"Does he often attend?"

"Harry?" Henrietta smilingly nodded to her gentleman and turned back.

"Occasionally--he's perennially invited but one never knows if he'll show."

Henrietta's smile turned affectionate.

"Not one to run in anyone's harness, Harry."

"No, indeed!" Lucinda ignored the questioning look her tartness invoked. A rage unlike any she had ever experienced was rising within her.

Was her invitation here Harry's way of showing her how he now viewed her?

That she had become one with these ladies, dallying with any gentleman who took their fancy? Had he sent her here to experience the 'congenial company'

she had a.s.sured him she was seeking? Or had he sent her here to teach her a lesson--and was planning to arrive just in time to rescue her from the consequences?

Her jaw set, her hands clenched, Lucinda abruptly stood. She felt like screaming, pacing the floor-throw STEPHANIE 173 ing things--she wasn't sure which of his possible motives enraged her the most. She dragged in a deep breath.

"I hope he comes," she breathed through clenched teeth.

"Lucinda?" Henrietta leaned forward to peer up into her face.

"Are you quite well?"

Rigid, Lucinda plastered a smile on her lips.

"Perfectly, thank you."

Henrietta didn't look convinced.

Luckily, the gong sounded, sending them to their rooms. Lucinda reined in her impatience enough to accompany Henrietta~to her door--then briskly strode down the corridor to the Blue Room.

"What have you heard?" she demanded of Agatha the instant the door shut behind her.

Agatha looked up from the navy blue silk gown she was laying out on the bed.

She took one look at Lucinda's face--and answered directly.

"Not much--but nothing good.

Lots of innuendo 'bout what the n.o.bs get up to o'nights. Doors opening and closing at all hours. " Agatha sniffed.

"An' such like."

Lucinda sat at the dressing table and started pulling pins from her hair.

She shot her maid a severe look.

"What else?"

Agatha shrugged.

"Seems like it's the expected thing here--not just the odd couple or so, like happens anywhere." The maid grimaced.

"Did hear one of the footmen liken it to a set of coaching inns--one coach pulls in as the last's pulling out."

Lucinda sat back and stared at Agatha in the mirror. "Great heavens,"

she finally said, somewhat weakly.

Then she rallied--no matter what the general practice, she was confident that not one of the gentlemen present would force his attentions on an unwilling lady. Her gaze fell on the navy silk gown.

"Not that one."

Her eyes narrowed.

"The silk gauze."

Agatha straightened, hands on her hips.

"The gauze?" In the mirror, Lucinda raised haughty brows.

Agatha snorted. '~I'is barely decent. "

"For my purposes tonight, it'll be perfect." Lucinda drew out the last word to a literal purr. She wasn't the one who would learn a lesson tonight.

Grumbling beneath her breath, Agatha put away the navy silk and drew out the shimmering silk gauze, its colour a silvery sky blue. Laying it carefully on the bed, she sniffed disapprovingly, then came up and started on Lucinda's laces.

Lucinda tapped her comb on the table.

"This is a horrendous coil."

She frowned.

"Have you asked after Lady Asterley?"

Agatha nodded.

"There isn't one. The last--her as was Lord Asterley's mother--died years ago."

"Oh." Lucinda blinked, then, drawing in a breath, squared her shoulders.

"Well--tonight can't be helped-but we'll be leaving tomorrow."

"Aye--so I thought."

Lucinda heard the relief in Agatha's voice. She hid an affectionate grin.

"Don't worry--despite all indications to the contrary, they are entirely gentlemen at heart." Agatha humphed.

"So you say--but gentlemen can be very persuasive at times."

Lucinda rose and let her gown fall to the floor. Stepping out of it, she allowed Agatha to help her into the sheath of shimmering blue silk. Only when she was finally ready to descend to the drawing-room did she deign to acknowledge Agatha's last comment. "As I should hope you know by now," she said, fixing Agatha with a haughty glance,