“I’m having a guest to dinner.” She waved a hand airily. “I just thought you wouldn’t want to wait for me.”

“It’s my job to wait for you,” Tiggle said suspiciously. “Has Lady Violet’s maid had the night off as well?”

“Actually”—George ran a fingertip along her dresser— “it’s a very private dinner. Violet won’t be attending.”

“Won’t be—”

The maid’s exclamation was interrupted by a knock on the door. Darn! She’d hoped to have Tiggle out of the way by now.

George opened the door. “In my sitting room, please,” she told the footmen outside.

“My lady,” Tiggle hissed as George passed her on the way to the connecting door.

George ignored her and opened the door. In the sitting room, the footmen were busy rearranging the furniture and setting up the table they’d had to bring in. A fire was flickering in the grate.

“What . . .?” Tiggle dogged George into the sitting room but immediately quieted in the presence of the other servants.

“Is this how you want it, my lady?” one of the footmen asked.

“Yes, that will do nicely. Now, be sure and alert Cook when Mr. Pye arrives. We’ll want supper promptly.”

The footmen bowed out, which, unfortunately, freed the lady’s maid from her self-imposed silence.

“You’re having Mr. Pye to dinner?” Tiggle sounded scandalized. “All alone?”

George tilted her chin in the air. “Yes, I am.”

“Oh, my Lord, why didn’t you tell me, my lady?” Tiggle abruptly turned and ran back into the bedroom.

George stared after her.

The maid’s head popped around the door frame, and she beckoned urgently. “Hurry, my lady! There’s not much time.”

Feeling like she’d been goosed, George followed her into the bedroom.

Tiggle was already at the vanity table, rummaging through bottles. She held up a small glass vial as George neared. “This’ll do. Exotic, but not overwhelming.” She snatched the fichu from around her mistress’s neck.

“What are you—” George raised her hands to her suddenly bare dŽcolletage.

The maid batted her hands away. She removed the bottle’s glass stopper and stroked it down George’s neck and between her breasts. The scent of sandalwood and jasmine hovered in the air.

Tiggle recapped the bottle and stepped back to look at her assessingly. “I think the garnet drops instead.”

George obediently searched through her jewelry box.

From behind her Tiggle sighed. “It’s a pity I haven’t time to redo your hair, my lady.”

“It was fine a moment ago.” George squinted into the mirror as she replaced her earrings.

“A moment ago I didn’t know you were meeting a gentleman.”

George straightened and turned.

Tiggle knit her brows as she inspected her.

George ran a hand self-consciously across her green velvet gown. A row of black bows marched down the bodice, echoed at the elbows. “Will I do?”