Isabelle, however, was still in her seat, chatting amiably with the elderly lady seated on her left, and seemingly unperturbed by the empty seat on her right. Before I could catch my cousin’s attention, Lord Windham began speaking to me.

“Miss Delacourt, have you met Miss Hughley?”

I smiled at Miss Hughley and was rewarded with an engaging smile in return. “No, I haven’t. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Hughley. I’m Samantha Delacourt.”

Thankfully, I was able to essay a more or less decent curtsy this time. Miss Hughley exclaimed, “What beautiful eyes you have, Miss Delacourt! They’re like emeralds.”

“Thank you, and please, do call me Samantha.”

“Only if you will call me Betty.” Miss Hughley – Betty – stopped and regarded me with a candid stare, then said, “I have a feeling we are going to become very good friends, Samantha.”

Lord Windham chuckled. “And Betty’s feelings are never wrong, are they, Betty?”

Betty reverted her attention to him. “Geoffrey, I could’ve sworn I saw de Grave. Is he here?”