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Caroline was totally disinterested, even though she saved me the last dance. She made polite conversation but attempted no other move than that.

Caroline kept me hooked and knew it. She had already had several offers for her hand but had refused them, as they were not suitable.

Caroline looked at me from under her lashes and said that she was waiting for an appropriate offer to come along. One that she would seriously consider. I laughed silently as Caroline was blatantly obvious about who she would contemplate a formal offer from.

Her brother James was not too amused at the game we played. James couldn’t see me as a genuine contender, nor was I serious about his sister, so he thought.

He was correct; I wasn’t in the way they both wished me to be.

Then, one night, a friend of mine, Lord Barrington, held a coming-out ball for his sister, and we were both invited.

Barrington had warned me about Caroline, seeing her coldness for what it was, and had listened to what his sibling had had to say about her. I listened to Barrington’s warning and ignored it. I didn’t want to see the truth, only the game, if only I’d heeded Barrington. Obviously, I was not in love with Caroline. But she held my interest, and I saw possibilities.

Barrington sighed and declared that he had warned me. If I ensnared her, then I was not to come moaning to him a year later about what a harpy I had married.

Married! Ye Gads, who said anything about marrying her?

???

A few days later, at Barrington’s ball, when I entered, Caroline was surrounded by the usual admirers. For once, I ignored her as I spotted a familiar face in the room.

Hair piled high in an intricate fashion and clothed in a blue satin gown that showed her figure to its full advantage was Julia.

I marched across the ballroom to push through the crowd that encircled her. “Julia, dearest!” I exclaimed, taking her hands in mine.

“Jacques!” Julia squealed, pleased to see me.

Julia kissed me on the cheek, provoking angry mutterings among the young blades that surrounded her.

“Shoo!” Julia said, laughing. “This is an old friend, and I would like a moment alone with him.”

The crowd dispersed, and I studied her in the candlelight. Julia looked bloody marvellous and was blooming.

Proud of her, I told her so.

“When did you arrive?” I asked.

“Two nights ago, from Sweden. I fancied a change of pace, and London always provides a distraction. I do hope you don’t mind, I’m aware it’s your hunting ground.”

“Of course not, it’s good to see you. Stay as long as you like. After all, it’s been at least three hundred years.”

“Four hundred and twenty-four. But who’s counting?” Julia asked laughingly.

“Not me. Have you seen any of the others?”

“I saw Pari and Emil in Spain, and Tobais and Kait were haunting France along with Li’zel, Seti, and Ami. Other than that…” Julia shrugged delicately.

“Mihal is in London, using the name Michael. Apparently, Mihal is no longer a good enough name. I crossed Eduardo andJulius in Scotland, and other than that…” I shrugged, too, and Julia giggled.

Julia turned and asked behind her fan. “And who are you here for tonight?”

“Must there be someone?” I countered and Julia laughed again, drawing the jealous glances from those that had surrounded her.

“Jacques, I know you. There is a lady. Tell me who!”

“How about if I said Barrington?”

“Barrington!” Julia exclaimed, “Surely not!”