Only then did she stop to draw in a deep breath, which she hoped would ease the frantic beating of her heart.
As she did so, the front door opened and two footmen wearing the Earl’s livery came out to start laying a red carpet, which would cover the steps and run out over the pavement.
A second later Thalia saw the Earl’s phaeton being driven around the comer.
She realised that she was only just in time.
She walked up the steps and, as she reached the front door, she saw standing in the hall the butler who had waited at dinner last night.
“I wish to speak to his Lordship,” she said.
“Good morning, miss,” the butler replied politely. “I’ll tell his Lordship you’re here.”
Thalia followed him and he led her across the hall and showed her into an attractive room that she thought from it
