She pointed out Emily’s study door. “The mistress is not accepting calls, because she’s expecting a visitor,” Sally whispered. Then she took herself off to the nether regions of the house, hugging her coin and comforting herself for her indiscretion with the thought that the French gentleman was that handsome. It would be good for the missus to marry him, even if he was a frog. Sally didn’t think much of foreigners in general. But, then, Mr. Boch was…was, well, it was sinful that a man looked like that.

Emily glanced up in some annoyance when the door to her study swung open. She preferred to have Hislop introduced with as much ceremony as possible; she felt it kept him from feeling as if he were part of the household.

But it was Lucien Boch standing in the doorway, not Hislop. Something started to pound in her chest. She had found herself thinking about Lucien Boch far too much in the past few weeks.

“May I help you, Mr. Boch? I must apologize; I have been working, and I am not prepared for visitors.” Emily rose from her desk and gracefully untied the apron that covered her muslin dress from accidental ink splatters. She had a terribly untidy hand. “I’m afraid I cannot converse at length, as I am expecting a visitor.”

Lucien wasn’t quite sure what to do. He’d come prepared to slay the dragon, and there was no dragon, yet. “I came to inquire whether you would accompany me to Lady Fester’s ball,” he said.

Emily drew in a slow breath. Apparently Mr. Boch was not trying to lure her to another fashion magazine. “I do not go into society,” she murmured noncommittally.

Lucien raised an eyebrow. “I am offering you the opportunity to do so.”

“I’m afraid that I must decline your gracious invitation,” she replied.

“May I ask why?” Lucien asked, unforgivably. A gentleman never, never asked for the reasons behind a lady’s refusal. But he told himself that he had to make conversation, because he wanted to be in the room when Hislop arrived.

“I have never been formally presented,” Emily explained. “I attended a few balls before leaving my family home, but I would not feel comfortable at a large gathering. Although,” she added, “I am most grateful for your invitation, Mr. Boch.”

“I understood from Miss Thorpe that it would be a welcome opportunity for you to examine the clothing of fashionable women,” Lucien said, trying to sound persuasive rather than desperate. “I can assure you that the entire beau monde will attend the Fester ball.”