Anna sighed as she arranged roses in the morning room. She was feeling so happy today but decidedly sad, too. She was getting married soon but her friends had been murdered. Their killer remained at large somewhere, plotting to carry out unspeakable evil again most likely. Although she hadn’t seen her suitor in days, he had written her sweet notes to let her know he was always thinking of her. He never mentioned much of his investigation but to say it continued.

She trimmed the stem of the last budding rose and popped it into the vase with all the rest. Gilbert sent flowers every morning. Today, a larger bunch than usual had arrived to brighten her day.

“There you are,” her father said as he strode into the room.

“Good morning.” She kissed his cheek and returned her attention to filling the vase with water from a jug. These were her favorite flowers of all those her betrothed had sent so far. “You’re up early, Papa.”

“I wanted to talk to you before you became busy.” Her father reached for her hands as she moved a stem to a better position. “Anna.”

Father wore yet another serious expression on his face. Had he come to talk her out of this marriage again? “I won’t change my mind.”

“Marriage is forever.”

“I agree.” She smiled. “I know Lord Sorenson well enough to look forward to forever with him.”

“He has not called on you in days,” he said, eyeing the vase with a scowl.

“He said he might not find the time. He does write each evening. They are very sweet notes. We have no secrets anymore.”

“A letter a day hardly counts as a proper courtship,” he grumbled, handing her a flower she had missed, hiding under wrapping paper.

“Father, please,” she complained, turning to face him. “What is it about Gilbert that displeases you? He is always a gentleman, an earl, serious in nature, and very pleasing to me.”

“This is not what I imagined for you. He consorts with the criminal class.”

“He catches criminals. There is a vast difference between the two,” Anna reminded him. “I know you always wanted Carmichael as your son-in-law.”

Her father fell silent, looking down.

“We don’t like each other that way. I always hated visiting him when I was young,” she reminded him. “Carmichael gave his heart to Angela, and I will give mine to my husband.”

Her father sighed. “I think his words and actions have proved he cares very deeply for you.”

“He cares for me enough to prove he doesn’t want me to die,” she said softly. “That is not the love I want from my husband.”

Her father sighed again. “He kissed you.”

“Not a very good kiss.” She punched her hand on her hip, studying her arrangement one last time. She knew what a real kiss was like, not that Father could ever know that. The mere thought of kissing Carmichael the same way as she’d kissed her betrothed made her feel ill. “I kicked him in the shin for that.”

Her father chuckled. “You always did complain about him. Even when you were small, you would cry when he came too close. Your mother said you would come around.”

“I’m sorry to say this, Papa, but Mama was very wrong. I think she would have liked Gilbert very much.”

“Gilbert now, is it?”

“You’ll like him if only you’d give him a chance. We have all sorts of amusements planned for you when you come to stay.” She looked at her father curiously. “Are you worried you’ll be all alone and forgotten when I marry?”

He shook himself. “I have my club.”

She hugged her father. “You will still have me, and Carmichael will need you, too. He may not have married Angela Berry but he loved her very much, the way I think you loved Mama. We should keep an eye on him to make sure he does not become cast down and despondent.”

Father nodded. “I asked him what I could do to help but he wouldn’t hear of it.”

“He is always stubborn.”

She set her flowers on the wide mantel, longing for the return of her betrothed. Gilbert made her happy, excited and eager for marriage, and the marriage bed. It was a yearning she would keep to herself. Father was not aware of her scandalous behavior with Gilbert, but if known, he would be disappointed in her and might dislike Gilbert even more. Fast women were shunned by other women of the ton. She’d heard that many times in the last two seasons from her mentor.

A throat cleared. “Miss Hayes has arrived, Miss Beasley.”

Anna smiled. “Do show her in,” she exclaimed. They had so much to talk about, none of it involving unpleasantness.

Father slipped from the room, allowing them privacy.

Portia was helping her decide on items for her trousseau. Without a mother to guide her, she was a little uncertain of what she would need for her wedding night. Miss Hayes, who possessed a sweet if scatterbrained mother, had offered to look over her purchases and make a few suggestions if anything more might be needed.

Portia rushed into the room looking harried and embraced her. “My dear Anna. What a relief to finally be with a friend.”

Ordinarily, she and Portia did not embrace each other with such affection. “Whatever has happened?”

She glanced around, no doubt making sure they were really alone. “I couldn’t wait to escape my parents. They really have no idea how to behave.”

Anna laughed softly. Portia was a dramatic one and her parents vastly amusing sometimes. “Tea?”

“Yes, please.”

Anna rang the bell to summon a maid and turned back to her friend. “What have your parents done now to embarrass you?”

“Since the moment they heard about Miss Lacy’s murder, they’ve become ridiculously concerned about my whereabouts, even at home. I swear they deliberately follow me all over from room to room.”

“They love you.”

