But she had pretended not to notice, and made a valiant effort to concentrate on what the Marquis of Harrington, Sir Nicolas and Lord Worcester were saying to her.
Finishing his conversation with his host, Lord Corbury had looked round for Fenella and seen her at the far end of the room laughing gaily at something one of her escorts had said.
The smile faded from his lips and there was a frown between his eyes as he started to move through the throng of distinguished personages to her side.
Before he had proceeded far a voice cried,
“Periquine!” and a hand went out to touch his arm.
He looked down to see Hetty, exquisite in a pale blue gown which matched her eyes, her hair the soft gold of ripening corn, her red lips pouting up at him in a provocative manner.
“I heard that you had ar
