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line, but he saw her hiding a smile. “You
     are not very gallant.”
    “And yet you still like me. Does your tolerance know no bounds?”
    “I fear I’ve just reached them.” Cordelia laughed at his jesting. “Go. I shall see
     you soon.”
    As the ladies wandered off, Gavin watched fondly. Then an acquaintance of Cordelia’s,
     Lord Darehurst, put himself directly in her path, where she would be hard-pressed
     not to acknowledge him. She stopped, raised her gaze a sizable distance to meet the
     strapping young earl’s stare. After a curt nod, she moved on. Darehurst stopped her
     by bringing her gloved hand to his lips. She pulled away, and Gavin frowned. What
     did Cordelia have against Darehurst? She was forever avoiding the man, despite the
     fact she’d known him most of her life.
    Brock tapped Gavin on the shoulder, and he turned to see his friend’s expectant expression.
     He shrugged sheepishly.
    “I’m sorry. You wanted to speak to me. Has something else come about with the railroad?”
    Brock shook his head. “No, it’s as I said—all ready to go. I merely wondered about
     you. You look as if something is amiss. Is all well with James and your aunt? With
     your sisters?”
    Casting a considering glance at Brock, Gavin regarded the man , his friend now. Over the course of planning and building a railroad, Gavin had learned
     to trust Brock more than any other man, despite a contentious start to their acquaintance.
    “They are all in good health.” That much was true, at least.
    “Then it must be a woman.”
    Gavin snapped his gaze back to Brock. “Why do you say that?”
    A wide grin split Brock’s face. “Every man who’s ever had difficulty with a woman
     knows the expression. Ask Lady Litchfield to marry you. I believe she’s been awaiting
     your proposal for some time. She turned down three others, including Lord Toth’s,
     just last week. And Darehurst looks as if he’d like to swallow her whole.”
    Gavin glanced over his shoulder to see that the earl continued to follow her, flashing
     the seductive smile for which he was known in every ballroom and nearly as many bedrooms.
     While the sight surprised Gavin, it did not alarm him. Cordelia was admired wherever
     she went. Of course other men would have designs on her, particularly fortune hunters
     like Toth and lotharios like Darehurst.
    “Cordelia is not partial to Toth, and Darehurst has made it clear he will never marry
     again. They are really no threat to me. I will most likely propose to her once the
     railroad has launched. And she has given me every indication that she will accept.”
    Brock grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing servant carrying a full tray. Gavin
     followed suit.
    “So…Lady Litchfield isn’t the woman on your mind.”
    Gavin hesitated, then decided if he wanted answers, he would have to make inquiries.
     And Brock was discreet in everything. Before they’d wed, Brock had been sharing Maddie’s
     bed for some years without a single whisper of it surfacing. The man could keep a
     secret.
    “I take it you’ve heard of the scandalous Miss Melbourne,” Gavin said finally.
    “Who hasn’t?” He punctuated his rhetorical question with an ironic smile.
    “To my dismay, you are right,” Gavin drawled.
    “Have you met her?” Brock’s gaze questioned him.
    “Have you?”
    “Yes, but some months ago. Before the scandal.”
    Slowly, Gavin nodded. “What was your opinion?”
    “We were not introduced…but she was hard to miss. You know I love your cousin more
     than any sane man should love his wife, but I confess, Miss Melbourne was stunning.”
    Gavin agreed completely, much to his regret.
    “Did you meet her here in London recently?” Brock asked.
    He wished it were that simple. “She’s staying at Norfield Park. I only quit her company
     five days past.”
    “Have you taken her as a mistress?” Astonishment blanketed Brock’s face.
    “No. My cousin James thinks to marry