Petra was too stunned to do more than offer a half wave of farewell before she forced a smile and word of greeting to the butler as she stepped past him into the cool dim light of the hall.

Foster removed her key from the lock before closing the door, handing the key to her. “You passed a pleasant evening, I trust, Miss Petra.”

“Very pleasant, thank you, Foster.” Petra dropped the key back in her bag and moved to the stairs, feeling slightly dazed. “Good night.” She hurried up to her bedroom, wondering what had just happened. What lay behind Guy’s declaration? He was under no obligation to make it.

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

“Your mind is not on hats, dearest,” Diana stated, looking across the milliner’s shop to where Petra was idly picking at the elaborate black ruched ribbon on a wide-brimmed straw hat. “That will most definitely not suit you.”

Petra dropped the hat with a guilty flush. “No, I know. I don’t like it at all,” she said hastily. “But I like that ice blue silk one with the floppy brim on you. You’re tall enough to carry it off.”

“I’m not sure.” Diana picked up the hat in question, turning it around on one hand. “What d’you think, Fenella?”

“I think it suits you very well,” Fenella declared, peering at her own reflection in the large mirror, adjusting the set of a straw confection festooned with tulle flowers. “I look ridiculous.” She set it aside in disgust. “Hats just don’t suit me.”

“This one will.” Petra selected a cream straw hat with a wide turned-back brim and a sprig of pale green leaves. “Try it.”

Fenella did so and looked surprised. The wide brim framed her face in a most attractive way. “You do have an eye, Petra. I would never have believed it, but it actually does work.”

“Yes, it does,” Diana agreed, examining her friend’s appearance.

“Well, that’s me done,” Fenella declared with satisfaction, handing the cream straw to the assistant. “Now what about you two?”

“I’ll take the blue silk.” Diana made up her mind. “It’ll be set off nicely by my dark blue taffeta.” She handed the hat to the assistant. “Now, Petra, let’s see what we can find for you.”

Petra forced herself to concentrate on the vitally important matter at hand. She couldn’t go hatless to Ladies Day at Ascot. She picked out a close-fitting hat of white lace and tulle, trimmed with a bright orange ribbon and sporting two white plumes. “Let’s see what this looks like.” She put it on, tucking her hair up, and examined her reflection tilting her head this way and that. “I was going to wear my white silk dress, the one with the pink and orange flowers. The orange ribbon will go beautifully.”

“Then I believe our work here is done, ladies,” Diana stated with satisfaction.