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flashed to them. A gentleman and his partner left the dance floor and blocked Elspeth’s view. When they had passed by, Sir Brian and his son were no longer to be seen.
    Drew scanned the room and demanded, “What has disturbed you? Has someone been annoying you?”
    â€œNo, no,” said Elspeth. “My uncle and cousin were here and I’d hoped to introduce you, but I think they have had to leave and—Oh, dear! Here comes Godmama to fetch me. Now tell me quickly, if you please. I failed. Were you more successful?”
    â€œTo an extent—yes. I know of a wealthy peer who has been most influential in helping Jacobite fugitives escape our shores. I went to see him and he promised to find me a boat and perhaps one or two men. We have to be extreme cautious in our dealings, for Lord Geoff—the gentleman is suspected of Jacobite sympathies. He warned me not to come to him again but promised to send instructions to you when he has found a way to help us.”
    Overjoyed, she exclaimed, “ When he can help? He did not say if? Oh, but that’s wonderful, Nicky!”
    Bowing to Madame Colbert, Drew said, “I give you good even, ma’am. You are looking very lovely tonight.”
    Madame smiled and said she was glad to see him again. “I thought you were with your uncle, Elspeth. He was anxious to speak with you, and your cousin hoped for the favour of a dance.”
    â€œI believe they just left,” said Elspeth, glancing again around the room.
    Drew suggested that perhaps they had gone into the card room and offered to find the gentlemen. He returned shortly, having been unable to locate them, and soon was saying his farewells, apologizing that he had an engagement this evening that must be kept. “You know where I live, Miss Clayton,” he said, meeting Elspeth’s eyes steadily. “I would be most grateful if you would let me know when you receive word from Vance.”
    She agreed to this and watched fondly as his tall figure blended into the crowd.
    Madame said, “Such a charming young man. Come now, child. I wish to make Sir Brian and Conrad known to my brother. They must be here somewhere, and Mortimer will scarce believe they are come, after all this while.”
    Her wish was not granted, however. Neither Sir Brian nor his son were to be found, and upon applying to their hostess, Madame was told that they had slipped away quietly since Sir Brian had been slightly indisposed during the voyage from France and tired easily.
    Encouraged as she had been by Drew’s progress, Elspeth could not dismiss her anxieties and had to work hard to appear light-hearted through the hours that followed. Fortunately, Sir Mortimer was not what he termed a “break of day fellow,” and very shortly after midnight he gathered his ladies together and carried them home.
    It had been an eventful day and Elspeth was very weary. She knelt to offer up earnest prayers for Vance’s recovery and begged heavenly assistance in their rescue attempt. Climbing gratefully into bed she found that as is so often the case, once her head touched the pillow her mind began to whirl. Her main concern was for her brother. She could no longer count on Joel’s help, but Nicholas, bless his heart, had said they had about a week in which to act, and he had also given her new reason for hope. Somewhat of an unknown quantity was Mr. Nicholas Drew, in that, aside from the fact that he had fought in the Low Countries, she really did not know how he occupied his time nowadays, or if he still cherished ambitions towards a military or diplomatic career. Whatever the case, she was perfectly sure that he would do everything in his power to free Vance, and not just because of their friendship; woman-like, she had known for some time that he was extreme fond of her.
    Not until she was at last drifting off to sleep did she recall her long-lost relatives. There was really no reason why the