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Norah was singing, surrounded by a dozen rapt young men, and they could hear her perfect, crystal notes from where they sat.

“She’s my sister,” Georgie said with a marked lack of enthusiasm. “Don’t bother to fall in love with her. She’s destined for an earl at least. Er...you aren’t an earl, are you?”

He laughed. “Just a plain mister, I’m afraid. I recognize she’s way above my touch.”

He was busy watching Norah, an odd expression on his face, so Georgie gave herself permission to assess her companion.

He was young—not much older than Neddy, which would make him about twenty-five.

He had dark brown hair, warm brown eyes, and a very presentable face, with a good jaw, high cheekbones, and a ready smile.

He must have felt her eyes on him, for he turned back to her with his ready smile. “Forgive me, I’ve been rude.”

“Not at all. Norah affects everyone that way.”

But Andrew Salton was looking at her, not Norah, and there was clear admiration in his eyes. What would it feel like, if Rafferty were to look at her like that?

That wasn’t about to happen. Norah finished her song on a perfect, sustained note, then fell back to enjoy the adulation that was de rigeur for everything she did. Georgie went back to her cake, prepared for Andrew Salton to abandon her in favor of Norah.

He did no such thing. In fact, he didn’t even glance at her sister while he kept up an amusing line of conversation about his father’s tiny church in Kent and the frequent attendance of the neighborhood livestock in the midst of his sermons.

“It’s extremely difficult to contemplate the wages of sin with a goose staring at you balefully,” he continued, and she laughed.

“Geese are dreadful sinners,” she said, waiting for him to turn away. He didn’t. That, in itself, was unusual—Norah drew the eye of everyone in the room, but Andrew kept his head averted, those soft brown eyes focused on her.

Rafferty had hard eyes, always wary, always alert. He’d never looked at her the way this man was looking. What was there about her to admire? And then she remembered her reflection in the mirror, so certain she was going to dazzle Rafferty.

Surely this was much more pleasant. Andrew Salton was an extraordinarily easy man to talk to, and she didn’t even notice when she ran out of cake. He did, however.

“Let me bring you more cake, Miss Georgiana,” he said. “You seemed particularly fond of the strawberry one.”

She had been particularly fond of it. But she’d been brought up with manners, so she quickly demurred. “There’s no need...”

“There’s every need. And I need to find someone to make a proper introduction—I really shouldn’t be back here with you without your parents’ approval.”

Her parents would approve of him. In fact, they’d probably approve of any halfway presentable suitor for her, not that this man was courting her, per se. Anyone but Rafferty.

She watched Andrew as he went in search of cake.

He was a well-built young man, not as tall as Rafferty, more sturdily built.

Rafferty was tall and lean, but Georgie suspected he would best most anyone in a fight, because he was deceptively strong.

He’d carried her through the streets of London without any sign of strain, and his hands were strong, deft when he touched her, when he rubbed her feet, when he?—

“There you are, darling!” Her mother loomed up, looking formidable in a silver frock only a few years too young for her. “What are you doing, hiding out here?”

Georgie didn’t bother to state the obvious. “Eating cake,” she said with a trace of defiance.

“Of course you are,” she said soothingly, in a surprisingly good mood.

“And you’ve managed to conquer at least one heart on your very first night out.

Lady Tisbury made me known to a most exceptional young man named Andrew Salton.

He’s the son of a vicar, but he’s also cousin to a viscount.

I believe there’s some money there. He’s quite acceptable. ”

“Fascinating,” Georgie said flatly.

“He wants to meet you—I hope you’ll be on your very best behavior. If we could marry you off as well, then our fortunes would very much improve.”

“I’m sorry I’ve been such a burden,” she said in a low voice, but her mother was paying no attention.

“Of course, he’s talking to Norah right now, so that might put an end to it. He’s not wealthy enough for Norah, but you know how she affects people. That’s the problem with having such a dazzling daughter—there’s no attention left for the pl— The younger sister.”

She was going to say “plain” and thought better of it.

Georgie knew she ought to be grateful her mother was alert enough to censor herself, but her gratitude had vanished at the thought of Andrew fawning at her sister’s feet along with all the others.

He would be dazzled, he wouldn’t be able to pull away from her, he would give her the strawberry cake. ..

“Here he is now,” her mother announced cheerfully, as Andrew emerged from the crowds of people.

She waved her hand in a flirtatious gesture.

“Yoo-hoo, Mr. Salton?” she said in a high-pitched voice that made Georgie want to shrink in embarrassment.

“I must have you meet my younger daughter, since you were so smitten with my dear Norah.”

The cake was in one piece and so was Andrew, and there was a definite twinkle in his eye as her mother made the prescribed introductions.

“Miss Georgiana, might I interest you in a piece of cake?” he said smoothly.

“Oh, no,” her mother tittered. “Georgiana doesn’t eat cake. She’s slimming.”

Georgie wondered what might happen if she dumped the last of the champagne in her mother’s lap? She’d have to leave them alone, and Georgie could have that very substantial piece of cake in peace.

But she loved her mother, even when she said utterly stupid things, so she simply plastered on a grim smile and shook her head. In the battle between pride and cake, cake usually won, but right then she was outgunned, with her disapproving mother and a chastened Andrew Salton.

Her mother had all the charm in the family, her father had once insisted, and that night she exerted it to her full potential.

Within moments, she was on the dance floor with Andrew, the cake left forgotten on one of the chairs.

Georgie snatched it up before a servant could remove it but took her time eating it.

Her mother would monopolize Andrew Salton for as long as she could, and Georgie wouldn’t see him again.

It was a shame—if she had to have suitors, he was by far the best of the lot, but she could at least say she tried.

Her father didn’t have to know she hid behind a pillar most of the evening.

Her mother returned eventually, without Andrew.

“He wanted to dance with you, but I told him you weren’t officially out yet,” her mother announced, looking pleased with herself.

“I must say, he’s quite delightful. Good for you for finding him.

” She eyed her daughter carefully. “He might do for you. I didn’t know the son of a vicar could be quite so handsome. ”

No one would do for her, except the one man who couldn’t, wouldn’t, didn’t. She managed an easy smile. “He was merely being kind to a wallflower.”

“Most likely,” said her mother with a singular lack of tact. “Shall we depart?”

“What about Norah?”

“Alcott will bring her home. She’s having too good a time to leave now. And don’t look at me like that—she’ll be properly chaperoned.”

“I’m sure she will,” Georgie said meekly, rising from her chair with feigned reluctance. “I am tired.”

“Such a whirlwind of gaiety,” her mother said, eying the empty cake plate beside her. “You won’t always be able to hide away like you did tonight. Sooner or later, you’re going to have to get out there like Norah.”

“Not like Norah,” Georgie said. “I don’t expect to have her success.”

“Of course not. She’s the beauty—you’re not. But you could manage a respectable arrangement with some unexceptional young man. I should find out exactly what kind of money the Saltons have.”

“I doubt the son of a vicar is particularly well-endowed.”

Her mother cast her a sudden, sharp look, then tittered. “For your sake, I hope so.”

“I don’t need a wealthy husband,” Georgie protested, wondering what her mother found so amusing.

“We do,” Liliane said firmly. “You’ve done well tonight, and that dress looks lovely on you, though I still think it should have gone to Norah.

Let us find our carriage and go home before anyone realizes the wretched state of our conveyance.

We’re lucky we even made it here in the first place.

” She took Georgie’s arm and her heavy scent enveloped them both. “Your father will be very pleased.”

So will Rafferty, she thought miserably. Andrew was exactly what he wanted for her. A good man, he’d said, and she wanted a bad man.

Too bad he didn’t want her.