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I’d give anything to get out of going.”
    To Clara’s dismay, her eyes burned with unshed
tears.
    Tilly’s look was warm. “None of that. Look how
far you’ve come since that terrible time! You have lost that nasty stammer and
your looks have improved vastly. I would’ve said your reprobate cousin was the
cause, but Mrs. Hamilton forbids all mention of him in this house.”
    Clara shook her head and pressed her hands to
her eyes.
    “There now, there, there.” Tilly hugged Clara.
“Shush now, you’ll ruin the effect if you set to bawling now. Mrs. Brockville
will take good care of you at the dance and the Colonel is a man of honour.
He’ll not allow any evil to befall you. If you feel unwell, you only have to
ring for the carriage and Terry will bring you home.”
    “You are right, of course.” Clara returned the
older woman’s hug and flashed a tremulous smile. “I am ready.”

 
    §

 
    THE BALLROOM glittered with light and crystal that danced
rainbow prisms over the guests. Clara entered on the arm of Edgar following
behind Colonel and Mrs. Brockville. Several heads snapped in their direction as
the offspring of the controversial Arthur Hamilton, but the attention was
short-lived. Her pulse slowed when she realized she was not the subject of the
gossip circulating the room. Clara Hamilton’s public collapse had been
overshadowed by a scandalous story concerning Princess Louise and a tutor in
the Royal Household.
    She pitied the princess but took full
advantage of the reprieve to enjoy the Ball. Clara admired the gowns of the
ladies. Fashions were changing faster than her poor dress allowance could keep
up with. Her mother’s last dress order before the doomed wedding trip had
drained the purse.
    Entering this beautiful room wearing the crème
glacé silk, Clara was disposed to believe that she could one day forgive Branson,
but she would never return to Windemere Hall as long as Grace Leeds remained.
    “You were smiling and now you look troubled
again,” said Edgar. “You must not worry about father. You have done your best
to save him, far more than I would have done in your position. If Branson
accuses him and the investors call in the law, the whole thing will erupt in a
great scandal and Papa will only have himself to blame when it does.”
    “You know perfectly well he will blame me.”
She allowed her brother to lead her onto the dance floor. “No, we must take
this threat seriously if only for Mother’s sake. We are young; we’ll make our
way somehow, but Mother will be crushed if Father is taken to prison.”
    Edgar held her back at arm’s length. A
teasing grin played over his handsome features. “What has got into you? You are
quite changed. Do not deny it. I have noticed the significant improvement in
your speech, even if Father hasn’t. Something happened at Windemere to work
this change in you.”
    “Nothing happened.” She blushed furiously. “I
was treated to our cousin’s implacable ill-temper and only wanted to get home
again.”
    “Darling sister, you are a poor liar. Bran
is a cranky brute, yes, I shall concede to your feminine assessment of my old
friend. But that you only wanted to get home again ...?” Edgar
laughed. “No, that I do not accept. Your eyes are glowing with a life I’ve not
seen for years. Something happened at Windemere that was not entirely
disagreeable. Tell me what it is,” he needled.
    Clara lowered her voice. “It does not
signify now. I can never see him again.”
    “But you wish you could. Oh Clara, you dear
little mutt....”
    She smiled sadly and poked his shoulder. “You
know I hate that nickname.”
    He laughed with his usual cheeky disregard for
her feelings and swirled Clara to the middle of the dance floor. They danced,
laughing, under the sparkling chandeliers until a scuffle at the entrance
attracted their attention. Clara turned to see what the fuss was all about.
    Branson Hamilton pushed past the footmen
and charged to the