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getting out of hand, and we should take her home.”
    Oliver folded his arms and looked stubborn, though his rocklike demeanor was marred by the jostling crowd. “She’ll be safe with Denford. He won’t let anyone harm her.”
    â€œI’m not worried about anyone else harming her. I don’t trust Julian.”
    â€œWhat about Annabella?”
    â€œI shall go and ensure that she hasn’t fallen prey to the ravishments of Lord Stuffy. I see them under the second arch from the left. Find Cynthia and bring her there.”
    â€œWhat if she won’t come?”
    â€œLie. Tell her I have urgent need of assistance.” She pushed Oliver in the direction she’d last seen them. “Now go.”
    As Oliver’s slight figure was engulfed in a crush of bodies, Caro fought her way toward the relative peace of the gallery until her progress was foiled by a body, and deliberately so. Why, with half of demireputable London crammed into a very large space, did she have to run into Sir Bernard Horner?
    The way his eyes lit up left her in no doubt that her presence at the Pantheon had given him the wrong idea.
    â€œMy very dear Mrs. Townsend. What an unexpected pleasure. And alone, too.” His caressing tones pierced the ambient roar.
    â€œWhat a surprise, Sir Bernard.” Her smile aimed to conciliate without encouraging. In the past few days she’d ignored two letters, facing the insoluble problem of her debt to him with denial of its existence.
    â€œI’ve been waiting to hear from you.”
    â€œI’ve been busy. Why don’t you call on me tomorrow afternoon. Shall we say three o’clock?” She’d make sure she was chaperoned by Anne and Oliver, and she’d have the morning to think of an answer. “I must get back to my party.”
    â€œI can’t let you go alone.” He seized her hand and devoured her face with lustful pale eyes. “First, won’t you dance with me?”
    She made her hand rest limply in his grasp, thanking Providence that she was gloved. If she had to touch his bare flesh, she wouldn’t be able to maintain the appearance of affability. “Thank you, but I think not. I’d fear for the safety of my gown in this mob. I’m fond of it and fear it would be ripped to shreds.”
    Not the right thing to say. His eyes gleamed at the prospect. “I’ll protect you. It is my greatest wish to offer you my protection.”
    The thought of what he meant by protection made her stomach flip. “Another time. I must go.”
    His grip on her hand tightened, and she wouldn’t be able to escape without a struggle. She glanced about her, desperately seeking help. Anne and Castleton shouldn’t be far away unless they’d moved. She couldn’t see a soul she knew, and she very much doubted that any stranger would come to her aid, even if she screamed. Which she very nearly did because, while she wasn’t looking, Horner raised his free hand and ran dry, ridged fingertips over the exposed swell of her breasts.
    â€œSo lovely,” he said, leaning in. Oh, God. He was going to kiss her. She tried to free her hand, using the other to pry open his grasping fingers, but to no avail.
    â€œLet go!” she said, abandoning the pretense of complacency. And watched with horror as his mouth descended toward hers. She smelled his sweet perfume mixed with sweat, the wine on his breath.
    Her knee was poised to strike his private parts when suddenly she was released. Horner, taken completely by surprise, struggled in the grasp of a very large duke.

Chapter 5
    T homas had no idea who the man in the tight striped coat was, but he knew he didn’t like him. Only a complete scoundrel would go out in public dressed thus. Mrs. Townsend appeared to greet him with pleasure. Not surprising that she would have such a friend. The atmosphere in the Pantheon had degenerated into a licentious romp, no place