TWICE A HERO By Susan Krinard

“Because he wants to protect her from you?”

“It was he who introduced Caroline to me shortly after she returned from her European finishing school six months ago. But when I began to care for her, his attitude toward me changed. During this last expedition…”

“Are you a fortune hunter, Mr. Sinclair?”

He laughed at the bluntness of her question. “I am not. But I’m unlikely to convince Liam otherwise.”

“But you’re certain he doesn’t love her.”

“I have never been so sure of anything in my life.”

“And you do.”

“Yes. I know how terrible marriage is without love. I can’t let that happen to Caroline, Miss MacKenzie.”

“And how does Caroline feel? Does she love Liam?”

Perry deliberately unfolded his hands. “She has known him since childhood, years before her father died. Her habit of obedience to him is strong. She is too young, too naive to understand how Liam could destroy her chances of happiness.”

“But she feels something for you.”

“I believe she does. And she needs time to make the right decision. Time Liam doesn’t intend to give her.”

Miss MacKenzie stood and paced to the door and back again, gnawing her lower lip. “You came here hinting that we might assist one another, Mr. Sinclair. I know what you want, and maybe I can help you.”

Perry rose to meet her. “The question is what you want, Miss MacKenzie, and what you’ll do to get it.”

“I want Liam.”

“Why?”

“I… think I understand at least one thing about him,” she said slowly. “I’m not the kind of woman who needs to be sheltered and protected, and Liam isn’t the kind of man who can live that way.”

“I see that you do know him, Miss MacKenzie. You must also be aware that he is very rich.”

The girl did have pride. She glowered at him. “Are you accusing me of being a fortune hunter? Maybe you should give me the same benefit of the doubt I’m giving you.”

“Ah. Then you love him.”

The uneasy flicker of her eyes prepared him for prevarication, but in the end she surprised him yet again. “I also need time, Mr. Sinclair.”

“And time is the crux of the matter, is it not?”

She gave him an odd look and shook her head, as if to clear it. “Liam said something about two weeks.”

“Caroline’s birthday. I believe Liam has deliberately been waiting to ask her to marry him until that day—the day when her fortune becomes her own.”

“Isn’t that a bit risky with another suitor in the wings?”

“It would seem so, wouldn’t it? Why would he put it off, Miss MacKenzie? The possible answer to that question gives me hope that we have a fighting chance.”

“Why didn’t you simply ask Caroline to marry you before all this happened?”

“I have my reasons, but they are somewhat moot under the circumstances. Liam is interested in you, of that I have no doubt. How interested will be the measure of our success or failure.”

They looked at each other in perfect understanding, and Perry wondered how it was that he felt he’d known Miss MacKenzie before—as if he’d always suspected her existence somewhere in the world.

The existence of a woman who would be Liam’s match.

“Then all we need is a plan,” Miss MacKenzie said. “Frankly, that’s what I don’t have. This isn’t my… city.”

“But it is mine,” Perry said. “We must see to it that Liam doesn’t dismiss you. You must remain in his sight, his consciousness. He must be compelled to admit he wants you, and not Caroline.”

“That’s a pretty big job,” she said in a small voice.

“Losing your confidence already?” he chided.

“Come. You are clearly a woman of courage. If you fail in your conviction—”

Her chin jerked up. “I won’t fail. I have more commitment to this than you can possibly understand.”

More of Miss Mackenzie’s mysteries, it seemed. But Perry was content to let those mysteries stand—for now.

“Very well,” he said. “The matter seems simple enough. In order to be near Liam, you must be introduced to the social circle of which Caroline is a part.” He looked Miss MacKenzie over, frowning thoughtfully. “If I’m not mistaken, you have not spent a great deal of time in society, have you?”

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