Ivybridge gripped the back of the chair. "What do you mean?"

"Miss Connor is not only a very close friend, but I am hoping that in due time she will consider accepting a proposal of marriage from me."

Ivybridge's heavy jaw dropped. Adam heard Caroline utter a tiny squeak of astonishment. It amused him that no one else in the room seemed the least bit amazed by his announcement.

He halted in front of Ivybridge. "I'm sure you can guess how extremely annoyed I would be if Miss Connor were to be embarrassed in any way by gossip concerning the events in Chillingham."

"How dare you threaten me, sir?" Ivybridge blurted.

"1 would be so annoyed, in fact, that I would not hesitate to disclose your investment in a certain establishment in Marbury Street to every intrepid newspaper correspondent in town."

Shock glazed Ivybridge's face. "I have no notion of what you are talking about."

"It is one thing for a gentleman to purchase some discreet entertainment at a brothel, but it is another thing altogether for him to invest in one, isn't it? Imagine how that will appear to your friends when they read it in the press."

"See here, I don't know what you are implying but I can assure you that you cannot prove anything."

Adam spread his hands. "That is the amazing thing about a newspaper sensation, isn't it? Great damage can be done to a gentleman's reputation and his standing in Society without going to the bother of supplying hard facts or proof of any kind." He paused. "But if it eases your mind, rest assured, I shall be able to provide the correspondents with a quantity of evidence"

"I have no intention of discussing Miss Connor's past," Ivybridge said, clearly shaken. "But what about my wife? She will surely recognize her."

"I strongly suggest that she does not recognize her," Adam said. "If any rumors, even the merest hint of Mrs.

Fordyce's connection to the events in Chillingham of three years ago, happen to reach my ears, I will assume that they originated with you, Ivybridge, and respond accordingly."

"You can hardly blame me if someone else recognizes Miss Connor and relates the gossip."

"On the contrary, I won't hesitate to blame you. Not for a moment. I'm sure you can persuade your wife of the wisdom of not spreading gossip over tea." Adam glanced at the tall clock. "You have five minutes to collect her and de-part this house"

Dazed, Ivybridge staggered to the door, jerked it open and rushed out into the hall.

A short silence fell upon the small group left in the library.

Milly shattered it by whipping open her fan. She gave Adam an approving smile.

"That was the most entertaining sight that I have seen in ages, sir," she said. "Thank you for rounding off a most enjoyable evening with such a pleasant farce."

Emma took a step forward and halted. "Do you really have damaging information concerning Ivybridge's investment in a brothel?"

It was Wilson who answered. He chuckled. "You may depend upon it, madam. Adam knows everyone's secrets in Society."

"I certainly don't regret cutting him off our guest list," Richard said. He took Julia's arm and went toward the door. "He was on it only because his father and mine were old acquaintances. But as it happens, both of those gentle-men are dead. I see no need to pursue the connection, do you, my dear?"

"Not at all," Julia said.

"Come, we must return to our guests." Richard paused at the door and grinned at Adam. "By the way, allow me to wish you good luck with your wedding plans, Hardesty. About time you tied the knot. You're not getting any younger, you know."

Adam inclined his head. "Thank you for pointing out my advancing years, Southwood."

"Think nothing of it. Felt it was my responsibility as your brother-in-law." He whisked a laughing Julia out the door.

"Let me echo Southwood's sentiments on the subject of your marriage plans, Adam." Wilson gave Caroline a gratified smile. "Excellent choice of bride, I might add. She'll fit right into the family."

Milly fanned herself happily. "This is so romantic"

Emma's brows came together in a severe line. "Are you serious in your intentions toward my niece, Mr. Hardesty? Or was the subject of marriage mentioned solely to intimidate Ivybridge?"

"Of course he is serious." Wilson took Emma's arm in one hand, grasped Milly's in the other and headed toward the door. "Adam has rules when it comes to dealing with a lady. Trust me, he would not have mentioned the subject of marriage unless he was very serious indeed"

The threesome disappeared through the doorway. Adam found himself alone with Caroline.

