"Ah, you are so very young," the countess said, the bracelets on her arm jingling as she lifted it to touch Angela's cheek. "You have all the young gentlemen falling all over themselves for you. And that is as it should be. But you are feeling bewildered, I can see. Shall I tell you the very best place to hide out?"
"Where, ma'am?"Angela asked.
"The greenhouses," the countess said. "They are close enough to the house that you do not have to take anyone with you. Yet they are quiet and warm and full of lovely plants." She patted Angela on the arm. "Take a lantern with you if you go, my dear."
She looked up to the sky outside and moved away to mingle among her other guests, but she kept an eye on the forlorn little figure half hidden behind the draperies. Angela stood there for a while, looked toward her mother, who was sitting and talking with a small group of ladies, and disappeared out onto the terrace. The countess smiled and looked assessingly to Lord Crensford and Diana, who were still dancing together.
But Angela did not head toward the greenhouses. She darted around to the front of the house and through the open doors, ran upstairs to fetch a warm shawl, and slipped outside again. A few tears spilled over onto her cheeks, but she dashed them impatiently away with the back of one hand.
She looked uncertainly about her in the night, which was not at all dark, hesitated, and then made off at a brisk pace in the direction of the castle.
* * *
The countess made no move while that particular set continued or afterward while Lord Crensford and Diana were joined by Lord Kenwood. She waited until the marquess had led Diana onto the floor for the next set before hurrying across the room to her son.
"I hope you have not engaged anyone for the next set, Ernest, dear," she said, laying one hand on his arm.
"Not yet," he said, looking at her in some surprise. "Would you care to dance it with me, Mama?"
"Not really, dear," she said. "I am worried about Angela."
"Miss Wickenham?" He frowned.
"She has gone off to the greenhouses in tears," she said.
"In tears?"His frown deepened. "But she has been enjoying herself immensely. There has been no getting close to her. Who has insulted her? Just name him, Mama, and I'll deal with him."
She lowered her voice and patted his arm. "I think it is you, dear," she said. "Not that you have insulted her. But you have neglected her."
"Neglected her?" He looked indignant. "She doesn't want anything to do with me, Mama. She told me so."
"Oh, Ernest," she said, looking reproachfully at him. "When will you learn that ladies very often say the opposite of what they mean? The girl has a painful tendré for you, my dear."
Lord Crensford merely stared at her.
"This is her first ball," she said, "and she has had all the gentlemen flocking around her. All except the one she really wants. Go to her, Ernest. Bring her back and dance with her."
"If she has gone to the greenhouses, Mama," he said, "it is because she wants to be alone. It would not be right for me to disturb her there.Especially if she is unchaperoned.Perhaps you should go to her."
"Ernest!''His mother had an unusual note of impatience in her voice. "It is time you learned something of women, my dear. You are eight-and-twenty years old. Women like to be pursued. Women like occasionally to be caught without their chaperones. Now go to her."
"But, Mama," he said, "what about my feelings? What if I don't have any kind of a tendre for her?" ~~"Ernest!" she said loudly enough for Mrs. Pierce and Lady Knowles to look up in some surprise.
"Very well, Mama," Lord Crensford said. "I am going.Now."He walked around the edge of the dance floor and disappeared through the French windows.
The countess nodded and smiled at those of her guests who were not dancing and waited a few minutes before laying a hand on the Marquess of Kenwood's sleeve as he waltzed past.
"Jack, Diana," she said, her voice almost a whisper, "I need to talk to you without delay.Outside the door."
Lord Kenwood looked inquiringly at Diana as the countess swept away. He raised his eyebrows, tookHerby the elbow, and followed his hostess from the room.
"Dears," she said when they stood in the deserted hallway outside the ballroom, the doors firmly shut, "I am so sorry to spoil your fun, but I am afraid I had to." One ringed hand was spread across her bosom.
"Mama?"Diana reached out to touch her arm. "What is it? What has happened?"
"Angela has disappeared," the countess said, and her trembling hand came up to cover her mouth.
"Disappeared?" The marquess frowned. "She has probably wandered outside or up to her room."
