She had just been winked at by a valet. A valet! It was the outside of enough. And this would be just the start. She had half a mind to-

'This all there is, then?' Six foot of liveried footman was standing at her elbow. 'Where's yours?' She pointed to a pair of even more battered valises. His lip curled. 'Right, then. Jim, you take those up to miss's room in the North Turret and we'll take the others. For some reason,' he added over his shoulder as they climbed,

'your mistress has got the Pink Suite. Very nice, too. Seems a bit odd, though-one of the best suites in the place and she's no one much, is she? Still, I expect they've got their reasons.'

Yes, they have indeed, Daisy thought grimly as she followed. And it will take more than some pink suite to ensnare poor Penny in their plans if I've got anything to do with it. Impertinent upper servants and chilblains must be endured. This was all her own idea, but she knew who to blame for it. Oh, yes indeed. The Earl of Danescroft was going to regret the day he decided that Miss Maylin would make a conformable and grateful wife.

CHAPTER TWO

'Rowan, this is going to be ghastly!' Penelope cast herself down on the chaise and fumbled blindly in her reticule for a handkerchief. Her cheeks were unbecomingly flushed from the heat of the great fire and her eyes were suspiciously moist. 'Lord Danescroft is here, and he is even more forbidding close to than I ever dreamt.'

'You must call me, Daisy,' Rowan reminded her, casting an eye at the door. It was securely closed. 'Or Lawrence if you are going to pretend to be starchy. When did the Earl arrive?'

'Just before you went upstairs. I saw you waiting at the other end of the hall, and then they took your things up after his.' Penny blew her nose and looked around at the rose-pink draperies and the gilded furniture. 'What a beautiful room. Do you think they made a mistake, putting me here?'