neat. Just… perfect."

"I'm glad he had the knowledge to tend to your wounds," Carolyn said.

"Don't tell your mother that part of the story," Emily warned. "She'll fly into the boughs."

"I've no intention of telling her anything," Julianne said quietly. She looked into the drawing room, and her gaze found Gideon. He was talking to Mr. Rayburn and looking very serious.

"Why, Julianne… you're blushing," Emily said. She drew in a sharp breath, and her gaze bounced between Gideon and Julianne. "Good heavens. You like Mr. Mayne."

It felt as if the sun itself burned from her cheeks. "Of course I like him. He saved my life."

Emily shook her head. "No. I saw the way you just looked at him."

"And how was that?"

"With your heart in your eyes." Emily's own eyes looked troubled. "You're in love with him, aren't you?"

For several long seconds Julianne remained silent. Emily was a dear friend, but she was also an earl's daughter, and she knew what her reaction would be if Julianne were to admit the truth. Carolyn would no doubt share Emily's horror. Sarah, Julianne knew, would be more understanding. For all the good that did her.

"Is it true?" Carolyn asked, her eyes filled with concern. "Do you love him?"

"It doesn't matter," Julianne said, plucking at a loose thread on her ruined gown.

"Of course it matters," Sarah said in a fierce whisper.

"No, it doesn't," Emily insisted. "She is betrothed to the duke."

"The announcement wasn't made," Carolyn pointed out.

"But they're going to be married in two days!" Emily said.

"Perhaps she doesn't want to marry the duke," Sarah said. "Perhaps she'd prefer to marry Mr. Mayne."

Sarah's whispered words hung in the air, stealing the breath from Julianne's lungs. They were words she hadn't even dared say to herself, let alone speak out loud.

"Marry Mr. Mayne?" Emily repeated in an aghast hiss. "Instead of a duke? Are you daft?"

Sarah fixed Emily with a skewering stare. "Have you ever been in love, Emily?"

A scarlet blush colored Emily's cheeks. "No, but-"

"Then, with all due respect, you have no idea what you're talking about," Sarah said firmly. She turned to her sister. "Would you have married Daniel if he weren't an earl? If he were, say, a baker?"

"I see the point you're trying to make-" Carolyn began, but Sarah cut her off. "Yes or no, Carolyn. Would you have married him if he were a baker?"

"Yes. But," she added quickly, "I'm not an earl's daughter."

"You were a viscountess by virtue of your first marriage. And as a viscountess you still would have married Daniel if he were a baker?"

Carolyn let out a sigh. "Yes."

"Why?" Sarah persisted.

Carolyn shot her an annoyed look. "You sound like a barrister."

"Then answer the question."

Carolyn folded her hands in her lap then said primly, "Because I love him."

A triumphant smile lit Sarah's lips. "And there you have it."

"And there you have nothing," Emily said. "This is not some game, Sarah. If Julianne were to go against her parents' wishes and not marry the duke-and to throw him over for a Bow Street Runner? Good God, the scandal would ruin her. She'd be disinherited. She'd lose everything."

"She'd lose money," Sarah agreed. "Material possessions. And most likely any relationship with her parents. But she wouldn't lose everything. She wouldn't lose me." Sarah raised her chin and grasped Julianne's hand. "I never aspired to a title, but since I have one, I won't hesitate to use it shamefully. The Marchioness Langston stands firmly behind Julianne. No matter what."