“Anything else would be anticlimactic,” he agreed.

They paid their respects, then left, Sparks scampering to catch up.

“Your cape, ma’am?” she gasped.

“Hang on to it for now, would you, Millie?”

“Certainly, ma’am.”

The doorman signaled for a cab, then held the doors for them.

“Where to?” asked Palfrey.

“Back to our office, please,” said Mrs. Bainbridge.

He gave the address to the cabbie, then turned back to her. “And then? The night is still young.”

“The night is still Monday, and the woman still has to get up and go to work on Tuesday. My regrets, Captain.”

They traveled in silence. Sparks stared straight ahead, wanting very much to turn and watch the two in the passenger compartment.

“We shall have to have another date so you can explain to me exactly what was going on during this one,” said Palfrey when they arrived at the office.

“I may not be able to do that to your satisfaction,” she said. “But I am so grateful to you for accompanying me.”

“It was my great pleasure,” he said. “And I claim my reward.”

Before she could react, he pulled her close and kissed her. She tried to shove him back, but he was stronger than she was. When he finally released her, she was trembling in anger.

“I would say ask next time,” she said. “But there won’t be a next time.”

“There never was going to be a next time,” he said. “We both knew that. Good night, Mrs. Bainbridge. Good night, Miss Sparks.”

The cabbie opened their doors, shaking his head slightly. The two women got out and stood watching as the cab drove off.

“Are you all right?” asked Iris.

“I forgot how brutal these things could be,” said Gwen, rubbing her mouth with her handkerchief. “Bastard. He didn’t even have the courtesy to ask first.”

“Men like him know the answer,” said Iris. “That’s why they don’t ask.”

“And he was doing fairly well up to that point,” complained Gwen as they went inside. “How the hell did I not see that coming?”

“You’re out of practice,” said Iris.

“Did you know he would try that?”

“You yourself said he was NST. And there we were, in a taxi.”

“So you’re saying I should have seen it coming.”

“It’s been an action-packed evening. One can’t keep track of everything. You were still flying from dancing with the king. How was that, by the way?”

“He was rather sweet, which surprised me,” said Gwen as Iris unlocked the door to The Right Sort.

“I need to change,” said Iris. “Close the door, would you?”

“I’m not going to bother changing again,” said Gwen. “Just my shoes, I think. How are your feet after a night in Millie’s?”

“I don’t think I’ve walked a mile in her shoes yet,” said Iris. “But they held up well. Don’t forget to get mine back. My sling-backs probably had more fun than I did tonight.”

“You had fun. You got to hit someone. You enjoy that.”