“It was my fault,” Nellie said. “I should have led us to the path instead of cutting across the grass.”

“Alice,” he said, turning his head toward her. “It was an accident. That’s all. Nothing to be embarrassed or upset about.”

“But—”

“I won’t hear anything more about it. If you won’t believe yourself, then believe me. I would never lie to you.”

She remained quiet as they approached the tent. Mrs. Lusk was the first to rush out, coming to stand directly in their path. “Alice,” she said with a frown, her gaze raking over Kit as if he’d deflowered her daughter in the middle of Fifth Avenue. “You stupid girl. What have you done?”

“She tripped, Mrs. Lusk,” he said. “Merely turned her ankle.”

Mrs. Lusk cast a brief glance over her shoulder at the other matrons. “I demand that you put her down. This is unseemly.”

“I’ll do no such thing, not until she’s settled comfortably.”

“Mr. Ward, as her mother I must insist you let her walk—”

“Mrs. Lusk,” he snapped, his voice like a whip in the breeze. “Kindly get out of my way, or I will carry her into the house and put her directly on my bed.”

The threat of Alice in Kit’s bedroom did the trick. Mrs. Lusk moved aside and Kit was able to get Alice under the tent and settled in a chair. The chaperones converged on Alice, offering up sympathy and remedies, and with reluctance he backed away, relinquishing her to the others. Instead, he went to fetch her lemonade.

It wasn’t much, but he needed to do something.

“Nicely done with Mrs. Lusk,” Nellie murmured out of the side of her mouth at the refreshment table. “I was prepared to tackle her, if necessary.”

“I do not care for that woman,” he said.

“Neither do I. Now, which of us is going to find Maddie and the rest of the guests?”

Kit snuck a peek at Alice, who was currently being besieged by the chaperones. Was she still in terrible pain? He hated that he couldn’t do more. Carrying the glass, he turned and took a step toward Alice.

“I’ll go,” Lockwood offered, and Kit stopped in his tracks.

Apparently the duke had overheard them. Nellie and Kit exchanged a look, and it was clear they were thinking along the same lines. No telling what the duke would find if Harrison and Maddie were alone in a dark place together. No, it was better if Kit went searching instead. “I have an idea of where Maddie planned to hide. I’ll go and send everyone back to the tent.”

Nellie inclined her head. “I’ll make sure Mrs. Webster has sent for a doctor.”