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“No I’on to the livery and see to the team” He was reserved in his explanation “I’ll be back in a while”

“If you’d come this way, ma’am?” The porter prompted her to follow him

Lorna didn’t want to ask Benteen to accoh she would have liked the protection of his company when she crossed the lobby full of men It didn’tworse These were gentle about an unescorted lady in their midst

She kept her gaze modestly lowered as she followed the porter, conscious that Benteen’s gaze traveled after her As Lorna climbed the stairs, she heard the rustle of silk She looked up, half-expecting to see a “lady of the evening,” since the trail toould obviously abound in them

By no stretch of the iination was the woman at the top of the stairs adress of blue silk had a low neck and short sleeves, styled in the latest fashion Her pale blond hair ept atop her head in an elegant style, not a lock out of place The fine jewelry and the regal carriage of her slim form in

formed Lorna that this was a real lady

As Lorna approached the wo to some equally well-dressedas she had first appeared Her skin was so se her true age If it wasn’t for the faint lines showing on her powdered neck, Lorna would have thought the woman was in her twenties

It was rude to stare, and she tried very hard not to as she followed the porter past theot the better of her when she heard the woued Lorna She slowed her steps to listen, not paying attention to the porter striding ahead of her

“Your invitation is iven to understand by the earl that he has accepted the

Earl The mayor A private box The lady was obviously someone very ilance for another look at the elegant wo oddly familiar about her

“Mrs Calder?” the porter called to her

When the wolanced sharply down the hallway, Lorna quickly averted her head She didn’t want to disgrace herself by being caught rudely staring She hurried to the door where the porter aiting

“Is so, ma’am?” he inquired politely

“No” She thought about asking him who the lady was, but that would be too forward

After setting her valise inside the roo the porter didn’t notice the roughness of her hands Before she entered the roolance at the stairs The well-dressedhis leave of her