Sir Richard halted halfway down the stairs. Katherine, poised to ascend, whirled to face Alex, face ashen. Their secret was out. The ton would know that her bon vivant uncle had fallen into ruin. Below her, Bixby looked just as panicked. He scrambled to his feet and backed away from Lord Borin. She met his wide-eyed gaze and noted it was nearly as crazed as her uncle’s. Her heart plummeted to her feet. No doubt that was why she couldn’t move as Sir Richard swept past her.

“Borin, my lad,” he declared, clapping Alex on the shoulder of his well-cut camel-colored coat. “A sight for sore eyes, to be sure. Did you read that editorial in The Chronicle?”

Alex blinked, then focused as if with difficulty on Sir Richard. She waited for him to denounce her uncle, but he merely nodded, relaxing his stance.

“Claptrap,” he said. “No intelligent man would give it credence. If Wellington’s honor must be defended, count me in.”

“Excellent,” Sir Richard replied enthusiastically. “Come in, come in. Are you hungry? Thirsty? Katherine, we must have something for our guest.”

“Right away, Uncle,” she managed. At a nod from her, Bixby ceased dusting off his dark coat and breeches and hurried down the corridor. “This way, gentlemen,” she said, waving them up toward the withdrawing room.

Sir Richard turned to comply and nearly lost his balance. Katherine started forward, but Alex slipped deftly against him as if to murmur a private word. Deep in conversation, they meandered up the stairs. Alex’s wink to Katherine behind her uncle’s back was her only indication that he knew the trouble he had averted.

Eric came hurrying from the library. “What happened? I was all set to beg Uncle’s help as we planned. Was that Lord Borin?”

“It was indeed,” Katherine replied, staring up the now empty stair. “And I am not certain what is happening. For now, stay out of sight until I call for you.”

Nodding, he scampered back to the library. Shaking her head, Katherine went to fetch Constance.

Her stepsister, however, refused to join the men. “I am to drive in a few minutes with Allison Munroe. Had you forgotten?”

“Miss Munroe will understand completely that you must wait upon Lord Borin,” Katherine insisted. “She is in the middle of her first Season as well.”

“I do not wish to make her understand,” her stepsister replied kindly. “It is wrong to break a promise. I am disappointed that I cannot see Lord Borin today, but I will console myself with the fact that I shall see him at the party tomorrow.”

Katherine wanted to press the issue, but she recognized the set to Constance’s lovely mouth. Pushing her now might win the battle, but lose the war. Shaking her head, she hurried back to the withdrawing room. She reached the door just as Bixby arrived with refreshments.

“Let me take that,” she said, smoothing down her grey poplin skirts before reaching for the tray of lemonade and cakes. “We do not wish Lord Borin to get a good look at you.”

Bixby made a face. “Poor timing to have him catch me like that at Miss Montgomery’s. Luckily, he didn’t try to follow me home.”

“If he recognized you, there would have been no need to follow you home,” Katherine replied. “Best let me take the refreshments in, just in case. Perhaps I can learn what he wants with Sir Richard, and what he intends to tell others.”

Bixby nodded, and she entered the withdrawing room.

Both men rose from their seats on the blue velvet chairs. Her uncle looked less delighted than when he’d first sighted Lord Borin; his face was nearly as dark as the aubergine coat he wore. He did not, however, appear to have returned to his previous ire, for which she was grateful. If anything, he looked thoughtful, auburn brows gathered over his dark eyes.

The viscount, on the other hand, looked determined. His chin was set, his deep blue eyes cool. The way his arms crossed over his broad chest only strengthened her desire to know why he had come.

“Here we are, gentlemen,” she declared, setting down the tray on the gilt end table and seating herself beside it with every intention of playing hostess. “Lemonade, Lord Borin?”

He sat and accepted the glass she poured with a word of thanks. Her fingers brushed his, the brief touch surprisingly warming. She made herself focus on serving her uncle as well. Still neither man moved to continue the conversation.

“Have I interrupted?” she asked blithely. “Pray continue. Do not mind me. I just want to see to these cakes.”

They eyed each other, and the cakes she passed to them, but neither took her up on her offer to continue the conversation. She would have to try herself.

“I hope my uncle’s defense of the good general did not overly concern you, Lord Borin. The Chronicle is often successful in its duty to arise public ire, is it not?”

He nodded, sitting back in the chair as if nothing troubled him. “Most assuredly. I would be surprised if your uncle did not react strongly to such opposition to our valiant troops.”

Sir Richard nodded as well. Katherine smiled. So much for that concern. On to the next. “And what brings you to see us today, my lord?”

The viscount took such a long sip of his lemonade before answering that she thought she might scream. “I had some news of a mutual acquaintance to share with your uncle,” he said at last.

