Drake surrendered to exhaustion. Heaviness in his limbs kept him from moving a muscle. He stared at shadows on the ceiling made by flickering candlelight as he rested in his bed, half-dressed in breeches.

He thought about his ride home with Rosaline and Kyle as they returned from the ball. Most of the trip had been in silence. Drake knew that Kyle hadn't told him the truth about Sierra's sudden departure.

Drake had glimpsed the pain in her eyes after his engagement to ...