“In that gown?” Bet asked with amazement.

Lisa glanced down with disinterest. It did seem rather revealing and she suspected she should be embarrassed to be wearing it, but couldn’t seem to find the emotion within herself. In fact, she felt rather disconnected from all her emotions at the moment . . . even her exasperation and irritation with Robert were a sort of far-off sensation. As if they were standing outside of her somewhere, there but untouchable. It was really quite strange, Lisa thought, and knew she should probably be alarmed by that too, but wasn’t.

What the devil had Mrs. Morgan poured down her throat? she wondered, not for the first time, and then glanced to Bet. “Did you just get home from Robert’s?”

“Nay. I’ve been home for hours. Lord Langley said ye’d most like be needing help getting out of that getup, but when I came up here you were dead to the world so I let you sleep. But if you’re going to that ball tonight, ye need to be dressing.” She frowned uncertainly. “Are ye going to the ball?”

Lisa debated the matter briefly and almost said no, she wanted to sleep, but then reconsidered. Robert wasn’t interested. It appeared she’d wasted her love on him all these years. She was twenty-one years old now, an old maid to many, and here she’d sat on the shelf all these years in the vague hope that Robert would finally notice that she was all grown up. But frankly, if seeing her in this gown didn’t stop him from looking at her like a “little sister,” nothing would. It was time she took herself off the shelf and found a husband.

Sitting up determinedly, Lisa tossed the covers aside. “Aye. I am going to the ball. ’Tis time I found a husband, Bet, and all of the ton will be at the Landons’ season-opening ball, which means every single eligible bachelor presently in town will be there as well.”

Noting Bet’s concerned expression, she smiled and got to her feet. “Mayhap Findlay, that handsome, blond lord who asked me to dance at the Landon ball two years ago will be there again. He was very handsome and seemed to like me the last time we attended. If he’s still single, mayhap he’ll ask me to dance again.” Her mouth firmed out determinedly. “If he does, this time I shall pay him more attention and let him woo me.”

“Are ye sure?” Bet asked, looking troubled. Reaching out to steady her mistress, she added, “Lord Robert said ye’d obviously been given some sort of tincture and I don’t think it’s quite worn off yet.”