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Nancy snatched Felicia’s reticule and took out the small bottle, which she uncorked and wafted beneath Felicia’s nose.
Coughing and gasping for breath, Felicia allowed her husband to guide her to the nearest chair. She sank down onto the cushions, fanning herself vigorously. ‘I am the toast of Milan and New York,’ she said faintly.
‘Precisely. We all have our place in the universe, Mrs de Marney. We n-need t-to respect each other for what w-we are.’ He proffered his arm to Nancy. ‘Shall we take a walk?’
Nancy allowed him to lead her from the room, not daring to look back to see how Felicia was taking their departure. Once outside in the wide corridor Nancy came to a halt, peering out of the window.
‘It’s dark and it’s snowing. We can’t go out in this, Freddie.’
He laughed. ‘I know that, but it made a dramatic exit. I couldn’t think of anything else to say. But, seriously, Nancy, you ought not to allow her to speak to you like that. You are twice the lady she is, no matter who your parents were.’
Nancy laid her hand on his arm. ‘Thank you, Freddie, but I have to survive in a difficult world. You are so safe and secure here at Dorrington that you couldn’t begin to know what it’s like to be in my position.’
‘I can’t, it’s true, but while you are here you are an honoured guest, just the same as anyone else. I won’t have it any other way. Now, shall we go outside and play snowballs like errant schoolchildren?’
‘I would love to, but I think I’d better go and change for dinner or I will be in even more trouble with Mrs de Marney.’
Freddie acknowledged her decision with a nod and a smile. ‘I’ll make sure you are seated next to me at dinner, even if I have to alter the place cards.’
‘Mrs de Marney is going to give a performance later this evening. I will accompany her at the pianoforte. I should have been here to go through the arias with her, Freddie.’
‘I’ve heard you play. You’ll be fine. Stop worrying, Nancy.’
Whether it was Freddie’s stern rebuke or the amount of brandy that Felicia had consumed both before and after dinner, her performance in the ballroom rivalled any she had given at the opera houses of Europe. Nancy accompanied her flawlessly and the applause at the end of the recital was enthusiastic with cries of ‘Brava’ and ‘Encore’. Felicia bowed graciously, smiled and blew kisses to her admirers as she left the dais.
‘Don’t think I’ve forgotten what you did today,’ Felicia said in an undertone when Nancy followed her to their table. ‘That young man might be a viscount but he has no manners. I will deal with you in the morning, Nancy.’
Nancy managed to avoid Freddie, who had been waylaid by Lady Brocklebourne with Letitia standing at her side. It was obvious that neither Freddie nor Letitia wanted to be part of the conversation, but they were trapped. Nancy left the ballroom and was making her way to the grand staircase when she heard a commotion outside. She came to a halt as a gust of cold air brought a flurry of snowflakes into the entrance hall when Pickering opened the door. Two men stumbled in, their greatcoats and hats powdered with snow.
‘Might I ask your name, sir? Are you on the guest list?’
‘No, my man. We were caught in the storm and only just managed to get this far.’
Nancy shrank into the shadows as she recognised the voice. She held her breath as he turned his head to glance in her direction.
Chapter Thirteen
There was no escape. Gervase had seen her.
‘Miss Sunday will vouch for me,’ Gervase said loudly. ‘We are old friends, are we not, Nancy?’
She walked slowly towards him. ‘I wouldn’t say that exactly, Gervase.’
‘But this person is known to you, miss?’ Pickering gave her a searching look.
‘Yes, I know him. He is Gervase North.’
‘Here is my card. I am Gervase North of Greystone Park, Rockwood, in the county of Devonshire. Please tell Lord Dorrington that I am here. He does know me.’
Pickering remained stony-faced. ‘If you will kindly wait here, sir, I will inform his lordship.’ He placed the visiting card on a silver salver and strode off with a measured step in the direction of the ballroom.
‘What are you doing here, Gervase?’ Nancy demanded angrily. ‘Who is this you’ve brought with you?’
Gervase tapped the man on the shoulder. ‘I believe you know this fellow, Nancy? I found him loitering on the front step in John Adam Street.’
‘Reuben.’ Nancy stared at him in surprise.
He snatched off his cap, sprinkling lumps of melting snow onto the floor. ‘I’m sorry to intrude, miss. Mr North brought me here, but I thought we was going to your castle. I want to find Molly.’
