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at a ball more than anyone I know. How hot it is in here!”
    Marie, who was seated on Katherine’s other side, leaned over to speak to both of them. “Have you heard the news? The marquess has just announced his daughter’s engagement and you will never guess who her intended husband is. Your friend, Katherine, Lord Parnaby!”
    For Katherine, the heat in the room suddenly intensified; it became insufferable, unbearable.
    Lord Rudley, who had walked up to claim Katherine as his partner for the next set, arrived in time to hear Miss Brent’s announcement and to catch Katherine as she slumped in her chair then slid toward the floor.
    When Katherine came to her senses, she found herself lying upon a sofa in a small salon. The ballroom music continued beyond closed doors. Lady Brent’s face swam into view. Charity and Marie were there as well.
    Katherine was disconcerted to discover that Lord Rudley was chafing one of her wrists. She pulled her hand away as she asked, “What happened?”
    Charity answered her. “You fainted, Katy. It was the heat, no doubt, and perhaps too much exertion on the dance floor.’’
    As memory flooded back, Katherine closed her eyes against the pain. James has asked another woman to be his wife! A wealthy woman. A woman of no particular beauty, blind in one eye . . . Sir Humphrey said James would never marry me. Sir Humphrey insisted James would marry money. Sir Humphrey was right.
    Hands were helping Katherine to sit upright. Along with a splitting pain in her head she fought to overcome nausea. “I need to go home,” she managed.
    “Of course you do, my dear,” Lady Brent responded. “Mr. Seaton has gone to call for the carriage. As soon as you feel you can walk—”
    Just then Oliver Seaton appeared in the doorway. “I have had the coach come to the side entrance, Miss Stillwell. You need not go out through that great crowd of people.”
    “How considerate of you, sir,” Charity said. “Do you think you can walk as far as the coach, Katy?”
    “She need not do so, Miss Harrington,” Rudley replied. “I will carry her.” With seemingly no effort he collected Katherine in his arms and followed his brother from the room, down a series of halls and corridors and eventually to a street entrance to the marquess’s mansion. The rest of the party followed quietly behind.
    Katherine’s initial impulse to protest was overruled by her weakened condition. She felt childish being carried so but had no strength to resist. She managed to mumble, “I am sorry, my lord. You must think me foolish.”
    “I think you are ill. There is no need to apologize.” When she began a reply, he said, “Please don’t speak. It is not necessary, I assure you.”
    She said nothing as he placed her carefully inside the coach beside Charity and together they tucked a carriage rug close around her. “Shall I come with you?” he asked.
    Charily smiled as she replied, “I am sure that will not be necessary, Lord Rudley. My aunt and I can help her, and we will have the footmen if we need them. Thank you. You have been most kind.’’
    Mr. Seaton took Charity’s hand briefly as he said, “Good night. We will call tomorrow to see how you go on.” He closed the door, and the carriage rolled off into the lamp-lit streets.
    As Rudley stood at the curb watching the coach disappear around a corner, Oliver asked, “Do you think it was the heat that caused her collapse?”
    “Not at all.”
    “What then?”
    “Miss Stillwell has suffered a wound to the heart, and we both know, do we not, how crippling that can be.”
    “A wound to the heart? How so?”
    Rudley draped one arm over his brother’s shoulder, turning him back toward the house. “Come, let us make our excuses and go home, then I shall tell you all about it.”
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Chapter 6
    Early the following morning Charity entered Katherine’s room without knocking and approached the bed. With the curtains closed the room was dark. She whispered,