It was botha week of quiet and a week of busyness and confusion. Cassandra and her aunt did not have many engagements. The Hedleys’ ball had been cancelled at the last minute as Lady Hedley had fallen ill. Cassandra could not say that she was sorry for it—sorry for Lady Hedley’s illness of course, but not sorry to have missed her ball. The lady was known to be great friends with Lady Montague and that particular person had instilled a dread in her.
They had made various calls, but their timing was invariably off and they did not find many of their acquaintances at home.
On the other hand, the preparations for the ball at Marksworth House were in full swing. Racine led them all with a cool head, even when facing certain disaster.
The musicians who had been hired months ago had underhandedly accepted another job for more money. They would not say by who, nor would they be swayed by an increase in payment. Replacement musicians had to be speedily procured.
The ballroom floor had needed polishing, but one of the footmen had poured so much linseed oil on it that it was temporarily as slippery as a frozen pond.
The merchant who supplied their ices suddenly died and his son knew nothing about the order.
While Cassandra felt an uncomfortable flutter and Lady Marksworth noticeably paled at each alarming development, Racine only shook his head gravely and said, “I will see to it, my lady.” Somehow, that remarkable butlerdidsee to it, and each new disaster was speedily dispatched.
Sybil came to see Cassandra three days before the ball. The fear of any more flying rocks having left them, they cozied up on their window seat overlooking the garden. Sybil said, “I was certain I would see you at the Hedleys’, did you have some other engagement?”
“The Hedleys’?” Cassandra asked. “We did not go because Lady Hedley was taken ill.”
“She did not appear so,” Sybil said. “How would you have heard such a thing?”
Cassandra felt as if her insides had taken flight and fought to break free of her. “We heard it from the lady’s secretary,” she said quietly. “A note was delivered.”
Cassandra and Sybil stared at one another. Sybil said quietly, “As it was not Lady Hedley herself, perhaps the secretary made a mistake?”
“That would be very odd, would it not? A secretary is not likely to mistake her lady as ill and notify only one guest of it,” Cassandra said. “No, if I had to guess, we were disinvited by way of excuse on account of the rumors and that stupid print.”
“But who could believe any of it?” Sybil cried.
“Lady Hedley is much in the company of Lady Montague, and I suspect I am not held in high regard in that lady’s eyes. She maintains strict opinions of the comportment of young ladies. I presume being talked about will not be one of her approved attributes.”
“I do not like Lady Montague,” Sybil said. “Not at all.”
“I suspect neither Lady Montague nor Lady Hedley will make an appearance at my ball. I cannot say I am sorry for it.”
Sybil’s face grew an alarming shade of pink and she balled up her tiny fists. “If I were a man, I’d challenge them all! I’d throw down the gauntlet and meet them at dawn!”
While Cassandra was much disturbed at discovering that she and her aunt had been purposefully excluded from the Hedleys’ ball, she could only be admiring of her brave friend. “There now, Lady Margaret Beaufort, I should not like to think of you shot at sunrise on some lonely expanse of green.”
Sybil’s fists unclenched. “Goodness, I am a goose. No matter, whether that note you received was or was not a mistake, you did not miss anything extraordinary.”
Sybil paused, seeming to think of something. “Oh! I had meant to tell you before I began thinking of duels I will never fight, that both Lord Lockwood and Lord Hampton were at the Hedleys’. Lord Hampton asked about you very specifically.”
“Asked about me? Why? Why should he ask about me?”
In truth, Cassandra was not certain what she thought about that. She was flattered, she supposed, that he might inquire about her. On the other hand, why should a lord be asking about a lady who did not attend? Did it not point to some singular notice?
“He asked how you got on,” Sybil said. “Naturally, I said you were quite well. Then, he hinted that he had seen the print that had gone round. I said, it was such a lot of nonsense that whoever had so wronged Miss Knightsbridge ought to be drawn and quartered.”
“You did not say such a thing,” Cassandra said.
“I did,” Sybil said, nodding vigorously. “I suppose I shan’t be surprised if some print is made out ofthat.”
“What did Lord Hampton say to your rather bold pronouncement?” Cassandra asked.
“He appeared thoroughly shocked and only nodded in agreement,” Sybil said.
“Heavens, perhaps I am glad that I did not attend,” Cassandra said.
“And here is another thing,” Sybil said. “Lord Lockwood would insist on taking me into dinner again. I fear his attention was too marked and, if that was not uncomfortable enough, my father viewed it in a very dim light.”
