Charlotte smiled. The little girl’s face darkened and she let out an earsplitting yell. Charlotte instinctively took a step backward, just as Alex swung about. He easily pulled the baby up onto his shoulder, patting her. “Shhhhhh,” he said softly. “This is not a nanny; this is Lady Charlotte. Shhhhhh.”

Charlotte cleared her throat. She was uncertain about what to say. She had never been introduced to the man; in fact, she only just learned his name from her butler. Nothing taught to her in Lady Chatterton’s School for Young Gentlewomen had prepared her for this situation.

Then Alex looked up from soothing his daughter and smiled. His dark eyes crinkled at the corners. Charlotte felt a warm glow that began in her belly and spread through her body.

He stepped forward and, holding his daughter firmly against his shoulder, ceremoniously thrust out his right leg and made a deep bow. Pippa gurgled with delight at suddenly being brought forward and back upright.

“May I present Lady Pippa McDonough Foakes, daughter of Alexander McDonough Foakes, the Earl of Sheffield and Downes?” he said solemnly.

A bubble of laughter moved up Charlotte’s chest. “Lady Pippa,” she said obediently, and curtsied.

Pippa giggled.

“Pippa,” said her father, “pay attention. I would like to introduce you to Lady Charlotte Daicheston, the daughter of the Duke of Calverstill.”

Pippa giggled again. She had an infectious giggle; Charlotte laughed back.

“I shall put you down now, Pippa. You can see that Lady Charlotte is not a possible nanny, so I don’t want to hear any more yelps.” Pippa seemed to understand. When Alex put her on the floor she simply crawled over to the sofa and began tangling the striped tassels that adorned its seat cushions.

Alex stepped forward again and stood just in front of Charlotte. She turned faintly pink. Her heart was beating so fast she was afraid that it was visible through her thin dress.

“Do you know,” he said conversationally, “you are the first female I have ever met whom I always want to kiss?”

Charlotte’s eyes flew up to meet his. She was not going to be the silent peahen that she was the last time they met!

She smiled wryly. “Dare I say that the feeling is not mutual?”

“No?” Alex said. Suddenly he bent his head and brushed his lips, feather-soft, across hers. Unthinkingly she parted her lips under that gentle persuasion. She felt his warm breath on her mouth, and for an instant the kiss deepened, and his mouth turned from pleading to commanding, from persuasion to demand. Charlotte’s entire body relaxed; had he not instantly steadied her with large hands on her bare arms, she might even have toppled.

And that was enough to return her to sanity. Furious at herself, she drew back.