He opened the door and flung himself out. It was only by good luck that he was not seen. His temper was too high to consider anything but his anger at first. It was not until he had stepped out into the garden to cool off that the folly of his deed came over him. He had not meant to be so caustic. He had gone fully expecting to clear up whatever small misunderstanding had arisen and to leave an engaged man.

Instead of that, he had caused a flaming row. But damn, she had made a mighty high mountain out of an innocent call at her room. She had accused him of everything but theft. Who the devil did Miss Harwood think she was?


* * * *

In her room, Laura went on trembling legs and closed the door behind him. Her insides were shaking worse than the ship in the picture. She felt she had been well and thoroughly battered against those rocks and was slowly sinking into the frothing waters of the icy Atlantic. But it was over now. She would not have to talk to Hyatt again. She would never even have to see him again. Tomorrow she and Mama would remove from Charles Street, and she would once again put the turmoil of the London Season behind her. If any whisper of this weekend reached London, it would soon be forgotten. Hyatt, or perhaps Olivia, would institute a new and more interesting scandal for society to gape and gasp over.

To avoid having to talk to anyone-Mama or Hettie or Olivia-Laura undressed and went to bed, where she relived the awful moments when she had confronted Lord Hyatt and turned him off. Every word exchanged was etched sharply in her mind. "I did not consider it a nominal offer!" he had said. But of course he had to say that, to save his handsome face. If he had truly loved her, he would not have crept into Marie Devereau's room in stocking feet. After two hours of tossing and turning, she finally slept.

She awoke the next morning to a leaden sky. Wind moved the branches of the trees in the park, warning of approaching rain. All the guests were in a hurry to leave and resume the pleasures of the London Season. Hyatt had either left before them or remained away from the table. Laura didn't care which, but was only thankful that he had at least enough sensitivity to avoid her.

The remaining guests had to come out and see the Turtle at close hand. They bestowed laughing admiration on its size, conformation, and sturdy construction. The Duke and Duchess of Castlefield came along to wave good-bye. They nudged their eldest son forward with a promise to bring his brothers to call on the baroness very soon. They were so very sorry the twins had not been here this weekend. Olivia accepted the attention as her due and left with a smile on her face.

"You have not forgotten we are attending Mrs. Simpson's rout party this evening, Laura?" She said, as the Turtle bowled comfortably through the park of Castlefield. Three other rigs dawdled impatiently behind, determined to get ahead of it before they hit the open road.

"Did your aunt not tell you? I shall be returning to Whitchurch at once. Mama and I shall pack as soon as we return."

"Then you accepted Lord Hyatt! Congratulations! But could you not be married in London? Who will go with me to all the balls and parties if you leave?"

"Accepted Hyatt!" her mother and Hettie exclaimed in unison. "Laura, you never mean you got an offer from Hyatt!" her mother gasped. Hettie directed a narrow-eyed, measuring stare on Laura.

"He did offer, Mama. I declined," Laura said.

"Are you mad?" her mother asked.

"Don't urge the match on her," Hettie said. "Hyatt is not quite the thing. He was carrying on with that Devereau woman last night. I had it of Mrs. Campbell and felt obliged to inform Laura."

"What a pity!" Mrs. Harwood said, wishing Hettie had kept her gossip to herself. Hyatt was too good a parti to shuck off without at least attempting to reform him. "But that is no reason to go tearing off home, Laura. There is still plenty of time. You may nab someone else."

"Yes, why don't you stay, Laura?" Hettie said.

It was an olive branch. Laura realized that her mother was unaware of their argument. That being the case, it would look very odd for her to insist on going home. Yet to continue the round of balls and parties seemed not only pointless but a torment.

"I think you were insane to refuse Hyatt," Olivia said. But she soon reverted to more interesting matters, such as Simpson's rout that evening. She would see John there, and they would skip off to the Pantheon masquerade. She knew now that it was unexceptionable for her to go. Laura would go herself, if she had the chance. The older ladies felt they had to recommend caution, but that did not prevent them from doing whatever they wished. Why should she miss out on the treats, when this was the only Season she would ever have?

