CHAPTER SIXFor the rest of the afternoon Carina was occupied working out a little song for the evening’s performance. So she did not see the party return to the castle and was spared the sight of the Duke and his young lady.
But she did not escape entirely. Going quietly down to the music room, she stopped on the staircase just as the guests appeared in the hall below, ready to go into the dining room.
They were all in evening dress, the men in tails, the women in gorgeous silks and satins. Carina stepped back into the shadows, horribly conscious of her unfashionable dress.
The elderly housekeeper was coming down the stairs just behind her.
“Can I help you miss?” she asked kindly.
“Oh no, I was just looking – ”
“They’re beautiful, aren’t they?” the old woman said with a sentimental s
