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nape of her neck all the way down her back.
    “I am afraid I must admit I would have enjoyed laughing at all of it, with you, Mr. Augustine.”
    “Isn’t it your Mr. Bennet who says, ‘For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbours, and laugh at them in our turn?’”
    Astonished to hear her words quoted by Mr. Augustine, Jane said, “You have a line committed to memory?”
    “I am sorry, does that make you uncomfortable? I assure you, dear lady, it is only done out of great admiration. I found that particular line one of the most amusing in your book.” He stared at her from under thick lashes, making his pleading eyes all the more appealing.
    Flustered, and trying to recover, she said, “No, no, I take it as quite a great compliment, that you should have memorized one of my humble lines. I am surprised, that is all. I have never met anyone who committed to memory anything I’ve ever written.” She smiled at the angelic face.
    It would be later that night when Jane would write in her journal that it was at that moment, on this date, that she’d she first felt herself in danger of falling in love with Mr. Gabriel Augustine.

Chapter 4
    “Sir, the young lady who was accompanying you has returned to town. She asked me to hire her a carriage, and despite the hour she was quite set on leaving tonight.”
    The innkeeper was visibly anxious, most likely fearing the wrath of the gentleman from Herrifield Court. Locals made it a point to serve every whim of the Augustine family. Gabriel didn’t know whether he was relieved by the news of this departure or sorely disappointed. It did mean one less thing he had to worry about while his mind was in a whirl with the charms of the lovely Miss Austen. On the other hand, some time with the willing-and-able Lavinia would have assuaged certain needs that were beginning to overcome him, despite the respite with the kitchen maid. Miss Austen was proving to be the undoing of all his hard-fought restraint.
    Before leaving the party he had found a quiet moment to ask Agatha about the plans of the other dinner guests—those who did not live in the immediate area. He was delighted to hear Miss Austen would be the guest of the Dartfourds for Saturday and Sunday, and not scheduled to leave until Monday afternoon. Though his original plan had been to return to London in the morning, he was now imagining the time he could spend with Miss Austen over the next two and a half days. As the brother of the Lady Dartfourd it would not be thought unusual for him to spend time at the house with his family and their guests. He told Agatha to expect him in the early afternoon next day, and she was very happy by his change of plans, not having seen much of him for the past few months.
    His afternoon arrival would give him time to feed, but with Lavinia gone he would now have to find a source of his sustenance. As he settled back on the bed trying to relax his body and calm his mind with its constant images of Miss Austen playing through it, he forced his mind to turn to possible sources. Were it not for the arousing Miss Austen he could have made it through the day without fear, having imbibed so well over the past twenty-four hours. But to insure her safety from his monstrous appetites he had no choice but to feed. And feed well.
    Saturday morning, after a night filled with unusually pleasant dreams, Jane stood in the center of the unfamiliar bedchamber and considered her options for dress. That she wished to look her best was a given. Her evening of flirtations with the beautiful Mr. Augustine made her hope for such opportunities during the day, and she did not want to have the appearance of the old, spinster woman who normally spent her days hidden away with pen and paper.
    Carefully considering the dresses she had laid out on the bed, she knew her options were few. While she had packed her best dresses for the days at the country estate, her best only came to four dresses. She brought