enjoyment in it whatsoever; and did she possess anything she cared to wear for the occasion, because it was fashionable and a little risque1? He would call by in his carriage at four o'clock, in case she chose to go.
Her mind whirled. Of course she chose to go! But what gown had she that would not disgrace him? Fashionable and risque! Emily was still out of town, and so could not be borrowed from, even had there been time. She raced upstairs and pulled open her wardrobe to see what it presented. At first it was hopeless. Her own clothes were all, at best, last year's styles, or the year before. At worst, they were plain sensible-and one could hardly say less for a gown than that! Whoever wished to seem sensible, of all things?
There was the lavender of Great-Aunt Vespasia's that she had been given for a funeral. With black shawl and hat it had been half mourning, and suitable. She pulled it out and looked at it. It was definitely magnificent and very formal-a duchess's gown, and an elderly duchess at that! But if she were to cut off the high neck and make it daringly low, take out the sleeves below the shoulder drape, it would look far more modern-in fact a little avante-garde!
Brilliant! Emily would be proud of her! She seized the nail scissors from the dresser and began before she could reconsider. If she were to stop and think what she was doing, she would lose her nerve.
It was completed in time. She coiled her hair high (if only Grade were a lady's maid!), bit her lips and pinched her cheeks to give herself a little more color, and splashed on some lavender water. When Dominic arrived, she sailed out, head high, teeth clenched, looking neither to right nor left, and certainly not at Dominic to see what he thought of her.
In the carriage, he opened his mouth to comment, then smiled faintly, a little confused, and closed it again.
Charlotte prayed that she was not making a complete fool of herself.
The party was like nothing she had ever attended before. It was not in one room but in a series of rooms, all lavishly decorated in styles she considered a trifle obtrusive, with vague sug-
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gestions of the last courts of France in one and of the sultans of the Turkish Empire in another; a third seemed Oriental, with red lacquer and silk-embroidered screens. It was rather overwhelming and a little vulgar; she began to have serious misgivings about the wisdom of having come.
But if she had been concerned about her dress, that at least was needless; some of the fashions were so outrageous that she felt quite mildly dressed by comparison. Indeed, her gown was low over the bosom and a little brief around the shoulders, but it did not look in any danger of sliding off altogether and producing a catastrophe. And, glancing around, that was more than she could say for some! Grandmama would have had apoplexy if she could have seen these ladies' attire! As Charlotte stood watching them, keeping one hand on Dominic's arm lest he leave her alone, their behavior was so brazen it would not have passed in the circles she was accustomed to before her marriage.
But Emily had always said high society made its own rules.
'Do you want to leave?' Dominic whispered hopefully.
'Certainly not!' she replied without giving herself time to consider, in case she accepted. 'I wish to meet Esmond Van-derley.'
'Why?'
'I told you-there has been a crime.'
'I know that!' he said sharply. 'And they have arrested the tutor. What on earth do you hope to achieve by talking to Van-derley?'
It was a very reasonable question and he did have a certain right to ask.
'Thomas is not really satisfied that he is guilty,' she whispered back. 'There is a great deal we do not know.'
'Then why did he arrest him?'
'He was commanded to!'
'Charlotte-'
