Miss Snapper quailed under his icy gaze. The pleasurable bullying of Alice in which she had so freely indulged was going to be discovered unless she could have a word with Alice first in private and threaten her into silence.

“Indeed, yes, milord,” she murmured, ducking her head in a nervous gesture. “Pray wait here. I will return with Alice.”

The Duke stood by the side of the ballroom floor, staring about him with interest. The Earl of Markhampton appeared to be wealthy. The room was decorated with fine silk hangings of green and gold.

Hundreds of the most expensive scented candles perfumed the air. Hothouse flowers and palms were placed around the perimeter of the floor, and from the supper room came the delectable aroma of good French cooking. He was just thinking that Miss Snapper was taking an unconscionable time about bringing Alice to him when a latecomer entered the ballroom and he raised his quizzing glass and let out a sigh of pure appreciation. A beautiful blonde had entered with her chaperone. Her hair owed all to art but was magnificent for all that. It gleamed like burnished brass in the candlelight and her enameled face was a flawless oval. She had a wicked pair of black eyes, a diaphanous gown which was dampened to the point of indecency and, wonder upon wonders, her toenails were painted gold!

He straightened his waistcoat and headed purposefully toward her.

And so it was that Alice, entering the ballroom with Webb anchored firmly to one side and Miss Snapper to the other, saw her “uncle” for the first time since he had left her that winter’s night. He was smiling down into the eyes of a bold blonde and seemed to have forgotten the existence of everyone and everything else.

Miss Snapper gave a malicious titter. “You see how happy your uncle is?” she said. “He is content to leave you in our good care. We have your best interests at heart, Alice. You must tell him you lent me this pretty necklace.”

“But I didn’t!” exclaimed Alice.

“Say you did,” hissed Miss Snapper. “I know he admired it and he would not like to think you ungenerous to your poor companion. Only vulgar people are cruel and mean.”

Alice winced. Miss Snapper had found she could get Alice to agree to practically anything provided she told the girl that things were “vulgar.” Alice lived in fear that Miss Snapper would discover her humble origins, not knowing that Miss Snapper merely thought Alice, being French—and who wanted to be French?—was taken up with the idea of becoming the perfect English lady.

Poor Alice numbly watched the Duke as he flirted outrageously.