“I care about you, all right.” His voice was husky as his desires flamed.

Geoffrey’s earlier anger and jealousy had slowly dissolved upon her confession of never having bedded Kincade. Now, caught up in the web of her skillful charms, he was once again totally enamored with her. She had struck any doubts he’d had about her from his mind, and he knew now that she would be his, and his alone. Pulling her into his arms, he pressed fervent kisses upon her waiting lips.

“You’re mine, Eve, only mine,” he growled between kisses.

“Yes, Geoffrey…” She managed to make her words sound like a sigh, but in reality she was celebrating her victory.

While she was giving him the outward appearance of being his, and his alone, Eve had already decided that she could not give up her dream of becoming Lady Kincade. She was firmly convinced that Noah was her destiny, and she knew what she had to do to fulfill that future. She would play Geoffrey along and encourage his complete trust and devotion until she could maneuver him into revealing to her the damning evidence he had against Noah. Once she was in possession of that information, she would go to Noah with it and thus win not only his unending appreciation, but also his love.

Until then, though, she knew she would have to be very careful as to how she handled the situation, for she could not risk Geoffrey catching on to her plan. The time to begin convincing him of her desire for him was now, and she arched herself against him in total sensual abandon, aggressively seeking to make him once again her willing sensual slave.

Noah’s expression was wooden as he sat tensely in the hired carriage across from Matthew that following Sunday. He knew he would have to be his most cordial during the upcoming evening, but he was finding it difficult to control the anger he was still feeling over the complications in his life and the way things were turning out.

When Matt had come to him several days before with the invitation to join Faith and her mother for dinner, his first instinctive response had been to refuse. It had only been the realization that if he cut Faith and Ruth Hammond, he would be losing Matthew for all time that had forced him to accept.

Noah did not want to socialize with these colonials. He did not want to become personally involved with any of them. He only wanted to complete the arms sale and return to England, but fate seemed to be intervening at every turn, wreaking havoc on all his plans. Matt had fallen in love with Faith and proposed to her against his expressed wishes. That had been distressing enough, but it also turned out that her father, though now dead, had at one time been a member of the dissidents. Through Faith, Matt had now made contact with the rebels and was in the process of becoming more and more active in supporting their cause. Matt had truly become his own man, and Noah was helpless to deal with it in the logical ways he thought best, for he loved his brother too much to forbid him his heart’s desire.

When Matt had told him of Faith’s acceptance of his proposal that night, Noah had pointedly asked him how he planned to make a living to support his wife. He had expected Matt to relent on his claim that he didn’t want any of the money Noah controlled and pleaded with him to release his share. But Matt had remained steadfast to his principles, and it had been Noah who had backed down, telling his brother in the end that he would not withhold his fifty percent of the profits from their shipping ventures.

The moment had been perfect for a complete reconciliation between them, but Noah had refused to give any more ground or to show any happiness over Matt’s choice. He had kept his manner aloof and disapproving, never allowing Matt the chance to get close.

“Noah?” Matt’s voice cut through his thoughts as he stared out the window at the passing city.

“Yes?”

“There’s going to be another meeting at Faneuil Hall tomorrow night. Would you like to-” Matt got no further in his effort to interest Noah in the current colonial trouble.

“No.” His tone was flat and adamant. “You know I have no desire to become embroiled in any of this.”

“I had hoped that you might be seeing things differently now…”

“No, dear brother, I haven’t changed. From the very beginning I’ve wanted no part of the trouble here, and I still feel that way. My regret is that I haven’t been able to convince you of the insanity of the course you’ve set for yourself, but I will not try to stop you,” Noah told him, and Matt fell silent for the remainder of the trip to the Hammond house.

The coach drew to a stop outside the small home, and Matt descended first, leaving Noah to follow. Faith had been eagerly anticipating their arrival, and the moment he knocked, the door flew open and she was in his arms.

“I’m so glad you finally arrived!” she told him excitedly as she gave him a quick welcoming kiss on the lips before drawing away to greet Noah. “And you must be Noah…” Faith turned to him, and though she was very nervous at meeting him for the first time, she didn’t show it. “I’m Faith. Welcome to my home.”

Noah was caught totally off guard then when she stood on tiptoes to press a gentle kiss on his cheek. He found himself engulfed in the fragrant sweetness of her perfume and the warmth of her welcome. As he had watched her kiss Matt, Noah had felt a bit out of place witnessing their brief intimacy, but now he suddenly had found himself included in that special openheartedness. It was an awkward moment for him even as he found a part of himself responding to her.

“Thank you,” he returned a bit gruffly, not quite sure how to take this enthusiastic young woman. Faith was even more lovely than he remembered with her shining, ebony tresses and sparkling blue eyes. He found himself understanding much more clearly how his brother had happened to fall completely under her spell. She was enchanting.

“Please, come inside and meet my mother and Ben Hardwick. Ben’s a longtime family friend,” she confided as she took his arm and drew him into the house, giving Matt a quick, special smile over her shoulder as she did so. Matt followed along, closing the door behind them.

Matt was worried about how this first meeting between Noah and his future bride would go, and he was puzzled by Noah’s lack of animation, wondering if his brother was deliberately going to remain aloof to express his disapproval of the situation. Concerned that Noah in his disparagement might hurt Faith in some way, his nerves stretched taut. He would not allow anyone to harm the woman he loved, not even his brother.

“Matthew…you’re here…” Ruth came out of the parlor with Ben trailing behind her to find Faith surrounded by the two Kincade men. “And you must be Lord Kincade…” She addressed Noah, her gaze widening as she considered what a strikingly handsome man he was, so tall and regal.

“Noah, may I present Ruth Hammond and Ben Hardwick. Ruth and Ben, this is my brother, Noah.” Matt made the introductions quickly.

“Lord Kincade, I’m honored,” Ruth and Ben said, and Ruth flushed a little in excitement as Noah bent politely over her hand.

“My pleasure,” he replied, and while he smiled at them cordially, it was not a smile that reached his eyes. His gaze was guarded, as were his emotions. He did not want to find anything here that he liked. He did not want to think that Matthew would be able to find happiness without him. Logically, he knew his reactions were less than fair, but he didn’t care.

“Come in and let’s have a glass of wine before dinner,” Ruth said, ushering everyone into the sitting room. The money for the wine had been gleaned from the hard-earned savings she’d kept hidden away for just such a special occasion.

When they had settled into the small parlor and the wine had been served, Ben proposed a toast. “To Faith and Matthew; may they find the complete and lasting happiness they deserve.”