“Yes.” Jane didn’t meet Lucy’s gaze. Lucy was clever. She might discern that Jane was lying with one glance. “The music from the masquerade ball was a bit too loud for me. I’m sorry, Cass. I tried to stay. I truly did.”

Cass ignored that last bit. “How many teacakes did you eat last evening?”

Jane blinked. She wrapped her dressing gown more tightly around her waist. “What does that have to do with anything?”

Cass managed a half-shrug. “I usually see you occupied with a plate of teacakes and I didn’t see that last night.”

Jane snorted. “What are you accusing me of, Cass? Not being hungry enough?”

Lucy crossed her arms over her chest again and paced across the carpet. The look on her face was entirely suspicious. Oh, lovely. They suspected something. Upton hadn’t mentioned anything, had he? No. He hadn’t known who she was. How many times must she remind herself of that?

“So, you ate no teacakes and you went to the library where you spent the rest of the evening reading?” Arms still crossed, Lucy tapped her fingers along her opposite elbows.

“I didn’t say I ate no teacakes,” Jane replied, pushing up her chin. “I adore teacakes. I ate three before I went to the library.”

“The library?” Lucy looked down her nose at Jane.

“Yes, the library.” Wasn’t her philosophy to solve one problem at a time? That was all there was to do now. Lie and stand firm. Even though Lucy and Cass obviously suspected something, they had no proof. Did they? Had they gone to the library and not found her?

“The library?” Cass echoed.

Jane considered the possibilities. It was all or nothing. She had to see this through. “Yes, the library. You do know where the library is, don’t you?”

“Of course I know where the library is.” Cass plunked her hands on her hips.

“Did you count the teacakes?” Jane asked, her lips twitching from suppressed laughter.

“What a silly question,” Cass replied. “Of course I didn’t count the teacakes. You’re free to eat as many teacakes as you like.”

“I’m glad to hear it because it seems the two of you are accusing me of something. Perhaps something duplicitous, involving teacakes?”

“Accusing you of something? Whatever do you mean?” Cass put her hand to her throat, but she was a rubbish liar. It was obvious she was attempting to play ignorant.

“What might we be accusing you of?” Lucy interjected.

“I don’t know,” Jane answered. “You tell me.”

They faced off, staring at each other, Jane daring Lucy to ask a bold enough question to get to the bottom of this interrogation. Surprisingly, Lucy broke first. “We merely came up to ensure you were well, Janie. We were quite worried about you when we couldn’t find you last night.”