8
Perdita waited for her lady’s maid to lay out her nightgown.
“Beth, would you be upset if I called you after midnight to undress me?”
Beth, a sweet girl with reddish-brown hair, glanced at her in surprise.
“Miss?” Beth never asked direct questions, but Perdita knew this was her maid’s way of inquiring.
“You remember what I told you about Milburn?” Perdita had confessed her fears a few weeks before.
“I do.” Beth took one of Perdita’s dresses and smoothed out the wrinkles before carrying it to the tall armoire.
“Well, I am to have a secret rendezvous with Lord Darlington tonight.”
“Miss…” Beth’s tone was full of reprimand. Her maid could say so much with one word.
“I know you don’t approve, but he is the only chance I see of escaping Milburn’s interest. We’re going to arrange for
