***
"Absolutely not!"

"Don't be stodgy, Dunford," Belle said. "I need your help."

"You don't need help, you need a harness. And I'm not being stodgy, I'm being a sensible. A word of which you appear to have forgotten the mean-ing.

Belle stubbornly crossed her arms and sank back into her chair. Dunford was up and pacing, his arms flying as he spoke. She'd never seen him so out of sorts.

"This is a damn fool thing you're thinking of, Belle. If you don't break your neck-and that's a pretty big If, considering that all of your tree-climbing experience can be located in a letter from your cousin-you'll probably be arrested for trespassing."

"I won't be arrested."

"Oh, really? And how do you know that you'll just happen to tumble into the correct room? With your luck you'll end up in the earl's bedroom. And I've been watching him watching you. I think he'd appreciate his good fortune."

"He would not. He knows I'm interested in his brother. And I'm not going to 'tumble into his bedroom' as you so delicately put it. I know which room is John's."

"I'm not even going to ask how you know that."

It was on the tip of Belle's tongue to defend her reputation, but she kept silent instead. If Dunford thought that she'd already been in John's bedroom he might be less reluctant to help her get there again.

"Look, Belle, my answer is still no. Absolutely not! With three exclamation points," he added.

"If you were my friend…" Belle muttered.

"Exactly. I am your friend for not letting you do this. An amazingly good friend. There is nothing you could say that will make me help you."

Belle rose. "Well, thank you, then, Dunford. I had hoped for your assistance, but I see that I'm just going to have to go about this alone."

Dunford groaned. "Except that. Belle, you really wouldn't go over there by yourself."

"I don't have any choice. My need to see him is most urgent, and he won't receive me. I suppose I'll hire a hack to take me the short distance from here to there so I won't have to walk alone so late at night, but-"

"All right, all right," Dunford conceded with an exasperated expression. "I'll help you, but I want you to know that I completely disapprove."

"Don't worry, you've made that quite clear."

Dunford sank into a chair and his eyes closed in mental agony. "God help us," he groaned. "God help us all."

Belle smiled. "Oh, I think He will."

Chapter 15

"Where on earth did you come up with a ww crazy idea like this, anyway?"

"No matter." Belle glanced over at her reluctant partner in crime. Dunford was not at all pleased to be standing next to her in front of John's brother's house at three in the morning, and he certainly had no qualms about showing his ire.

He scowled as he gave her a leg up into the tree. "I'm not leaving until I see you depart from this house. Preferably through the front door."

Belle didn't look down at him as she grabbed the first branch. "I wish you would. There's no telling how long I might be inside."

"That's what I'm worried about."

"Dunford, even if he detested me, John would insist upon seeing me home. That's just the sort of man he is. You needn't worry about my welfare when I'm with him."

"Perhaps, but what about your reputation?"

"Well, that's my problem, isn't it?" Belle hoisted herself up onto the next branch. "This is much easier than it looks. Have you ever climbed a tree, Dunford?"

"Of course I have," he replied in an irritated voice. She was now even with the second-story windows. Not for the first time, he cursed himself for letting her talk him into this insane scheme. But then again, if he didn't help her, she'd probably have come alone, which was even more insane. He'd never seen Belle like this before. For her sake, he hoped this Blackwood fellow felt the same way about her.

"I'm almost there, Dunford," she called out softly, testing the sturdiness of the branch which would have to bear her weight as she moved horizontally toward the window. "Will you promise me that you'll leave once I'm inside?"

"I'll promise no such thing."

"Please," she pleaded. "You'll freeze out here."

"I'll leave only if Blackwood comes to the window and gives me his word as a gentleman that he'll see you safely home." Dunford sighed to himself. He'd not be able to protect Belle's virtue-if there was anything left to protect, which he sincerely hoped there was-but at least he could make sure she got home safely.

"All right," she agreed, and started inching her way along the thick branch toward the window. After about three seconds on her hands and knees, a better idea offered itself to her, and she straddled the branch, thankful for the breeches she had swiped out of her brother's closet. Using her arms for support, she slowly pushed her way along. When she reached the window, the branch sagged perilously, and Belle quickly climbed onto the wide ledge. Below her she could hear Dunford's footsteps as he scurried toward the building, obviously certain that he was going to have to catch her as she plunged toward the ground.

"I'm fine," she called out softly. She started to push the window up.

John was awakened by the sound of the window scraping against its frame. Years of soldiering had left him a very light sleeper, and the recent attack against his life had honed his senses even further. With one fluid motion he grabbed his pistol from his nightstand, rolled onto the floor, and crouched next to the bed, his leg screaming against the sudden movement. When he realized that the intruder was having a bit of trouble getting the window open, he took advantage of the delay and grabbed his dressing gown. His back to the wall, he made his way around the perimeter of the room until he was standing right next to the window. He would not be surprised this time.