“Of course I will; you know I’m always guided by you. What’s that saying of yours? ‘Anything you can do I can do better.’”

“Caroline will be pleased,” Robert murmured.

There were a few moments of silence before Adrian spoke again. He sat staring at his best friend, the closest person to him since their days at prep school.

Robert Marmaduke Allenwood Lassiter, Fifth Earl of Harding. Thirty-nine years old now. Handsome with an inbred charm and an easygoing, almost casual demeanor. Yet these traits hid a brilliant mind and a fierce intellect. Adrian knew how trustworthy he was, that he had genuine ethics, honor and great integrity.

A busy man, something of a workaholic, Robert divided his time between his family mansion and land in Ireland, Bolton Manor in Yorkshire, his favorite estate, which he loved to use for shooting parties, plus his London house. He kept socializing in town to a minimum. And although women tended to chase him, he was not a womanizer or a philanderer. In fact, he was rather aloof in certain ways, and somewhat traditional.

But Adrian knew Robert was vulnerable, although he never allowed this to surface. He had once told Adrian his motto: “Never display weakness, never show face.”

“You’re awfully quiet, Adrian,” Robert said, looking at his friend curiously, aware of his eyes on him. “What’s rolling around in that busy mind of yours?”

Adrian sat up straighter in his chair, and answered, “Are you sure you really want to go to the Strattons’ ‘do’ tonight? It’s not like you.”

“Yes, I promised.” Robert’s eyes narrowed. “Why are you asking that?”

“It’s that sister of Caroline’s.…” His voice trailed off.

“Sister? Which sister?” Robert demanded.

“She only has two. One lives in Paris, one here. Her name is Vanessa. You know her, Robert, course you do. I think she likes you. She can’t take her eyes off you when we go there.”

“Don’t be daft!” Robert exclaimed. “She’s a child, as I recall, about fourteen or so. And she hardly knows of my existence. Now you are being imaginative.” He sounded outraged.

Adrian leaned forward, staring at Robert across the desk. He said carefully, “Maybe you haven’t noticed her interest in you, but by God, I have! And she’s not fourteen; she’s about twenty-two or -three. Gorgeous looking with all that russet-colored hair and amber eyes. Tall and willowy.”

“I haven’t really noticed her!” Robert snapped.

Adrian knew that this was true. Robert was often oblivious to the women who were attracted to him.

After a moment, Adrian said, “I believe you, Robert. Honestly, I do.” He hesitated before adding, “But she’s smart, clever, intelligent and determined. And she’s interested in you.”

“I’m a married man, so you can rest easy. I do not stray,” Robert reminded him.

“About this marriage of yours. Let’s discuss that now. A heart-to-heart is long overdue.”