The Duchess of Winshire’s personal butler ushered the pretty young woman into Her Grace’s presence. “Lady Lancelot Versey, Your Grace,” he announced. “Also Miss Frogmore, Miss Helena Frogmore, and Lord Frogmore.”

Lord Frogmore was carried by his nursemaid, and the two little girls each held a hand of their governess, though Eleanor had seen Lady Lance out walking with the children and her new husband with him carrying the little heir to her first husband, and her hand in hand with the children. Today, clearly, they were all on their best behaviour. All of them curtseyed, the little girls very prettily.

“You are all very welcome,” Eleanor told them. “Girls, I have had a table set for you in the window. There is a chair for little Harry, and a tea party just for the three of you and your attendants. Lady Lance, do take a seat and tell me how my godson fares. I do not need to ask if he makes you happy. You shine with it.”

The duchess had had little to do with Lady Lance’s vindication in the eyes of Society, beyond giving her own approval, but her son and daughter-in-law had been involved, and Eleanor had certainly approved of the poor young lady’s reinstatement and the downfall of the villains who had maligned her. “Tea, my dear?” she asked.

What follows is an excerpt from The Talons of a Lyon, finished today with THE END on the last scene, and being published in April by Dragonblade.

“Lance shall be waiting for us at the ball,” Elaine said. “I daresay he shall be most impressed with how lovely you are in that color, Seraphina.”

Sure enough, Lord Lancelot was waiting on the steps of the grand house when their carriage drove in. Seraphina guessed that Elaine was right, given that his jaw dropped and his eyes widened when he saw her.

He recovered quickly, and hurried down the steps to offer her one arm and Mrs Worthington the other. “I shall be the envy of every man here,” he declared. “Two such lovely ladies on my arms! I shall probably be cashiered from my club for greed.”

Mrs Worthington rapped his arm with her fan and told him he was a cheeky boy.

They passed through the receiving line, being greeted by the duchess herself and several other ladies who were on the board of the charity for whom the ball was raising funds. The duchess greeted Mrs Worthington and the Barkers as friends, and Lord Barker introduced Seraphina.

Around them, other conversations stopped. While the Verseys’ support had won Seraphina a conditional acceptance in Society, the influence of the Duchess of Winshire was enormous. What she said next could mean total success or abject failure.

“Lady Frogmore, I am charmed to meet you at last. I have been hearing about your sufferings, and I am so sorry I was not aware earlier. You may be certain of my support, my dear. Indeed, we are all agreed, ladies, are we not?”

The other ladies on the board nodded, and all had something pleasant to say to Seraphina as her party passed along the line.

The ballroom was enormous, magnificent, and very full. “Anyone who can afford the price of a ticket can come,” Elaine told Seraphina. “Despite that, even people who generally prefer more exclusive entertainments still want to be seen here, for the duchess is much admired. Though there are people like Percy and Aurelia who would rather give her a donation for her cause and stay home.”