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and loves her cousin every bit as much as Miss Morgan loves her. They are an unusual pair.”
    “Miss Morgan then is not quite so helpless,” Madame noted.
    “Not that one!” Mademoiselle Francine said. “She is charming and obviously educated, perhaps too educated for a young lady of breeding and fashion. She does nottolerate fools, and speaks her mind. She is fully aware of the power and the status of her father's wealth, and the fact she is his heiress, confers upon her. If she wants something, she wants it! I wonder if the gentlemen will like her despite her great beauty and fortune.”
    “She will have a titled husband before the season's end,” Madame said cynically. “Her family will seek out the best title they can find, and Miss Morgan will wed it, mark my words, Francine. They will not settle for a mere baronet, or petty lordling. It will be a gentleman of some consequence, and her father's wealth will obtain him.”
    “But what of l'amour?” Mademoiselle Francine asked, plaintively.
    Madame laughed. “These English make their marriages like shopkeepers making the best bargains. There is little sentiment involved, I fear. It is all about status and wealth.”
    “Pauvres petites,” Mademoiselle said.
    “Do not weep for these girls, Francine,” Madame replied. “They will get exactly what they seek, and deserve. And strangely, most will be very happy. They are odd people, these English. Home and hearth are what matter most to them. They have no sense of adventure.”
    “But everyone should have love,” Mademoiselle persisted.
    Madame laughed again. “You are a romantic, Francine,” she said. “Now give me the measurements you took, and we will begin designing.”

O n their arrival in London Allegra found a number of invitations awaiting Sirena and herself. The envelopes were piled upon a silver tray in the order in which they had been received.
    “Gracious!” she exclaimed. “What am I to do with all of these?”
    Charles Trent took the ornate salver from the butler, Mr. Marker. “I shall go through these myself, Miss Allegra, and arrange for them to be answered properly. Ahh, I see the Bellingham crest. She usually gives the first ball of the season. That will be an acceptance. Some will be invitations from those seeking to improve their social standing by inviting you. Then there will be those from very important people, and some events that are certainly not suitable for young ladies in their first season.”
    “Such as?” Allegra demanded.
    Charles Trent smiled. “Certain card parties where the wagering is fast and deep, Miss Allegra. Why the Duchess of Devonshire has been known to lose hundreds of thousands in a single night. You don't want to get caught up in anything like that, but of course, there will be those only too eager to lure you into their gaming hells. Your father would not approve.”
    “This season we are to join sounds more and more dangerous to me,” Allegra said. “I wish Papa had let me remain home. If I must marry I could have wed with Rupert Tanner. He has asked me, you know, but Papa will not hear of it.”
    “A second son? I should hope not!” Lady Abbott declared.
    “His father was in favor of it,” Allegra said.
    “I don't doubt it. Having a second son wed with the greatest heiress in all of England would have been quite a coup,” her aunt replied. “The old Earl of Ackerly is a sly dog, and always was. Besides, his countess is not someone your father would have you related to, even by marriage. She is his second wife, and her background is quite shadowy.”
    “Besides, you don't love Rupert,” Sirena said. “You've always said he was like a brother to you.”
    “Yes, but I am comfortable with him, and he does whatever I tell him,” Allegra admitted frankly.
    Mr. Trent swallowed a guffaw at this remark.
    “Upstairs with you both!” Lady Abbott ordered. Then she turned to the butler. “Marker, send a footman to Madame Paul's to say we have