"Well," Harriet said finally, the children having scattered off into bed, although they were not, of course, by any fair definition children anymore, and <i>which</i> particular beds had been scattered into was a matter Peter was choosing not to inquire after. "Well," said Harriet, with gently restrained mirth, "At least Helen can't complain that Paul is courting below his station. The heir of an Earl must be lofty enough an in-law even for her."

"She never did quite entirely take to the Earl of Gloria," Peter mumbled in reply. "Harriet, sometimes I wonder if I've allowed myself to be simply swallowed up by the cliche."

"And here I was wondering if I could work tonight's events into the plot of a novel, or whether the public would simply refuse to believe that such wonderfully perfect things happen, even inside the pages of a mystery novel."

Peter leaned forward across his knees and smiled at her. "And then I have you to remind me that there's nothing whatsoever wrong with playin' to the crowd now and then, as long as you remember why you're doin' it - Do come in, dear boy," he added raising his voice. "Lurking in corridors does you no justice whatsover."

Harriet shook her head. "Have mercy on the poor thing, Peter, he must be terrified half out of his wits."

"As he had to pick the locks on two separate disused passageways in order to listen behind that particular piece of panelling, I find it difficult to believe that his wits, at least, are suffering -- I suppose you heard it all?" he added, as Dorian Red, Viscount Kelso and only son of the Earl of Gloria, stepped through the old servants' door and into the firelight.

"My lord, Lady Peter," he said carefully, a cloud of blonde ringlets around limpid blue eyes. "I'm so very sorry, I seem to have got turned around--"

"Turned around my Aunt Fanny," said Harriet cheerfully. "Come and have a seat, then, and join us. I hardly got a chance to talk to you this evening, with the bustle of everyone coming to visit for Christmas and Paul fumbling the introductions as usual."