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thinking about how to have it now passed to your hands, it seems to me.”
    “If half of London has already paged through it, why would I pay to keep it private? Put yourself in my place and you will understand why I need to know.”
    “Not many hands passed it. You do not need to worry about the discretion of those who had it before me, either. I promise you that.”
    The promise of a blackmailer should not reassure her, but she hoped it was the truth. She wanted it to be. And truth or lie, she remained in the same predicament.
    “A week, Lady Lydia. I require a message from you before the end of seven days, informing me of where you will reimburse me. I remain at my cousin’s house at least until then.” He walked away on those words.
    Lydia strolled back to Sarah, whose gaze had never left that young man. “Have you caught your breath, or lost it entirely, Sarah?”
    “He is a fine looking fellow, isn’t he? Tall and strong and quite handsome.”
    “He has a very nice smile. What is his name?”
    “How would I know?”
    Lydia laughed. “Are you saying you have spent the last quarter hour flirting with a complete stranger? Really, Sarah! I am shocked.”
    “I didn’t mean to. I sort of lost awareness of where I was.”
    “Aunt Hortense will be horrified,” Lydia teased. “She will insist we put you on bread and water for at least three days.”
    Sarah puffed out her cheeks and rolled her eyes. “Only if she hears of it. I doubt you will be telling her. If I am quizzed on my behavior, I might find myself explaining how you spent that quarter hour while I was so negligently distracted.”
    Another blackmailer. Sarah could be forgiven for playing that ace, however. Too many people put demands on her, most of which, if she obeyed, would require her to betray Lydia’s trust and privacy. She did not envy Sarah and the way she had to juggle so many mistresses.
    She hooked her arm through Sarah’s, so they walked the way they often did when girls. “You will probably want us to walk in the park every morning now.”
    “I do not think the same company musters here every morning. They take turns, I believe.” She glanced over her shoulder for one more look. “There’s probably a list somewhere of which citizens’ militia uses the park each day. The sort of list that someone like an earl might be able to see.”
    “I will put it to my brother, but I will have to explain why. Otherwise he may conclude that I lost my breath this morning, not you.”
    “Which you did not do, since you mention it. If anything, you looked vexed. I hope you will forgive me for saying, but between my strapping soldier and your pale, thin gentleman, I think I had the better morning walk.”
     • • • 
    V iscount Ambury reined in his horse alongside Penthurst’s when they crested a low rise at the back of the park. Their mounts showed sweat from the hard gallop, and stepped high with excitement.
    They proceeded at a more leisurely pace, inserting themselves into the riders and walkers who also sought some morning refreshment. Few did, which was a pity, and even those who had ventured out now streamed toward the gates as dark clouds moved in, heralding rain.
    They stayed to the side of the carriage path when they reached it. A few rolled past. One caught Penthurst’s eye. The man inside looked like that Trilby fellow. A woman faced him. He only glimpsed her, but saw enough to know it was not Lady Lydia.
    “How did your dinner party proceed, Ambury? With good cheer, I trust.”
    “It was deemed a success, despite the unexpected arrival of Lydia.”
    “That sounds more unkind that you intended, I hope.”
    “Damn, so it does. She had sent late regrets, is what I meant, so her attendance was peculiar. Since it was mostly family and close friends, that was not too awkward. And it resolved the pressing question neatly and quickly, and exactly as I expected it to.”
    “What question was that?”
    “Whether Lydia would favor