45.

"Cassy!" Theresa hissed, and came to her quickly, giving her a brutal pinch on her arm.

"Ow!" Cassy muttered and tried to stand up straighter, propping her shoulders against the wall and half leaning on Theresa. She hiccoughed again and dissolved into laughter, barely hearing her friend's soft groan of dismay.

Almost whimpering at the fierce scowl on the duke's face, Theresa offered a weak, "We, uh, had a glass of claret, your grace."

Cassy looked up, her smile quickly fading as it hit her that Henry was there and he was furious. His tall frame blotted out the light from behind, and it seemed suddenly too dark and shadowy in the alleyway.

"So, Zack," she heard Henry said lightly, "I see that you are once more with my wife. Getting to be a damnably dangerous habit for you, I'd say."

"Henry," Zack began but stopped when the duke approached with a lazily graceful stride that looked more intimidating than it did casual. He stiffened and slid a glance toward Cassy as he stepped away from he