Philippa’s chest lightened. Thirty-six hours of freedom awaited!
“I’ll see to it.” Chloe herded Mrs. York out of the ballroom. “If you’ll follow me, please.”
From the corridor, Mother twisted to send meaningful looks over her shoulder at Philippa.
Philippa stared back blankly.
Mother’s mouth moved in exaggeration.Hook him.
Chloe dragged her out of sight.
“Well?” Captain Northrup prompted. “Wasn’t I to be served tea?”
“It’s over there on the sideboard,” Tommy barked as Great-Aunt Wynchester. “Mayhap the captain needs an opera glass as well as an ear trumpet.”
“Whatever tea is on the sideboard iscold,” Northrup said with obvious disdain.
“And you’re an uninvited guest,” Damaris shot back. “Not everyone adulates you, Uncle. If you wish to be fawned over, I’m sure you’ve a tall stack of calling cards to return.”
Northrup’s smile was icy. “You’re right. I have too many cards to possibly respond to them all. So I’ve planned a small gathering of one hundred close friends next week. Your mother has agreed to play hostess at my town house and assures meyouwill be part of the receiving line.”
Damaris sputtered incoherently.
“And you, Miss York.” Northrup struck what he likely believed to be an impressive pose. “I shall saveyouthe first dance.”
Tommy dry-heaved dramatically.
Everyone turned to look at her.
She stopped mid-heave and patted the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief. “I saw the cat do it and thought I’d give it a try.”
Philippa wished she could pretend to cough up a fur ball every time Northrup glanced her direction.
Her voice shook with fury. “I cannot believe you would flaunt your treachery in front of poor Damaris.”
Northrup arched his brows. “What treachery? I’m a hero.”
“Damariscreated that cipher. She shared it with this very reading circle long before she shared it withyou.”
Northrup smirked. “Is that how you remember it? Ladies’ inferior brains are notoriously unreliable.”
Philippa straightened. “We’ll swear to it.”
“To whom, pet? No one’s asking you.” Northrup looked bored. “I told the brigadier general the idea had come to me whilst explaining my illustrious family history to my niece. That must be how she learned of it.”
“I learned of it,” Damaris said through obviously clenched teeth, “because it was my idea, which I voluntarily taught to you and suggested might be helpful in the war.”
“There, you see?” Northrup smirked at her. “No hard feelings all around. My niece voluntarily relinquished all rights to it—”
“That’s not what I—”
“—and I claimed them,” Northrup finished. “Mycipher.Myreward.”
Chloe swept back into the ballroom, took one look at the furious expressions, and held her arm out toward Northrup. “Oh, Captain, surely you’ll do a duchess the honor of allowing her to escort you to the door. Dare I hope I’m to have the second set at your soirée?”
“Share the second dance with a duchess?” Northrup placed Chloe’s hand around the crook of his arm. “I believe I can make room on my list.”
“How can he have thought that offer was sincere?” Florentia burst out the moment Northrup was out of sight. “She was sweeping him out of the house like the rubbish he is.”
