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my sordid past, I would’ve never invited you in the first place.”
    “Ah, your sordid past! I’m so glad you brought it up,” she said, looping her arm through her brother’s once more. “While it’s quite dashing to live the life of a rakehell when one is two-and-twenty, I daresay dissipation is outréas one approaches thirty.”
    “Even for an earl?”
    “ Especially for an earl.”
    William gave the ribbon that dangled from her bonnet a soft tug. “Then you will be glad to know I’ve found London, and its dissipated amusements, rather dull these past months.”
    “Dull?” Caroline arched a brow. “Even with all those debutantes to despoil?”
    William sighed. “Even so.”
    “Whatever shall you do?”
    A small, secret smile flickered at the corners of his lips. “I’ve an idea or two.”
    “Not marriage, surely?”
    “Dear God, no.”
    Caroline narrowed her eyes. William was up to something; she recognized that look in his dark gaze, the playful, if dangerous, intent lurking there. The look of the devil.
    “It’s got something to do with Mr. Hope’s ball tonight, doesn’t it?” she said. “Is that why you won’t allow me to attend? I confess I am disappointed; I do think that theme of the Sun King’s family jewels or what have you is quite clever.”
    William turned to her, his face studiously blank. “I ammerely protecting your good virtue, Caroline. Hope’s soirees are notorious; everyone knows he spikes the punch with that damnably good stuff from his cellar. I won’t have you seduced by some idiot in a powdered wig and pumps thinking he’s a Sun King. It’s too soon.”
    Caroline grinned. “I like wigs.”
    “I know you do. That’s why you can’t go.” He took her hand and squeezed it, gently. “I understand you are just out of mourning, Caroline, and eager for diversion. We shall have a grand season, you and I; I shall show you all that London has to offer. But I beg you trust me about tonight. Get some rest and tomorrow we shall begin our tour.”
    Caroline sighed, leaning her head against his shoulder. “All right. On one condition: we start our tour this afternoon with an ice at Gunter’s.”
    “Excellent idea,” he said. “I do hope they still have the cheese-flavored ice. It’s my favorite.”
    “A cheese-flavored ice?” She wrinkled her nose. “You always did have a taste for the bold.”
    William took a long breath, let it out through his nose. “And what of you and marriage? You seem determined to enjoy your solitude.”
    It was Caroline’s turn to smile. “For once, you and I see eye to eye on the matter. As much as I miss my late husband, bless him, I wasn’t expecting to find widowhood quite so . . . freeing. I go where I wish, whenever I wish it. I don’t need a chaperone; heavens, I am the chaperone.”
    “I think you’d make a terrible chaperone.”
    “Thank you, Brother, I know coming from you that’s a compliment.” She grinned. “Besides. I don’t think I could bear another man’s follies. His moods.”
    I couldn’t bear more heartbreak. Caroline had experienced enough of that to last a lifetime. Even now, she saw in the faces of the men who passed another scheme, another lie, another heartbreak to be suffered.
    “Well,” William said, “since you wish to go to Gunter’s, I suppose we should scratch that itch before you launch into another speech.”
    She rapped him on the shoulder. “That was a good speech.”
    “Very good. Let’s be off.”
    William rose and with excessive caution helped Caroline to her feet. Heads bent, they began to walk—“Slowly,” William counseled, “ care fully”—when Caroline looked up. She blinked, and blinked again when her gaze landed on a vaguely familiar outline some distance across the park.
    He was enormous, a broad-shouldered, ginger-haired predator with legs like tree trunks. His color was high, the cheekbones slicing across his face flushed pink, as a small grin of—was that