Jonathan was right. They were both thrown into a whirl of activity that left them little time to speak to one another. Jonathan had his studies, and Cassy continued the rigorous training from Miss Abigail, the petite, cheerful woman with a mind like a steel trap when it came to social functions and the peerage.As Cassy's chaperone, Miss Abigail rarely left her charge's side. She had been employed by the dowager duchess to fend off gossips before it became known that the infamous 'Devil' Eastland had acquired a young and very pretty girl as his ward. The woman's reputation was impeccable, her knowledge of manners unrivalled. She would mould Lady Trenton into the soul of propriety and fully intended that the American girl take the ton by storm. And best of all, as the duchess had foreseen, she knew how to use connections.Connections, Cassy was informed, were especially important. Her chaperone had been married to a charming man of consequence and wealth at one time and, upon his demise

The Duke's London townhouse on fashionable Park Lane was four stories high, and had many elegant rooms available for what was commonly known as a "squeeze." Cassy saw immediately why it was referred to that way when she stood beside the dowager duchess to greet the guests who had been invited. Lilian didn't make it because she was sick, but she sent in a letter telling Cassy that something amazing was going to happen.The guest were divided into two classes, the curious, who had never been invited to a party given by the notorious "Devil" Eastland, and the highborn rakes who had. Those who "had" were faintly startled, then amused at the tameness of the dancing, drink and damsels provided. None of the fair Cyprians, as those ladies of the evening were euphemistically called, were present. Instead, only young ladies of birth and or breeding were present, a great many with their mamas, and the others with proper chaperones.Looking around the assemblage with a jaundiced eye, one fellow wa

But this certainly wasn't the time to think of that! She told herself sternly because he was pulling her onto the dance floor and signalling to the musicians to play a waltz. Vaguely aware of the interested gazes levelled at them through gold quizzing glasses and from beneath haughty brows, Cassy kept her gaze focused on Eastland's chest, not quite daring to lift her eyes to his handsome face.That seemed to amuse him, and he remarked lightly, "Do you have designs on my gold cravat pin, Lady Trenton?"Her gaze jerked up, hot and embarrassed, and she said tartly, "I don't have designs on any part of your person, I assure you!"He laughed softly, and the pressure of his arm around her back increased slightly. "How disappointing. Of course, I suppose that's only proper, as I will be your guardian for some time."Surprise lifted Cassy's brows, and her soft lips parted for a moment before she blurted out, "But that's not true! I mean, not for long! I will reach my majority soon.""No, I'm a

If anything, Cassy noted he'd grown even more handsome in the past few years. He'd just turned thirty, the dowager duchess had said, and "none of his excesses show the slightest bit on his face, the dog!"Cassy agreed. His dark-complexioned features were still as heart-stoppingly handsome as always, and his eyes were just as vivid a green. Jonathan had told her that the duke spent several hours a week at the boxing salon, and was known to be in excellent physical shape. Though his cutaway jacket ended at his lean waist and was buttoned over his chest, it was evident that he had no use for buckram padding as some of the other gentlemen were forced to use. Inexpressible, or skin-tight trousers, showed off his superbly muscled legs to perfection, and his movements were as graceful and predatory as she remembered them. Three years had hardly changed him at all.The years had, however, changed Cassy a great deal. Henry noticed it immediately and congratulated himself on his wise decision in

"She's a slut."Scandalized, Cassy said, "Aunt Adeline!" She didn't know whether to laugh or to be outraged and settled for doing neither."Well, she is," the aristocratic lady said calmly. "I don't know why you're making such a big fuss about it. I'm much more interested in what transpired between you and Eastland. He was in the devil of a temper when he arrived at my house last night, and I can tell you that I was in fear of my well being for several moments.""I doubt that," Cassy said with a faint smile. "And I'm making a fuss about Miss Whitefield because my brother is involved with her. She's an actress, and what's even worse...""She was Henry's ladybird for a time. I know.""Your grace!" Cassy gazed at the duchess with a mixture of amusement and dismay."Oh, don't mind me calling a spade a spade or a slut a slut, and between you and I, there should be none of that ridiculous beating around the bush and pretending to be delicate. We aren't, neither of us. We're realists, though