A Secret Love (Cynster 5)

"And their families."

Alathea pondered that.

"We think we should concentrate on Gabriel first."

"Simply because he's the elder." Amelia glanced at Alathea. "Do you think that's the right tack?"

Alathea considered the picture of Gabriel trying to maintain his repressive watch over the twins while simultaneously fending off ladies the twins themselves introduced. He wouldn't have time to cause her any problems. "I think… that your aunt Celia could give you some names."

Amanda brightened. "That's a thought."

"There would be no need," Alathea mused, elaborating on the picture in her mind, "to be overly subtle. The ladies won't care as long as they gain some time by his side, and he'll know what you're up to from the first, so there's no need to be careful on that count."

Amelia stopped dead. "He'll be trapped." She swung to face Alathea and Amanda, her eyes alight. "He won't be able to escape-

"Except"-Amanda concluded with great relish-"by leaving us alone."

Hookhams Lending Library in Bond Street was Alathea's port of call the next morning. Unfortunately, their section on Africa was almost nonexistent. Nevertheless, she borrowed all four books; old and rather tattered, they held out little promise. Juggling them under her arm, she stepped down to the pavement. The biggest book slipped-her shoe skidded off the last step-

"Careful!"

Hard hands gripped her arms and righted her. Jerking her head up, Alathea stared-into Lucifer's face. She swallowed her sigh of relief, and struggled to calm her thudding heart. For one moment, with the sun behind him, she'd thought him his brother. "Ah…"

"Here-give me those."

He didn't, of course, give her any choice. "Oh-yes!" Alathea drew in a quick breath. "Have you been riding this morning?"

He looked at her. "In the park? No. Why?"

She shrugged. "I just wondered… I'd love to go for a ride, but it's so impossible here-only being allowed to amble in the park."

"If you want to ride"-he tucked her books under one arm and fell in beside her-"you'll need to organize an excursion to the country."

Alathea grimaced. "I may as well wait until we return home." Her only hope was to keep him talking, to hold his attention so he didn't glance at the books. Africa was an unusual topic, certainly an odd one for her to be studying in depth. Given that Lucifer shared Gabriel's house, and she knew how they tossed tidbits and observations back and forth… she drew in a breath. "But the Seas

on's still got weeks and weeks to go."

"Indeed, and those weeks are crammed with more balls than ever." Lucifer frowned at the pavement. "And now here's Gabriel threatening to eschew all but compulsory family events."

"Oh? Why?"

"The damned twins have gone on the offensive."

"Offensive? What do you mean?"

"Last night, they swarmed up to Gabriel on three separate occasions with a different lady each time, and cornered him."

Alathea wished she'd seen it. "Couldn't he get away?"

"Not easy with one of the twins hanging on his arm and refusing to let go."

"Oh, dear."

"Oh, dear, indeed. You know what will happen, don't you?"

She looked at him questioningly.

"He'll wash his hands of the hussies."