“Brilliant. I needn’t watch my tongue.”
Misgiving spread through Caroline. She did not keep things from her mother and did not appreciate the idea that she would need to. “What is this about?”
“The masquerade, of course.” Kitty glanced over her shoulder but continued up the narrow staircase toward the parlor. “You will be in raptures when you hear the costume I’ve designed for us. Do not say you won’t borrow my mask, because I vow it is the most beautiful thing.”
“I have not agreed to attend the masquerade.”
“Not yet, you mean.” Kitty’s impish smile was amusing.
They entered the parlor and closed the door behind themselves.
“We shall be foxes, Caro. It is the most glorious thing, because Lord Bengard intends to be a hound! He shall chase me all evening.”
“But he will not be chasing me,” Caroline reminded her.
“Of course not.” Kitty looked to the ceiling in thought. “I suppose you could wear my red domino if you’d prefer. I have a matching mask, so no one shall know it is you. Then I could be Lord Bengard’s sole fox.”
“Hunts usually have many dogs and one fox, do they not?”
“I suppose.” Kitty sat on the high-backed green chair. “Say you will come, at least. It is all aboveboard, you know. Lord Bengard’s sister will be there, and she is an Honorable. And she’s married, besides.”
Caroline sat on the striped sofa opposite her. “The Honorable Mrs. Hough. We’ve met occasionally, though I don’t pretend to know her well.”
“She is the most amusing thing. You may come to my house to make ready, bring your maid, and we’ll dine together at the masquerade.”
“Why do I have a terrible feeling about this?”
“I do not know, because it shall all be good. No one will know who we are if we keep our masks fastened. Lord Bengard does not even wish for others to know him when he attends these events.”
Caroline imagined not. If they knew who he was, he could not get up to any manner of larks, could he? She was debating the best way to phrase this to Kitty, ready to drop a hint of caution in her ear, when the door to the parlor opened, and James walked inside, a man behind him.
“Mr. Shepherd, Mr. Whitby,” Kitty said with delight. “How fortunate we are to find you here.”
James stopped, looking surprised. “It is my home, Miss Fielding.”
“Yes, of course. I only meant I wanted to extend an invitation to you, so I am glad to see you now.”
Caroline wanted to stop the words from leaving her mouth, but she was powerless. James seemed to lean closer, interested to hear what she had to say.
“Have you any engagements Friday?” Kitty asked. “I am to attend the masquerade with Lord Bengard and his sister, Mrs. Hough. Would you like to join our party?”
Tristan’s eyebrows lifted the slightest bit. “Masquerade?”
“Oh yes, but you needn’t wear costumes if you prefer not to. A domino will suit well enough.”
James shook his head. “It is not quite the thing, Miss Fielding. Not the place for polite Society.”
“Which is why we shall wear disguises, of course.”
“You mean to wear a disguise and attend this masquerade, too, Miss Whitby?” Tristan asked, a challenge in his tone. The man expected her to cry off, didn’t he? Well, she could not very well send her friend into the lion’s den alone, could she?
Caroline straightened her shoulders. “Kitty was only just offering me use of her domino. Isn’t that kind of her?”
“The mask is so large it covers nearly the entire face,” Kitty added. “It has the most exquisite gold embroidery too, though most of the cape is red.”
“Sounds lovely,” James said. “But, as I said, not quite the thing, Caro. Mother would not permit it.”
As a woman who had surpassed the age of majority, that was not the discouragement he believed it to be. Caroline lifted her chin. “I’ve not yet decided if I will go or not.”
