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“And I, as well, would like to offer my congratulations,” said Malcolm, coming forward to take Cassia’s hand. He pressed a kiss to it, a kiss that lasted a little longer than it should have and many would have thought a little too familiar.

“I hope there aren’t any feelings of ill will, Newbury,” Rolfe said to him, breaking in.

Malcolm smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Not at all. In another world, under different circumstances, Cassia might have been my bride, but, sadly, we just didn’t suit. Nothing to spend the rest of my days brooding over. I wish her all the happiness she deserves.”

Perhaps it was the way his eye seemed to twitch when he’d spoken, but somehow, Cassia wasn’t convinced.

“Cassia, my love!”

Just then, Cordelia came forward, dressed in shades that ran from a light peach to bright orange. Her bright presence immediately diffused the tension that had surrounded the small gathering.

“I was beginning to get very worried about you,” she said to Cassia.

“I had gone to Seagrave House to see you, but you weren’t there, and Clydesworthe wouldn’t tell me where you’d gone to.

Stubborn sod. He looked rather agitated and told me that someone had broken into the house during the night. Is this true?”

Cassia nodded, and then glanced directly at Geoffrey. “I am afraid my father’s study was ransacked.”

“Oh, how terrible.”

“Was anything taken?” Geoffrey asked, feigning interest.

“As a matter of fact, yes,” Rolfe broke in. “Something was taken. Oddly, Lord Seagrave’s pocket watch seems to be the one thing missing. I say, Geoffrey, hadn’t you remarked to Cassia that you were interested in having it at one time?”

Geoffrey’s face colored noticeably. “Now, see here, if you’re implying ...”

Rolfe cut in. “Oh, I never imply . I simply stated how coincidental it is, you having asked after the watch so recently and then it being so soon after stolen, especially when there were other items in that room far more valuable.”

Geoffrey narrowed his eyes, his lip curling beneath his mustache. “I ought to call you out, Ravenscroft.”

At the threat of a duel, Rolfe looked wholly unconcerned. “Have you forgotten, Geoffrey? By my marriage to Cassia, I am the Marquess of Seagrave now.”

A muscle worked in Geoffrey’s jaw at hearing the title he’d fully expected to be his now meant for another.

“Shall I call for my second?” Rolfe asked. “In fact, I see him standing across the room right now. Perhaps you know him? Dante Tremaine, the Earl of Morgan.”

The two men stared at each other. Cassia looked between them, holding her breath. Dueling was a serious business, and from the few occasions when she’d seen Rolfe brandish his rapier, she supposed he’d be more than formidable an opponent.

Geoffrey, wisely, gathered the same.

“Another time, Lord Seagrave ,” he muttered.

“I’ll wait,” promised Rolfe.

Cassia and Rolfe watched as Geoffrey and Malcolm beat a hasty retreat back to the gaming tables.

Cordelia poked Rolfe in the shoulder. “I think you frightened him sufficiently, my lord. At least he was smart enough not to accept the challenge.” She turned to Cassia then.

“Now, what’s this I hear you’ve gotten yourself married to this man?

Here I was led to believe the two of you couldn’t bear each other, and suddenly Rolfe comes to tell me you’ve wed. ”

Cassia smiled, slanting Rolfe a glance. “Let’s just say his proposal was just too tempting to be refused.”

Cordelia stared at them, pointing a bejeweled finger. “I knew there was something between you. It was like a flame, albeit a flashing one, that seemed to ignite whenever you two were together. Just like me and Percy.”

She stared off in the distance as if trying to mentally summon her husband forth.

“I should someday like to meet her Percival,” Rolfe whispered to Cassia.

“Oh, he is a man most definitely not to be believed,” Cassia said.

“I am just so happy for you.” Cordelia hugged Cassia first, then Rolfe. “Now, everything is just perfect.”

It was then Rolfe noticed Geoffrey suddenly cutting a path toward the door as if to leave. He seemed most agitated and in a bit of a hurry.

“It appears as if your cousin has just remembered another pressing engagement this evening,” he said. “If you will be all right here with Cordelia, I think I will tail him a little and see what he is about.”

“Cassia can stay here at the palace with me,” Cordelia said, all but pushing him away. “I want to hear all about this wedding of yours.”

He looked at Cassia. “You’ll wait here for me?”

Though she would have liked to go with him, she knew Rolfe would be more successful following Geoffrey without her along. She nodded. “I’d like to pay a visit to Catherine anyway.”

“Good.” Rolfe kissed her hand. “I’ll come for you there.”

They watched as Rolfe motioned toward his friend, Dante, across the room. In moments, the two men were gone. Cassia felt an immediate sense of aloneness without him there.

Sensing this, Cordelia took Cassia by the hand and led her across the room. “Come along.”

They stopped at a table where a feast had been set up. Cassia had never seen so much food; there was everything from a platter of roast pheasant with its feathers arranged in an elaborate fan to tiny little marzipan confectioneries in the shapes of various fruits.

Cordelia popped one that was shaped like a lemon into her mouth.

“I cannot countenance Lady Castlemaine, but she does entertain splendidly, don’t you think?

All on the Privy Purse, of course. She even has strawberries that were hothouse grown so they’d be at their sweetest during the off-season. Would you like me to get you some?”

Cassia shook her head. “No, not really, but perhaps a glass of claret would be nice.”

Cordelia bowed her head. “At your service, madam.”

She crossed the room in a flurry of orange silk, dipping to the corner where the drinks were being poured from a large cask set against the wall.

Cordelia was no sooner out of earshot than Cassia heard another distinctive swish of silk that came suddenly from behind her.

It was followed after by a voice that dripped with practiced sweetness.

“Oh, good fortune! You are alone. I was so hoping I might steal a moment with you to chat ...”