She’d given up on men totally. There was only so much hurt and disillusionment that a girl could stand.

Bev shifted uncomfortably. ‘You have to. It’s tomorrow night! They’ve printed the programmes and you’re in it.’

‘Oh, for crying out loud!’ Libby glared at her colleague, who looked sheepish.

‘It’ll be fun,’ she said lamely. ‘A tall, handsome stranger will pay money for you. It’s just a blind date really.’

‘I don’t do dates,’ Libby said flatly, ‘blind or otherwise.’

The way she felt at the moment, she had no intention of ever dating a man again.

‘Well, you could do the choosing,’ Bev suggested helpfully. ‘It’s not as if you’re short of money. You could use some of that enormous trust fund that Daddy set up for you to purchase a really hot date.’

Libby shot her a look that spoke volumes. ‘Do I look stupid?’

‘Libby.’ Bev spoke with exaggerated patience. ‘You’re twenty-nine years old and you’re loaded. You shouldn’t be single. At the very least, some man should be trying to marry you for your money.’

‘Great. So now I’m up for sale to the highest bidder.’ Libby looked at her friend in exasperation. ‘What’s wrong with being single? Women are allowed to be on their own these days. Being single is perfectly acceptable.’

‘For some people, maybe,’ Bev conceded, ‘but not you. You adore children. Children adore you. You’re cuddly and loving and fun. You were designed to be married and a mother.’

‘The good thing about being a paediatric nurse,’ Libby observed, ‘is that you can enjoy the benefits of children without the drawbacks of a man.’

Bev sighed. ‘Look, I know you haven’t exactly had good experiences with men, but—’

‘Good experiences?’ Libby gave a laugh that was totally lacking in humour and then lowered her voice as the baby shifted restlessly in her arms. ‘Bev, do I need to spell out just how utterly ridiculous I feel after what happened with Philip?’

Bev bit her lip. ‘No. But you shouldn’t feel ridiculous. You didn’t do anything wrong.’

‘I dated a married man,’ Libby said shortly, and Bev frowned.

‘But you didn’t know he was married.’

‘Not until I found him in bed with his wife,’ Libby agreed. ‘That sort of gave the game away really.’

Bev closed her eyes. ‘I know you’re hurt, but it wasn’t your fault—’

‘Of course it was. I was too trusting. He didn’t mention a wife so I assumed he didn’t have one. Silly me.’ Libby struggled with a lump in her throat, cross with herself for becoming upset again. She’d promised herself that she wasn’t going to waste another tear on Philip and here she was with a wobbly lip again. Pathetic! ‘I am obviously totally incapable of spotting a rat so it’s safer if I just stay single. So you can forget your auction. There’s no way I’m ever voluntarily going on a date again.’

Bev cleared her throat delicately. ‘You’ve got to have a social life, Libby. What about the summer ball next month? You need a partner.’