The Sinister Spinster by Joan Overfield

free moments to secret them away, and she would be safe.
    After assisting several of the ladies into their costumes, Elizabeth dashed up to her room with less than a quarter of an hour to dress for the festivities. She quickly donned her best gown of rose-colored silk, and was debating whether or not to wear the pearls her mother had left her when there was a knock at the door. Muttering at the thought of another interruption, she opened the door to find a maid standing there with a folded cloak draped over her arms.
    "For you, miss," she said, offering the cape to Elizabeth with a pert curtsy. " 'Tis from Lady Barrington. She asks that you accept it with her compliments."
    Stunned at such largesse, Elizabeth accepted the cape and carefully opened it. "Oh, it is a domino!" she exclaimed, understanding dawning as she examined the cape with its deep hood.
    "And this is to wear with it," the maid replied, handing Elizabeth a black velvet mask trimmed with black lace. "She brought her own and thought you could use this one," she added, pushing her way into Elizabeth's room and glancing about her with ill-disguised curiosity.
    "Indeed? How very kind of her grace," Elizabeth replied, touched and more than a little surprised by the duchess's generosity.
    "Oh, she's kind enough in her way," the maid answered with a shrug. "But she has a sharp tongue, and she'll use it quick enough when she's of a mind. She's almighty particular about what's hers, although you'd never believe it, the way she mistreats her things. Why, t'other day she deliberately broke a ribbon on her new bonnet and then demanded I fix it. Quality"—she shook her head in obvious disgust—"there's no understanding them."
    Elizabeth remembered the incident. "Are you quite certain it was deliberate?" she asked, frowning. "I was therewhen it happened, and as I recall, her grace was most distressed."
    "It was deliberate, all right." The other girl gave a knowing sniff. "I was apprenticed once to a milliner, and I learned a thing or two about bonnets, I can tell you. That ribbon was ripped a'purpose; you could tell the way the threads was dangling. But she did give me an extra shilling and tell me thank you pretty enough when I was finished." This last was added as if in apology for gossiping about her employer.
    She took her leave soon after, and after donning the domino and mask, Elizabeth slipped downstairs to mingle with the other guests. Several were in costumes of one kind or another, and others were dressed as she was, in a black domino and mask. Still others wore their usual evening dress, and she wasn't surprised to see Lord Falconer among those who had eschewed the use of a costume. She smiled slightly, recalling his icy disdain when Lady Barrington had dared to tease him on the matter. It would seem the coolly controlled marquess had little patience for such artifice.
    Without warning he turned his head, his topaz eyes narrowing in recognition. He was at her side seconds later.
    "Miss Mattingale." He favored her with one of his low bows. "I was hoping we might be honored with your presence this evening."
    Elizabeth tried to be put out, but it was hard to feign indignation when her heart was racing with delight. "So much for the effectiveness of disguises," she drawled, favoring him with another smile. "It would seem I am suffering all this discomfort for naught if you recognized me so quickly."
    His response was an elegant lift of his jet-black eyebrows. "I would hope I am not so easily misled, ma'am," he replied. "My eyes are sharper than that, I assure you."
    Deciding discretion would be the wisest course, Elizabeth took refuge in socially acceptable pleasantries. "And how are you enjoying your stay at Derring, my lord? Itrust you are being kept suitably entertained?" she asked, wishing she had brought a fan to unfurl. It was the one feminine ploy of which she approved, and she would have enjoyed having something to occupy hands that seemed suddenly