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stage. Next to him, wearing a blue plume that had no doubt cost the lives of several ostriches, sat a petite, dark-haired woman. A stunning necklace of sapphires twinkled in the dim glow of the stage’s gas lights. Unmindful of the growing stares and whispers from the other boxes and the orchestra seats below, the couple spoke softly to one another as they watched the drama unfold.
    Lilith kept one eye on the scoundrel, waiting for him to do something disreputable. Whatever miniscule interest she’d had in the opera vanished, and though she hardly considered that to be a pity, neither could she be comfortable with Dansbury so close beside her. Only a few feet of wood and open space divided them from one another, and she wondered that he couldn’t feel her eyes boring into the back of his skull.
    Intermission arrived before she expected it, and she stood quickly to move into the shadows at the back of the box.
    “Lilith, what are you doing?” her father grumbled, as she trounced on his toe.
    “Apologies, Father.”
    “Ah, Miss Benton!”
    Lilith stopped, then slowly turned around. The marquis leaned across the edge of his box, completely unmindful of the long drop below him. His dark eyes took in her blue beaded gown with such intensity that it madeher feel completely naked. “My lord,” she said with a quick curtsey, and turned away again.
    William stood, though, and hurried over to shake Dansbury’s hand. “I say—”
    “Do you mind?” Aunt Eugenia glared haughtily at the marquis.
    “Actually, I do, but I don’t suppose that will make you go away,” he replied regretfully.
    Lilith choked back a shocked snort. No one spoke to Eugenia Farlane that way—though she’d wished to on many occasions.
    “Stephen!” Eugenia gasped, flailing her fan in her brother’s direction.
    “I don’t want any trouble, Dansbury,” the viscount said, rising.
    “Neither do I, Hamble. I merely wished to give greetings to your daughter, and thank her again for her astute observation at the soirée last evening. It has quite turned my life around.”
    Lilith glared at him. “I did not—”
    Her father took her by the arm and half-dragged her to the back door of the box. “Good evening, Dansbury,” he grunted, shoving her into the narrow hallway and following her out.
    “What do you think you’re doing?” Aunt Eugenia’s face was drawn tight with fury as she practically bounded into the back corridor. “You actually spoke to him?”
    “He told a lie!” Lilith replied. “I did not speak to h—”
    “That’s enough,” her father interrupted. “William, let’s go.”
    William shook his head and stepped back toward their box. “I think I’ll stay and see the end of the opera, Father. Quite interesting, really.”
    The neighboring door opened, and Dansbury strolled out into the hallway beside them. “Dear me, I have caused a ruckus, haven’t I?”
    Hamble clenched his fist, and Lilith—remembering Dansbury’s reputation as a duelist and fearing her father might actually hit him—stepped between them. “Yes, you have, my lord. Good evening.”
    She stepped past him, her father and her aunt hurrying to follow her.
    “Good evening, Miss Benton,” came softly from behind her. “A pleasure to see you again.”
    Though she expected another tongue-lashing, her relations were silent as she led the way out to their coach. Apparently for once she had acted properly. Lilith frowned as she sat back in the cushioned seat, wondering who in the world that woman had been, who’d dared to go out in public with the Marquis of Dansbury, and whether he had given her those blasted lovely gems.

Chapter 3
    L ilith sat eating breakfast when Bevins opened the front door to admit her brother. She looked up at the sound, then sighed and resumed spreading jam on her toast, thankful that her father and Aunt Eugenia were still abed. It was far too early for another round of arguments over William’s carousing. At least now he’d