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than hers?
    “Yes. That’s all. We mustn’t let our little game confuse us.”
    “Our little game?” Christ. Now he definitely didn’t sound sure of himself.
    “Yes. You know, pretending to be courting?” She cleared her throat and glanced away. “For the sake of the others.”
    Oliver blinked. He sure as hell hadn’t just kissed her for the sake of the others or because he was playing a game. He’d kissed her because he wanted to, damn it. Wanted to badly. But Cerian seemed intent on relegating whatever had just happened between them to a mistake and Oliver wasn’t about to declare himself to a woman who thought kissing him was a blunder.
    “Quite right,” he responded, steeling his resolve. “I forgot myself, forgive me.”
    Cerian nodded. “I … we … It’s quite all right. We should simply be more careful henceforth.”
    He glanced at her. She smoothed a hand over her hair and straightened her shoulders. She looked as prim and proper as someone’s fussy maiden aunt, nothing like the woman who’d just responded passionately in his arms. And she’d just used the word ‘henceforth’; no good could come of that. But it was another word she’d used that worried him.
    “Careful?” he asked. What the hell was she talking about?
    “You know? We should, well, perhaps we should stay away from each other.”
    Oliver fought his groan. Cerian suggested they stay away from each other just when he relished her company the most.
    *   *   *
    “Dear, come for a walk with me in the conservatory.”
    Cerian gulped. She couldn’t very well say no to Kate, but the conservatory was the last place she wanted to go. She’d spent the last hour trying to banish the memory of the kiss she’d shared with Oliver there earlier.
    She smiled weakly at Kate. “Why don’t we walk down the corridor, instead?”
    Kate gave her a broad smile. “Whatever you’d prefer.”
    Cerian entwined her arm through Kate’s and the two women began a leisurely stroll.
    Cerian took a deep breath. “Kate … I…”
    Kate glanced at her. “Yes, dear?”
    “I wanted to thank you for inviting me here.”
    Kate squeezed her hand. “I’m so happy you came.”
    “And for … sponsoring me and introducing me to every one.”
    Kate patted her hand. “You’re quite welcome, dear. I hope you’ve enjoyed yourself.”
    “Oh, I have, very much and I just…” She squeezed her hand into a fist and bit her knuckle.
    Kate’s brow furrowed. “Go on. What is it, Cerian?”
    “I just … Oh, Kate, I’m so sorry … about your husband.” She clapped a hand over her mouth, suddenly afraid she’d said the awful word too loudly as it echoed off the marble surfaces in the corridor.
    Kate stopped and turned to face her, smoothing her hands over Cerian’s shoulders. “Oh, Cerian, dear, you’ve no reason to be sorry. That was all a long time ago.”
    “It must have been a nightmare for you. And Mama wouldn’t let me come, and oh, Kate, you must have felt as if your family had abandoned you. I’m so sorry.”
    Kate nodded. “Your mother would hardly be doing her duty as an apt chaperone if she’d allowed you to visit an accused murderess in prison. I should have written you myself, but I was just so embarrassed and ashamed.”
    “I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been,” Cerian sobbed.
    Kate tipped up Cerian’s chin and looked her in the eye. “I admit there were nights I went to bed praying that I wouldn’t wake up.”
    Cerian gasped. “No! Kate.”
    Kate smiled wanly. “But then I met James and George’s valet confessed to the murder and well, the truth is that my life is much happier now than it ever was when I was married to George. I spent many months feeling guilty for thinking that way, but it’s true.”
    Cerian squeezed her cousin’s hand again. “I’m just glad you’re so happy now. Truly I am. I just didn’t know about you and His Grace … Oliver.”
    Kate’s brow furrowed. “What do you