Even though her every feminine instinct longed to don the gorgeous gown, her pride and the keen sense of betrayal knotting her insides forced her to lay the garment gently back in the box.

Offering Caroline a smile she prayed did not appear as tight and forced as it felt, she asked, "Would you know where your brother is, Caroline?"

"I believe he is in the nursery with the children."

"Would you take me there, please? There is something I need to discuss with him."


********

Allie stood in the doorway of the nursery, riveted by the sight of Robert sitting on the edge of an overstuffed, chintz-covered settee. His long legs, clad in buff-colored breeches, were spread wide. Emily straddled his one knee, while James straddled the other.

"Are you ready for the start of the next gallop around the forest?" he asked the children.

"Ready!" they answered in unison.

"Hold on," he commanded, then proceeded to make loud horselike noises, bouncing his legs to the children's delight. "Here comes the fence," he said. "Jump!" He lifted his legs higher, and they clung to his knees, breathless with laughter. "We're almost at the end. Hold on!"

Seconds later his jouncing halted, and Emily instantly demanded, "Again!"

He laughed and lifted her off his knee to hug her. "Horsey needs to rest first." He kissed her cherubic cheek, then set her on her feet. Turning his head, he caught sight of Allie and Caroline standing in the doorway.

His gaze locked with Allie's, and there was no missing the naked heat that blazed in his eyes. In spite of her anger, warmth raced into her cheeks at that blatantly intimate look. Good Lord, Caroline was standing right beside her. She would certainly see and wonder-

"Mama!" Emily ran toward Caroline on chubby, sturdy little legs. James slid off Robert's knee and galloped toward his aunt as well. Crouching down, Caroline hugged them both.

"Well, if it isn't my two favorite racers," Caroline said with a smile. "Who won?"

"I did!" Emily and James said simultaneously.

"It was a tie," Robert said with a laugh. He rose to stand in front of the settee, his gaze never leaving Allie's. And although half the length of the room separated them, Allie felt as if he'd caressed her.

Caroline straightened, and Allie forced herself to look away from Robert's compelling eyes. Taking each child by a hand, Caroline alternated a bright, innocent-looking smile between her brother and Allie that in no way disguised her open speculation.

"If you two will excuse us," Caroline said, "I will take these expert riders off to help me cajole Cook out of some biscuits as a reward for their endeavors." She glanced toward the window, where rain continued to fall. "Then I propose we visit the conservatory to pick some flowers to bring Lily and her mama."

"Flowers for Mama," James agreed, tugging on her hand.

Allie nodded her thanks, and Caroline herded her excited charges from the room. Their voices grew fainter until silence reigned.

Robert simply stood, studying her for several seconds, his heart quickening from the mere fact that they stood in the same room. He wanted nothing more than to stride across the carpet and drag her into his arms, but there was something in her eyes, in her utterly still and stiff posture, that edged unease down his spine, rendering him reluctant to make any quick moves. As if facing a rabbit about to bolt, he walked slowly toward her. She stood her ground, watching him approach. He halted directly in front of her, then, reaching behind her, closed the door, locking it with a gentle click that seemed to reverberate through the quiet room.

This serious woman was not the same wanton, laughing creature he'd held in his arms last night. And damn it, he wanted that woman back.

Was she experiencing regrets? He hoped not, because he certainly was not. Last night had been… perfect. The first of many such perfect nights to follow. Yet by her expression, it seemed clear he would need to convince her of that.

He reached out to touch her, but she instantly moved away, out of his reach. "I need to speak with you," she said, in a flat voice that doubled his unease.

She stood with her back only a foot from the wall, and he debated moving closer, bracketing her in, but decided to give her the room she obviously wanted. But there was no denying the hurt that pricked him at her frigid composure.

"I'm listening," he said, bracing himself to hear a barrage of morning-after recriminations and regrets.

"You lied to me."

He blinked. "I beg your pardon?"

"You lied to me about Madame Renee. I've just learned that her shop is the most exclusive in London, and that she charges exorbitant prices. That clients must wait months before receiving their garments."

