“They will be talking even more when your brother announces our betrothal.” He held her a little tighter, his hips now brushing hers. “Meanwhile, let’s give them something more…exciting to talk about.”

“You are a very naughty man. I can see that I’ll have my hands full trying to keep you from embarrassing me more than I’ve embarrassed myself.”

“Which is yet another reason you love me.” He sighed. “Gad, when I think of it, there are hundreds of reasons for you to love me! See why we should wed with all due haste?”

“You certainly think well of yourself.”

He grinned. “I can’t help it. The most beautiful woman in the room is dancing with me. I feel very superior when you’re on my arm.”

“Oh, if that’s what causes it, then by all means, continue on.” She began to say something more, when a sudden excitement began to rise in the crowd.

Voices raised in exclamation and everyone began pointing to the clock.

“Ah,” Devon said. “The iced cakes. Come, my sweet. Let’s see what jeweled favors we may find.” He took her arm and led her forward, trying to find a way through the throng.

As they went, Kat looked up and saw Malcolm standing by the table. She lifted her arm to wave—and the clock began to chime.

There was an ebullient cry and a mad surge toward the table. Kat was knocked forward, her arm outstretched. Suddenly she and Devon were watching in twin dismay as the St. John talisman ring went flying, a silver circlet that flipped end over end, above the heads of the guests, only to drop squarely onto the table of cakes.

All around them pandemonium reigned. But for Devon and Kat, there was nothing but silence.

Kat looked up at Devon. “I-I don’t know how that happened. It fit so well; I really didn’t think it was loose.”

“I didn’t, either. In fact, I thought it fit perfectly.” He lifted up and tried to see the table and the general vicinity where the ring had landed.

He was just about to say something when he caught a glimpse of the ring sitting squarely on a small iced cake, one of the few left. As Devon looked, a slender feminine hand reached from the milling crowd and took the cake, ring and all.

And then it was gone.

Devon watched as the hundreds of guests thronged, laughing and talking, some holding their prizes above their heads, others discreetly tucking them away in reticules and pockets.

The talisman ring, so recently recovered, was gone.

Kat wrung her hands. “I cannot believe I lost it like that! What will your brother say? Isn’t he supposed to receive it next?”

“Oh, I’m sure Marcus will be heartbroken.” A faint smile touched Devon’s mouth.

“Shouldn’t we at least try to look for it?”