Portia pulled a face. “I woke this morning to find my mother standing over my bed, waiting for me to wake up.”

Anna did not remember her own mother at all. “How sweet.”

“It was not sweet when she’s never done that before.” Portia shuddered. “It was downright unsettling. This morning, I was having a lovely dream just before I woke. You know, one of those dreams.”

Anna blushed. Anna had those, too. She wouldn’t want anyone observing her asleep when they happened, either. “Oh, dear.”

Portia swooned back in her chair. “Quite ruined those lovely sensations, I promise you that.”

Anna knew about those lovely sensations firsthand. They were better in real life than in her fleeting dreams. “Who was the lucky gentleman?”

“I will never reveal his name so do not ask.”

Anna sat forward. Portia liked to talk about her fantasy lover but was always cagey when it came to revealing his identity. “Was it the same man as last time?”

“Perhaps,” she murmured with a pleased grin.

“We need to get you a husband,” Anna teased.

“Fantasies are all very nice while you are having them, but the reality of life tends to bring one back down to earth quick smart.”

“What has happened? Did the man you like snub you?”

“Not at all,” Miss Hayes promised. “But someone else thinks he has a chance of winning my hand by cozying up to my parents.”

“Who?”

Portia screwed up her face and it seemed she was stewing over his identity.

“Portia?”

“Lord Wade keeps coming around. He had dinner with us last evening.” She shook her head. “I fear my father likes him too much.”

“Oh,” Anna mumbled.

“He’s rude and vulgar and my parents won’t listen to my warnings. They think he’s a gentleman just because he is a viscount, and they force me to join them when he calls.”

“Did he call on you today, before you came here?”

“He did.” Portia smirked though. “But I slipped out before I could be forced to drink another cup of tea with him. That’ll teach him for not taking a hint. And on top of everything, one of my coachmen swore another carriage followed us here.”

What was Lord Wade doing? He already knew Portia disliked him as a dance partner. Anna hadn’t thought him so determined to pay her back for that, which befriending Portia’s parents proved he was. She glanced at the small mantel clock. “He called on you very early.”

“If he continues coming around, everyone will think he’s a real suitor. I swear I saw him standing outside my house last night before I went to bed. He’s become insufferable.”

Anna winced. Lord Wade was asking for trouble, following Portia around like that, if it really was him. People would talk, expecting a proposal. “I know he likes you, even though you’ve never once encouraged him to think you could feel the same way.”

“Yes! I’ve done all I can but give him the cut direct. I fear I shall have to be that mean if I’m to have any peace. It is ridiculous the way my parents are giving him false hope. I have never encouraged that man. I’ve done all I can to repel him, but still he comes back for more of the same.”

“Well, he’s not here now so you may breathe easy.”

“Thank heavens for that.”

The tea came and they drank in silence. What Lord Wade was doing was unsettling. Unmarried heiresses were in danger.

She looked at Portia again as a sudden thought dawned—Lord Wade knew about Miss Lacy’s death, and the others, too. Her betrothed had told her Lord Wade was helping with the investigation. Was Lord Wade trying to protect Portia, in his own clumsy way? She thought that might be a possibility, given her parents were such scatterbrained creatures. Everyone knew that about them. Portia had slipped away from them any number of times, and completely undetected, too.

Lord Wade had told Anna she was the second-most interesting woman in society, but he hadn’t revealed whom he considered the first. He may not be trying to be one of Portia’s suitors, but if he was following the woman, the killer would never catch her alone.

What was it Lord Carmichael had confessed? The killer had targeted young women who had kissed him, besides Miss Lacy.

She glanced at her friend suddenly. Lord Wade knew a lot about everyone. He might know that fact, too. Portia had allowed some of her admirers to kiss her in the past. She claimed it was the only way to tell if a gentleman was worth considering as a potential husband. Her parents probably had no idea their daughter might be considered a little fast by some.

“Portia?”

“Hmm,” she replied.

She sat forward and dropped her voice low. “Have you ever been kissed by Lord Carmichael?”

Portia glanced her way and didn’t answer at first, but her lack of expression and stillness suggested she had.

Her heart rate increased a little. Portia might be in danger and not know it. “Does anyone know?”

Portia frowned. “Yes.”

“And…”

“Lord Wade saw us together.” Portia wrinkled her nose. “Last season, before Carmichael and Angela became a pair. You’re not going to tell Angela, are you? She will be so cross with me for not telling her about it first.”

“Angela will never know.” She bit her lip. “What did Lord Wade say?”

“Nothing. He turned his back and stalked off. A pity he didn’t keep going.” Portia smiled quickly. “What of you? Has Lord Carmichael ever tried to steal a kiss from you?”

Anna scowled. “When I was fourteen. Kisses at that age hardly rate a mention, but I told Angela all about Carmichael stealing my first ever kiss.”

