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" I didn't realize he was going to be here," James said, his voice low.

"I didn't know he was coming back to London," William said. "There was no advance notice of his return. You know that if I had been aware, I would have warned you."

James nodded. His friend was one of the only people who understood why Benjamin's presence was so complicated for him.

"I wasn't prepared for this," he said. "I just wish I had known, that's all.

I wish I could have done something to better brace myself for seeing him again after all these years. It's a bit difficult to face."

"He's always been a kind person, at least," William said. "I truly believe he only wants to get along with you. To have a good relationship with you."

"But it isn't that simple. You know it isn't."

William sighed. "He's going to be married soon, you know."

"I didn't know. How could I have?"

"Rumor has it that's why he came back from Rome—to marry."

"Who is it he's going to marry?"

"Lady Katherine, if the rumors are to be believed."

"I don't know her."

"The daughter of the Earl of Montrose. A lovely young thing, and very kind to boot. They say he wants you to be present at the wedding."

"How on Earth do you know all this? Have you spoken to him?"

"No, but I have my sources."

"You always have your sources," James said.

"And you know I'm rarely wrong. Come on—your brother is a good man, even if the two of you have some struggles in your past. You can let go of what's happened back then and be there for him now."

"Has he enlisted you to mediate between us?

"Of course not."

"Then why are you taking such an interest?"

"You're my friend, James. Believe it or not, I do care for your happiness. The tension between you and your brother has always made you unhappy. I think you'd be better off if you found a way to let it go. Don't you agree?"

James turned and scanned the room, looking for a sight of his brother. He expected to feel the usual stab of displeasure at the sight of Benjamin.

Instead, when he located him, he was met with a wave of ill will so intense that it swept over him and felt like it was going to knock him off his feet.

Benjamin was dancing with Victoria.

It was so outrageous, so distressing, that for a moment he felt sure Benjamin must have done it on purpose to provoke him.

Even as he reminded himself that that couldn't be true, that Benjamin couldn't possibly have known how much it would upset him to see the two of them together like this, a part of him knew it must have been deliberate.

Just as everything else between him and Benjamin had to have been deliberate—could never have been innocent, as Benjamin had so often claimed.

But then he paused.

Even if Benjamin's aim had been to upset him, how could he possibly have known that dancing with Victoria would do that job?

James hadn't known that himself. Why did it upset him so much, anyway?

He had known that she would be dancing with people tonight.

It was the reason he had brought her here.

This was nothing more than what he had planned for.

She was supposed to be meeting potential husbands, though, and Benjamin didn't qualify. Even if he hadn't intended to marry someone already, there was no way James would have approved a marriage between Benjamin and Victoria.

Was that why it upset him? Was it simply that he felt she was wasting her time with someone who would never be a match for her?

No, that wasn't it. It was true that he was determined that they shouldn't marry, but even so, time wasn't exactly being wasted.

He had meant to dance with Victoria himself.

It was important to show her off, to give gentlemen who were searching for wives a chance to see her on the dance floor and to realize how beautiful and charming she was.

If anything, Benjamin was helping by taking her for a turn like this.

It didn't feel helpful, though.

William stared at him. "I swear," he said. "You have never seen with clear eyes when it comes to that brother of yours."

"I don't wish to talk about him any longer," James said firmly.

"As you wish, but you were the one who began this conversation," William pointed out. "You can hardly blame me for thinking that you did want to talk about him. And if I am honest, I believe you still do."

"It's the last thing I want. This was my greatest fear upon returning to London. I don't think I would have come back if I hadn't believed him to be in Rome."

"Don't be ridiculous. Even though he was away, you knew that London was his home. You knew there was always a chance he would come back here. I realize your childhood was traumatic, but why do you avoid him so? He isn't the one who —"

James held up a hand. "I know what he did and what he didn't do," he said. "We were children at the time, and I know there's only so much I can hold him responsible for. Perhaps I should let it go. But even so, he is a reminder of my past. I don't wish to be around him."

"I suppose that's your choice," William said. "I just think you are robbing yourself of a brother."

"Did you also think I was robbing myself of a mother when my father's wife tried to get in touch with me?"

William raised his eyebrows. "I didn't realize that had happened."

"It did. About five years ago. She acted as if she wanted to mend things between the two of us."

"Well, I'm not surprised you weren't interested in that."

"Of course not. I didn't even attend her funeral when she died, though I'm sure Benjamin was there."

