The first thing, of course, when she arrived at Hexham House, was the archduke.

It was wonderful to watch the various phases of character that she could assume at will.

With the archduke, she was the brilliant woman of the world, witty, sarcastic, adorable.

He was enchanted with her; he declared that she combined all the charms of English and French women; he danced with her and would fain have lingered by her side, but that etiquette called him away.
Then Lady Amelie, already the belle of the ball, looked up, for Colonel Mostyn was standing before her, and by his side one of the handsomest and noblest young men she had ever seen.

He introduced Basil Carruthers to his fate.
She looked in his face with a smile, and drawing aside a fold of her sumptuous dress, made room for him to sit near her.
He thought her even more dazzlingly beautiful than when he had seen her at the opera.