“Hello, Blaze,” he said to the Duke. “I did not expect to see you here. I thought you were in London.”
“And so I was until yesterday.”
His friend, however, was not listening to his reply. He had taken Yvette Joyant’s hand in his and raised it to his lips.
“I am in luck in finding you here,” he said, “because I intended to call on you tomorrow.”
“I hope you will do so,” Yvette replied.
“Come and dance with me,” the newcomer said. “I have something important to tell you.”
Yvette looked at the Duke from under her heavy eyelashes.
“Do you mind, mon cher?” she asked. “Or would you rather dance with me yourself?”
“I will watch you,” the Duke replied.
She hesitated, as if she debated with herself whether she should demand that he dance with her.
Then, obviously determined to make him re
