Chapter 11The party developed into an impromptu dance while remaining informal enough to allow all three of Percy’s sisters to remain. As the ladies of the house took turns to play the pianoforte, in between dances and with some refreshment in hand, it was a simple task for Jo to waylay Percy a few yards behind the instrument, its volume disguising the confidential nature of their discussion.
“If I understand this correctly,” Percy said, looking suitably languid and faintly bored to denote he was being regaled with some oft-chewed-over gossip. “We’re to look out for certain persons who appear where they shouldn’t necessarily be, together with someone they wouldn’t normally be seen with?”
“Yes, something along those lines,” Jo agreed.
He was about to apologise for the vagueness of their