“And I appreciate it,” Sir Richard replied. “I simply am not certain how to respond.”

She glanced between the two of them, thoroughly mystified. “May I be of assistance?”

“No!”

She recoiled from the vehement chorus. Neither looked ready to apologize, or explain. Rising, she shook out her skirts. “I shall leave you to it, then. Good day, Lord Borin.”

He rose and bowed, but she swept out without an acknowledgement.

In the corridor, she slipped against the silk-hung wall. Eavesdropping was unconscionably rude, but she had to know what her uncle and Lord Borin were about. If the viscount had discovered her plans for him, all was lost.

“So you have no idea why your man might want to spy on me?” he was saying.

Katherine sighed. He had recognized Bix. Another perfectly good operative sunk. Fortunately, she seemed to have outgrown the need or she’d have to go herself next time.

“I am sorry, Borin,” her uncle replied, “but I am at a loss. I have watched the house for any skullduggery, but everyone seems immersed in planning for this party. Is it possible you are mistaken?”

Katherine held her breath and heard the viscount puff out his. “In truth,” he said, “I do not know. I suppose it is possible I counted the wrong house when I first followed the boy. What do you know of your neighbors?”

Katherine let out her breath. Her neighbors were harmless, but, with any luck, investigating them would keep him too busy to bother with her. She listened a few more minutes while they dissected the lives of those living on the terrace, then tripped happily away, secure in the knowledge that her scheme had not yet been discovered. She would turn her energies to making sure the party brought Constance and Lord Borin together.

 

–

 

Lord Templeman was not feeling nearly so secure. Borin was becoming decidedly tiresome. It had cost Templeman a pretty penny to bribe that Bow Street Runner to return a bland report of him. Just the fact that Borin would dare to have him investigated was cause enough for alarm. Such an inquiry might lead to his connection to certain dealings with foreign enterprises. Those contacts could prove lucrative, once he had used his cousin’s fortune to open a few doors to more telling information.

But there Borin interfered yet again. The viscount had gone calling on the Collins, and this after severing ties to that actress, in the most preemptive fashion, if rumors were true. Lord Templeman’s affairs and his fortune were in jeopardy. It was time to act, and he knew just the lie that would set things in motion. With any luck, within a week or two Borin would be too busy defending himself to worry about him or Constance.

 

–

 

Sir Richard also knew it was time to act. He waited only until the door closed behind his guest before limping to the library. He found Eric sprawled on the rug before the fire, eating some of the same cake Katherine had offered them and reading from his Latin text.

“Lord Borin nearly caught you that time, didn’t he?” he asked.

The boy grinned, freckles dancing across his short nose in the firelight. “He sure did. I almost…” His eyes widened. “Oops.”

“Oops indeed, my lad,” his uncle declared, easing himself into a leather-bound armchair beside him. “Care to tell me what’s happening?”

Eric clamped his lips tight and shook his head.

Sir Richard tapped his knee. “I see. Valor in the face of the enemy. Refusing to give up state secrets. Most impressive. What if I were to try bribery?”

Eric grinned. “Take me to Astley’s Royal Amphitheatre to see the horses?”

“Oh, a tall order. But I might be persuaded.”

His grin faded. “Sorry, Uncle. Much as I want to see the horses, I gave my word. A gentleman never goes back on his word.”

“Too true,” Sir Richard commiserated. “What if I were to guess? Confirming a guess isn’t the same as going back on your word, is it?”

Eric screwed up his face in thought. “I do not think Katherine would agree.”

“Perhaps not,” Sir Richard allowed. “Very well, I give up. Your honor is saved. Run along now and send your sister to me, will you?”

“All right,” Eric agreed, “but be warned, Uncle, she’s a lot tougher than I am.”

Sir Richard had no doubt that would be the case. Just seeing her squared shoulders as she entered the room told him he dealt with a seasoned operative. He decided to go straight to the heart of the matter.

“You set Bixby and Eric to spy on Lord Borin. Why?”

Her pupils dilated, but she merely raised her head. “You drink yourself into a stupor most nights and put us through hell when you awake. Do I ask your motive?”

He flinched. “Point taken, my girl. Your brother is right. You are a great deal tougher than he is.”

She eyed him. “Just what did Eric tell you?”

“Not nearly enough. You should be proud of him.”

“I am. For any number of reasons. Now, may I go?”

Sir Richard raised a brow. “Do you think I give up so easily? I intend to get to the bottom of this, my girl.” He cocked his head to regard her. She stared stonily back. “Has Lord Borin dallied with you, Katherine?” he pressed. “Are you after revenge?”

