Diamonds & Deceit by Leila Rasheed Page B

raise the subject otherwise. As you say, Lady Rose is very vulnerable, because of her extraordinary position, and I am afraid she is easy game for a man such as the Duke of Huntleigh.”
    “Are you quite sure?”
    “I am certain.” He hesitated, then added, “May I ask if he is aware of Lady Rose’s…origins?”
    “You mean that she used to be a housemaid?” Ada said bluntly. She hesitated. “I expect so. That is, everyone knows.…”
    “Everyone in society. But as we know the duke has done his best to distance himself from society until this year. He has few close friends now in London. It’s quite possible that he doesn’t know—and if he did, I think you would find his attitude to Lady Rose substantially changed.”
    Ada nodded silently. There was no choice. Rose had to be warned—for her own good.

London
    Ada toyed with her toast, now and then glancing at Rose, who was humming to herself. Her father was reading the newspaper, a troubled frown on his face. She knew the news from Europe had been bad—there was so much anxiety about German airships. Yet it seemed incredible that the Kaiser would really move against Britain—after all, he was the King’s close relative. Other things troubled her more—like protecting Rose.
    “Invitations,” Charlotte announced, entering the breakfast room with a handful of letters. “I intercepted Jevins. Here you are, Mama.” She handed the envelopes to her mother and sat down.
    The countess made her way through the envelopes with a bored expression on her face. “Cowes, the Duke of Westminster wishes us to join him on his yacht. It will be terribly boring but we must say yes. Tea…tea…another ball… Oh! How very provoking!”
    “What is it, my dear?” Lord Westlake enquired.
    The countess sourly displayed the gilt-edged invitation. Ada read the words: Bal Masqué. “Mrs. Verulam is to have a costume ball on the evening of the Royal Horticultural Flower Show.”
    “A costume ball!” Charlotte exclaimed.
    “That does sound rather fun,” Ada said.
    “Yes, but the wretched woman has simply stolen the limelight once again. Of course everyone will leave town as soon as it is over, and all anyone will think about is the ball. I was hoping to make another splash before the end of the season, but no chance of that now.”
    “Well, as long as I get a new dress I don’t mind too much,” Charlotte said.
    “Of course, it will be necessary. For you, at least—I can’t be expected to go to the expense of dressing up Rose.”
    “My dear, you receive a dress allowance to clothe all my daughters,” the earl said, with an edge to his voice. There was an uncomfortable silence. The countess looked mutinous but began to open the next invitation in silence.
    “Ah, now this is interesting,” she said, as her gaze skipped across the sprawling handwriting. “For you especially, Charlotte.”
    Charlotte rolled her eyes. “Do tell, Mother.”
    “The Duke of Huntleigh writes to invite us to his box at the opera for the new performance of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring .”
    “Oh!” Rose exclaimed, and dropped her knife with a clatter. Ada looked at her, as did everyone. Rose met their eyes and blushed.
    “That is—I would very much like to see the Rite .”
    “Really.” The countess made a disbelieving face. “I don’t see what chance you might have had to develop an interest in ballet, but at any rate it seems you will get your wish. He most particularly invites all of us.”
    “Didn’t the audience riot at the premiere in Paris?” Charlotte made a face. “I shan’t wear my best hat if there’s any risk of its being crushed by anarchists.”
    “It sounds inconvenient.” The countess sniffed. “Be that as it may, it is an invitation from the Duke of Huntleigh, and so we will go.”
    Ada caught Rose’s eye. It was clear from her heightened color and her smile that she thought the invitation was meant specially for her. Ada’s heart sank. Her sister had