Suzette held her breath for one moment and then let it out with a sigh before saying more calmly, “I am fine. I just didn’t wish to trouble Georgina this late at night, but had a bit of a struggle getting my stays undone by myself.” Grimacing to herself over the lie, she shifted where she stood and asked, “What was so important that you just had to speak to me at once?”

“Oh, I . . .” Lisa frowned and glanced along the hall toward Christiana’s room. “I just came from Chrissy’s room and she was saying the oddest things. She was talking about marrying George and . . .” She shrugged helplessly. “I am just a little worried.”

“She is drunk, Lisa,” Suzette said patiently. “I wouldn’t worry about her saying strange things. Goodness, she was going on about strawberries and seeing Dicky’s bottom when we got her to her room earlier. I’m sure she will be fine in the morning.”

“I suppose,” Lisa said with a little sigh, and grimaced. “I am sorry I disturbed you. I shall go to bed now.”

“That is probably a good idea,” Suzette said solemnly.

Nodding, Lisa started to turn away and then paused and swung back to say, “Oh, I almost forgot. Dicky had to go through Chrissy’s room to get to his just now. We must remember to unlock his bedroom door in the morning.”

“I will,” Suzette assured her. “Now go on and get some sleep. It has been a long day.”

“Yes, it has,” Lisa mumbled and stumbled off along the hall.

Suzette watched until she’d slid inside her room before closing her own door. Sighing, she then turned away and walked to the window. A glance outside showed an empty yard. Daniel had already slipped away. He was probably out front, walking to wherever he’d left his carriage . . . If he’d brought his carriage. Suzette had no idea how far away his own townhouse was, if he even had one. He may have walked there for all she knew.

She closed the window and turned back toward the bed, but paused as a bit of snowy white cloth caught her eye. Recognizing it at once as Daniel’s cravat, Suzette rushed over to pick it up, and before she’d realized what she planned to do, was rushing out of her room. He was probably gone, of course, but she might still catch him, Suzette thought as she hurried toward the stairs.