Daringly revealed by the low-cut bodice of her gown, it was dazzlingly white, pure and unblemished as the petal of a camellia. Other women were rouged, Druscilla was not. There was only a slight touch of powder on her face.
But her mouth was invitingly red and there was no doubt that artifice had added to the original size and brilliance of her eyes.
They wandered from person to person and then quite unexpectedly the Marquis saw moving gracefully across the room towards them was the Duchess of Windleham.
He must have stiffened instinctively for Druscilla at once turned her head. But she was not as surprised as the Marquis since she had known even while she had protested at it that the Duke and Duchess had been sent an invitation.
“Don’t be absurd, child,” the Dowager had insisted. “For
