Dangerous

Prudence knew very little about style. It was a matter of extremely limited interest to her. But she realized that there was an innate masculine elegance about Sebastian that had little to do with his attire. It was a part of him, just as it was a part of the cat he held.

The only jewelry Sebastian wore was a gold ring on one of his long-fingered hands. It gleamed with a dull sheen as he slowly stroked the cat. Prudence stared at the ring. Earlier, when she had danced with him, she had noted that there was an elaborate letter F engraved on it. She had assumed it stood for Fleetwood, the earl's family name.

For a moment she could not seem to tear her gaze away from

Sebastian's hand as he petted the cat. When she finally managed to meet his eyes again, she saw that he was smiling slightly.

She was startled at the frisson of sensual awareness that rushed through her. She told herself she was simply not accustomed to seeing a man in dishabille. Unfortunately, she'd had the same reaction earlier this evening when Sebastian had been properly attired for the ball.

The man had an enthralling effect on her, Prudence acknowledged. She wondered fleetingly if he was real. Even as she stood there staring at him, Sebastian began to dissolve like a specter into a gray fog.

For a few seconds she was so startled to see him turn into an apparition before her very eyes that she could not think clearly. Then she realized what the problem was.

"I beg your pardon, my lord." Prudence hastily removed her spectacles and wiped off the cloudy mist that had begun to obscure her vision. "It is so very cold outside, you know. When I stepped into this warm room it caused a vapor to form on the lenses. It is one of the annoying problems one faces when one wears spectacles."

Sebastian elevated a black brow. "My sympathies, Miss Mer-ryweather."

"Yes, well, thank you. Not much that can be done about it. One gets used to it." Prudence replaced her spectacles on her nose. She frowned at Sebastian. "I expect you're wondering why I'm here at this rather late hour."

"The question did cross my mind." His gaze skimmed over her old cloak, which had parted slightly to reveal the prim, unfashionable fawn-colored ball gown underneath. Amusement danced briefly in his eyes before it was replaced by a speculative look. "You came alone?"

"Yes, of course." She looked at him in surprise.

"Some people would say that was rather unwise."

"I had to see you alone. I am here on a very private matter."

"I see. Pray be seated."

"Thank you." Prudence smiled a little uncertainly as she perched on the other large chair that faced the fire. She reminded herself that she had liked Angelstone on sight earlier this evening, even though her friend Hester, Lady Pembroke, had been horrified when he'd forced the introduction.

Surely he was not as bad as everyone insisted he was, Prudence told herself as she watched Sebastian settle back into his chair. Her instincts about people were generally very reliable. There had only been that one unfortunate occasion three years ago when she had found herself sadly mistaken about a man.

"This is a trifle awkward, my lord."

"Yes." Sebastian stretched his booted feet out toward the fire and went back to slowly stroking the cat. "It is also a trifle dangerous."

"Nonsense. I have a pistol in my reticule and the coachman who brought me here has agreed to wait for me. I assure you, I shall be quite safe."

"A pistol?" He eyed her with some amusement. "You are a most unusual woman, Miss Merryweather. Did you think you would need the pistol to protect yourself from me?"

"Good heavens, no, my lord." Prudence was genuinely shocked. "You're a gentleman, sir."

"Am I?"

"Of course you are. Pray do not tease me, my lord. I brought the pistol along as protection against footpads. I understand they are very prevalent here in Town."

"Yes. They are."

The cat crouched on Sebastian's lap and gazed at Prudence with an unwinking gaze. It struck her that the beast's eyes were almost the exact same shade of gold as those of its master. She was momentarily distracted by that observation.

"Does your cat have a name, sir?" she asked suddenly.

"Yes."

"What is it?"

The faint smile briefly edged Sebastian's mouth again. "Lucifer."

"Oh." Prudence cleared her throat discreetly. "Yes, well, as I was saying, I am not at all unusual, merely a very ordinary woman who is, unfortunately, new to the ways of Town life."

"I disagree, Miss Merryweather. You are the most unusual woman I have ever met."

"I find that extremely difficult to believe," she said tartly. "Now, then, I seem to have been the cause of some trouble between you and my brother this evening and I wish to put a stop to it at once."

"Trouble?" Sebastian's amber gaze narrowed in speculation. "I am not aware of any trouble between myself and Trevor Merryweather."

"Do not try to fob me off by pretending ignorance of the situation, my lord." Prudence clasped her gloved hands tightly in her lap. "Word has reached me that you and Trevor are to engage in a duel at dawn. I will not have it."

"How do you intend to stop it?" Sebastian watched her with lazy interest.

"As to that, I have researched the subject of duels during the past few hours and have come up with a solution."

"Have you, indeed?"

"Yes. An apology will end this piece of idiocy. As soon as I realized what had to be done, I immediately tracked down Trevor at the Atkinses' soiree and spoke to him first. Unfortunately, he proved to be ridiculously stubborn about the whole thing, even though I could tell he was terrified of what is going to happen at dawn. He is very young, you know."

"Not too young to offer a challenge, apparently."

Prudence shook her head. "He kept saying he had to go through with it because my honor as well as his own is at stake. My honor. Can you imagine?"

"That is generally the case in such affairs. Duels would be unbearably dull for all concerned if there wasn't the issue of a woman's honor involved."

"What rubbish. Allow me to tell you, my lord, that if you actually believe that, you have no more common sense than my brother."

"An unnerving thought."

Prudence ignored the sarcasm. "It's utter nonsense to think that I have been insulted simply because you spoke to me and asked me to dance with you. I was not insulted in the least. I told Trevor as much."

"Thank you."

"The thing is," Prudence said earnestly, "Trevor has felt very protective of me since the death of our parents. He feels that as the man in the family he has certain obligations. He means well, but sometimes he gets carried away with the notion of looking after me. It is ridiculous for him to call you out over such an inconsequential event."

"I'm not entirely certain it was an inconsequential event." Sebastian's elegant fingers moved thoughtfully on the cat. "You and I did have a rather extended conversation at the ball."

"About matters of mutual intellectual interest, nothing more," Prudence said quickly.

"And we did dance the waltz."

"So did a great many other people. Lady Pembroke tells me it is all the rage. Everyone is dancing the waltz these days. Really, Trevor's challenge is beyond belief."

"Not in the eyes of some people."

Prudence bit her lip. "Well, since he has issued the challenge and since I cannot talk him into apologizing to you so that the duel may be properly called off, there is only one solution."

Sebastian's golden eyes met hers. "I am extremely curious to hear your solution, Miss Merryweather."

"It is really quite simple." Prudence gave him a hopeful smile. "You must apologize to him."

Sebastian's hand went very still on the cat. His ebony lashes veiled his gaze. "I beg your pardon?"