Marie’s assiduous reading of the gossip columns had gleaned two interesting facts: The Earl of Sheffield and Downes apparently came to balls only to dance with Charlotte, and there was something very smoky about his previous marriage. Ah, well. Marie was no great believer in condemning a man for behavior during a previous marriage. Unless—her eyes widened a bit—he killed his first wife! But no. The papers said very clearly that she died of scarlet fever. Just like Marie’s own aunt.

She bustled about pulling out gossamer stockings, a corset, and her mistress’s crimson riding costume.

“No, not that one,” Charlotte said suddenly, looking up from her bath. “I’ll wear the gray costume.”

Now Marie knew that something was happening. The gray riding habit was one of her mistress’s new purchases. It was the color of a mourning dove and fit like a glove, with black braid trim that gave it the air of a Russian soldier. It was exquisite … but also rather uncomfortable. If Charlotte was wearing that riding costume, she was expecting to meet someone on her ride. Marie glanced at her speculatively. If the duchess knew her daughter was making assignations in the park!

In fact, Charlotte was not engaged to meet anyone in particular on her ride. But she had woken with blood singing in her veins, and she was not allowing herself to think about the cause. She felt like looking her best, she reasoned. If the Earl of Sheffield and Downes happened to be riding in Hyde Park when she was there … well, she would be friendly but cool. There was nothing wrong with wanting to look her best.

Charlotte stretched a long, elegant leg out of the bath and looked at it meditatively. Then she sat up and, balancing herself carefully with hands on both sides of the light tin tub, stepped out of the bath.

“Marie, will you send one of the footmen over to Lady Sophie’s, please, to ask whether she would like to join me in the park? Thank you.”

Marie, having laid all her mistress’s clothing on the bed, whisked over to the door. Any opportunity to take a message downstairs meant that she got to see Cecil, and perhaps even to snatch a kiss behind a door.

“I’ll be back immediately, my lady,” she said. Then she ran down the back stairs.