Edward stood at the French windows and looked out onto the terrace. Joshua Winslow sat in a chair placed in the sunshine. He was gaining strength with each day and even some of the bruises had faded. Doctor Fleming thought it might do him some good to spend a little time out of doors, so they’d brought him down.

It had been a week since they’d rescued him in St. Bartholomew’s Churchyard. Since then, he’d shared what information he’d gained concerning the old boarding house. Yes, it was being used by smugglers. And yes, there was another shipment coming in soon, but he wasn’t sure when. Nick had men in gutter garb watching the place day and night. When the next shipment came in, they would know about it.

But now that Winslow was out of danger, Edward could concentrate on the other person he needed to be concerned over.

Alyssa.

He hadn’t seen her since the night she’d walked away from him in the garden. She’d prevailed upon someone to take her home before Edward had even re-entered the ballroom.

Nor had she answered his inquiries as to which events she would be attending so he might join her.

He tried to convince himself that her reason was that she didn’t want him to risk coming out any more than necessary. That she didn’t want him to chance that the person or persons who’d murdered her husband would do the same to him. But the voice of doubt inside him wasn’t sure that was the reason.

He understood her well enough to know a part of her was angry with him for purchasing the Conner Street property when he knew it would put his life in danger. But he’d had no choice. It would have been an act of cowardice to turn his back on the dangers the smugglers presented. And he’d never been a coward.

Edward kept his gaze focused on where Winslow sat, then turned when Bierly rapped on the door. “Yes?”

“Lady Lindleigh and Lady Elizabeth to see you, Your Grace.”

Edward experienced an excitement he hadn’t felt since he’d last seen her. “Show them in, Bierly. And bring in a tea tray.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Bierly stepped back and allowed their guests to enter. Alyssa and a young lady with features very similar to Alyssa’s flowed prettily into the room.”

“My lady,” Edward said, stepping around his desk and crossing the room. He took Alyssa’s hand and held it for a moment longer than he probably should have, but he couldn’t sever the connection. He was so relieved to see her that he wanted to take her in his arms. But he couldn’t with her daughter standing beside her.

“Your Grace. Allow me to present my daughter, Lady Elizabeth.”

“Your Grace,” the lass said, executing a perfect curtsy.

“Come in,” he said, leading Alyssa and her daughter to a nearby cluster of chairs. “Tea will be here shortly.”

“I hope you don’t mind our interruption.”

“Not at all, my lady. I couldn’t be more pleased.”

Edward was anxious to hear why Alyssa had come, but Bierly entered the room. A maid followed him with a tea tray in her hands. She set it on the table in the center of the cluster of chairs, then left the room.

“Would you pour, my lady?”

“Of course.”

Alyssa poured tea and handed him a cup and saucer. Edward noticed that her hands trembled slightly as if she were nervous. He wanted to reach for her hands and tell her there was nothing to be nervous about. But he could hardly show such familiarity with her daughter less than an arm’s length away.

After she’d poured tea, Alyssa sat in the chair and took a small sip from her cup. She held her cup and saucer daintily and lifted her head until her gaze locked with his. “I owe you an apology, Your Grace.”

“You do not, my lady. In order for you to issue an apology, your words would have been meant to insult me. They were the opposite. They indicated your concern for my welfare. How could I be offended when your intent was so commendable?”

Alyssa’s gaze didn’t leave his. She remained fixed on him while her eyes misted. Edward had never been so tempted to take her in his arms as he was now, chaperone or no chaperone.

Is that why Alyssa had brought her daughter? Edward wanted to laugh. He couldn’t recall hearing of a time when a lass of eighteen or nineteen had acted as chaperone for her mother.

Edward turned his attention to Alyssa’s daughter. She was truly a lovely young girl. Her hair bore the same golden hues as Alyssa’s. Her eyes were the same vibrant blue.

“I do have someone I’d like you to meet, however.”

Alyssa cocked her head to the side and lifted her eyebrows.

Edward stepped out onto the terrace, and returned with Joshua Winslow at his side.

The lad walked slowly, but made it into the room unassisted.

“Lady Lindleigh. Lady Elizabeth. May I introduce Mr. Joshua Winslow? Mr. Winslow has met with an injury and is recuperating here at Townsend House.”

