The middle-aged woman, whose costume varied from the other maids in that her apron was white with an embroidered phoenix on the chest, narrowed her eyes at them. She stood in the wide doorway that led toward the front of the house. “I don’t recognize either one of you.”

Fiona froze. This was it. They’d been found out. The woman—the housekeeper?—would alert Lord Lucien, and perhaps even Lord Overton. Would he send Fiona back to Shropshire?

“We’re new,” Cassandra said evenly. If she was even half as terrified as Fiona, she didn’t show it in the slightest.

She looked as if she might believe Cassandra. “Lord Lucien hired you?”

Cassandra nodded. “Yes.”

The woman exhaled and shook her head. “Wouldn’t be the first time he forgot to tell me.” She glanced at the bucket Cassandra held. “You’re supposed to be ensuring the ballroom is tidy.” Her gaze flicked to the right. “Go at once, before the ladies arrive.”

“We will,” Cassandra said earnestly.

After the woman left, Fiona sagged, reaching for a nearby chair to steady herself. “I feared we were discovered.” She stared at Cassandra. “However did you maintain your composure so well?”

“Years of avoiding my father’s disdain when I did something he didn’t care for.”

“It was most impressive. And how did you come up with us being new?”

“My brother likes to help people in need and often assists them with finding employment.”

“How lovely of him. And convenient for us. Do you think that was the housekeeper?”

“I do.” Cassandra moved toward the closed door the housekeeper had glanced toward.

“Because of her fancy apron?”

“Mostly the authority in her tone,” Cassandra said drily.

“Yes, that.” A tremor rippled over Fiona’s shoulders. “What ladies do you think she referred to?”

Cassandra shrugged. “Members? However, surely they wouldn’t come this early in the day.” It was not yet noon. “Who knows what she meant.”

They stepped into the next chamber, closing the door behind them. A harp stood in one corner and a pianoforte in another.

“The music room, I suppose,” Cassandra noted, her gaze sweeping the chamber before narrowing at the open doorway on the opposite side.

“Aha!” Fiona said, moving past Cassandra. “The heart of the establishment—for the assemblies anyway.” She strode into the ballroom and marveled at the high ceilings edged with elaborate cornicework. Two massive chandeliers hung from wide, ornate medallions. A wall divided the large room, but the sliding doors were thrown open between the two spaces.

“It’s the entire ballroom,” Cassandra said excitedly. “Meaning that part over there is the gentlemen’s side. The forbidden realm.” She added the last in a dark, playful tone as she set the bucket on the floor and twirled about. Her skirt brushed the bucket.

“Careful you don’t knock it over, or we really will have to clean.”

Cassandra laughed. “We wouldn’t want that. I haven’t the slightest notion.”

Fiona did. She could scrub the floor and beat the carpets. She could even clean out the hearth, though that was her least favorite job.