“The first kiss doesn’t matter as much as the last one.” Portia smiled. “Where is your earl this week?”

“He has a few business matters to deal with, but he sends me flowers each day and a pretty note each night.”

“Love notes? Let me see one!”

Gilbert’s notes were not exactly declarations of love, but she still would not share them for what they would reveal of his secret investigation. Occasionally he asked her questions, which she faithfully answered by messenger the same night. “They are very personal.”

“But I tell you everything about my admirers,” Portia exclaimed. “How can you be so mean to me when I show you mine?”

Anna saw movement beside Portia and cried out, “Lady Scott! Lord Wade! Father!”

The butler hadn’t announced any further callers, and she wished her father hadn’t just waltzed his visitors into the morning room without any warning. Anna had never even heard the front door open and close or footsteps in the hall.

She jumped to her feet quickly and dipped Lady Scott a deep curtsey. Portia was wise enough to do the same, hiding her feelings about Lord Wade’s arrival behind a wide smile for Lady Scott.

You did not fail to show respect to an elder lady of the ton or a member of the aristocracy when you were not one. Lady Scott had warned Anna that she would quickly be removed from guest lists if one whiff of improper behavior were linked to her name. The same would be true for Portia if she were not careful.

Anna quickly gestured to the vacant chairs. “Please, won’t you all join us?”

She shot Portia a warning look when Lord Wade chose to sit beside her friend. Lady Scott took the chair nearest Anna and was watching them both through narrowed eyes. Father took his customary place beside the fire.

She saw worry in his eyes. Just how long had Lord Wade and Lady Scott been listening to her private conversation with Portia? Hopefully not long enough to overhear everything they’d spoken about. Especially not about kissing and receiving love notes.

“How lovely to see you both,” she said, although for the first time she did not mean it.

“I’ve just been speaking with your father about this match you’ve made,” Lady Scott began. “Quite unexpected.”

“Is it?” She looked to Lord Wade when he made a sound.

He smiled quickly. “Not unexpected at all, my lady. Lord Sorenson is a lucky man to have quickly captured the attention of the woman he admired at first sight. I trust the wedding will not be far off.”

“I am not certain,” she confessed. “We have not as yet set a date for the marriage to take place.”

“But he will procure a special license soon,” Lord Wade told her, nodding as if he knew.

“He promised he could when the time came, and then we have a month to wed, I believe,” she told him.

“That is correct.” Lord Wade sat back, smiling broadly. “He’ll go of course to see his former colleagues in the church to complete the ceremony.”

“We hadn’t discussed particulars of the service as yet.”

Lord Wade nodded. “I am sure I am right that he will.”

“Your father has been telling us about Lord Sorenson’s involvement with Bow Street, to solve Miss Lacy’s demise, Miss Beasley,” Lady Scott told her. “I cannot say I like the idea of someone of his rank consorting with criminals.”

“He has a long association with Bow Street, and is very determined to catch Miss Lacy’s killer,” she said with a quick glance toward her father. “There is nothing about the earl and his involvement with Bow Street that is in any way disagreeable to me.”

Her father voiced his agreement, and Anna was relieved to finally hear him support her betrothed.

“Indeed. Have you fully considered the implications of marrying a gentleman involved in such a dangerous business? If your mother was here—”

“Well, she’s not.” Anna stared at her mentor hard. “Surely you could not object to a man pursuing such a noble cause. Never forget, he is titled—which had seemed to me to be everything that you required in my future spouse.”

“Was a title really all that you cared about, Miss Beasley?” Lord Wade asked with a knowing smile.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I really like him,” she insisted. “He at least listens to me.”

Lord Wade laughed then and rubbed his ear. “If you speak that loudly all the time, we all could hear your opinions and not have any doubts.”

Anna, unaware that she’d shouted her praise, got her temper under control very quickly. “I won’t change my mind.”

“Anna’s opinion is the only one that should matter when it comes to marriage,” Portia declared, frowning at Lord Wade, as if perplexed they were on the same side of an argument. “If she likes him, that is good enough for me to call him my friend, too. Anyone can see they are smitten, bound to fall in love.”

“It does seem that way.” Lord Wade smirked slightly then. “You must have known quite a few brides since you came out three years ago, Miss Hayes. What does love look like on a woman’s face?”

“Two years ago,” Miss Hayes bit out.

Anna quickly slid her foot sideways and bumped Portia’s before an argument could be started. Quarrelling with Lord Wade would not do her reputation any good. Lady Scott was absorbing every word and might just have Portia’s name stricken from her friends’ guest lists if she didn’t like the response. She had to fix this, calm everyone down.

Anna pasted on a smile and looked at her guests. Lady Scott always told her that to recover from a disagreement brewing in her own home required a lady to set aside her feelings and act as a proper hostess at all times. “Would anyone care for tea?”