“That’s better,” he said looking at her coldly and Alice looked back and suddenly knew she would do anything just so long as he smiled at her again.

She diligently struggled over the primers and because she had slept late, managed to stay up most of the night.

As the days flew past and the north wind piled snow in great drifts up around the Hall, Alice and her ghost worked night after night on her French lessons.

The Duke was amazed at the girl’s quick progress. Provided he could get her to speak in English with a French accent, she would soon be ready. He coached her in how to walk, how to carry a shawl, how to flirt with a fan, how to make conversation and when to listen. She was taught the value of jewels and laces and how to wear colors best suited to her dark hair and increasingly white skin.

All at once it was Christmas and the Duke arrived as soon as dark fell with the news that there was to be a great masked ball held in the Hall that very evening.

“And we shall both go,” he said sternly, looking down at Alice. “First I must arrange your hair. Pah! I feel like a man-milliner. What days of rest are due to me after I rid myself of you!”

He turned away to heat the curling tongs and therefore did not notice the tearful hurt on Alice’s face.

At last he declared himself ready and ordered her to undress to her petticoat until he arranged her toilette, and Alice did so meekly and with a queer little pang at her heart as she knew he would treat her as impersonally as any lady’s maid.

“We shall not be announced,” he went on, plying the curling tongs and filling the small room with the smell of hot hair. “We shall simply slide through the walls and mingle with the guests. Being a ghost has many advantages.”

“You won’t go off and leave me,” pleaded Alice. “I mean you won’t go off with one of them pretty ladies?”

“Don’t cling,” snapped the ghost, pushing her head roughly forwards and applying the curling tongs to the hair at the back. “Now Agnes clung enough for a squadron of women.”

At long last, he pronounced himself satisfied, tipped her face up and gave her a light, playful slap on the cheek.

“Do not look so frenzied, my child,” he mocked. “Odd’s Fish! What’s to be so exercised over? A mere ball! And I shall not leave your side. There! I have made you smile at last. Your gown is on the bed. Wait for me. I must change.”