Matteo was flanked on either side by two of the lovelier new debutantes of the Season, twins. She hid her smile when he said, “Charming. Two perfectly pleasant women who look remarkably similar.” He leaned toward one. “I enjoyed our dance, Cordelia.” She giggled in her hands.

“That was I, Your Highness.” The young lady at his other side, apparently Cordelia, smiled.

“You?” Matteo whipped around in mock surprise. “Then who is this lovely creature?”

“I am Amelia.”

“Amelia and Cordelia. I must be the most fortunate man at this entire ball to be sitting between the two of you.”

They each fluttered their eyelashes at him, and he glanced back and forth between them.

Scarlet said, “Their father is the Duke of Cumberland. Have you yet been introduced?”

Matteo nodded. “Yes, I have, and a fine man he is. He has invited me to come hunting with him on Thursday next and then to take tea with the family.”

The girls nodded and each put a hand on his arm. He again swung his head between the two as they vied for his attention.

Scarlet hid her smile behind a sip of water.

The servants offered course after course. Matteo entertained them all with his many childhood exploits in France. Even the prince was wiping laughter tears from his eyes. Scarlet felt the warm relief of Matteo’s acceptance into the English court and among the nobility.

The man to Scarlet’s left, one Lord Panning, leaned toward her and placed his hand on her knee. “When will you allow a more intimate friendship? I have been more than patient.”

Her eyes found Matteo, whose gaze sharpened on the two of them, as he looked from one to the other.

Scarlet smelled the bourbon on Lord Panning’s breath, and his hand clutched her leg tighter, slowly moving toward her thigh. She stood, dislodging his unwanted advance. “Oh, my lovelies. Oh, my dears. What an incredible event this has been. Has it not?” The crowd murmured in assent, nodding. She ignored Matteo’s questioning face.

Her abrupt rise commanded the attention of the table. “Prince George, we would like to thank you. Might I have a moment to address the group?”

He nodded, his eyes alight with amusement.

“You are a wonder, and tonight has been a grand masterpiece.” The guests clapped their hands in appreciation while the prince nodded in Scarlet’s direction. She turned to those sitting around her. “I must applaud you all on your adornments, your lovely dresses, the drapes of your sleeves. You have bejeweled Prince George’s ballroom, though none as gloriously ornamented as Prince George himself.” She nodded her head in his direction. “And now, perhaps, a bit of poetry?” She clapped her hands as the guests responded in agreement.

“What shall we call this one?” She tapped her chin in thought. “‘An Ode to the Pimpernel’?”