It was a long, tedious drive home, with people gathering by the roadside at every village to gawk at the Turtle, and the cavalcade forming behind it. The groom adapted the kindly idea of pulling into a side road at each town to let the other carriages past, which delayed the slow crawl of the Turtle even further. With a stop for lunch, afternoon was well along by the time they reached London. Hettie Traemore was not the only one who was ready for a nice cup of tea and a little lie-down.

Laura felt as if she had been beaten with clubs. She ached all over, and to complete her misery, she had agreed to accompany Olivia to the Simpson's rout. Well, that was why she was here. She could hardly remain in London if she abandoned her duties. Despite her misery, she had no real desire to dash home to Whitchurch. Staying was bound to throw her in touch with Hyatt, and she was curious to see how he behaved.

After a careful consideration of her position, she decided that she would behave exactly as she used to vis-a-vis Hyatt, before the lamentable party at Castlefield. She would treat him as a friendly acquaintance, no more, no less. If she cut him, people would begin to ask questions. Word of the affair at Castlefield might seep out. She had every hope of keeping it quiet. Her mother, Hettie, and Olivia were the only ones who knew she had received an offer. Only Olivia knew the whole of it, and she was proving uncharacteristically discreet.

Before dinner, the baroness went to Lord Montford's attics to root through his trunks for a mask. John had got her a domino and a plain blue mask. She wanted a finer mask, preferably one fashioned of egret feathers. Lord Montford's trunks held no egret feathers, but she chanced upon a peacock fan, which was even better. With the fan concealed under her skirt, she went to her room and spoke to Fanny.

"We have to make a mask out of this," she said.

"What do you want a mask for? I wager this is Miss Harwood's idea, to hide your pretty face. I don't know why you pay any attention to that harpy."

"This has nothing to do with Laura. In fact, you must not mention it to her. Ask no questions, Fanny. Just do as I say."

Fanny examined the large fan. She was a wizard with the needle, but this challenged even her ingenuity. After several attempts she had separated the feathers and reassembled them into something resembling a mask. She bent the feathers in such a manner that two eye holes were achieved, tacked them in place, and added an elastic band to go around the head. It was not quite the thing of beauty Olivia had been envisaging, but she was in such high spirits that she kissed Fanny and told her she did not know what she would do without her, which was all the reward Fanny ever wanted, or ever got.

Mr. Meadows called immediately after dinner to welcome the ladies home. When he learned their evening's destination, he added himself to the party. He listened eagerly to hear whether Talman had come up to scratch. When nothing was said, he assumed he had not. Later, to his boundless relief, Laura confirmed it.

After all Olivia's trouble with the mask, John Yarrow did not attend Simpson's rout. He sent a billet-doux with another fellow, who slipped it to Olivia during a country dance. She read it as soon as she could get away. John had stayed over a few days in the country. His host had got up a horse race, and naturally Olivia would not want him to miss that. He was desperately mad to see her again and would certainly be back by Wednesday, and if not Wednesday, Friday for sure, for he would die if she took up with some other fellow.

On four successive evenings the peacock fan was tacked to Olivia's underskirt. It was much too big to fit into her reticule. From its place of concealment, it attended two routs, a ball, and the opening of a new play at Covent Garden, usually in company with Mr. Meadows, who was tolerated, but could not feel he was advancing his suit an inch. Olivia grew impatient with her absent lover. Finally impatience gave way to fear that she had lost him. The country host might have a sister; certainly he would have female neighbors. If John ever came back, she was ready to not only go to the Pantheon, but to dart to Gretna Green or the Outer Hebrides or Africa with him, if that was what he wanted.

Lord Rodney and Lord Rufus were brought to call at Charles Street, where they found it hard to believe that this listless creature had cut such interesting capers at Castlefield. All a take-in, by Jove. They wouldn't have the baroness if she came with a gold mine. The Turtle seemed the proper vehicle for this slow top. Their only question was why Talman hadn't nabbed her himself, since she was just the dull sort of lady he favored.

Laura Harwood also spent an enervating week. On two occasions she had the opportunity of being civil to Hyatt, who was so polite in return that she feared he was making fun of her. He bowed once from across the room, just before he asked Lady Debora Holmes to waltz with him. On the other occasion, they actually exchanged words.