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night?”
    “Yes. I don’t believe anyone else recognized her, but it was most assuredly Lady Helen.”
    His face, which had already shown signs of strain when he arrived, was positively haggard now. He drew a deep sigh and rubbed a hand over his jaw.
    “I am truly grateful that you kept an eye on Helen, and told me. I simply do not understand what she can have been doing there. It is entirely out of character.”
    Caroline felt a weakening urge to console him. “Perhaps there is some simple explanation,” she said.
    “There must be an explanation, but I doubt it can be simple. I really am extremely sorry I made such a pother about the necklace — that I mentioned your name, I mean. In the turmoil of losing it, I was demmed indiscreet in my questioning of Lady Castlereagh and her servants. It would ease matters for you if you would let me escort you somewhere tonight. I should enjoy it. Let us go out together,” he said eagerly.
    She was tempted by his persuasions, but to go out with him again could only spell trouble. Because, in spite of the way he had treated her, she was still attracted to him. It was impossible to look at his rugged face and strong body without feeling some physical attraction, and his troubled state appealed to her womanly compassion.
    “I do not consider myself quite sunk yet, Dolmain. I have arranged to attend the play at Covent Garden with Lady Georgiana this evening. I cannot like to disappoint her.”
    “I have hired a box for the Season. May I do myself the honor of joining you at intermission?”
    This would show society she enjoyed his friendship without the necessity of further entanglement. “I look forward to it.” Her tense face eased into a rueful smile. “I must warn you, you will probably be the only caller.”
    She read an answering softness in his reply. “Was it very bad last night?”
    “Wretched. What were people saying after I left?”
    “That Countess Caro was always a hurly-burly girl. There was talk of heavy gambling losses at Waite’s gaming hell.”
    “I lost my quarter allowance there five years ago. I have not been back since. What long memories people have. I expect the inference was that I had taken to nabbing my friends’ jewels to make up my losses?”
    “Something of the sort. If worse comes to worst, I shall have a paste copy of the necklace made and have Helen wear it a few times. That, along with our being seen together on the best of terms, should squelch the rumors.”
    “Hmm, and make it very easy for the thief to sell the genuine necklace,” she cautioned.
    Dolmain tilted his head to one side and peered at her. “I had foreseen a different difficulty. Folks would say I had managed to recover it from your grasping fingers, and you had used your wiles to convince me to sponsor you back into society.” She could do it, too. The lady was an enchantress, part innocent girl, part vixen. He could not decide which Caro he preferred.
    “That is just what they would say! It is odd how the aroma of disrepute hangs on, once it has been acquired.”
    “If you are trying to make me feel guilty, Caro — ” He stopped with a conscious look when he realized he had used her nickname.
    Caro looked surprised, but did not reprimand him. “Perhaps it is your conscience that is doing that,” she said. The air grew still as they stared at each other. Neither spoke, but he read the accusation in her gaze, and felt, suddenly, not only guilty, but small. Then she put her hand on his arm and accompanied him from the room.
    “I think you should leave before we come to cuffs again, Dolmain. We have pulled one crow already, and it is only nine o’clock. You must keep some of your bile to spurt at the illustrious members of the Horse Guards.”
    “Is it nine o’clock already? How time flies when we are enjoying ourselves,” he said, with a deprecating grin.
    “Yes indeed. If you had come with a summons for my arrest, I daresay we would be rolling in laughter by