"Why don''t you both spend the night at my ce? There''s plenty of room."


    Ste and Abby exchanged a nce.


    They both knew that leaving him alone in a hotel wasn''t going to work-he''d probably refuse to stay there. But Ste wasn''t about to bring aplete stranger back to her own apartment, either.


    Neville''s offer solved the problem perfectly.


    Ste nodded politely. "Thank you, Mr. Connolly. That''s very generous of you."


    Abby stayed by Ste''s side as they followed Neville back to his old manor for the night.


    Once the man was settled into a guest room, Ste made her way to the living room. She found Neville just as he was hanging up the phone.


    "Mr. Connolly, any news?" she asked.


    Neville''s brows furrowed, a flicker of concern crossing his face. "My assistant says this man-Joshua-isn''t on the guest list for the g. No one knows who he is. I asked around, but nobody at the party recognized him."


    Ste frowned. "Did you check with Mr. Burton?"


    "I did," Neville replied. "He said he''d never seen the man before and certainly didn''t invite him. At this point, we have no clue about Joshua''s identity."


    A shadow passed over Ste''s face.


    Neville continued, "I''ve already sent someone to investigate him abroad, but without any concrete leads, it could take a while."


    Ste let out a quiet sigh. "I shouldn''t have been so distracted at the party. Maybe then I''d have noticed him sooner."


    Neville handed her a ss of water. "What did the doctor say? Is there a chance his memory wille back with treatment?"


    Ste shook her head. "The doctor mentioned that taking him to familiar ces might help trigger his memory. But we have no idea where he might feel at home."


    Neville paused, then offered, "Why not ask Mr. Burton? With his expertise, he might know what to do."


    Ste''s eyes lit up with hope. "You''re right. I''ll take Joshua to see Mr. Burton tomorrow."


    As she mentioned Mr. Burton, something came to mind. She hesitated, then asked, "Mr. Connolly, did you already know who Mr. Burton really is?"


    When Neville learned the truth about Mr. Burton, he hadn''t seemed surprised-or even asked her about it.


    Neville looked at her, a hint of a smile ying on his lips. "Star, you don''t me me for not telling you, do you?"


    Ste shook her head, smiling softly. "Of course not."


    If their positions were reversed, she might have kept it to herself too. Sometimes, knowing too much in advance only makes things moreplicated. By not telling her Neville had actually been looking out for her.


    If she''d known Mr. Burton''s true identity from the start, she would have felt self- conscious around him; things would never have been as easy between them.


    Neville''s smile deepened, his eyes reflecting a glint of admiration.


    Dealing with clever women was always such a pleasure—and he''d always had a soft spot for women like her.


    He went on, "You stole the spotlight at the g, and with Mr. Burton


    backing you up, the O''Brien


    nevel


    probably won''t daree after you-at least, not openly. But


    knowing Deanna, she''ll be scheming for her own benefit, as always. And then there''s Rachel... Mr. Burton told Haynes she wasn''t sick, but Haynes didn''t believe him. Now, with Mr. Burton''s status out in the open,


    Haynes might start to doubt


    Rachel''s condition."


    Ste said, "Honestly, I hope Haynes doesn''t find out until after Rachel has already married into the O''Brien family."


    Neville chuckled. "Funny, but I don''t get the impression Haynes has any intention of marrying Rachel."


    Ste picked up her ss and took a slow sip of water. "If he didn''t, he wouldn''t have handed our wedding over to her in the first ce."


    Neville''s eyes narrowed, suddenly remembering something. "By the way, I saw Haynes talking to Aurora at the g not long ago."