Behind her, Gideon started to laugh. It was a roaring laugh that echoed off the stone walls.

Harriet spun around, startled. "What is so funny, my lord?"

"You, of course. And perhaps myself." Gideon grinned down at her, his eyes blazing with a fierce tenderness. "Harriet, I love you."

At that statement Harriet actually forgot about the beast in the cavern wall. She rushed back into Gideon's arms and she stayed there for a very long while.

The Earl of Hardcastle and his countess arrived for a visit at the beginning of fall on the same day as the latest issue of the Transactions of the Fossils and Antiquities Society.

The gardens around Blackthorne Hall were still in the midst of an explosion of early fall blooms. The hall sat tranquilly in the sun, the windows open to the sea breezes. There was a pleasant hum of activity in the big house and on the surrounding lands. A ball was scheduled for the following evening in honor of the Hardcastles' visit. Everyone for several miles around had been invited.

Gideon was at breakfast when the post arrived. He was helping himself to eggs at the sideboard and reflecting pleasantly on the fact that Blackthorne Hall felt like home again these days when Owl walked into the breakfast room.

Harriet spotted the journal on the salver in Owl's hand. "The Transactions have arrived." She leaped from her seat and dashed across the room to grab the journal before Owl could reach her chair.

Gideon frowned in disapproval. "There is no need to run, my dear. I have told you before that you must exercise caution these days."

Harriet's advanced state of pregnancy had not slowed her down very much. She still moved with enough energy and enthusiasm to exhaust a man. Of course, when she moved like that in bed, the result was an exceedingly pleasant exhaustion, Gideon reminded himself.

Nevertheless, he did not want her overexerting herself at this stage. She was far too precious to him.

He was having to keep a much closer eye on her than usual lately. Harriet had no notion of how a woman in her condition was supposed to go on. Just yesterday morning he had caught her attempting to go down to the caves by herself. It was not the first time.

She had made the usual excuse that everyone on the staff was busy. Gideon had been forced to lecture her severely. He envisioned a lifetime of such lectures.

"It is here," Harriet exclaimed as she whisked herself back to her seat and opened the journal to the table of contents. " 'A Description of the Great Beast of Upper Biddleton' by Harriet, Lady St. Justin." She looked up, excitement brimming in her eyes. "It is in print at last, Gideon. From now on everyone will know that the cave beast belongs to me."

He smiled. "Congratulations, my dear. Somehow I think everyone already knew that."

"I'm inclined to agree." Hardcastle exchanged a knowing look with his wife.

Lady Hardcastle smiled at Harriet. "I am proud to be able to say I am acquainted with the discoverer of such a magnificent set of fossils, my dear."

Harriet glowed. "Thank you. I cannot wait until Felicity and Effie come for tea this afternoon." She flipped to the pages that contained her article. "I do not think they believed it would actually be printed."

"I venture to say it will be the chief topic of conversation among fossil collectors for some time," the earl said. "There will be many arguments about the existence of such a giant reptile. You will no doubt be swamped with people wanting to see your beast."

"Let them argue," Harriet said happily. She looked at Gideon. "I know my beast is something very rare and precious, indeed."

Gideon gazed back at her down the length of the table. He thought he would drown in the love he saw in her eyes. He wondered again how he had lived all those long, dark years buried in his own private cave.

The truth, Gideon knew, was that he had merely existed during that bleak time before meeting Harriet. There had been no joy in life and no anticipation of the future until she had freed him. She had brought him out into the sunlight just as she had the bones of the ancient beast in the cliff caves.

"Your beast would be nothing without you, my love," Gideon said softly. "He would still be locked in stone."

Two months later Harriet was safely delivered of a healthy son. It was soon obvious that the babe would have his father's tawny eyes, as well as Gideon's size and strength. The infant also showed signs of a temper and a stubborn will that appeared exceedingly familiar to all.

When Gideon put the squalling infant into Harriet's arms, she smiled ruefully.

"I fear that between us we have created the true Beast of Blackthorne Hall, my lord," Harriet said ruefully. "Just listen to him roar."

Gideon laughed, happier than he had ever thought possible. "You will tame him, my love. You have a way with beasts."