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accused.
    Jane dismissed the charge with a wave of her hand. “One did not need to eavesdrop to know what was being said in this room. Alec warned you that you would embarrass us, and so you have.”
    “I have done nothing of the sort,” Susan said.
    “Your name is in the Betting Book at White’s,” Ellen replied with a self-righteous lift of her chin.
    “Many women have their names in that book. The club members wager on everything from who will marry whom to who will drop her baby first to who has the bluest eyes.” A headache was starting to form behind her eyes. “This is ridiculous. One should expect at least a measure of support from one’s family.”
    “You were offered the opportunity to live with Dodgin’s aunt,” Jane pointed out.
    “I don’t call that support,” Susan muttered mutinously, and started for the door.
    “Wait,” Ellen said. “We are not finished talking to you.”
    “But I am finished talking to you,” Susan answered, her hand on the door handle.
    “But we didn’t come about the scene in the library,” Ellen said. “One of your charges, Lady Theresa, I believe, was crying her eyes out in the Ladies’ Retiring Room. We thought you would want to know.”
    “See? We do offer you our support,” Jane said, cattily.
    Susan didn’t make a response but opened the door and left the room.
    In the corridor, she tried her best to think clearly. It was hard when she was so hurt and angry by her sisters’ response to this crisis, and it was a devil of a fix. The best solution was to avoid the duke completely, which shouldn’t be hard. After all, because of her, he wasn’t being invited to anything.
    The realization was a calming balm for her frantic thoughts. For the first time since she’d heard news of the wager, Susan drew a full breath and released it. All would be well. She needed to focus her attention on her charges. The Duke of Killeigh could take care of himself.
    She hurried to the set of rooms set aside for the convenience of the ladies. Lady Theresa was not there, although the attending maid had seen her earlier, “Sobbing her eyes out.” Susan left to search for her in the ballroom.
    However, just as she entered the ballroom, the butler announced, in grand, round tones, a new arrival to the ball. “His Grace, the Duke of Killeigh.”
    Susan froze. She dared not take another step into the room. Was it her imagination that everyone turned almost as one and looked right at her?
    Almost as one the crowd stepped back, creating a direct line between her and the duke standing proudly in the doorway. He looked magnificently handsome in his tailored black evening attire. That irrational, confusing pull between them was even stronger than it had been when first they’d met.
    This wasn’t just any man; this was one she had been fated to meet.
    And then she thought of the wager…

Chapter Five
    R oan savored the moment. All eyes in the room, including those of the musicians, who rumor said had put down a quid or two of their own on the wager, were on him and the lovely Miss Rogers.
    He had to admit, she had been amazingly easy to conquer. He’d barely even had to lay siege. One wager to catch the imagination of the ton, and she hadn’t stood a chance.
    He walked forward.
    Miss Rogers stood completely composed, but there was a gleam of anger in her golden brown eyes. She didn’t like losing any more than he did.
    However, she’d been neatly outflanked.
    As for himself, he’d never felt more alive in his life. He could literally feel the rush of his own blood through his veins, the pounding of his heart.
    He didn’t bow. He was a duke, after all. But he inclined his head and offered one gloved hand. “Miss Rogers, would you do me the honor of a dance?”
    The room had gone so silent, his words seemed to echo off the wall—or was that because in one split second, he’d found himself anxious as to her response, and not because his pride was on the line.
    No, he wanted to