A Dangerous Love by Brenda Joyce

wherever she went. Proper gentlemen both desired and feared her, but Emilian had rejected her.
    How could she convince him to change his mind and begin a friendship with her? Her heart raced at the thought. She was beyond distraction, really, and not just because of his kiss. Ariella was uncertain of many things regarding Emilian, but one thing she knew without question: she couldn’t walk away from him, not yet.
    And she couldn’t let him walk out of her life as abruptly as he’d appeared in it, no matter what he intended.
    What was happening to her? Could she have fallen in love at first sight? There were quite a few de Warenne men and women who had instantly fallen in love, or so family myth claimed. The de Warennes were notorious for falling wildly and absolutely in love—once and forever.
    â€œAriella!” Dianna pounded on her door. “Can I come in? Are you awake? Alexi is here. He came with Aunt Lizzie and Margery!”
    Before she could respond, Dianna came inside. “Wake up, sleepy…” She stopped. “You are up! Oh, of course you are. You are usually the first one up in the house.” Her smile faded and she stared closely.
    Ariella knew then that her tension and excitement showed. She forced a smile. All she could think was that Alexi would discover her new secret if she wasn’t careful.
    He was her half brother and her elder by two years. His Russian mother, a countess, had handed him off to their father at birth, as neither she nor her husband cared to have her bastard son remain in their family. They had grown up together with their father on Jamaica Island, and he was far closer to her than any full sibling could be. He was her dearest friend, her brother, her protector. He would take one look at her and demand to know what was wrong.
    Panic arose. If he ever learned of her tryst with Emilian, he would try to kill him. He was that protective of her.
    â€œWhat is wrong? Are you ill?” Dianna asked, coming close and touching her cheek.
    â€œI couldn’t sleep,” Ariella said truthfully. “I doubt I slept at all last night.”
    For one moment, Dianna stared as if she knew the truth. “It was their music, wasn’t it?” she said, low. “I heard it, too. It took me a while to fall asleep. There must have been dancing.”
    Ariella thought there was innuendo in her sister’s words, but surely that was not the case. “I don’t know.”
    Dianna sat down on a blue-and-white-striped ottoman. “They say that is what they do—dance and sing all night long.”
    â€œI don’t think we should accept rumors as fact,” Ariella said. The moment she spoke, she heard how cross she sounded. She stood, hoping Dianna had not noticed her harsh tone.
    â€œMy, you are a grouch today. Are you coming downstairs to see Alexi?”
    Ariella prayed she could pretend that all was as it should be now. “Of course.” But as she followed Dianna down the wide, central staircase, the steps covered with a red and gold Persian runner, she heard her brother’s voice. His tone was hard.
    â€œI cannot believe Father would allow them to stay on our property.”
    Ariella tensed. Alexi was obviously speaking about the Romany. He traveled the world extensively, as he had global shipping interests, and he spoke often about cultures different from their own with interest, not suspicion or prejudice. She was taken aback by his words and tone.
    He whirled, smiling. “There she is!” His white teeth flashed in his handsome, swarthy face. Tall and broad-shouldered, his eyes were the brilliant blue shared by so many de Warenne men. Like his male cousins, he had been a notorious rakehell before his marriage—unlike his male cousins, he remained a notorious rakehell even after marriage. Five years ago, he had wed their childhood friend, Elysse O’Neil, to save her from scandal—and had abandoned her at the