“Nick, I know you spoke. I heard you quite plainly. Now, if you could do it once, you can do it again. I’m thinking only of how happy your father will be, my boy.”

Nick turned his head and gazed at his tutor with steely silver eyes. Rogerson blinked and rubbed his jaw. “I could have sworn you said…maybe I imagined it. Perhaps I just thought I heard you say it.”

Nick looked back out into the yard and was surprised to see someone climbing down the water pipe that clung to the corner of the house. A strand of fiery red hair dangled down from the back of the dashing little hat with the long pheasant feather that complemented so charmingly Gillian’s green riding habit. Nick jumped up and tugged on his tutor’s sleeve, then pointed to the clock.

“Eh? Oh, yes, yes. I did promise you a visit to the park. Capital idea. Just what we both need—a bit of air to clear away the cobwebs. Come along then; let us be on our way.”

***

“I don’t understand your sudden desire to go for a stroll in the park, Charlotte, but I’m excessively pleased Mama said I might join you.”

“’Tis a bit of a mystery, is it not, Caroline?”

“A mystery?”

“Yes, a mystery. You know—something mysterious. Something dark, and secret, and fabulously thrilling!”

“And a mystery is a good thing?”

“It is wonderfully good, Caro. Haven’t you read any novels with vengeful ghosts, mad men locked in towers, mysterious rooms with secret panels, poisoned wine, ghastly family curses, and frigid, sepulchral hands reaching through the bed-curtains in the very dead of night?”

Lady Caroline looked horrified and glanced behind her to where their maids were following. “No, certainly not. Mama would never countenance my reading something so very provocative!”

Charlotte shrugged. “Your loss, Caro.”

“But—but this mystery we are going to see in the park—it is nothing that has sepulchral hands?”

“You’re a bit of a ninny, aren’t you, Caro?”

“A ninny?”

“Never mind. Just come with me. I promise you’ll enjoy yourself.”

“With the mystery? Or with Hyde Park?”

“Saints preserve me from ninnies!”

***

Gillian sidled into the stables and looked around carefully. The stableboys and grooms were at tea. Excellent. It took her little time to get Ophelia saddled and slightly longer to convince her to stand still while she climbed up the mounting block, but all in all, she felt she was on schedule when she directed the mare toward Hyde Park. She sincerely hoped she could count on Charlotte’s overwhelming curiosity to witness the scene with her and Lord Carlisle. Ladies, she knew, did not go riding without grooms in attendance, and she was more than a bit nervous about meeting the Scottish speeler by herself. Although if what the note Charlotte had included said was true, she would have a few choice things to say to him, things better said in private.

***

“Here, isn’t that Lady Weston?”

“Wot? Where?”