"I'm sure he was. She was his mother, after all."

"Well, she wasn't my mother. I didn't owe her anything. Especially after what she did. It seems to me that the most sensible thing I could have done in regard to her was to keep my distance."

"No," William agreed. "I quite agree with that decision. I wouldn't have advised you to do anything different had I known what was going on at the time."

A member of the staff came by with a tray of drinks. James accepted one and took a long swallow. "Maybe I made a mistake in bringing Victoria out tonight," he mused. "Maybe she wasn't ready for all this."

William looked at him. "She wasn't ready? Or do you mean that you weren't ready?"

"I don't know what you mean by that."

"You've been staring at her this whole time."

"I've been staring at Benjamin."

"I don't think that's it. I know there's tension between you and your brother, but I think if that's all you were responding to, you would look away from him. You wouldn't stand and watch him like this. You're not watching him. You're watching her."

"Well, it is my responsibility to monitor her during these events."

"But she isn't doing anything that requires monitoring.

She's only dancing. You brought her here to dance.

And I know that there is tension between Benjamin and yourself, but you must admit that he is not a morally questionable gentleman.

You can trust him on the dance floor with a young lady. She's in perfectly safe hands."

James nodded. William was right. Whatever his feelings toward his brother, he could admit that that much was true.

"So why can't you look away from her?"

"Don't be ridiculous. Of course I can look away from her."

"Then why don't you?"

James turned to look at his friend. William was smiling knowingly.

The expression on his face sparked irritation deep within James.

"I don't know what you think you've understood," he said, "but you're wrong.

I'm only here to help her find a husband.

I'm only watching her to see the measure of her charms, so that I will be better able to present her to interested parties. "

"All I can say is that it sounds a bit like an excuse to stare at her to me," William said with a shrug. "Not that I blame you. That fetching figure, those bright eyes, that soft hair—I can see why any gentleman would be captivated! It's just that I never thought to see you fall in love."

"You overstep," James said severely. "We are friends, William, but this is beyond undignified. I'm here as her escort, nothing more, and if you continue to speculate you run the risk of jeopardizing her reputation. You wouldn't want that, surely?"

"What harm can it do to her reputation for people to see her as an object of desire?

" William asked. "Remember, James, no one has ever seen you take an interest in a lady before.

I'm sure any lady who was seen to catch your eye would immediately become a subject of speculation and conversation.

Truthfully, I can think of no better way to gain her attention.

I think you ought to go and dance with her. "

"And I think you ought to mind your own affairs," James said sternly.

William held up his hands in surrender. "Very well," he agreed. "It was only an idea. An idle thought, nothing more."

"Keep your thoughts to yourself. Especially where the Duchess is concerned."

"Especially then?" William raised his eyebrows. James could have kicked himself. He was doing his best to convince his friend that there was nothing particularly noteworthy about the relationship between himself and Victoria. Of course calling for special treatment would raise eyebrows.

"I want to keep my focus on her future," he said. "It's as simple as that."

"Very well," William said. "You sound sure of yourself."" I'll just say this?—"

"You haven't said enough already?"

"Don't be so short-tempered. Let me speak," William said.

"I've never seen you find a lady who made you so—so unlike yourself, James.

Whatever your feelings are for the duchess, it can't be denied that knowing her has changed you, and that's something I don't believe you ought to ignore.

I think you should make the most of whatever she's brought into your life.

Maybe marrying her off right away isn't the proper thing to do. You have other choices, you know."

"This is about restoring her reputation. It's important to act in haste."

"Not necessarily. Remember that her reputation has been what it is for some time now," William said. "A few more months won't do any harm."

"Months! You're jesting."

"I'm not. It would give the two of you time to get to know one another. To gain some comfort with each other. Isn't that something you want?"

"I don't know why you're pushing for that," James said, hearing the tightness in his own voice.

"I don't know why you would want me to spend time with the duchess.

Even if I have noticed how attractive she is, there's no future for the two of us.

I don't wish to marry, and even if I did, she certainly can't marry me .

It wouldn't do anything to address the troubles she faces.

You need to be more realistic—or, if you can't do that, you should at least be silent about these ideas. If you bring them up to her… "

"I'm not going to say anything to her. I'm speaking to you as a friend."

"Well, good. Let's see that it stays that way."

James turned away from William, uncomfortably aware that his heart was pounding as he walked away.

He didn't know what it was, but something about his friend's suggestion had disturbed him deeply.