Gillian blinked at her. “You what?”

“I’m sorry, Gilly, truly I am, but Mama says we won’t be able to recognize you if things do not begin to improve for Lord Weston.”

“I see,” Gillian said coldly and shook off her cousin’s hands. “Thank you for alerting me to the situation, Charlotte. I wouldn’t wish to blight your chances with either my or Noble’s unwelcome presence.”

“Oh, Gilly, I just knew you were going to go all haughty on me and take it like that. Gilly—Gilly! Let me explain—”

Gillian suffered her cousin to pull her back to the alcove. She pretended to examine the bust, tracing a finger around a marble ear, not wishing to admit she was wounded to the bone by her cousin’s words.

“I promise, cousin, no matter what the ton says about your husband, I’ll always stand by you.”

Gillian gave her cousin a grateful smile and a quick hands-free embrace. “Thank you, Char. I didn’t think for a moment you’d abandon us.”

“Well, it won’t be easy, but we’ll worry about that when it happens. Dear heavens, look what you’ve done to the countess’s bust! Come, let us go over there where you can do no harm.”

Gillian followed her cousin meekly, scanning the room for signs of a familiar form.

“Will you stop peering around like a long-necked giraffe and tell me what it is you’re looking for?”

“Noble, although why I should want to see him after the atrocious way he treated me, I couldn’t say.”

Charlotte looked over the crowd with her cousin, then motioned toward the door leading to the veranda. “Why are you so angry with your husband? What atrocious thing has he done?”

Gillian explained about the cold way Noble had mentioned he would escort her home if she desired.

“This is my first ball as his wife, Charlotte. You can imagine what people must be saying about us when he can’t be bothered to attend with me!”

“Well, about that.” Charlotte paused for a moment, wondering how to break the news to her cousin. She opted for the easy way. “Look, there’s Aunt Fielding. Do let us go and greet her. She always has the latest gossip.”

Gillian agreed reluctantly. “Just for a moment, though. I want to look for Noble.”

Charlotte tsked at her and herded her outside onto the veranda to where her aunt sat surrounded by a group of chattering women. Upon seeing Gillian, the women exchanged raised eyebrows and knowing nods and moved off.

“What was that about?” Gillian hissed to her cousin.

“Nothing. Behave yourself. Good evening, Aunt.”

Gillian exchanged pleasantries with her cousin’s aunt, a woman of indeterminate age and French background, and sat in a small chair when so ordered.

“I wish to speak with you, Gillian. I know that our relationship is not one of blood, but I think of you as I would my own flesh-and-blood niece, and hope I’ve treated you with as much care and attention as I have dear little Charlotte.”