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you.”
    Blane, who’d been on the point of making good his escape, froze. Bracing himself, he turned with a look of purest innocence on his features, or as nearly as he could hope to approximate such an expression. “Actually, I was on the point of riding over to Makis Plantation. Jon-el and I had arranged to go shooting this afternoon.”
    “As it is only half past ten, and no more than a twenty minute ride, I believe you can spare me a moment or two.”
    Blane grinned. “That early? Well, I suppose….”
    “In my study, if you please.”
    It was dim in the barn, which made it difficult to judge Alain’s expression, but Blane didn’t particularly care for his tone. He might have objected, therefore, except for the fact that Alain, apparently expecting that he would follow, had already turned and strode from the barn.
    When he entered the study, he saw that Alain was standing by the window, his back to the room.
    Blane was certain his brother could not have failed to hear him enter, and yet he said nothing. The silence unnerved him. He shifted several times and finally moved to the chair before his brother’s desk and sprawled in it.
    Alain turned from the window as if only just aware of Blane’s presence. “I’m curious….”
    Blane felt the blood rush guiltily to his cheeks, almost certain he knew what would come next.
    “I stopped by Dees’ office on my way through Savana—just to make certain the papers were all in order, you understand. I was relieved to see that they were—everything settled quite tidily.
    But … imagine my surprise upon my arrival home, to discover my brother and my … newly contracted companion, rolling about on the ground—in plain view of anyone who chanced by.”
    “I explained that! It was an accident. Only someone with a low mind would make anything of it!”
    Alain’s eyes narrowed. “I collect you mean me, it not having occurred to you, apparently, that nine tenths of the county, and particularly the servants, take absolute glee in spreading rumors, unfounded or not. Did it not occur to you that scandal could make life rather more than a little uncomfortable for my companion?”
    “I can only say that it was done in innocence. I hadn’t expected that there would be a problem and I certainly hadn’t expected what happened when I had to rescue Jana from harm. We fell.”
    Alain studied him a full minute before he spoke again. “Speaking of Jana … I wonder…. Do you by any chance know who the hell that female--whom I find to my surprise is now legally bound to me--is?”
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
    Blane feigned a look of complete incomprehension. “Jana?”
    Alain favored him with a look of patent disbelief.
    It was do or die now, however, and Blane steadfastly maintained a look of stupidity. He had practiced this interview mentally for weeks. He was certain he could pull it off if he stuck to his guns. “You think she’s not who she’s supposed to be? An ... uh … impostor?”
    “It occurred to me, yes,” Alain said sardonically. “Is it at all possible that I only imagined you were with me when we went to Earth to check out the woman I had under consideration?”
    “Oh, well. You know very well I went with you, but it’s not like we actually saw her in person. The images in the data bank were at least five or six years old. She could look like anything now. Anyway, I wasn’t really interested. I can’t say I was paying that much attention.” He shrugged. “I was more interested in seeing the sights. It was my first trip to Earth, after all.”
    Alain eyed him skeptically. “But you did see the images—dated or not.”
    Blane shrugged. “Well, it never occurred to me that she might be anyone else. She fits the description Dees gave us.”
    “In what way?” Alain asked politely.
    Blane could not prevent a blush. “She’s fair.”
    Alain moved around his desk and sat in his chair. Pulling open a drawer, he removed a file and opened it.