“Oh, of course,” Christiana murmured and got wearily to her feet.

“You found them.”

Christiana turned to Langley as he approached with two glasses in hand.

“Yes. Well, actually, they found me, and are quite ready to go,” she admitted, and then reached for the nearer glass he held and asked, “Is that for me?”

“Yes,” he murmured sounding distracted as he glanced to Lisa. He then frowned and glanced back to her with surprise and said, “No!”

It was too late, however, Christiana had already taken the glass and quickly gulped down its contents, barely tasting it in her effort to finish it off so they could leave. She was already lowering the glass when she realized the liquid she’d swallowed was burning a trail down her throat and splashing into her stomach like liquid fire. Whiskey again, she realized and drew in one long gasping breath as the air seemed to be sucked out of her. That breath was then followed by a deep, nasty fit of coughing.

“I’m sorry,” Langley said thumping her back with his free hand. “That was whiskey for me. The other glass was for you.”

Gasping for breath as she straightened, Christiana took the glass of punch, quickly drinking that down now in the hopes of clearing her throat. Her eyes widened incredulously as a second wave of heat poured down her throat.

“Oh dear,” Langley muttered.

“Oh dear, what?” Suzette asked grimly, eyeing Christiana with concern.

“That was the Regent’s punch,” Robert said on a sigh, taking the glass from Christiana as she burst into another round of coughing.

“Regent’s punch?” Lisa asked, rubbing Christiana’s back.

“Rum, brandy, arrack and champagne with some tea, pineapple syrup and a couple other ingredients thrown in for flavor,” he explained dryly.

“Well, judging by Christiana’s reaction there was precious little of those other ingredients in it,” Suzette said dryly.

Robert grimaced. “Lady Landon usually has her staff make it stronger as the night goes on. She is sure it is the reason her ball s are always so well attended and such a success.”

“Brilliant,” Suzette muttered.

“Are you all right, Chrissy?” Lisa asked with concern when Christiana’s second round of coughing finally began to subside.

She nodded, her breath still too raspy to respond, but she wasn’t at all sure that was true. The two drinks seemed to be hitting her hard. Dear God, her head was spinning and spots were floating before her eyes, though whether that was from the whiskey or her coughing fit she couldn’t tell. She took another moment to regain her composure under the concerned gazes of Suzette, Lisa and Langley, then forced a smile and suggested, “We should be going.”

“Are you sure you are all right?” Langley asked with a frown. “You are still quite flushed.”

Christiana grimaced, but nodded and turned carefully in search of the exit. “We are all tired. A good night’s rest will do us good. Besides, I have something to look into if you’ll recall?”