"Adam."

She ran to him and threw herself into his arms, holding him so tightly that he hoped she would never let go. He put his arms around her, savoring the vibrant, feminine warmth and feel of her.

"I cannot believe what you and your family just did," she whispered.

He smiled into her hair. She did not know the half of it,

he thought. The mild threats that had sent Ivybridge running from the room were the least of it. Over the course of the next few months the real justice would be delivered. Ivybridge would slowly but surely discover that he was no longer on the guest lists of some of Society's most important hostesses. He would be left out of certain private in-vestment consortiums. He would no longer be welcome in certain clubs. In the end he would pay, and pay dearly, for what he had done to Caroline. But there was no need to burden her with the details.

"It was little enough, given what he put you through," he said aloud.

"I appreciate your feelings." She raised her head and stepped back reluctantly. "Unfortunately, in your desire to quell Ivybridge, I fear that you took matters a step too far."

"Damn. I find it so annoying when that happens."

THIRTY-FOUR

He was obviously not giving the situation the serious attention it required. Perhaps he had not yet thought through the implications.

"This is not amusing, Adam," she said reproachfully. "Your family knows how you are about your rules." He inclined his head. "True"

"After what you just said to Ivybridge, they will no doubt expect us to become engaged. Really, sir, what were you thinking?"

"Apparently I was thinking of marriage" He crossed the room to the brandy table and picked up the decanter. Light sparkled on the cut crystal facets when he tipped the bottle over a glass. "Everyone else, with the glaring exception of Ivybridge, seems to feel that we would make an excellent match." He paused, holding the glittering decanter aloft. "Would you care for a brandy?"

"No, thank you. One of us must remain clearheaded here."

"Better you than me."

He drank a large measure of the brandy.

She whirled and began to pace the long room, struggling to pull her chaotic emotions into some sort of order.

"Please do not misunderstand me," she said quickly. "I am deeply indebted to you for the manner in which you dealt with Ivybridge. Indeed, I do not know how I shall ever be able to repay you"

For the first time since Ivybridge had departed the library, Adam appeared displeased. "There is no need to re-pay me," he said, a chill in his words. "You owe me

' nothing. I am the one who is indebted to you for providing me with an alibi for the murder of Irene Toller."

"Nonsense. I merely told the truth."

He shrugged. "I did the same just now."

"But you told Ivybridge that you planned to offer marriage."

"Yes, I did, didn't I?"

She sighed. "I realize that it was all part of your brilliant plan to intimidate him. And I do not doubt that he will certainly think twice before spreading gossip about the mysterious Mr. Hardesty's intended bride. But you did not have to go that far. Surely you can see that. He was al-ready trembling in his shoes after you brought up his connection to that brothel."

Adam swallowed more brandy, looking pensive. "Thank you. The subject of his connection to that establishment was rather effective, wasn't it?"

"It was a very clever piece of strategy." She stopped at the far end of the room and gestured wildly with her folded fan. "But then everything you do is generally clever and well-planned. So why on earth did you feel compelled to say that you intended to ask me to marry you?"

He angled himself onto the corner of the desk and drank some more brandy while he considered the question.

"Probably because that is precisely what I intend to do," he said.

She felt as though she had been glued to the floor. She could not have moved if someone had yelled "Fire."

"I don't understand," she said, suddenly light-headed. "I thought our affair was going rather well."

`A matter of opinion, I'm afraid."

Her spirits plummeted. "Oh. I see. I didn't realize that you were not… That is to say, I… Well, I suppose my lack of prior experience has turned out to be something of a disappointment to you. But I assure you, I am a fast learner."

He gave her his most enigmatic look. "Tell me the truth, Caroline. Are you merely using me as your writer's muse?"

She was horrified. "No, no, of course not."

"You're certain?"

"Absolutely."

"I am not just a plaything for you, then?"

She felt herself turn very hot. Her face was probably as red as her gown. "How can you even suggest such a thing?"

"If I am more to you than just a toy or a useful muse, why are you so reluctant to speak of marriage?"