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“That had very little to do with social graces,” Conor said. “I was merely trying to keep him from killing us until the police arrived.”

“But the way you did it was very graceful,” Astrid insisted. “Think about it, Conor. You had to manage his anger. Not many people could have done that. And at the same time, you were grappling with your own confusion at finding out that your best friend wasn’t the man you thought he was.”

“I suppose you’re right,”

“I’m definitely right.”

“All right,” he agreed. “You’re definitely right.”

“And if you can keep your cool and operate so well under those trying circumstances, surely you can manage to socialize with members of thetonat a club. Or even at a party.”

“I see your game now,” he accused, smiling at her. “You’re trying to convince me to attend a party. I knew it was only a matter of time before you tried to drag me into that world.”

“That’s not what I'm doing at all,” Astrid protested.

“Oh, no?”

She smiled. “I’m trying to convince you tothrowa party.”

“What!”

“Just consider it,” she said. “Our wedding was very small, after all, and you and I weren’t on good terms yet when it took place. I feel like celebrating, don’t you? I feel like throwing our doors open to the other members of thetonand letting them see that you’re not the man you’ve been rumored to be.”

He groaned. “What put you in the mood to do this now? I thought you’d want a few days of quiet rest after everything that’s happened.”

“I’m not asking for a partytomorrow,” she said. “It will be Christmas in a few months. Perhaps a seasonal party would be appropriate. And as for your question, I think we should do it now because everyone is thinking about us right now. Everyone is still thinking about your arrest and the fact that you were exonerated. Everyone is about to be thinking about the fact that you and Killian were once enemies and now you’re partners.”

“And what difference does that make?” Conor asked her.

“It means that they’ll be primed to change their minds about you,” she explained. “If the police could be wrong about you, if the man responsible for the worst of the rumors about you could be wrong, then perhaps everyone else can see that they’ve been wrong too.”

“I don’t need thetonto like me,” Conor said. “I’m well accustomed to being on my own.”

Astrid shook her head. She turned and kissed him gently. “Everyone needs to be seen for who they are,” she told him gently. “Everyone needs to feel understood by the society they live in. And if people see the real you, theywilllike you. That part will happen whether you need it or not.”

“Killian was right about you,” Conor told her.

“Was he?”

“You’re a remarkable girl,” he told her, and pulled her close to kiss her again.

Epilogue

The Christmas party was to begin at six o’clock, but by five-thirty, the foyer of Middleborough Manor was full of guests.

“What’s going on?” Astrid asked. She felt anxious now that the day of the party was here. Her stomach fluttered with worry and anticipation. “I thought no one would be arriving until six. Maybe even later.”

“They’ve never seen the inside of Middleborough Manor before, My Lady,” Betsy explained, securing one of Astrid’s hairpins. “Lord Middleborough is a mystery to them, and so are you. Everyone is anxious to see what will happen tonight. No one wants to miss even a moment of the spectacle.”

“How do you know this?” Astrid asked her maid.

“It’s been the talk of the town for weeks!” Betsy said with a giggle. “Every time I’ve been to market, someone’s been talking about it. All the other maids have been preparing their ladies for this party, and everyone has been askingmefor as much information as I can give! Don’t worry, though,” she added. “I haven’t told them anything. Not even what kind of flowers to expect.”

Astrid nodded. When she had suggested a party, she hadn’t realized it would be such a big deal. Perhaps that had been naive. But she had never hosted a party for members of thetonbefore. The only one she had even attended was her own wedding, and she had been so distracted then that she wouldn’t have noticed if wild horses had run through the event.

The manor had been decorated in elaborate garlands of evergreen, bedecked with holly berries. Poinsettias stood on every surface. Instead of their usual work clothes, the servants had dressed for the occasion, the maids in simple frocks of red and green and the manservants in black and white. Astrid thought her home had never looked so beautiful.

Betsy finished fixing her hair and stepped back to admire her handiwork. “You’d better go,” she said. “Your guests are waiting to greet you.”