“Lady Lindleigh. Lady Elizabeth,” Winslow said as he nodded respectfully.

“Mr. Winslow,” Alyssa greeted. Lady Elizabeth made her greeting and Edward couldn’t help but notice the pink hue to her cheeks. Or the length her gaze remained fixed on Winslow’s handsome face made rugged by fading bruises.

“Please sit down, Joshua. Doctor Fleming won’t be pleased if he discovers I let you stand overly long.”

“Elizabeth,” Alyssa said, “please pour Mr. Winslow a cup of tea.”

“Yes, Mama.” Elizabeth turned to Joshua. “How do you take your tea, sir?”

“Simple, my lady.”

When Elizabeth had given Winslow his tea, she sat back down, but Edward noticed that her gaze returned to Joshua more than once. Even more interesting was how often Joshua Winslow cast a lingering glance in Lady Elizabeth’s direction.

The four of them carried on a conversation only long enough for Winslow to finish his tea, then Edward called for Bierly to help him back to his room. He’d been upright long enough that Edward noticed the pained look in his eyes.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Lady Lindleigh,” Winslow said when he rose to leave. Then, he turned to Lady Elizabeth and with a smile, said the same.

“I bid you a speedy recovery, Mr. Winslow.”

“Thank you, Lady Elizabeth. Spending such an enjoyable afternoon has helped more than you know.”

Alyssa’s daughter demurely lowered her gaze.

When Joshua Winslow left the room, Alyssa turned her gaze to Edward. “We should be going, too. I have plans to attend the Relmen ball tonight.”

Edward smiled. “Perhaps I shall see you then.”

“Perhaps,” Alyssa said.

Edward walked his guests to the door and when they left he returned to his study. He walked past a beveled mirror on the wall and glanced at the smile on his face. He thought of Alyssa and his smile broadened.

Edward held her in his arms as they twirled around the Relmen dance floor. The orchestra was playing a waltz, and Edward was an excellent dancer. Alyssa was as flushed as a schoolgirl at her first dance. She was vibrant and alive, as if Edward and she were the only two dancers on the floor. As if the orchestra had been hired just for them.

Alyssa felt a blush cover her cheeks. How could she be so foolish? She was a grown lady with a grown daughter. And Edward was hardly a lad in his teens. They were both mature adults, yet Alyssa felt the same as she did when she was a young lass. She felt as if this were the first time she’d ever fallen in love.

“Do I want to ask your thoughts, my lady?”

Alyssa lifted her gaze, then quickly lowered it. She knew the redness in her cheeks wasn’t due to exerting herself on the dance floor. When Edward tipped his head back and laughed, she realized that he knew it, too.

“I think we’d best step outside for a bit,” he said when they were near the terrace doors.

He gracefully turned her, and without breaking stride escorted her onto the terrace, then down the steps to the garden, then kept on walking. When they were far out of sight from any of the other guests, he turned her in his arms and kissed her.

He held her close and kissed her with the passion that was growing between them. His kisses deepened and she gave to him what he demanded from her. His mouth opened above hers and she followed his lead.

Again and again he kissed her. The passion he felt for her was evident in every exchange.

When their breathing turned harsh and desperate, Edward lifted his mouth and broke their kiss. He gathered her more closely and wrapped his arms around her.

Alyssa wrapped her arms around him and held on. If she didn’t, she feared her legs might give out from beneath her.

“I need you to know how I feel, Alyssa. It’s important that you realize that I’ve fallen in love with you.”

“As I’ve fallen in love with you, too, Edward. I never thought I would fall in love again, but you have shown me emotions I don’t want to live the rest of my life without experiencing.”

Edward, Duke of Townsend, lifted his gaze to the heavens and smiled. “I was the one who thought I could never chance loving anyone again. I’d lost all faith in the emotions shared by a man and a woman. Yet you showed me that it was worth the risk if you loved the right person. And I have found the right person in you.”

“I love you, Edward. I think I fell in love with you the minute you asked me to dance.”

“And I think I loved you the second I saw you standing at the top of the ballroom stairs.”

Alyssa lifted her hand and cupped her palm against Edward’s cheek. She couldn’t imagine anyone more perfect.

She couldn’t wait for the danger Edward had involved himself in to be over. She couldn’t wait to know that he would be safe and that she would never lose him.