“Good heavens no!” Her denial was vehement, but with relief he sensed it was the truth. “Lord Borin is a gentleman, Uncle. He would never knowingly compromise a lady, and, if he did so inadvertently, I have no doubt he would take responsibility.”

“Then why harass the poor fellow?”

She sighed. “We have stopped. Neither Bix nor Eric shall follow him again. Is that sufficient for you?”

“Not in the slightest. I wish to know what drove you to take such drastic measures.”

She threw up her hands. “Is it not evident? Constance refuses to marry. She has less than five weeks before she loses her fortune. I have paraded every eligible gentleman in London before her, and she does not so much as notice. I begin to think she wishes for poverty.”

“More likely she is unaware of the consequences,” Sir Richard replied thoughtfully. “I shall speak to her. In truth, I had forgotten the time was drawing near. Will she be truly one and twenty this June?”

Katherine nodded. “And no closer to the altar than at her debut, I fear.”

“Then you would be nearly three and twenty,” he mused. “And no closer to the altar yourself.”

She reddened, and he knew he had scored a hit. The knowledge brought him no joy.

“My willingness to wed is not the issue,” she told him tartly. “Do you wish to see my stepfather’s money go to his hideous nephew?”

“Frankly, I don’t. But you obviously do. Perhaps I should look more closely at our finances again. Are we approaching beggary?”

She dropped her gaze. “We will not starve. But we will have to move to another part of London or the country, and we will have to release Emma and Bixby.”

“As bad as that?” Sir Richard frowned. Why hadn’t he realized it? It was one thing to overlook his niece’s age—children grew up all too quickly. It was another to overlook their financial wellbeing. He tried to remember the last time he’d paid a bill and couldn’t recall. But if they were in arrears, surely he’d have been dunned. He didn’t remember any threatening notes or demanding visitors. He suddenly realized that he didn’t even remember what day it was. The realization stunned him.

Katherine’s gaze on his face recalled him to the conversation. He cleared his throat. “I begin to see why you are concerned, Katherine. But you cannot force Constance into marriage to save us.”

“Nor would I!” she immediately protested. “I have tried to find a man so wonderful she cannot refuse him.”

“Lord Borin,” he guessed.

She nodded. “He is affable, generous, and kind. He has an excellent fortune in his own right, so she cannot say he is after hers. And you cannot deny he is kind on the eyes.”

“Certainly not.” He also could not deny that Katherine seemed more than a little taken with the fellow herself. “But you bring me back to my original question. Why spy on the man?”

“I had to be certain he was the right choice for Constance, didn’t I?” she all but pleaded. “I also had to determine whether there were any obstacles to their courtship or whether we had anything of worth to tempt him to marriage.”

He frowned. “What you describe begins to sound like entrapment. What exactly did you plan for the poor fellow?”

“Nothing heinous, I promise you! I thought if Constance were to wear a scent he preferred or dress in shades of his favorite color, he might be attracted enough to come closer. Am I not entitled to gather data before undertaking such an activity as helping Constance go courting?”

“I find it difficult to believe all young ladies have such information on their perspective bridegrooms, unless of course, they simply ask.”

She ignored the pointed suggestion. “Few young ladies have to contend with the factors we face,” she countered. “Can you say you are sorry we managed to get him to call?”

“I find him quite companionable,” Sir Richard assured her. “But I am not going to marry him. And you cannot blame him for wondering about the circumstances. Particularly with rumors of foreign spies among the Haut Ton.”

Her eyes widened. “Foreign spies? What is this?”

“A rumor only, as far as I know, but a persistent one. Apparently several members of Parliament have been approached, those who have ties to the War Office. Lord Hastings is surely investigating. But you can see why being followed might make Lord Borin jittery.”

“Certainly, but as I said, we have stopped.”

“That is not all you will stop.” He affixed her with a firm stare and watched her lower her gaze to the carpet. It had been a long time since he had had to play the patriarch. Indeed, he wasn’t certain he had ever played the role. Still, he could not allow her to worry herself to the point at which she took such risks.

“From now on,” he told her, “I will take responsibility for this family. That is my right and duty as a gentleman.”

“Yes, Sir Richard,” she murmured.

“I expect you to focus on that which is the right and duty of every young lady–determining how they will live the rest of their lives and with whom they will live it. You can trust me to keep us afloat.”

“Yes, Uncle,” she said again.

His heart went out to her, but he had to help her see the folly of her ways, before she caused a scandal from which she would never recover. “You are a bright girl, Katherine. I expect you to support me in this.”

She raised her gaze at last, staring at him as firmly as he did her. “I will support you, Uncle. It will be a pleasure to have the burden relieved. But you had better prove yourself up to it. Someone has to see to the wellbeing of this family. If you cannot or will not, I will.”