Page 125 of How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days

‘He has not let go of her all night,’ Ashford said. ‘You would be lucky if she gets halfway to the stable before he is calling for her.’

‘You forget – this is a masquerade,’ Lydia said. ‘She and I are to swap dominoes so he will not notice her absence. To his mind, she will never have left.’

Ashford was silent for a moment, dumbfounded, she assumed, by her brilliance.

‘This is your plan?’ he asked.

‘Yes.’

‘It is … good,’ he said, begrudgingly.

‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘Now I have only to wait for the correct moment – as you say, he has not left her side.’

Ashford lifted a champagne flute from a passing tray.

‘If I have learnt anything from our battles this week, Miss Hanworth,’ he said, ‘it is that one should never wait for the right moment.’

He offered her his arm and bore her off towards Lady Phoebe.

‘Cousin!’ he declared loudly, bowing before her.

Lady Phoebe turned in surprise.

‘Ashford!’ she exclaimed. ‘Good evening – I hope you are enjoying yourself?’

‘Of course,’ he said. ‘I was blue-devilled this afternoon, but I have realized I was wrong to feel so.’

Lady Phoebe paused. ‘I am – so glad,’ she said.

‘Such a magnificent event,’ Ashford said. ‘But that is no surprise: you have such good instincts and always know … exactly the right thing to do. About parties,’ he added, after a beat.

Lady Phoebe’s eyes, through the slits of her mask, were wide and shining. ‘Thank you – it means a great deal to me.’

He took her hand in his, laying a kiss upon it.

‘I am at your service, tonight and always,’ he said. ‘If ever you should need me – I hope you know that.’

‘Such gallantry!’ Sir Waldo boomed. ‘Ought I to be jealous, Ashford!’

He let out a great heehaw of laughter, and somehow, without it being quite clear how it had come about, the edge of Lady Phoebe’s lace under-dress got caught under Ashford’s foot. There was the sound of rending fabric.

‘My dress!’

‘Clumsy, Ashford!’ Sir Waldo said, scowling.

‘Oh no!’ Ashford said. ‘Miss Hanworth, you had best take Lady Phoebe to pin it up.’

‘I will indeed!’ Lydia said at once, putting her own arm about Lady Phoebe’s waist and leading her away. As soon as they were out of the ballroom, they hurried off in search of the nearest empty parlour. As they passed down the corridor, they ran into Lady Hesse.

‘Ah, Lady Phoebe,’ Lady Hesse said. ‘Have you seen my son? I have been looking for him.’

‘No!’ Lady Phoebe said, without the tiniest shred of politeness. ‘Quick, here!’

She pulled open a door and she and Lydia took a step inside – only to see the room already occupied by a couple locked in a close embrace.

‘I say!’ Lady Phoebe said in surprise. Then, again: ‘I say.’

‘Lady Morton?’ Lydia said, as the couple sprang apart – for who else could have such red hair?’