She realised frantically that time was passing. If she did not quickly take action of some sort, the Marquis might think it strange that she was not in the ballroom and send somebody in search of her.
She felt that there must be an answer to her problem, but she could not imagine what it could be.
The maid came into the room to look for a wrap that lay on the bed and Gilda, picking up her reticule from the washstand, walked through the other bedroom and out into the passage.
As she did so, a servant came out of a door that was almost opposite and Gilda saw by the way he was dressed that he was a valet.
On his arm he was carrying a coat that she thought she recognised as one worn by the Marquis.
In his hand he held a pair of highly polished Hessian boots.
The man saw Gilda looking at
