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Burke
stopped directly in front of Miss Dunforth. “Alexandra!  Where have you
been?  Lady Dobson told me you disappeared.   You are so dull
you fade right into the woodwork.  It’s likely she just didn’t notice
you.”  The beady eyes bored down on Miss Dunforth.
    Donata
wanted to swat the man with her cane.  What a rude and vulgar man! 
Lord Burke was a brilliant example of overbreeding in the ton.
    Lady Dobson
winced as she noticed Donata and nudged Lord Burke. 
    He nudged
her back with an irritated look on his face.
    Lady Dobson
thrust her chin, so pointed it could likely cut glass, in the direction of
Donata.  “Lord Burke, may I present the Dowager Marchioness of Cambourne,
Lady Reynolds.”  Lady Dobson curtsied.
    Lord Burke
gave a perplexed look as the words took their time filtering through what
Donata assumed was a brain the size of a pea-hen’s.  Remembering his
manners at last, Burke bowed deeply to her, stretching his waistcoat to its
limits.  Donata thought for a moment his enormous girth would split the
fabric, sending the brass buttons flying into her face.  She sighed with
relief when he straightened.
    Lord Burke
lurched forward, grabbing Miss Dunforth’s arm, pulling her from the
couch.    Clearly, Miss Dunforth needed a friend and Donata was
ever taking in strays.
    “Lord
Burke.”  Donata inclined her regal head and used her most coldly superior
tone, “I was just telling the delightful Miss Dunforth that she must come
for tea. 
    Miss
Dunforth gave a surprised look.  
    Lady Dobson
cleared her throat.
    “My
granddaughter is of the same age and I feel certain they have much in
common.  I also find Miss Dunforth exceedingly entertaining.  She is
a treasure.”
    Lord Burke gave
Donata an interested look.  Lady Dobson elbowed him.  Apparently,
Lord Burke did not find his niece charming.  The dumbfounded look on his
face reflected his surprise that anyone did. All the more reason for Donata to
champion Miss Dunforth.
    “She would
be most happy to!”  Lady Dobson answered before Lord Burke opened his
mouth.  She grinned like an idiot at Donata.
    Donata
wanted to swat the turban off of Lady Dobson’s head with her cane.  She
didn’t think she could reach it though.  Lord, but she hated getting old.
    Without
waiting for Lord Burke to agree, since she would over rule him at any rate
Donata said, “Wonderful.  I will send my coach for her.  Tomorrow
perhaps?”
    Lord Burke
seemed about to say something, thought better of it and bowed formally.  Miss
Dunforth murmured her goodbye, surprise clearly written on her face.  The
girl had no idea, thought Donata, of the powerful ally she had just
made.   
    Lord Burke
grabbed Miss Dunforth by the arm and dragged her across the ballroom.  As
Donata watched them, a man darted from an alcove and followed.  He was
slender and impeccably dressed.  His hair was light wheat in color. 
Donata blinked, shocked by a face she hadn’t seen in years.  When she
opened her eyes, the man had disappeared.
    She must be
mistaken or possibly her eyes were playing tricks on her.  A trickle of
anxiety ran down her spine.  There was no mistaking the hair.  It was
the same color as her daughter-in-law’s.   
    ***
    Odious
Oliver pinched Alexandra’s arm and shook her slightly. 
    “Stop it
uncle!  You are hurting me.”  She tried to pull her arm out of his
grasp.
    “Look at
you!  What have you been doing?”  His tone was accusatory as he took
in her flushed features and her hair. Sweat dripped from her uncle’s broad brow
and down his puffed, reddened cheeks.   Spittle sat in the corner of
his mouth.  A vision of a rabid dog she had seen once ran through
Alexandra’s mind.
    “Nothing,
Uncle.  I lost a pin from my hair, then, another fell out.  I went to
the Ladies Necessary Room to fix it, but I fear I didn’t do a very good job.”
    Her uncle
snorted. “That’s an understatement.  You look like you have a rat’s