Rebecca shrugged and looked away, but Anna spoke up. “The selectors put her into the bottom grade because—” She stopped, her face going red. “Well, there was an altercation between her and the club president. It isn’t a secret since everyone knew about it pretty quickly. The club president accused Mrs. Carlyle of having designs on her husband. She didn’t say it was an outright affair or that they had a tryst or anything, just that she didn’t appreciate Clarissa’s flirtatious ways with, and I quote, ‘anything in trousers.’”

“Have there been rumors of any others?” Juliette cleaned her last arrow on the tassel at her waist and returned it to her bow case.

“Oh, lots. I don’t know names, of course, because we don’t move in the same social circles, but the last meeting of the Dianas was rippling with whispers.”

“Lady Juliette, I am to return you to your uncle. Are you ready?” Duke Heinrich waited at the ropes. “And congratulations. You are very skilled.” He smiled warmly. “It was a pleasure to watch.”

“I didn’t realize you were a spectator. I thought you were trapped in the Royal enclosure.” She buckled the latches on her case and handed it to Heinrich over the ropes.

“I escaped in time to see your final round.”

Mrs. Carlyle turned her back on the man to whom she was speaking and hurried to Juliette’s side. “Oh, do introduce me. I’ve heard such wonderful things about this gentleman and have been eager to meet him.”

Audacious. Still, the way she clamped on to Juliette’s arm told her she wouldn’t be denied. It underscored all Juliette had learned of Clarissa Carlyle today. Though she had not been provided an opportunity to ask anything specific, she had enough to tell Daniel that he might find what he was looking for if he pursued this line of inquiry.

“Duke Heinrich von Lowe, may I present Mrs. Carlyle, our team captain. Clarissa, His Grace, Duke Heinrich von Lowe of Brandenburg.”

The duke’s glance barely skimmed the woman as he bowed. “A pleasure, Frau Carlyle. Congratulations on your win.” He motioned to Juliette, leading her to the opening in the ropes. “Your uncle will meet us at the Stanhope Gate.”

As they walked away, Juliette expected to feel triumph, but she didn’t. She felt sadness. Mrs. Carlyle was a married woman with a roving eye. Though it was quite common in today’s society, Juliette abhorred the notion of being unfaithful to a spouse.

If she ever married, it would be to a man she loved and admired and to whom she would remain faithful.