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Katherine.” Simon Halliday acknowledged each of us with a gentlemanly nod. “What a delightful surprise.”
    I was thinking more along the lines of unmitigated disaster myself.
    â€œYou!” Mama jabbed Simon in the chest, nearly knocking him off his feet. “You are a serpent.” Another hard poke right in his sternum. “A defiler. A base creature slinking into the bosom of our family to wreak havoc and destruction.”
    Before she could strike a third time, Simon caught her wrist, his own ire increasing. “Lady Melcombe, I assure you I haven’t defiled anyone. If the Red-Haired Wanton resembles Lady Katherine, it was mere chance. My painting is solely a creation wrought from my imagination.” His diamond-sharp gaze found mine, and a tremor began in my legs before spreading upward to infect my heart until it raced and jumped. In that moment I hated Simon for bringing down this catastrophe on my head, and yet I found myself reveling in his obvious desire.
    Perhaps Mrs. Vinter was wrong. Perhaps I was a bad girl, after all.
    Mama huffed, her lips pressed tight. “It’s more than obvious what you were imagining.”
    He paled but remained firm.
    â€œFine.” Mama crossed her arms, her voice icy and regal. “Then I will purchase it from you. How much?”
    â€œIt’s not for sale.”
    â€œFiddlesticks. This is an art gallery. The intent is to sell the paintings. I wish to purchase that one.”
    Mr. Weiss stepped into the fray, a brave man seeing his profit about to slip from his hands. “Let’s not be hasty, Mr. Halliday. Of course, Lady Melcombe, if you’re interested in the painting.” He paused as if calculating in his head. “It’s marketed at one thousand pounds.”
    Mama blanched. I gasped. And Simon went a few shades of pink then gray.
    â€œYou must know I haven’t that sort of money on me,” Mama seethed.
    Mr. Weiss spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness. “Then I’m afraid, there is nothing I can do for you, my lady.”
    Mama continued to bluster and threaten, all but dragging Mr. Weiss into his office.
    Simon used the distraction to sidle his way close to me. His words were a low purr that shivered along my skin. “Mr. Balázs’s sister is hostessing a party tonight. Come with me.”
    â€œYou’re mad,” I spat under my breath. “I’ll be lucky if I’m not packed off to a convent posthaste.”
    â€œI’m sorry, truly. I had no idea anyone who knew you personally would ever see it, but I can’t stop thinking about you.”
    â€œSo it would seem,” I huffed, straining to remain resolute despite the mounting heat dewing my skin as his hot gaze burned through me.
    â€œPlease, Kitty. I want you to meet my friends, and they want to see who’s finally managed to knock me head over heels.”
    Would it be wrong to say I was flattered? My resolve weakened along with my outrage.
    â€œYou’re a grown woman, and Sophia Comersby is a perfectly respectable matron of impeccable reputation with a house in Bloomsbury,” he cajoled. “What’s stopping you?”
    I couldn’t help the flick of my eyes toward my mother, still arguing with the gallery owner, though it was obvious by Mr. Weiss’s firm chin and gleaming eye that he’d already won this round.
    â€œWhat happened to the girl who doesn’t like to follow orders?” Simon dared me.
    â€œCome along, Katherine.” Mama’s reappearance drew me back from a heady brink. “Your father will know how to deal with this effrontery.”
    â€œI’ll wait for you at the corner of Curzon and Piccadilly,” Simon whispered. “Meet me at ten.”
    I shot him a cornered are-you-trying-to-get-me-killed look.
    He just smiled. He knew I would come.

Chapter 5
    October 1940
    A s an auxiliary to the military hospital in Southampton, we’re used