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brilliantly with pale hair piled in fashionable ringlets with one lone escapee trailing down toward her cleavage. A pale blue dress made her eyes stand out as if they were stars in the night landscape.
    “What do you think of our little party, Your Grace? I do just love an assemblage such as this,” Miss Juliet Sheldon said.
    Thornsby titled his head, recalling his opinion of the group. Much closer to the wren’s assessment than to this blond package’s, now blinking up at him in wonder. “Such festive decorations and lively music,” he heard himself repeat. He stole a look at the wren.
    “Original,” she murmured.
    “Did you see the little bows at the corners of the buffet, my lord? Juliet and I fashioned those all on our own. I think they’re quite perfect. Don’t you Matilda?” asked the other Miss Sheldon.
    “They are lovely, Alexandra,” Matilda said.
    “And all on their own,” the Countess said with a nod of pride. “My daughters are so well-versed in such matters. I simply have no idea where they get their ideas, but as you see, they are a triumph.”
    Thornsby nodded politely. “Quite an addition, my dears.”
    “And Mother is far too modest. She is the one who orchestrates these beautiful surroundings,” the eldest added fondly and turned back to him. “Have you seen the buffet? Mother had Cook make the most dazzling garnish with sugared fruit.”
    “Why no,” he began.
    The younger girl’s smile dropped. “Someone smeared the faces of all the little butter angels.”
    Thornsby continued to nod as the two sisters and the mother began a systematic assessment of what devil may have stolen the lox and muddied the butters. Just as he would hope the subject was dwindling away, one of them began it anew. They all spoke at once. Laughed at once. His head was pounding. He looked at Matilda. Her eyes were closed.
    “Matilda. You’ve something red all over your gloves,” the Countess said sympathetically.
    “Perhaps the cherry glaze,” one offered.
    “Or the tomato jelly.”
    “The tomato jelly was sitting directly beside the butter angels, Matilda. Did you see who smeared their little faces?” the Countess asked.
    “No Mother, I’m sorry, I did not see who smeared the butter angels. But I do need to change my gloves. Excuse me,” she said as she stepped past him.
    She was leaving him mired in twirling pastries and finger bows. Deserting him. And the brat had the most self-satisfied smirk on her face he’d ever seen. He stopped her with a hand on her elbow. “Is there more than one door in this room?”
    “Two, Your Grace. I have yet to decide if that is quite enough for you, though.”
    The mother said quietly. “Your hair’s come undone, Matilda, dear. Have Mimi attend you.”
    The wren’s hand went immediately to her head and she hurried from the room.
     
    * * *
     
    Athena nodded her brother’s direction. “Looks as though Freddy is getting along tolerably well. The oldest Juliet is certainly handsome,” she said to Smithly. Andrew was staring at her in the strangest way. He’d been most solicitous all evening. “What? Has my hair gone awry? Have I mint jelly on my mouth?”
    “Not at all, Athena. You look lovely this evening.”
    Athena stared at him. It didn’t appear he was making sport of her. Opposite in fact. Andrew looked terribly sincere. She looked around the room because looking at Andrew looking at her was making her warm all over.
    “This old thing?” she said and picked at her gown. “I’ve had it since forever.”
    Andrew shyly touched her hand hidden in the folds of her skirt. He looked around the room as well. She didn’t withdraw her hand, though, and that fact may have emboldened him to speak his mind.
    “Don’t ever mistake yourself for any woman. You are far from ordinary, Athena.”
    Athena’s eyes opened wide. Freddy must have retold the embarrassing moment in her chambers. Heat flashed in her face, and she pulled her hand to her waist.