Rosalind snorted. "If all the young people present are like Lorelei, you won't escape for a week." He gave her a very satisfied smile. His father laughed. His mother patted his hand.

Ryder wasn't laughing the next afternoon when his brother Douglas Sherbrooke, the Earl of Northcliffe, said privately to him, "I am familiar with the Vail family, particularly this Nicholas's grandfather, Galardi Vail. I hate saying this be-cause it sounds so absurd, but I was told he wasn't of this world."

"Wasn't of this world? What world, then? What the devil does that mean, Douglas?"

Douglas shrugged. "Fact is, the rumors were that Galardi Vail was some sort of magician, a wizard of sorts. As for his wife, I believe she died in childbirth."

"I wonder," Ryder said, "was he really a magician or a wizard, or did he simply believe he was?"

"I don't know. Rumors were rife about strange incantations chanted in a strange language, blue smoke rising above the forest, strange red lights glowing from behind draperies at the house, nonsense like that, and Galardi raised young Nicholas when his own father had removed him from his house at the time of his second marriage. He was around five years old, I believe. Nicholas was still a boy when his grandfather died. Well, I should say supposedly died. There was no physician in attendance and there were whispers there was no body." Douglas shrugged. "It sounds like one of Grayson's novels, but this is what I have heard. I remember it because it is so very out of the ordinary." "From whom did you hear this?"

"My main source is Tysen's curate, Mr. Biggly, some two years ago when he first arrived at Glenclose-on-Rowan. Alex and I were visiting Tysen and Mary Rose and he spoke of his prior living at Gorton-Wimberley, a small village in Sussex, near where this strange old man lived. Mr. Biggly could weave an excellent tale, and that is what I thought it until I chanced to hear a friend of Nicholas Vail's father say much the same thing. He too claimed the old man was a wizard. What about young Nicholas? After Galardi's death, he said that young Nicholas simply disappeared. Now Nicholas Vail has resurfaced and assumed his title. May I ask what this is all about? How did you meet Nicholas Vail?"

"Did you also know that young Nicholas's father cut him off, leaving him only what was entailed?"

Douglas shook his head. "Is the young man a wastrel?"

"I don't think so, Douglas." Ryder sighed. "Before Sophie and Alex join us, let me tell you that Rosalind is in love with him. She met him Thursday night at the Pinchon ball. Four days. I hate to believe it, but you should see the way she looks at him. Our girl's in love, Douglas, tip over arse. And you know Rosalind. She never does anything by half measure. That's why I asked you what you knew about him."

Douglas Sherbrooke could but stare at his brother. "I'll admit I'm old, Ryder-but four days?"

"I know, it has fair to knocked me flat as well. Rosalind sees what she wants and she goes after it. The thing is, she also has excellent instincts. Remember that man who came to Brandon House to sell us wonderful bolts of material from France at a marvelous price?"

Douglas laughed. "Oh, yes. And Rosalind nailed him but good."

Ryder said, "She got all the children to unroll halts of his expensive, supposedly fine brocade and, sure enough, there were moth holes throughout."

"He probably thought what with all the children, he would make a very pretty penny indeed and be well gone before he was discovered. So Rosalind approves this Nicholas Vail. But what about Nicholas Vail? Which way does the wind blow with him?"

"It blows in her direction."

"Have you told him why you are Rosalind 's guardian? Has he inquired?"

Ryder shook his head. "I will let her tell him, when and if it comes to that. I don't think it's even occurred to her that there might be a serpent in the garden. Nicholas Vail is a peer of the realm. Blood and background are important."

"Perhaps she wants to wait until she is certain of him. Rosalind is very well grounded."

"In some ways, yes, but the other, Douglas-"

"Yes. What is Nicholas Vail all about? What do you want me to do, Ryder?"

"First I want you to meet the young man, take his measure. Then speak to your contacts in the foreign office. You've told me many times that what they don't know, they can easily find out-see what they know of him, of his family, of his half brothers, two of whom I met last night at Drury Lane. There's deep hatred there, Douglas.

"You also have several acquaintances with a reach into the underbelly of London. Ask them if they've heard anything about him. Nicholas Vail claims he lived in Macau for the past five years. I did find out from our solicitor that he is in shipping and that he's quite successful, and did not need any money from his father, even though the rumors would have you believe he is without a sou and looking for an heiress. As for the nine years before he settled in Macau, he was not specific. I've got to make sure Rosalind will be safe with him."

Douglas nodded. "Then he is twenty-six, near Grayson's age."

"But he is older than Grayson in experience, hard experience, the kind that brings you too close to death. I also believe he would be utterly ruthless, probably had to be to survive. He would be a dangerous man to cross."

"On his own since the age of twelve-that would either toughen a boy or he wouldn't survive."

Ryder nodded. "So he left after his grandfather's death, yet you tell me Tysen's curate spoke of there being no body to bury. Damnation, Douglas." Ryder slammed his fist into his palm, winced. "And there is this ancient book Grayson found in a bookstall in Hyde Park, written by a man whose idiot name is Sarimund. It's titled the Rules of the Pale and it's in code. Unbreakable code, I think you'll agree.

"And let me tell you what scares me to my toes: Rosalind can read it, quickly, no problem at all. Blessed hell, how the devil can one explain that? I most certainly can't. There's something going on here and the children know more about it all than I do. I hate that."

"Calm yourself, Ryder, we'll find out all we need to know, and quickly. I should like to see this book as well. Code, you say? Unbreakable? Except our Rosalind is able to decipher it?"

Ryder nodded. "This isn't good, Douglas. You know it isn't."

I've got to tell him, got to, got to, blessed hell, I've got no choice. Rosalind hated it, but it had to be done. Where was Nicholas? Why must he be late this afternoon of all afternoons? She couldn't lose her resolve. That would be completely dishonorable. But what if he looked at her like an unwanted snail in the garden, stomped her, and walked away?

No, surely he won't stomp me, but maybe he'll give me one of those dangerous cold looks and walk away. It doesn't matter. I've got to tell him, no choice.

Willicombe opened the door and said in his brilliant voice, "Lord Mountjoy, Miss Rosalind."

Nicholas cocked a dark eyebrow at the back of Willi-combe's shiny bald head and smiled over at her. Rosalind jumped to her feet. She saw Willicombe wasn't happy about leaving them alone. She wished he knew, wished everyone knew that she and Nicholas were engaged. That would remove the bilious look from his face. Well, maybe not.

Willicombe eyed first one, then the other. He cleared his throat. "Miss Rosalind, shall I inquire if Mrs. Sherbrooke is available to, er, come and converse with the two of you? Per-haps guide your conversational gambits to a proper elevated plane?"

"Oh, no, Willicombe. We will be unchaperoned for a mere matter of two minutes, no more. His lordship is a gentleman of stern moral resolve. He was born on an elevated plane. I don't know if I was born elevated, but I was certainly raised that way. Don't worry yourself."