Could she marry him, though, after what he had done to her family? He was directly responsible for their losing their home. But it hadn’t been personal, had been just another business transaction for him, and of course, he was in a position to make complete amends for it, had already made some by bringing them into his own house.

She could marry him; indeed, that thought thrilled her, too. And it was what he must have in mind. She was of good family, after all. He wouldn’t consider making love to her without offering marriage. He had probably just been too overcome with impatience to mention it yet.

She could understand that. She was skirting around his “pleasure unimagined” remark, didn’t dare think of that, or she would have been overcome with impatience herself, nearly was already. She was even counting the minutes until she would retire tonight.

She almost didn’t go down to dinner. Vincent had said he wouldn’t be there, but if he was, she didn’t think she’d get much eating done. But she went, and it was a solitary meal, or at least it was until an unknown gentleman walked in, clearly expecting to find the baron at his meal. His surprise was evident, to find her there in the dining room instead.

“Oh ho, are you for me?” was the first thing he said to her.

He seemed absolutely delighted by that prospect, whatever he meant by it. She wasn’t quite sure.

“Excuse me?”

“A sop to keep me happy until Vincent finds what I commissioned him to?”

That didn’t clear up the confusion. “I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He blushed now, apparently realizing he’d made a mistake. “Beg pardon, miss, truly. Lord Hale here. ’Fraid I wasn’t expecting to find a lady in this bachelor residence, and one alone—or are you not alone? Here with your father? Never say with a husband?”

She was on firmer ground now. “I’m awaiting my father here.”

“Is Vincent a business associate of your father’s, then?” he asked.

“No, he recently became our landlord—and evicted us from our house.”

She shouldn’t have added that. It was certainly none of his business why she was there or how she’d got there, and now she was the one blushing for letting her bitterness over that show.

It also surprised him enough to say, “The devil he did. Kicked you out? So you’d end up here?”

“Well, no, that had nothing to do with it. He’s offered us temporary lodging so that he can be assured of speaking with our father when he returns. Some misunderstanding that needs to be straightened out.”

“Then your father isn’t actually—here? You’re here alone?”

“No, my brother is with me, and several of our servants,” she replied.