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      This book is dedicated with deep appreciation to my talented writing friends and critique partners, Debby Dill and Nancy Toback, who have been with me from the beginning on this book.

      Thanks for your unfailing graciousness and encouragement. You two are the best!

      Contents

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Chapter Fifteen

      Chapter Sixteen

      Chapter Seventeen

      Chapter Eighteen

      Chapter Nineteen

      Chapter Twenty

      Chapter Twenty-One

      Discussion Questions

      Chapter One

      New York, 1822

      She couldn’t stand it! Not for another minute! She had to go someplace where there were people, laughter, life. Laina Brighton swept her gaze around her beautiful, richly furnished drawing room, and the despair she now lived with on a daily basis gripped her anew. It was so elegant, so perfect, so empty. She missed Stanford. Oh, how she missed him! If only they could have had children, perhaps—

      Laina wrenched her mind from her heartrending thoughts, blinked away the tears that sprang so readily to her eyes these days and walked swiftly to the doorway. Her reflection flashed in the gilt-framed mirror as she hurried past. Her steps faltered. She turned and went back to stare into the mirror. The sorrow was still there, but so was a look of determination she hadn’t seen on her face since Stanford had died so unexpectedly nine months ago. She whirled and yanked open the door.

      “Beaumont?”

      The impeccably garbed butler materialized as if from thin air.

      Laina frowned. And that was another thing—the servants hovered. They were so solicitous it was smothering her!

      “Yes, madam?”

      “I’m going to Philadelphia, Beaumont.” She ignored the quickly stifled look of shocked disapproval in his eyes—Beaumont was a stickler for convention. “Tell Carlson to prepare the carriage immediately. I wish to leave within the hour.”

      “Within the hour? But madam, that’s imposs—” He stopped short as Laina stiffened her spine. He gave her a small bow. “Yes, madam—within the hour. Will there be anything else?”

      “Yes. Send Tilly to my room to help Annette with the packing.” With a swish of her long black skirts, Laina spun about and headed for the ornately carved stairway that spiraled upward to the third floor. She glanced back over her shoulder at her butler as she began to climb. “And tell Hannah to prepare a food basket—enough for two days. And—” She cleared the sudden thickness from her throat. “And send Billy ahead to arrange for a change of horses. I’m not stopping until I reach Randolph Court!”

      Philadelphia

      “Laina! What a wonderful surprise. I’m so pleased you—” Elizabeth gasped and stopped her headlong rush into the drawing room.

      “Do I look that disreputable?” Laina forced a smile and rose to her feet. The room spun. She put her hand on the arm of the chair to steady herself.

      “Laina, dear, what’s wrong?” Her sister-in-law rushed forward and clasped her arms around her. “You’re so pale—and trembling enough to shake apart. Are you ill?”

      “No. I’m simply incredibly weary.” Laina bit down on her lip to stop the laughter that was pushing upward in her throat. She must be hysterical. There was certainly nothing amusing— Bother! She blinked the sudden film of moisture from her eyes and stepped back from Elizabeth’s arms. It was too easy to give in to self-pity when others were sympathetic. “I came from home without stopping.”

      “Without stopping? Are you mad?”

      Laina jerked at the roar of words from the doorway. “No, dearheart—only desperate.” Her lower lip quivered as she watched her younger brother hurry across the room toward her. The tears she’d been fighting welled into her eyes as his strong arms pulled her into a bone-crushing hug. Oh, how wonderful it felt to be held again! She rested her head against his hard chest. “Don’t scold, Justin. I simply could not stay in that dreary, lonely house any longer. I had to come.”

      “I’m not scolding you for coming, Laina. Only for doing so in such a foolhardy manner.” Justin slid his hands to the top of her arms and held her a short distance away, frowning down at her. “Why didn’t you send word? I would have come for you. There was no need for you to make the journey alone, without care or rest. Look at you! You’re all but done in from fatigue.”

      “I know.” Laina lifted her watery gaze to her brother’s handsome, scowling face. “I know it was foolish of me, Justin, but it would have meant days of waiting if— Oh!” She began to sway as the full force of her exhaustion swept over her. “I think I’d better sit down.”

      “You don’t need to sit down, Laina. You need to sleep. Bring her along, Justin.” Elizabeth spun about and started across the room.

      Laina was too weary to protest as her brother scooped her into his arms and followed.

      “I don’t believe we need send for Dr. Allen, Justin. Laina isn’t fevered.” Elizabeth glanced up at her worried husband. “I think sleep is the only medicine she needs.”

      Laina sagged with relief as Elizabeth lifted her hand from her forehead, then gathered the last of her strength and pushed herself into a sitting position against the headboard. The bed felt too good after her long journey. She fought the desire to close her eyes, and smiled at Justin. “Elizabeth is right, dearheart. Please don’t make a fuss. All I need is sleep.”

      “And food.” Justin scowled down at her. “Haven’t you been eating? Look at yourself,