up front and awaiting turnover?" He wanted a solid lock on th

othing. Consider the winn

irl that Cheevers couldn‟t get rid of anothe

review the

stien was a game to his sire, and he‟d known it since h

the club. Sebastien rose and followed him from the room, but not before he sm

oth of them, forced together

but also a title and the inherent power associated. He brushed the sleeve of his coat. A past tau

y and stepped t

w you define the sa

uthoritative finger on his desk. "I‟m doing what every p

all combined to create a sort of world-weary and high kingdom that she could never breach. Caroline walked to the edge of the

ike you

heir families were distantly related-and more recently favor bound.

t blond bun, and asked more calmly, "What if the

happen. The winner is lik

ledger in front of him. "Three o

r voice strangled.

er the winner, the prize will be immense enough that he will become a prize himsel

orthy match if you

ith the first fortune hunter who gave her notice. I daresay your disastrous marriage would look like a picnic,

orcing her wince away.

t. How I could have raised

not sp

ously her mot

"Stop this tournament. The

wed in irritation. "I will not. And even if I wanted to, it is far too late no

ave the King

ned. "You overstep yourself, Mrs. Martin. I tho

e me from this way of thinking. You can still have the tournament. But if you nullify S

mine. You don‟t think the men participating wo

ned him with the most ferocious stare she could muster. "Her first season out of mourning, if I need to

Their eyes slip right past her." Caroline heard a gasp and saw a brown head duck away from the door

come in

sed door, brown head tilted down; if she weren‟t a lady

were lurking about behi

, Fa

t match of the decade. Celebrated, with a husband powerful enough

rah‟s face was almost eno

h nary a word of defiance, won‟t you? Be the

worked. "Yes, Fath

e is here to help. Now go

tly and stalked back to his desk. "Being biddable is a

p to keep from unwisely responding wi

." He sifted through the papers on his desk, mind already made. "As

own hair spurred her on. "Give her another opportunity to make a brilliant match on h

society? Someone who ran off with a stable hand because she was in love? Mrs. Martin." He snorted.

e deeply than they already had. There was nothing she could do about

ting Lady Sarah-a silent chaperone. I do not

severe hairstyles and unflattering dresses? More likely that every widow hunter and rake will flock to you instead, looking for e

aying the widow-and-rake game, but the image of Sarah..."Let Sarah have a choice in whom she

" He rais

round her neck and looke

pa, at

, Mrs. Martin. I fulfilled any debt when I cover

d you are not to interfere, do you understand?" He observed her silence f

n making this tournament a succ