A gentle breeze ruffled Adalyn’s golden hair as she walked, her gaze drifting to the midnight blue sky above her. Her left arm curled tighter about his, raising her right hand to pull up the hood of her cape. The skies of Venice were remarkably clear compared to her hometown of London. Strong fingers curled about her hand on his arm, and she looked up at the young man walking beside her with a light smile. His clear blue eyes sparkled in the dim lighting of the gas lamp they passed.

“We should head back. It is getting late, and your mother will worry,” he said. His voice had the lilt of a Frenchman, but his English was perfect.

She could feel heat rising in her cheeks simply at the sound of his voice. It was strong and deep, like the pulsing she felt inside of her every time he spoke. She was certain they could get through anything just by listening to his voice. “Of course, Leonard. We would not want to cause a scandal that could ruin your family’s good name.”

The corner of his mouth tipped upward, his cheek dimpling. “I am hardly concerned with my family name, Adalyn. A name is simply a name, nothing more. What worries me more is the gossip that may follow us and ruin your honor.”

Leonard was nothing short of a gentleman. Most lord’s sons would see no need to consider a merchant’s daughter as a possible bride and mother of his future children. Daughters of men whose ranks were lower than their own were nothing but play things. But Lord DuPont’s only son, Leonard DuPont, saw everyone as a person. Adalyn knew just how lucky she was to have caught his attentions. Dark hair, eyes the color of forget-me-nots, and a strong profile made Leonard DuPont a desirable partner throughout Europe. Few girls allowed Adalyn to forget how fortunate she was to have gotten to him first. Personally, she felt he had caught her first.