“It’s no wonder the Prince of Wales set know all about you! Given the exploits of the Bentley Boys, I’m surprised you haven’t featured in the gossip columns more often or had your—but then Aunt Merry doesn’t really rain down scalded moral outrage or descend upon rakes with torches and pitchforks to tear nice girls away from their dreadful disreputable clutches, does she? Perhaps Tilly might step into the breach...? But the invitation—what happened?”
Charley shrugged.
“You mean... Tilly didn’t mention anything about declining a royal invitation on your behalf.”
“I had to write it myself. Discretion and all that.”
“Tilly will feel rather cheated if she finds out,” I told Charley. “So that was all? Was the note of congratulations a fake then?”
“Oh no, that was real enough. I mentioned Te
