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Chapter One

"How long do you think you will be?" Lisa asked, watching her older sister carefully set a small pillbox hat on the coed her tresses

"We could be out all afternoon, Lisa I' on a bit She will insist on every one of her grandchildren entertaining us with a musical performance " Christiana scowled and then added dryly, "Whether they have any talent for it or not "

Lisa bit back her amusement at the vexation in her sister's words "Perhaps they will have improved since you were last there "

"Hmm," Christiana , she turned to peer at her "I feel awful leaving you here by yourself when you don't feel well Maybe we should send our apologies and - "

"Don't be silly Suzette is probably already dressed and waiting for you to collect her," she protested at once The irls,at this late hour would be terribly rude Besides, it's not like I'm deathly ill I just have a bit of a headache and a stomach complaint A little rest and I a ball at the Landons' "

"Well, if you're sure," Christiana said uncertainly

"Very sure," Lisa said, trying not to fidget ione

"Very well then " Christiana heaved out a little sigh, gave her a quick hug, ad her to rest and feel better, and then headed for the door

Lisa held on to her smile until the door closed, and then rushed to the atch her older sister traverse the front walk to the Radnor carriage The e pulled away, Lisa immediately rushed out into the hall and upstairs

As expected, she found her ht to the Landons' ball

Forcing a grimace, Lisa placed a hand to her forehead and h "You can finish that later, Bet I have a bit of a headache and should like to rest awhile Please be sure no one disturbs me "

Bet paused and stared at Lisa blankly When her eyes narrowed suspiciously, Lisa feared she'd overplayed it, but own to prevent wrinkling and headed for the door, saying,"I'll be downstairs if you need me "

Nodding, Lisa settled on the side of the bed to remove her slippersonly to quickly slide them back on the moment the door close behind Bet She then leapt up, suddenly all excitedout the bag she'd hidden at the bottoift she'd so carefully wrapped for Mrs Morgan was still inside, and then hurried to the door She listened briefly and, hearing nothing, opened it to peer up the hall Finding it empty, she immediately slid out of her room to scurry to the stairs

Lisa held her breath until she got to the landing She paused and exhaled slowly, ears straining But when a steady silence was all that came from below, she took another deep breath and crept quickly down the steps She was halfway to the parlor when the kitchen door at the end of the hall began to open Panic rising in her, Lisa quickly ducked into the office to avoid discovery, praying no one saw her as she eased the door closed

She listened at the door in hopes of hearing when it would be safe to continue on her way, but frohen silence met her ear Either whoever had opened the kitchen door had changed their mind and not co the hall but the door she stood behind muffled the sound The problem was, Lisa didn't knohich would be the case

Sighing, she shifted on her feet, impatient to be on her way, and then dropped to her knees and pressed her eye to the keyhole Sadly, she couldn't see , certainly not enough to assure herself it was eh that she was sure anyone co from the kitchens would have passed by now

Getting back to her feet, she took a breath, crossed her fingers for good luck and eased the door open

A little sigh of relief slipped from her lips when she found the hall empty Lisa listened for a moment just to be sure no one was on the stairs and then scampered quickly up the hall to the parlor door and slid inside

The relief she felt as she closed the parlor door was rather extre she was only halfway out of the house She still had a long way to go to ht aside, Lisa hurried across the room and knelt to retrieve her cloak and pelisse fro before the house ake

She quickly donned the heavy cape, pulled the hood over her head, and hooked her pelisse over her wristThen, clutching the gift to her chest, Lisa hurried to the French doors and peered out The parlor overlooked the side yard of the houseAs far as she could see, there was no one about

She didn't hesitate, but eased herself through the French doors andthat no carriages would arrive with unexpected guests, or her brother-in-law, Richard, returning fro that there would be no reason for any of the servants to suddenly look out the front door or one of the front s and spy her escape Lisa didn't look around to be sure she wasn't seen, half suspicious that by doing so she would draw someone to a , so hurried forith her head firht ahead

When she reached the front gate and slipped out without anyone coht she was hoate closed, and started to bustle up the walk, she came to an abrupt halt as her maid, Bet, suddenly stepped out of the bushes to confront her

"I knew you were up to so," Bet said with satisfaction Her freckled face and stance were triuhtly parted, arms crossed over her chest, and one eyebrow arched "Nohat are you about, my lady?"

"Oh, Bet, you gavea hand to her chest "Whatever are you doing creeping about out here?"

"Neverabout out here?" Bet asked pointedly

Lisa grihtened her shoulders and lifted her head to say sternly, or as sternly as she could ever be with Bet, as as much a friend as a s like that, Bet I am youreyes, but Lisa forced herself to continue firest you return to the house and see to preparing ht "

"Certainly," the maid said pertly "And I'll just mention to Handers that you left the house all by yourself without a maid to accompany you, shall I?"

Lisa's eyes narrowed at the mention of Richard and Christiana's new butler Handers was a dear, but he would pass the infor, she said, "You wouldn't "

"I would," Bet assured her firmly, and then raised an eyebrow and added persuasively, "Unless of course you want me to accompany you Then I couldn't tell anyone And it would be all well and proper "

Lisa sighed with frustration and glanced back toward the gate She had been alested in her letter that she come alone Christiana had been rather difficult about her friendship with the woiven her the banned book about Fanny, and suggesting she may not be the kind of friend Lisa should acquaint herself with Going alone had see to convince Christiana to accompany her But Lisa supposed she shouldn

't really go alone altogether It was more proper to have her maid accompany her anyway The only reason she hadn't considered it to begin aswell, she supposed she'd been caught up in the whole adventure and siirl Now she decided it may be the best way to handle the matter all around Gentle ladies simply did not travel unescorted in London

Sighing, she finally nodded "Very well, you may accompany me "

"Thank you," Bet said dryly and fell into step beside her as soon as Lisa began to ?"

"To visit a friend," Lisa answered, a s her lips Now that she was on her way, she was actually looking forward to the visit She had found Mrs Morgan's co in the country and expected it would be the same in the city

"Is it far?" Bet asked with interest

"NoMrs Morgan proe wait around the corner," Lisa ad her lip

"Mrs Morgan?" the maid asked with a sudden frown "Not that lady what had her carriage break down at Madison Manor back three years ago? The one theover until his lordship had thee to be repaired?"

"Yes," Lisa answered, her chin rising in response to the maid's obvious disapproval

"Are you sure we should be visiting her?" Bet asked with a frown "Mrs Si ladies when she was at the house She said - "

"I'ossip," Lisa said with a froondering why the housekeeper would disapprove She didn't know the woiven her the banned book In fact, Mrs Sie had broken down on Madison land and been brought to the house