Bloody hell. He clearly had his sister to thank for this. Still, some of the tension left his shoulders that this wasn't about last night. "Allie, I merely-"

"Lied." Twin flags of color rose on her cheeks and her voice vibrated with anger. "And I shall thank you not to continue to do so by denying it." She squared her shoulders. "You will prepare a full accounting of all the funds you spent subsidizing my purchases so I can repay you."

Irritation tickled at him. "I will do nothing of the sort."

"Then I shall be forced to ask Madame Renee herself."

"She will not tell you."

"Then I will ask Caroline to estimate the amount I owe you."

Confusion replaced his irritation. "You do not owe me anything. Your gowns were destroyed by the thief. I simply provided you with a means to replace them in an expedient manner."

"By lying to me." Sparks all but sizzled from her. "Do you know what it feels like to be lied to, Robert?" Before he could answer, she continued, "I know what it feels like. It's horrible. And I refuse to be taken advantage of in that way ever again."

"Allie…" He reached out toward her, but she backed away again, leaving him to rake his hand through his hair in rapidly mounting frustration. Damn it, he'd clearly stepped into it this time. "I was merely trying to help you. Obviously I went about it in a poor way, in a way that has upset you, and for that I apologize. But I think you are making too much out of a few simple gowns."

Her lips pressed into a thin, angry line. "There is nothing simple about it. I did not ask for your help. I neither want nor need your help. I've survived quite well on my own for the past three years, and I shall continue to do so without being in anyone's debt."

Her words stung like a slap. "You are not in my debt. I would have done the same for anyone I care about, without expecting anything in return. I did not want you to know about it only because I sensed your pride would not allow you to accept anything from me-or anyone else, for that matter. And while I can understand, and even admire, such a sentiment, in this instance I wholly disagree with it."

"You made a choice for me, a choice I would not have made for myself had I been in full possession of the facts, which I was not because you lied to me. And what of the other gown? The one that just arrived from Madame Renee. How did you arrange that?"

"I wrote to her after our visit to her shop."

"I see. So obviously that gown is something you decided I needed as well."

He studied her angry face for several seconds before replying. "I think it's time you ceased to wear mourning clothing, yes."

"That is not your decision to make."

No. But damn it, he wanted it to be. The hell with not touching her. Reaching out, he caught her firmly by her shoulders. She stiffened, but did not struggle. "Allie. I just wanted you to have something beautiful to wear. I wanted to see you in something other than black."

"I cannot afford such a gown."

A frown pulled at his brows. "It is a gift."

"I do not want it. I can not, and will not, accept a gift from another man who lies to me."

Something inside him snapped and he abruptly released her, stepping back several paces. "Damn it, I am not him. I am not David."

"Aren't you?"

He erased the space between them with one quick stride. She retreated, flattening her back against the wall, and he slapped a palm against the wood paneling on either side of her shoulders, caging her in.

"Do you have any idea how such a comparison makes me feel?" When she simply stared up at him with wide eyes, he leaned closer to her, not even attempting to hide the anger and hurt he knew showed in his eyes. "Allow me to enlighten you. It is more than insulting. It is extremely hurtful. While I will readily admit that I have faults, cheating, stealing, and blackmailing are not among them. You say you refuse to be lied to? Very well. That is quite understandable. But you need to understand that I refuse to be further compared to your late husband. I am not normally in the habit of telling less than the truth, but with regard to Madame Renee, yes, I lied to you. I can only say that my intentions were good, and offer you my apology and my promise not to be untruthful with you again."

Allie stared up at him and swallowed hard. He was angry. And hurt. The sentiments all but radiated from his eyes and his body, both of which were too close. Both of which held her captive. She tried to hold on to her own anger, but it began seeping away, like sand sifting through an hourglass, to be replaced by twinges of guilt for hurting him. She fisted her hands. She did not want to feel this way… this softening of her indignation. He'd lied to her. She was right; he was wrong.