Cassandra looked upfrom Lady Montague’s note. “What does it mean?” Cassandra said.
“It means,” Lord Burke said, “that Lady Montague has set out to ensure that very few people attend this ball. She knows she cannot hold sway over those such as the Blakeleys or my own mother, but shecanhold sway over many. Though my mother had not planned on attending this evening, as she rarely attends balls, she sent for me to say that she would attend if necessary, to stand firm against Lady Montague’s scheme. I counseled that it would be best to take another course. Lady Marksworth, we must invent a ruse to cancel the ball immediately. It will be the only way to avert disaster.”
“Lord Burke,” Lady Marksworth said, “Nothing Lady Montague could get up to would surprise me, but we do not understand the note itself. What three engagements?”
Lord Burke paled. “Good Lord. You have not seen the print that has been everywhere.”
“If you mean the ridiculous illustration of the three gentlemen in the sky, we have seen it. It was thrown through our window, in fact. However, that is a reference to Lords Hampton, Lockwood and Ashworth choosing to escort us from the park after a certain rude gentleman made a coarse remark to my niece. It has nothing at all to do with any engagement.”
Lord Burke appeared thoroughly confused. “Hampton, Lockwood and Ashworth? No, Lady Marksworth. That is not who the gentlemen are meant to be. It is said that Miss Knightsbridge was secretly engaged to three gentlemen in Surrey, and that the three all met on the road to her estate. When they discovered each other, all three broke off with the lady.”
If Cassandra’s knees had felt weak when Lord Burke had first arrived, now they positively could not hold her up. She sank down onto a sofa.
What was this? What three gentlemen? What engagements?
Lady Marksworth held herself straight. She appeared furious. “I see. And do we know who the author of this wretched business might be? I am certain her father would call the scoundrel out at dawn.”
“That I do not know,” Lord Burke said.
“Is there any other story associated with this nonsense?” Lady Marksworth asked.
Lord Burke turned his face away.
“I see that there is,” Lady Marksworth said. “Out with it, if you please, my lord.”
Lord Burke heavily sighed. “As is the nature of gossip, at times there is talk of there being four or five gentlemen, rather than three. And, it is said, that Miss Knightsbridge has a particular facility with a shotgun and her father is terrified of her.”
Now it was Lady Marksworth’s turn to sink to the sofa. “And Lady Montague has seen fit to take full advantage of these malicious stories.”
“My lady,” Lord Burke said. “I know what I have communicated has come at a great shock, but we must act quickly. The later it gets, the more apparent that Lady Montague has succeeded.”
Lady Marksworth straightened her back, as if firming her resolve. “What do you suggest we do?” she asked.
“It is just this—I will run from this room and claim that Miss Knightsbridge has fainted and does not wake. I will tell your butler to send down a lady’s maid. We will send for a doctor, my own man who I can trust. Lady Marksworth, you will make the announcement that the evening is cancelled. It is the only way forward.”
Cassandra thought it might not be a lie to say that she had fainted and would not wake. She very much wished that it was so. The truth of what had occurred was so terrible that it could not be faced—oblivion would be a blessing.
All along, she had thought the gossip that swirled round her had to do with shooting a gun and the three lords escorting her home. But this was a thousand times worse! It spoke to her character!
“Truly,” Lord Burke said urgently, “there is not a moment to lose.”
Lady Marksworth stood. “I believe you are right, Lord Burke, and I thank you for assisting us at this terrible hour. As soon as the lady’s maid arrives, I will inform the guests. Do insist on Clara, not Peggy. Go and do your work.”
Lord Burke looked much relieved and fairly flew from the room. Cassandra could not hold her feelings back longer and began to sob.
Her aunt sat by her and put an arm round her shoulder. “There now, you must not give in to your feelings this moment. There will be plenty of time later, but just now we must play our parts.”
Cassandra nodded and willed herself to stop her tears. Lady Marksworth was right—there would be endless amounts of time to cry, but not right now.
“Lay down and close your eyes. You must appear in a faint in case anybody sees you when the door opens to admit Clara. Do not worry about my maid, she can keep a thing to herself. Peggy, I am not so sure of, and so I advise allowing her to know nothing.”
Cassandra nodded, and then closed her eyes.
*
As events transpiredoutside the door, Cassandra lay there with Clara holding her hand, hearing bits and pieces of it. She distinctly heard Lord Hampton suggest he send for his own doctor, only to be denied by Lady Marksworth. Sybil asked if she might come in, but Lady Marksworth said it would be time enough on the morrow for a visit.
Had they all heard the story? It seemed impossible that the six gentlemen of the pact had not heard all that had been said. It must be the talk of every gentlemen’s club. Had they come with an eye toward amusement? It would not surprise her to know that they were well aware of Lady Montague’s salvo and had come to see how it would all unfold. They would look upon it as a jolly bit of fun to be discussed the following day. Certainly, that was the cause of their very early arrival, they would not wish to miss anything of this disaster.
