"I only play such games when I am excessively bored," Sebastian said. "Believe it or not, most of the time I have more interesting things to do than to go about baiting Fleetwoods."

Prudence shook her head. "Sebastian, you should be ashamed of yourself."

"No lectures, madam." He turned around and touched her lips with a warning finger. "I am in no mood to listen to any of your sermons on responsibility and mature behavior."

"What if I am inclined to give you such a sermon?"

"Then I shall simply have to find a way to silence you." He drew her hand to his mouth and kissed the inside of her wrist. His eyes did not leave hers. "I'm certain I'll think of some suitable method."

"Sebastian, I am trying to have a serious discussion here." Pru­dence could already feel the liquid warmth coiling inside her. She snatched her hand out of his grasp. "Do you intend to spend the rest of your life tormenting the Fleetwoods whenever you have nothing better to do?"

"As I said, I generally have better things to do. Fleetwoods are, by and large, a dull lot."

"How fortunate for them."

"Furthermore, now that I am a married man I have a duty to establish my nursery and set about the business of getting myself an heir. I expect I shall be well occupied in the foreseeable future."

"You are incorrigible, my lord."

"I work at the task." His expression hardened again. "There is something you must understand, Prue."

"What is that?"

"It is true enough that the Fleetwoods are safe from me. But only to a point."

"A point?"

Sebastian smiled his coldest smile. "If one of them steps too far over the line, the promise I made to my mother will not protect them."

"What do you consider stepping too far over the line?" Prudence asked cautiously.

"If my aunt or any of the others goes after you in any way, I want to know about it I will crush whoever is responsible."

"Sebastian."

"I vowed to my mother that I would not punish the Fleetwoods for turning their backs on her and my father. But nothing was said about what I could do to them if they insulted or offended my wife."

"But Sebastian—"

"No, Prue. You bargained with me once on that score after my aunt insulted you during our engagement. I would have taken action against her then, but I allowed you to talk me out of it."

"I do not believe you let me talk you out of it," Prudence said. "You listened to reason and decided to behave in the noble manner one expects of a man of your status and power."

Sebastian's brows rose. "I gave in to your pleas, my sweet, naive little Prue, because we were merely engaged then, not married."

"I beg your pardon?"

"At the time I was in a somewhat precarious position. I did not wish to anger my future bride to such an extent that she might call off the engagement. So I indulged her."

"I do not believe you."

"No doubt because you have convinced yourself that I am still Lucifer before the fall."

"This is intolerable." Prudence glowered at him. "Are you saying that now that you have married me, you are no longer concerned with the prospect of making me angry?"

"I much prefer you when you are in a charming, cooperative mood, my dear. But the fact of the matter is we are legally bound now." Sebastian stroked his finger along the curve of her shoulder. He smiled when she shivered. "And we are bound in other ways as well, are we not? No matter how angry you become, you cannot walk out on me."

"And if I did?"

"I would follow you and bring you home," he promised. "Then I would make love to you until you shuddered in my arms, until you pleaded with me to take you. Until you could no longer even recall why you had been angry with me."

"Sebastian."

"Until you realized that what you and I have together is all that matters."

Prudence looked into his candlelit eyes and caught her breath. "I warned you once not to think you could manipulate me with your lovemaking."

He smiled slowly. "So you did. But I have always liked a chal­lenge."

"Sebastian, do not tease me, I beg you. This is a very serious matter."

"I assure you I am taking it very seriously." He caught her chin on the edge of his hand. "Attend me well, madam. The vow my mother extracted from me will not keep me from punishing the Fleetwoods if they insult you or offend you in any way."

Prudence tapped one bare foot. "I have the impression that you rather hope one of them does manage to step over this invisible line you have drawn."

The devil's own laughter danced in Sebastian's gaze. "You are very perceptive, my sweet. And quite right. I would not mind in the least if one of them, preferably my aunt, crosses that line. But you needn't worry. I give you my solemn oath that it will only happen once."

"Because that is all the excuse you will need for taking retribu­tion?"

"Just one offense," he said softly. "One insult to you and I will see them banished from Society. I will cut their considerable incomes down to tiny allowances."

Prudence was stunned by the implacable intent in his words. Her palms were suddenly damp. "Is that the real reason you chose to marry an unfashionable Original, then, my lord? Because you knew that only someone as odd as myself could manage to draw the insults you wanted from your relatives?"

Sebastian frowned. "Now, Prue—"

"Did you marry me just so that you would finally have cause to exact the vengeance you crave?"

"Don't be a fool." Sebastian's lashes veiled his eyes. "Do you think I would tie myself for life to a woman whose only recommendation was that she was bound to annoy the Fleetwoods?"

"The thought crossed my mind, yes."

Sebastian swore. "If that had been the only thing I required of a wife, I would have married long ago. I assure you that there are any number of females here in London who would have offended the Fleetwoods."

"No doubt."

"Use your admirable intellect, madam. I'll admit I would very much like to punish the Fleetwoods, but not at the price of marriage to a female who would have made me a totally unsuitable wife."

"Of course, my lord." Prudence fought back tears. "I should have considered the matter more closely. Now that I do, I can see that you needed a most unusual combination of characteristics in your count­ess."

"I most certainly did." He smiled.

"You needed a female who was both odd enough to draw the condemnation of your relatives and yet clever enough to amuse you."

Sebastian scowled. "You are being deliberately difficult, Prue. I have told you why I married you."

"Mutual interests and mutual passion." Prudence drew the back of her hand across her eyes. "I understand those reasons for our mar­riage. But I feel I was grossly misled on this other requirement you have mentioned, my lord."

"Prue, stop this nonsense. You are getting it all mixed up."

"Am I?" She took a step back. "You never explained that I was to be a convenient tool you could use to bait the Fleetwoods. I do not like being used in such a fashion."

Sebastian's expression turned dangerous as she moved away from him. "You are twisting my words, Prue."

She blinked away more tears. "You ask too much of a wife, my lord. My list of duties grows longer every time I turn around. I am to amuse you. I am to be an intellectual companion so that you will have someone on hand to admire your brilliance when you are conducting an investigation. I am to warm your bed. And now you expect to use me as an excuse to punish the Fleetwoods for what they did to your parents."

Sebastian took a gliding step toward her. "I have had enough of this nonsense."

"So have I. It is time for me to draw a line of my own and I am going to do so."

"What line would that be?" He took another step toward her.

"You will not use me as an excuse to avenge yourself on your relatives. I do not care what insult is offered. You will not use me. Is that clear?"