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paid off Henry’s debts with the fees you earned from Justin.”
    Varney House is worth a fortune. “There is the townhouse. I could sell it.”
    “As Lady Belmont, why would you need it? You’d fetch a pretty penny.”
    “I could put the proceeds in trust for Hank.”
    “You use your brains now.”
    “I don’t know, Maggie. I do like to have my own way with money.”
    “Sadly true. For one, you might give up your chef. As a widow, what need have you of four course dinners? They add only to your waistline.”
    “When I am fully out from mourning, I’ll host bigger dinner parties,” she sniffed, defending her love of French pastries and sauces.
    “What fun to do that alone.”
    “Sarcasm does not become you.”
    “Neither does this attitude of yours, Kitty. Do away with your blend of perfume from your perfumier in Grasse! And what of your dressmaker? He could go. I dare say you have more gowns in your wardrobe than a princess royal.”
    Kitty narrowed her eyes at her sister. “Be careful where you tread.”
    “I’ve done that for too long with you, Puss. Now you must get on with your life. Buck up. The man you care for could be ugly. Or poor.” She stood, imperial in her new found wisdom. “I think I will engage Lord Belmont for a few minutes. Shall I bring him to you, hmm?”
    “You will, whatever I say,” Kitty laughed and waved a hand in dismissal.
    “Quite right.”
    Kitty watched her sister approach Justin and assessed their conversation with growing amazement. They were, no doubt about it, friends. They spoke easily, laughing. They conferred quietly, nodding and deliberating. When had their relationship begun? How had it blossomed? Did they share more than one subject to bond them in such congenial ways? And if so, what were their interests?
    By the time Maggie strolled forward with Justin at her side, Kitty gazed upon them with new eyes. “Good afternoon, Justin,” she bid him.
    “May I leave him with you, sis, without you eating him alive?”
    “I think he will be safe with me, Maggie.” Kitty shaded her eyes from the sun to see his face haloed by the light. “Do sit with me, Justin. I would enjoy talking with you.”
    He took the chair opposite, but his demeanor was nothing like it had been these past weeks. He sat, one leg crossed over the other, his back straight, his eyes on everything and everyone but her.
    “How have you been?” she asked at last, attempting bright conversation.
    “As well as can be expected.”
    She glanced away, unable to keep her composure when he acted so detached. “You’ve seen the conjecture about my ostrich feather?”
    His generous mouth curved up at the corners. But his eyes did not smile as they slid to hers and away to the guests. “Who could miss it?”
    “May we take a stroll in the maze? Talk privately?”
    He gave a short sad laugh. “No. I will lose my mind once more and want you naked. I’ll not do that again to you. Or to me.”
    She stared at him, stunned, confused by this turn of his nature. “But Justin, I have much to say to you, darling.”
    Her endearment made him wince.
    “Call at my home tomorrow. Please. Shall we say at two o’clock?”
    He shot to his feet. “No. Thank you for the invitation. Pardon me, but I must refuse, Lady Varney.”

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
    When her hired carriage idled before the massive front door to Belmont Abbey, she sat for overly long picking at her gloves. Picking at your nerve, more like it.
    It had taken her a week to recover the shock of Justin’s indifference at Lady Grey’s garden party. Another week to worm out of Maggie a confession of her months’ long collaboration with Justin. Another four days to bring herself to this precipice.
    She had taken far too long to confess to herself her passion for Justin. Enormously long to admit her love for him. A relatively short day and a half after Maggie’s revelations to her that she had realized she had acted like a ninny with him.