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eyes were bright and a smile danced across her face. Around her, people cheered and applauded. Her Aunt Worthing gasped in delight, and a veritable rainbow of colours flew high into the dark heavens. The show awakened a child-like wonder in Araminta, and for a moment she forgot all her problems. They seemed to belong to someone else, as she smiled and laughed with the rest of the crowd. She had not even realised as she let slip her carefully sculpted veneer of amused world-weariness, which was so in fashion among the debutantes. The fireworks opened up a world of dreams which had been closed to her since the death of her beloved father. It had been so long since she had allowed herself to dream.
    So transported was Araminta that she had not felt Sir Timothy’s strange gaze upon her fair face. He watched her for a long time, his eyes shadowed and his mouth grim.
    ***
    The invitation arrived just as promised. The card was thick and expensive, the lettering was gold leaf, and the writing delicate. It sat innocently with the rest of the mail before Lord Worthing at the breakfast table. Susan had received a letter from a friend whose family had already left town before the close of season, and she had excused herself as she read it at the breakfast table.
    Araminta looked up from buttering a fresh scone, her eyes immediately catching the conspicuous envelope. She knew a moment of happiness, instantly deciding that it had to be Lady Huston’s invitation. Apart from the merit of being invited to Lady Huston’s party in itself, it was well known that Lady Huston was well connected within the fashionable circles. Araminta would have the opportunity to impress a member of one of the most elite circles within the ton . She had momentarily contemplated a vision of herself at Almack’s, though she instantly dismissed it as being silly and fanciful.
    She tried to continue her breakfast nonchalantly, waiting for her uncle to get to the envelope in question, when Lady Worthing seemed to notice it as well.
    “I say, my dear, what can that be?” she asked her husband, setting down her morning cup of tea. Lord Worthing looked up from the correspondence he had been scanning, to give his wife a look of surprise.
    “Whatever are you referring to, my love?” he asked before following her gaze down to the envelope in question. He picked it up, unsealed the envelope with practised ease and pulled out a card of matching stationery. Lord Worthing scanned the contents briefly, before looking up at the women around him with a fond smile.
    “Well, my dears, it seems that Lady Huston is inviting us to her party this coming Saturday. Of course, if you would much rather not go, I shall not force the issue. I shall write her and politely decline.”
    Araminta felt a smile of genuine pleasure light up her features. “Oh, no, Uncle.”
    “Lady Huston, father? What luck to be invited to her party. She is so very fashionable,” Susan gushed, setting aside her correspondence to exchange smiles with Araminta.

Chapter 4
    Araminta fidgeted nervously as she gazed out of her uncle’s carriage. Looking out at the other carriages waiting to reach the end of the drive and stop at the front doors that led to Lady Huston’s spectacular manor house. She was suddenly uneasy about attending the gala.
    She watched elegant ladies and gentlemen emerge from their carriages and make their way up to the door of the manor. Her gloved hand unconsciously smoothed the skirt of her gown of palest pink crepe over soft white satin, trimmed in silk bobbin lace. The colour gave her skin a pretty glow and offset her midnight-blue eyes. Araminta and Susan had commissioned new gowns especially for the occasion. She knew that she ought to feel confident in her fetching new gown, yet her confidence had ebbed away the closer they got to the house, situated about an hour outside of London.
    It would be an important night. Having resolutely pushed her guilt to the back of her mind,