No doubt Upton would have some impertinent comment to make about the fact that she wasn’t holding a book for once. She scowled. Why was she thinking about Upton of all people? Upton would probably be so distracted by Mrs. Langford, he wouldn’t spare Jane a second thought. What did she care?

Upton.

Why had she challenged him last night with her vow to find out why Mrs. Langford had followed him? Other than the fact that he’d angered her the day before, telling her how to run her life. She wasn’t a fool. She knew Lucy’s schemes could end up causing trouble. She’d been around for the last two, hadn’t she? As long as she kept Lucy’s imagination from running wild, they might manage a small, simple, controlled scandal. But Upton had been so certain of himself. She’d wanted to take down his smug demeanor a notch. After all, how did he like it when someone meddled in his affairs?

Enough about Upton. Jane had more important things to concentrate on, like not tripping and falling flat on her face in front of a ballroom full of the ton’s best. She lifted her chin. Tonight the entire ballroom would see a new Jane Lowndes. One who wore beautiful ice-blue gowns with daring décolletage, and feathered domino masks, and elegant chignons, and was sans both book and spectacles. Tomorrow she would go back to being the bluestocking spinster they all knew she truly was.

Daphne Swift was the first to see her when Jane hesitantly entered the ballroom. The younger woman squealed. Truly squealed. “Jane, is that you?”

Daphne was a lovely blur of yellow silk, her golden hair piled high atop her head. She gave Jane the impression of a glowing candle. “Daphne, is that you? I cannot be certain without my spectacles.”

Daphne’s tinkling laughter followed. “Yes, it’s me, Jane.”

Jane nodded. “Very well. I would be ever so grateful if you would point me in the direction of Lucy and Cass.”

Daphne laughed again and entwined her arm through Jane’s. “I’ll take you to them.”

The two made their way through the blur of the crowd. Jane was ever so glad for the assistance. This was why bluestocking spinsters who wore spectacles did not attend masquerades with domino masks. Incidents might occur. Embarrassing ones like talking to a plant all evening or tripping and falling headlong into a duke. Though, to be fair, she believed Derek Hunt was the only duke in attendance and he would no doubt be forgiving, but still, the entire prospect was fraught with peril. Though that might be just the sort of scandal she was looking for. Hmm. Perhaps talking to a plant wasn’t scandalous enough. Not to worry. A scandalous opportunity would present itself when the time was right. She was certain of it.

“I must say, Jane, you look absolutely stunning this evening,” Daphne said as she pulled Jane along. The other guests were merely blurs passing by. “I almost didn’t recognize you. I’ve never seen you so … so…”