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he tried
to announce their names, and Seth and Nigel strode jovially into
the room. Seth proclaimed, “There, there, Jarvis, no need to
announce us—family you know.”
    Jarvis inclined his head, “As you
wish, your Grace.”
    “ Much you know…” said Nigel
to his nephew in an aside, obviously continuing the discussion they
had been engrossed in during their arrival.
    “ I am telling you, that
ain’t the way to handle it,” answered the young duke. Taffy smiled
as she saw him suddenly notice Cathy.
    He put out his hand and went toward
her, as a very genuine smile lit up his fair face. “Catherine …
dear Catherine Frome.” He then surprised his sister by taking Miss
Frome’s hand and placing a gallant kiss on her knuckles. “Lord…” he
exclaimed as he came up from her hand, “you’ve quite grown up, and
your eyes … such a blue—”
    “ You must forgive him his
rare form.” Nigel interrupted, appropriating her hand from his
nephew. “He hasn’t yet given up his lease of infancy.”
    “ Cath—ignore these fools,”
cried Taffy on a laugh. She had never really seen Nigel and Seth
make up to a woman. “Come on, Cath, take off your bonnet and be
comfortable, for I don’t intend to let you leave till we have had a
nice long visit.”
    Catherine took off her pretty straw
bonnet and placed it to one side of the sofa while Seth drew up a
chair and kept her engaged in conversation. Taffy found she
couldn’t fit in a word as Nigel seemed to vie for Catherine’s
attention as well.
    Taffy rolled her eyes and said,
“Gentlemen, the lady is here to see me, not to be badgered by you
two…”
    Miss Frome laughed and patted Taffy’s
hand, “Oh, it is so good to see you, and them as well. You three
are always so lively!”
    Jarvis looked weary as he appeared
once more and announced, “Lord Thurston Tarrant.”
    In spite of herself, Taffy felt a wave
of anticipation. She knew she was dangerously attracted to the
devil and meant to purge herself of this attraction somehow. She
had to or own herself lost.
    However, when he stood in the doorway,
a giant of man, and his piercing dark gaze found hers, she felt
herself neatly conquered and very nearly speechless. Perhaps,
Taffeta, her inner voice whispered, ‘tis too late, and you are
already lost to the rake?
    Another voice could be heard behind
Jarvis who had not yet left the arched doorway of the morning room.
Taffy’s smile grew as everyone looked toward the sound to see who
next would appear when Jarvis pronounced, “And Lord James
Fenmore.”
    Taffy glanced at her Aunt Sissy who
whispered, “Both here…” This seemed to take her aunt’s breath away
momentarily, and then she added. “At the same time—Fenmore …
Tarrant … the two most sought after bachelors in London? Why this
will be the talk of the haute ton for the entire
season.”
    Tarrant made his way directly to her
aunt and bent perfunctorily over her hand, “Lady Marble, I am
delighted to find you looking so well this morning, and after such
a strenuous night.”
    “ It was perfect, wasn’t it,
Tarrant?” she asked conspiratorially.
    He winked, and it was obvious to Taffy
he liked her aunt. “You know it was.” With this he moved on to bend
over Taffy’s hand and audaciously kissed her wrist.
    “ You are a ravishing minx …
even in the morning,” he whispered as his dark gaze swept over
her.
    She felt her cheeks burn. She had
purposely donned a pretty, if somewhat low cut, yellow day gown
that fit her well. Why? She had hoped he might stop by. Why? She
didn’t want to think about why.
    However, as she looked into his bright
hungry eyes, she rather thought she knew … she was falling for the
scoundrel. No … I must not. She would have to do something to get
him out of her thoughts, but how could she? She had a debt to pay …
where … when, she didn’t know, but it was hanging over her head.
The idea of him taking her into his arms and making love to her
both frightened and