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Livie felt a stab of uncertainty. “Were yours? Not that it matters, because we likely shan’t meet again, but I wouldn’t care to think of you like that.”

One side of his mouth curled up. “No.”

“These are my wild oats,” Livie exclaimed. “You don’t know my name. I could have been one of those birds, a canary bird.”

“You have no relation to a canary bird,” Joshua stated. “Other than the fact that you inadvertently flew into this particular room. I am very glad that I found you, and that Lord Devin found your cousin.”

“I’d rather be a parrot,” Livie said. “At least parrots can talk, whereas canary birds and birds of paradise can only sing.”

“Wagtails and hummingbirds sing as well.”

“Do those words indicate the same … the same profession?”

He nodded. “Not that we should discuss such a disreputable subject.”

“What does that smile mean?” Livie asked suspiciously. “Are you laughing at me?”

He shook his head, and then whispered in her ear, “I could coax you to sing, if given a chance.”

She wasn’t entirely sure what he meant, but she suspected it was naughty. “You, sir, are most impertinent,” Livie informed him, but since she was still seated on his lap, and not struggling to escape, the reprimand had no force. “I am a terrible singer,” she added, in case he didn’t mean it as a provocation.

“I would prefer that you sow no more wild oats,” Joshua observed.

Livie eyed him. He was somewhat older than she, but not much. He had obviously seen more of the world and knew more about it than she did, yet his tone didn’t have the hectoring quality that her father inevitably employed in his letters. “I do realize that this could have turned out to be a dangerous excursion,” she offered.

Joshua said in her ear, “I would be happy to instruct you in sowing grain at some future date.”

That was definitely a provocation. “Are you being vulgar?” Livie demanded.

“Somewhat,” he admitted.

“Vulgarity is a crime,” she informed him, taking that directive straight from her father’s most recent letter.

“I apologize.” His eyes were grave again, but his mouth had a secret smile.

“If I am not to sow wild oats in the future, what about you? We arrived here mistakenly, but you?”

“The same. As I told you, I had no idea it was a masquerade. Neither did I know the invitation list. I have been convalescing in the country and only came to London a few days ago.”

“Were you wounded in battle?” Livie asked, worry tightening in her stomach. She always feared that her father would be injured, so it was a familiar sensation.

“A mere trifle,” Joshua told her. She didn’t believe him, not given the lines around his mouth. Still, he seemed to move easily. She almost said something about her father and the dangers of war, before she remembered that she was in disguise.

“Have you noticed how much the room smells?” she asked, changing the subject. “When we first arrived, there was a reek of perfume, but now …”

“Sweat and garlic,” Joshua said, wrinkling his nose. “Do you dislike strong smells, Lady Macbeth?”

There was an odd light in his eyes, as if the question really mattered. “I don’t care for strong perfume,” Livie told him. “Daisy cannot bear the odor in the stables, but I quite like it.” She saw approval in his gaze.

“Now let me go,” she commanded. “My cousin has an excitable nature, and a terrible propensity to lose her temper. If I don’t intervene, she may toss a glass of champagne at Lord Devin’s head.”

Joshua lifted Livie to her feet, keeping her tucked against his body. The crush of dancers was spilling to the corners of the room. Their settee was instantly occupied by three women with rouged cheeks and avid smiles, leaning forward to allow a clear vision of their bosoms.

Livie’s aunt would say that it showed lack of breeding. She had the distinct impression that “breeding” was not a quality these particular ladies cared to cultivate.

“Lord Devin knows who you are,” Joshua said, gently touching her nose with a finger. His other arm was still wrapped around her waist. “Shouldn’t I know your name?”

His lordship broke off a heated sentence and turned his head, narrowing his eyes at Joshua. “No, you should not. Unhand the lady.”